JESTER BLOG
G2E 2011
LAS VEGAS
ROLLING THE DICE
LAS VEGAS
ROLLING THE DICE
The Jester was pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere at the show this year. It was held for the first time at the Sands Convention Center, from what I could see all went smoothly and it was decidedly upbeat event. There was a number of new blood exhibitors that brought some interesting innovations to the table that may stick and could improve several aspects of the business. All of the industry regulars came out with their latest and greatest, that’s why it’s called “Showtime.”
As for slots everybody has them and not much else, most manufacturers are still in the old faithful art rehash mode that has kept them in business forever. However, Bally’s Michael Jackson slot effort was outstanding, the visual and sound presentation brought the “King of Pop” back to life. Best thing I’ve ever seen this business produce bar none! It appears with all the new and powerful imaging tools available they are learning how to use them. Perhaps there is a light at the end of the slot tunnel after all; however, there was only one Michael Jackson!
In addition people were actually gambling in the casinos, big crowds walking up and down the Strip and it was mid-week. Last year Las Vegas was a scary ghost town. What was noticeable this time around was the heavy international flavor of the tourists, mostly Europeans, Asians, and Australians.
At last years show we just looked around and saw where the development voids were and where we needed to be. This year the Jester was all business with a new universal table and machine game side bet release featured in Casino Journal. We appeared in the same company as all the big dog slot manufactures in the world, they say every dog has his day; this one was ours.
Versatility is the name of our game, we're not a one trick pony when it comes to game content. Our IP product library covers the spectrum of major casino games as well as some new ones. They can perform solo on tables and machines or the Jester can dance to just about any tune a multi-game machine can play. We look to be the wild card it was time to show and tell, held our cards close to the vest waiting to for the pot to stack up. Going all in so to speak in a effort to become the chip leader with mulit-million coin video poker and slot jackpots bonus features and the "Raise" concept for table games.
Versatility is the name of our game, we're not a one trick pony when it comes to game content. Our IP product library covers the spectrum of major casino games as well as some new ones. They can perform solo on tables and machines or the Jester can dance to just about any tune a multi-game machine can play. We look to be the wild card it was time to show and tell, held our cards close to the vest waiting to for the pot to stack up. Going all in so to speak in a effort to become the chip leader with mulit-million coin video poker and slot jackpots bonus features and the "Raise" concept for table games.
Jester lives remote and has become somewhat of a hermit, the Las Vegas gaming show is my once a year neon fix. It doesn’t take more than a few days before I begin to wonder why anyone would want to live like this. Then a beautiful girl walks by and smiles at the wild man, all of a sudden it clicks there isn’t anything like that walking around out in boonies where I live. Ha!
With a 15th floor luxurious room and panoramic view of strip we hung our hat at the Las Vegas Hilton courtesy of Todd DeRemer the property’s gaming czar. My spartan mountain lifestyle has a lot to be desired in comparison and I could get used to the city life again. However, the solitude and natural beauty has kept me in the mountains for quite a few years and it doesn't take much to make my dog and I happy. I think Dazzy might have some trouble adjusting to the city life not having any rabbits to chase and Coyotes to sing with.
From the Hilton perch we plotted our strategy and attack plan for the show. At one time when I lived in this city every casino in Las Vegas was a client, we are looking to duplicate that trick again and add the rest of the world to the list.
www.thelvh.com
There was a nice departure from the normal 90 + degree October weather when a rain storm clouded up skies and rolled in which cooled things down considerably for several days. Made walking around comfortable so we took a jaunt up the Strip after the first day of the show to get a look at the Cosmopolitan which wasn’t open last year. Nice looking place with an interesting chandler theme in throughout the casino.
www.thelvh.com
There was a nice departure from the normal 90 + degree October weather when a rain storm clouded up skies and rolled in which cooled things down considerably for several days. Made walking around comfortable so we took a jaunt up the Strip after the first day of the show to get a look at the Cosmopolitan which wasn’t open last year. Nice looking place with an interesting chandler theme in throughout the casino.
