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The ups and downs of legislation Burns sets up specialist services Italy faces major AWP shake-up New circuit board plant for india Polish trade association treasurer speaks out Big firms to support colombia event Eastern europe proving profitable for me Section 16 ‘replacement market Bougues batiment buoyed by kaunas bid Peermont buys controlling interest in tusk Vegas giants compete for signapore
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Touchscreen & PartsCAMLOCK LAUNCHES NEW SECURITY STRAP Camlock’s new flexible security strap, launched at the ATEI, boasts a minimum breaking force of 2.5 tonnes. Specially developed for use by gaming operators, the flexible security strap consists of an industrial strength, heavy-duty, 6/8 dual layer multi-strand PVC coated steel cable with carbon steel end terminals for maximum resistance to attack. It prevents unauthorized access access to front opening gaming machines and provides increased levels of flexibility, security and convenience.
Currently most security straps consist of a rigid metal bar or strap bolted to a wall, usually in two places. This is then further secured with a padlock. Not only is this unsightly to look at, it can give the impression the venue is frequented by thieves.  The strap is mounted on the cabinet and has one free cable end that fits into the lock. The wall secured model has a detachable cable that can be passed through wall mounted eyehooks or around any suitably strong fixture and both ends of the cable fit into the lock. The wall secured strap is more suitable for use when attack might include the physical removal of the machine or other asset, as well as to the opening door. ELO UNVEILS LATEST TOUCHSCREENS At ATEI 2006, Elo unveiled its latest touchscreens and monitors helping to revolutionise the gaming and amusement industry. Highlights at this year’s show include:  Tactile Technologies will distribute Elo’s 1515L 15ins Desktop LCD 1715L 17ins Desktop LCD, 1537L 15 ins Rear Mount LCD and 1747L 17ins through Glass Technology LCD through southern Africa. Elo’s Mike Sigona expressed concerns about next year’s ATEI, stating that he wasn’t even sure whether Earls Court was the ideal venue for the show. Although he was ‘quite happy’ with the way Clarion Events had organized the event, he was ‘slightly concerned’ that he may not be able to keep the same stand location for 2007. Elo was one of the few truly original stands at this year’s expo, with a towering mock-up of an art gallery providing the backdrop upon which it showcased its range of 15ins, 17ins and 19ins touchscreesns. * EPIC 430 PRINTER DEBUTS AT ATEI Transact Technologies launched the Epic 430 printer at the printer at the International Casino Exhibition and Amusement Trades Exhibition International trade shows recently. This printer adds to the Transact product line that is designed specifically for gaming-type machines found in non-casino gaming establishments. The Epic 430 targets AWP and SWP machines found in pubs in the UK, VLTs, and FOBTs found in betting parlors in the UK and across Europe, pachinko machines in Japan, and other off-premises gaming-type machines around the world.
The Epic 430 includes a variety of user-friendly features including Ticket Burst, which eliminates player interference by completely printing and bursting the voucher before presenting it. Variable length tickets accommodate receipts from 2.5ins to 10ins, allowing operators the flexibility to easily add graphics or coupons directly to the tickets. The printer is designed to flip open for fast and easy paper roll loading. It delivers a fast print speed of 155 mm/s. Standard sensors include black mark, anti-jam, ticket-out, cover open, and ticket-taken.  Product Reviews Title : Highway 66 Positioned on UK distributor Crown’s stand at ATEI, Qubica demonstrated its two-thirds size Highway 66 two-lane bowling alley. The concept, which was conceived three years ago, involves a mock-up of a remote US highway, with two video screens above it. To make the game more attractive to potential players, Qubica has tinkered with the interface and video display to add a gameplay element more akin to a video game experience, featuring a range of characters, than the uninspiring ‘type own name / now type in opponent’s name’ scenario that generally greets tenpin bowlers. Title : IntelliLink Belgian crane maker Elaut showed a new in-development online book keeping /management system, working title IntelliLink, for operators at the ATEI. By-passing the need to actually visit the location and open up machines, the new system allows operators to monitor the progress of their cranes. Information that can be extracted includes busy/ quiet times expressed as a line graph, income relating to position in arcade /FEC, payout levels and so on. Elaut’s online system should be ready for the mass market in 2007, when the second version is complete. “There is lots of potential in Belgium and France already for this product,” international sales manager Filip Vandevoorde told InterGame. Title : Power Games Gamesoft’s new launch for ATEI, Power Games, has a steel cabinet, a JCM/ Tyco mech and is powered by a Heber board. The cabinet, which has dual screens, is large enough inside to have a 79mm mechanical reel fitted if the operator prefers. This therefore makes the cabinet an attractive proposition for a broader audience. Sales and marketing director Robert Taylor told InterGame that the cabinet and its inner workings are ‘durable’ and can be configured to suit UK section 16, 21 and 34 legislatoion.  * Rowe shining ‘brite’ Chris Hinds at Rowe told InterGame that the Starbrite internet-connected jukebox has a minimum of 2,500 songs permanently stored just in case the internet goes down. When the internet connection is up and running – the normal state of affairs – starbrite is capable of holding every single top 40 hit in UK chart history, since its inception in 1952. the message Rowe was hammering out for the three days at Earls Court was ‘music on demand,’ which is possible through having a server in the US and a vast music library based in London. Punters are able to find their song of choice quickly by searching for category or by using the Kwik Pick option where key words are typed in and the closest matches appear on screen. The Starbrite has a handy service manual built inside so that if anything goes wrong, a troubleshooting guide is accessible at the click of a button and navigable using an onscreen menu.
