Konami Gaming will be unveiling a bit of the old spiced with a bit of the new at next week’s Global Gaming Expo, with a fresh lineup of video slots, skill-based and multi-station games, and expanded casino systems offerings.
The gaming manufacturer, a subsidiary of Japan-based Konami Holdings, will be rolling out new game themes and features to its library of Concerto Collection video slots, which will build on popular titles like the Castlevania brand while featuring never-before-seen game mechanics and art styles.
New titles available on the Concerto Stack and Concerto Crescent cabinets include single-screen games such as China Shores, Great Stacks and Lucky O’Leary Jackpots.
“A considerable depth of creative opportunity remains to be explored for large portrait-oriented game content. It’s opened up new game play possibilities for our developers to create and casino players to enjoy,” said Steve Walther, Konami’s senior director of marketing and product management.
“Our team has also placed a considerable focus on standalone and linked progressive games. During this year’s show we’ll have upwards of 20 different types of progressives on the floor.”
Skill-based and multi-station games will be in high demand this year, and Konami will be helping to drive that with several new products. Frogger: Get Hoppin became the first primary skill-based game to launch in Nevada in February, and has since launched in other markets. To compete, players move a frog across the screen in sync with a melody while seeking to avoid alligators, cars, water and other obstacles.
Beat Square is an arcade-style, rhythmic dexterity game that draws on the popular Dance Dance Revolution, which was developed by Konami in the late 1990s. Players compete by touching buttons on a lighted touchpad dashboard buttons to the beat of a dance-oriented soundtrack.
Beat Square will serve as the centerpiece to Konami’s exhibit alongside Crystal Cyclone, a new, multi-station mechanical bonus game in which all players have their own video slot station but are connected to a center roulette-style feature to create a community-style jackpot experience.
Walther emphasized that the focus with these new product categories is to create satisfying game play and bring additional excitement to the gaming floor.
“What makes these next-generation developments uniquely enjoyable for players goes beyond novelty appeal – it’s how the individual play mechanics, mathematics, bonus events, and entertainment delivery styles work together in harmony for continued excitement and engagement over time,” he explained.
Also on exhibit will be the latest version of Synkros, Konami’s casino management system, which will come outfitted with new features that touch on areas such as marketing and table games and give operators better flexibility and control in reaching their target audiences.
At the end of the day, Walther asserted that Konami’s 2017 offerings are the ideal mix of eye-grabbing glitz and glam, with the depth and substance needed to keep players engaged for sustained play periods.
“Over the years Konami has become known for games and systems that stand the test of time, and as our creative technology expands, that legacy supports even greater possibilities for properties and excitement for players,” he said.
“Whether it’s a new progressive game, an emerging skill-based concept, or specially targeted player loyalty incentives, players and operators are looking for new entertainment that is not only unique, but also has the substance to sustain excitement beyond its initial attraction.”