Once off the Chances R Ranch, located in the Northern Arizona White Mountains we take Interstate 40 the replacement for old Route 66 and 450 miles later cross Hoover Dam and cruse into Pin Ball City.
www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/
Since the Jester has been in the business for over a quarter century there are some interesting people that I like to say hello to on these brief excursions back into civilization. One those people is Mr. Len Ainsworth the “King of Slots” founder of Aristocrat and now Ainsworth Technologies, well on his way in building another monster gaming company. He’s going about it with the energy of a much young man, a witty sense of humor, and twinkle in his eye; he’s having fun!
Mr. Len Ainsworth
Nevada is the last challenge for him to conquer in his “Hall of Fame” gaming career. Now with a Nevada license in hand he's ready to compete. Ainsworth Technology is setting up shop in Sin City, you can bet the farm he will succeed;
still going strong at 88 years young.
still going strong at 88 years young.
Left to right, Ron Ellis, Bill Richards, Lilian Goria, Mark H. Jones, President INAG, Don Ellis
If it wasn’t for the Michael Jackson slot, INAG’s “Turbo Roulette” gets my vote as best new game product of the show. Mark Jones President of the company is a real pro, his spinning card shuffler invention linking a duel draw configuration up to 250 roulette electronic betting terminal system can really rock and roll. The product provides non-stop action with up to 120 decisions an hour.
“Turbo Roulette” employs two very nice looking spinning card shufflers similar to roulette wheels that a single dealer can operate. This custom table set up provides game decisions using card draws rather than a Roulette ball type device; it’s attractive, fast and looks like a big winner to me. The Jester has incorporated the card shuffler into Gaming Dynamics product line to deliver the side bet decisions on several table game applications.
www.inag11.com
www.inag11.com
We were invited to TCS John Huxley’s exclusive off G2E site product showcase courtesy of Roger Hawkins the company’s North American CEO held at the Palms 55 floor Ghost Bar.
It was an impressive display of female talent dealing and demonstrating TCS JOHN HUXLEYS'S product arsenal that ranges from table and machine games best in the business signage to every kind of conceivable application of high performance state of the art gaming equipment.
My friend Jose Lois Benavides and Wife Gabriella, business associate, gaming attorney Jose Lois Benavides.
www.benavideslaw.com.mx
www.benavideslaw.com.mx
Some other people and companies that I got to meet for the first time as well as seeing some old friends
was Shelly Chu, Tripp Plastics the manufacturer of the ball blower system we use on some of our table game variations.
www.trippplastics.com
was Shelly Chu, Tripp Plastics the manufacturer of the ball blower system we use on some of our table game variations.
www.trippplastics.com
Chuck Hallquist, Innovative Gaming Mounts,
www.innovativegamingmounts.com
Unity 3 who are offering new and powerful software development tools to the industry.
www.unity3d.com
Paul Doocey
Editor and Chief
www.casinojournal.com
www.unity3d.com
Paul Doocey
Editor and Chief
www.casinojournal.com
Matthew Appleby and Sam Barrett Clarion Events the London ICE show and Totally Gaming guys.
www.totallygaming.com
James McKeown
Editor and Chief
www.iGamingbusiness.com
www.totallygaming.com
James McKeown
Editor and Chief
www.iGamingbusiness.com
BNP Media Gaming Events
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BNP Media Gaming Group
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Troy, MI 48084
Phone: 248-786-1636 * Fax 248-786-1404
2401 W. Big Beaver, Suite 700
Troy, MI 48084
Phone: 248-786-1636 * Fax 248-786-1404
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please contact Stephanie Weingartz
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BNP Media Gaming Events Line Up
BNP Media Gaming Events Line Up
Missed
a couple of other people I would have liked to have seen, Jim Jackson
appears to have left Shuffle Master to pursue consulting assignments,
and Shaun Webster, Director of Slots of the Four Queens; maybe next year
guys! It was a very interesting show with Reed exhibitions doing an
excellent job hosting the event, the Jester was everywhere; and it was
fun!
C YA NEXT YEAR
Best of Luck..............Jester
C YA NEXT YEAR
Best of Luck..............Jester