MEI on the button MEI’s single entry coin bezel, made from high impact plastic in the US has a wide run-down to prevent slighting. It’s available in three colour. MEI has already had a lot of feedback from OEM’s agreeing that it’s the ‘21st century bezel,’ according to MEI’s Richard wooldley. The company cited operators’ feedback as the secret to the single entry coin bezel’s design. OPERATORS’ forum Title : WRC FIA World Rally Championship Marshall Ashdown demonstrated the very noisy WRC Fia World Rally Championship kiddie ride at the London show in January. A two-minute ride, WRC has a monitor at the front positioned above the steering wheel, so that children experience the illusion that they’re actually driving the vehicle, despite just wildly steering from side to side. Title : Ticket Station John Denlinger from Benchmark showed InterGame the Ticket Station at the ATEI. He opened the unit to reveal an air pump that blows the dust away after every 300 tickets have been cut up by self-sharpening scissors. Printed on thermal paper, the tickets are cut up as they’re fed inside and drop into one of six bags that can hold up to 250,000 tickets each. According to Denlinger, the rhomboid shape that the tickets are cut into is the most ergonomic shape they can be reduced to using this system. Ticket Station was first demonstrated at last year’s ASI in Chicago, but wasn’t quite ready to go to market at that stage. Denlinger revealed that the new 11ft high moel of Slam-A-Winner, namely Slam-A-Winner x-treme, will be on show at the ASI. According to Denlinger, the original Slam-A-Winner is the biggest –selling redemption game of all time.’ Apart from the obvious additional stature, the X-treme version features more jackpot vends than its predecessor. Title : King of Jurasskic The diminutive King of Jurassic is suitable for FECs and shopping centers and is based on the age-old principle of rock, paper, scissors. Taito lends the machine to operators for free, but charges them for the cards that the machine dispenses. As the machine, which is distincity shorter than most video games and slot machines, is squarely aimed at the six to 11-year old market. Taito’s method of getting its money could prove a very astute one. Success in the game is more likely when more cards are collected and the random nature of the way in which they are dispensed will guarantee that children will indulge in swapping and collecting to their hearts’ content. Already big in Japan, the game is due to go on test in Europe very soon and will go head-to-head with Sega’s similar Dino King offering. Title : Street Basketball
UTF, the US distributor of Street Basketball for Taiwan –based Saint –Fun, showed off four linked up games at the Earls Court show. To the naked eye, this hoops game doesn’t look any different to other such linked basketball challenges, but the exclusive hip-hop tracks from a Taiwanese act could make all the difference in the attraction stakes. Stayled to look like a graffiti-adorned New York basketball court, this redemption game is capable of holding 15-player tournaments. Every unit comes equipped with a ‘heavy bass’ speaker for fans of loud, repetitive Taiwanese hip-hop. * Elaut’s portfolio Belgian crane maker Elaut showed several crane games at ATEI 2006. Among these were Slam Dunk – a basketball grabber, where punters are challenged to pick up a ball and drop it in a basket and similar game for football fans, where balls had to be manipulated into the ‘goal’ within. Both games come with a handy volume control so that operators can lure potential players in with noise levels suitable to their own needs. Similarly, knock It Off, which depends on players shoving prizes with a lever over the edges of a circular playfield to win a prize, has an ‘ attractive’ sound according to international sales manager Filip Vandevoorde. Operators have full control over payout levels. Vandevoorde claimed that there was a ‘big demand’ for this piece. “We’re expecting it to do well in the UK and France.” Finally, perhaps the most eye-catching and unusual item was the Hit N Win. Players need split-second timing to force a tiny piece of metal out onto a thin metal frame, which then dispenses something of high value, such as an iPod.  * Play it, Sam Sam Leisure presented its new products at ATEI 2006. The success of the Double Fast Track, frist presented at ATEI 2005, with big sales during this last year, encouraged Sam to design the Air Baby. It’s a new concept in Air Hockey design, with methacrylate surface and light shining from inside the cabinet in all directions. The dimensions and graphics aim to appeal to kids from three years of age. The Air Baby created ‘great interest’ and was thoroughly tested by many buyers’ children attending the show. Full production is now underway to satisfy orders taken at the show. The Mango, the next generation in Sam’s American Pool range was another new product presented internationally at ATEI. A new slate support System improves the game precision. New plywood finishes and diamond shaped chromed conrners, a trademark of Sam’s products during the last few years, give a new twist to its American – style coin-op range. The same diamond cabinet corner assembly was also showcased as an option on the Atlantic English Pool table. To accompany the new table designs, the new Mist pool shade was also exhibited, which boasts a ‘chic modern canopy providing both excellent downlight and eyecatching ambient light detail’ according to Sam’s Liam Barrett. Soccer table Linares completed the new products line up, a popular game in Spain presented by Sam to the international market for the first time. Barrett told InterGame: “A solid oak cabinet, sloping, non-stop ball surface and customized aluminium players provide the fastest soccer table ever.” Reaction from customers was ‘very positive’ and initial figures point to this year’s ATEI being one of the best in recent years for Sam sales. Title : Silver Olympic Silver Olympic is the name of the new coin-operated football table built by Garlando of Italy, which made its debut at the London show on the stand of UK distributor Excel Leisure. The game, built to coincide the World Cup in Germany, is built of black and silver laminate and has player refinements such as new leg levelers and shorter springs for more player ball control. It will complement the current Garlando range of Red, white and Blue and Coperto Deluxe tables. Title : The Magic Safe Belgian pusher specialist VDW introduced The Magic Safe to visitors at the London show. The game is a reaction tester, presenting the player with a row of four LED numbers; as numbers flash on a matching set of combination figures, the player has to stop them on a match. Two successes give a prize from the automatic dispenser; a replica match gives a better prize. The game comes as an instant vend upright or as a major multiple unit for use in larger centers and can offer bigger prizes from a redemption counter.  Title : USB device A USB memory stick has brought a technological innovation to the pinball game. Joe Blackwell is pictured holding the tiny memory stick a the Stern Pinball display at the ATEI. Title : Reflex 21 British/ Dutch company Hi-Tech Assemblies has released SWP game Reflex 21. The game offers five hands of pontoon (blackjack) and the player uses skill to stop an LED on each card and allocate it to one of the hands. The total points of the hands are added together with prizes beginning at 101 for a minimum payout, rising with prizes beginning at 101 for a minimum payout, rising with each extra point to a maximum of 105. Its UK version gives prizes from £ 1 to £ 20 with a 50p stake or £ 1 to £ 10 with a 25p stake. The game can be adapted for international use. Tony Brookes, managing director of Hi-Tech Assemblies, is pictured with the game. * Green digs deep The Deep, a four-player pusher notable for having been originally sketched out as a design on a napkin in a restaurant in Atlanta, made a record-fast appearance as a compoeted game on the UDC booth at ATEI. “It was brought from planning stage to production line model in just two months,” said UDC’s sales director Michael Green. * US inspires Excel Eight years after it set up in business, Excel Leisure – Britain’s pool table specialist - has made its first American pool table. The company, which spent its early years specializing in its greatest strength, designing and building pool tables to ‘English rules,’ has now spread its base into American tables to access a wider market. Title : Capriccio Seasami 2 The second version of a crane game that has done enough toi warrant an update, certainly in Japan, comes equipped with a hi-tech grabber that looks as if it ever escaped from the confines of the machine it would go on a one robot rampage around the world. Happily, this is as unlikely as a crane machine ever causing players to think ‘wow, that was a value-packed, fun experience.’ Works best with sweets.  Title : Amusement applications Germany – based Kortek Europe has a range of applications suitable for the amusement industry. The firm demonstrated some of these at the ATEI, including touchscreen digital signage and public information displays, networking, storage, multi flash memory card readers, DVD/CD players and various ports. It also showed a light ring system, which can be sold separately or along with an LCD panel. Title : Haunted Castle et al Taiwan-based Tecway has a trio of new games ready for the export market – Haunted Castle, Fortune Wheel and Wonder Boys. Haunted Castle, with its oriental ghost theme, is Tecway’s new video ‘hammer redemption’ game with unique and innovative game concepts. There are five type of monsters and creepy creatures available for players to chose from. Fortune wheel allows players to spin for their fortune. It presents a unique hybrid look of a Western video slot, but decorated with antique Chinese coins. Players are challenged to test their reactions in order to stop the wheel for jackpots. Finally, wonder Boys is a ‘fine and adventurous’ video redemption effort, tailored for young players with an ‘absolutely cute’ look. It features a selection of adventurous, exciting and fun games, according to its manufacturers. Title : Casino Coronation Street Capturing the aura of the UK’s longest running and ever popular TV soap, Mazooma’s Casino Coronation Street made its debut at ATEI. Making the most of this prestigious licence Mazooma has included most of the stars from the show and added the voices, which bring the characters to life. Coupled with the strains of the original theme tune you could almost feel you’re in the Rovers (the pub which features in Coronation Street) having a pint. The game itself brings a formula where wins become spins on a reel housed in the dome. This brings added excitement to the game as one spin could give the jackpot. The Coronation Street streak also takes place on the machines top reel and is won with three Rovers Return symbols on the winline. Mazooma’s hidden cheats all add to the spice of this ‘stunning’ new game which is designed to breath new life into neglected AWP areas in both arcades and bingo halls up and down the UK. * Pair from Splin Belgium’s Spin, based in Liege, has produced two new games for the domestic and international business. Montana Baby features three one-ball games names Tutti Fruitti, Euro One Ball and One Ball. The upright game fits with the Belgian law, which requires games to have ‘live’ features, but it has also been designed for export. The second new game is Montana Extreme, with a 23ins TFT screen and shich features eight different games using five, single or three balls. Both o the new machines can be equipped with the GPRS system for online control and maintenance and can be equipped with hopper payout, flippers, ticket dispensers or configured for redemption play. * Thomas Estates’ Poker Simon Thomas, who considers his firm to be ‘section 16 inventors ,’ told InterGame that he felt the ATEI was excellent, and that there was a lot of interest in the games his company had on show. “Operators have the security of being able to buy a proven game like Haunted House, and getting three other games in the same cabinet, so they can try other ideas.” Thomas believes that his cabinets are ‘good, designed with the engineer in mind.’ He added: “The games are good, designed with not only this week’s cash box, but the future business in mind, and the knowledge that we have the cabinets out ourselves, so will ensure a stream of games in the future.” Title : Golden Winner Golden Winner, Mazooma’s latest Section 16/21 machine got a very favourable reception at ATEI. Its sharp, clear video graphics and single top reel, which awards its random winning streak, presents an easy on the eye concept and early results are confirming that the players also appreciate this new Mazooma design. Golden Winner is a five-reel, 20 winline multiplier with all lines active on all stakes. Bet 50p, £ 1 or £ 2 per spin. Reel wins increase in value the higher the stake. A jester is ‘wild’ for symbols. There Golden Winner symbols left to right or right to left award the Golden Winner streak feature where the single top reel spins awarding random wins that accumulate. The feature continues until a pip lands on the winline or the maximum £ 500 is reached. The first batch of Golden Winner is already out and with its combination of a good earning game coupled with a very keen pricing strategy Mazooma anticipates good market penetration with this new game. Title : Buzz Balls At the ATEI, UK- based developer and cabinet manufacturer Fat Spanner revealed a prototype version of a four-player quiz game, based on the popular PS2 offering – Buzz. The prototype concept, know as PlayBox, could be the first SWP to feature four separate payout trays. Currently, Fat Spanner is working on fine-tuning the content and gameplay of this simultaneous four player effort in order to suit noisy environments. Title : Mysterion Roulette Ukraine outfit Odrex demonstrated its Mysterion Roulette wheel on the Electrocoin stand at the ATEI. A small video camera positioned above the wheel, protected by the dome above, records all the action. This can be transmitted, live, to another separate single terminal for players who prefer to do their gambling alone. This idea is a simplebut effective one inasmuch as the solo player can feel as if he’s gambling on a ‘real’ wheel but without the pressure of sitting around a roulette table with other people. For security purposes, the machine, which can be easily upgraded from four to six seats because of its modular design, has been fitted with a fiscal mechanism. * Austtrian firm innovates New kid on the block Infinity Games from Austria provided the ATEI with a rare piece of originality – an eight- player automated roulette where you can Playwin Poker in between wheel spins, thus giving operators the opportunity to make more money in less time. Sales manager Eddy Vyncke pointed out that his firm’s Infinity Blue automated roulettes could nbe liveried in any colour or style, depending on customer preference. Infinity’s roulette can be linked to single-player terminals where the results are the same as the main table, so that theoretically up to 18 people can play the same game simultaneously. In addition to the poker feature,Infinity has added extra unique gameplay to the roulette game itself. There is an option to bet on numbers ending in certain digits, for example, bets can be made on 0, 10,20 and 30 or 1, 11, 21 and 31 and so on. “Also, the wheel turns in both directions, just like a real roulette wheel.” The table features ticket in/out options and a banknote acceptor. Infinity hopes to roll out 100 tables a year initially and will ramp up production if its offering if orders go well. * Suzo Happ’s Evolution Suzo Happ released its Evolution hopper at this year’s ATE/ICE exhibition. The Evolution is the next generation belt-driven hopper. The Evolution has been designed with excellent quality and servicing in mind. According to the firm: “Not only is the Evolution the quickest belt-driven coin payout hopper, the strong motor and electronics concentrated on one board ensure the long life and reliability of this product.” Title : Tower Beaver demonstrated its range of tower vending machines at the recent ATEI, a show that has always been a busy one for the US firm. Positioned on the IPH stand, its UK distributor, Beaver’s towers are composed of small interlocking vending machines (maximum vend being 3ins capsules) with a traditional turn handle-fronted ‘smart’ coin mech. The raison d’etre of the towers is that they combine a small ( 12ins X 12ins) footprint with a stack of machines that reach up to 12ft in height – especially convenient for members of the US basketball squad. Beaver’s Eric Te Bogt told InterGame that the towers have been positioned in shopping centers, grocery stores, movie theatres and bowling alleys worldwide, with North America being the biggest market. Title : XD Theater The XD Theater features 3D, high definition motion-based entertainment films that immerse the audience into the world they are witnessing. To further enhance the experience, the seats in these machines boast Triotech’s Mad Wave Motion seat advantage, which brings a wide range of simulation from subtle sensations to intense Vibration – in other worlds, not just jolts and tits. A mobile version of the XD Theater will be available soon. Distributed in the UK by Deith, XD Theater has already enjoyed success in its home country the US and Australia.  Title : S’print Trident has announced a new addition to its range of Custom Engineering products. The S’print portable printer with Wi-Fi interface is a wireless, lightweight yet durable thermal line printer suitable for mobile applications. It is the latest addition to a series of portable printers manufactured by Custom. Users now have the choice of serial, infra-red, irda, bluetooth or Wi-Fi S’print models. Weighing 466g and measuring 148mm x 88m x 79mm, the S’print boasts a printing speed of 60mm per second in straight or reverse mode. Wi-Fi Ian 802.11 compact flahs wireless, serial and Ethernet interface come as standard. The S’print also utilize 50mm diameter paper roll and can print continuously for up to one hour. The means that for the average user, the unit will last several days before charging is necessary * Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Inspired Broadcast Networks has secured the exclusive SWP rights from Celador International to build and distribute Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, the game versoion of the television show. As part of of the deal, Inspired will develop a brand new game with new features and brand new footage, filmed in the real Millionaire studios. Inspired will also launch a version with new multiplayer and tournament functionality which will provide a unique player experience.
* Security forges ahead of ATEI In the first of a new bi-monthly column covering all aspects of security in the amusements and gaming industry, Stephen Farnsworth , MD of Camlock Systems, reviews security developments at ATEI. I expect that , like us, many exhibitors at ATEI and ICE posted a record number of orders and enquiries this year.
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