“Customers were very excited with new releases at PGS”
(Exclusive interview).- Konami Gaming Inc talked with Focus Gaming News about its successful performance at Peru Gaming Show.
Konami Gaming Inc showcased its products at Peru Gaming Show and was very well received by attendees. Eduardo Aching, Vice President, International Gaming Operations at Konami, talked with Focus Gaming News and discussed the company’s performance and its future plans.
How was the public response to the 50 new themes for SeleXion multi-game at this year’s edition of Peru Gaming Show? What are your expectations for the product in the near future?
With any new slot cabinet, casino properties want to make sure the machine is supported by a growing game theme library, which is why at PGS 2018 we showcased the strong depth and variety of fresh game content for everything from Concerto Crescent to standard upright. Our casino customers are pleased to see expansions on classic titles with releases like Lotus Land Deluxe Wild, Mayan Chief Great Stacks, African Beat, and even Quick Strike. Additionally, there is strong global momentum for Konami’s newest bonus game mechanics in games like Smash Smash Festival linked, Star Watch Magma, Lucky O’Leary Jackpots, and Celestial Moon Riches. These games have proven performance and popularity with today’s players and we’re focused on continued R&D innovation for the newest Konami progressive and bonus game features.
Before the show, you said that you were looking forward to hearing from customers about their needs and observations. What kind of feedback did you receive after interacting with them?
Customers from around the region expressed praise for the Pacific Gaming team, Konami’s exclusive distributor for Peru. Pacific Gaming has done exceptionally well in providing key local support, product insight, and strategic consultation to Peruvian operators, and it shows in the conversations and partnership we observed at PGS 2018.
On the product side, customers were very excited with new releases like Smash Smash Festival and the curved Concerto Crescent cabinet. They are confident these latest products will help to improve their floor.
There is strong global momentum for Konami’s newest bonus game mechanics.
The Latin American industry is currently in a period of growth and maturity. What other steps can Konami take along with its exclusive distributor for Peru, Pacific Gaming, to help develop the local industry?
Two of the most important things we can provide to support continued growth in Peru are quality and support. Konami is committed to delivering the top quality hardware and software, with true long-term value for casinos and players. At the same time, Pacific Gaming delivers important local support along the way so operators always have direct access to knowledgeable representatives.
On the product side, customers were very excited with new releases like Smash Smash Festival and the curved Concerto Crescent cabinet. They are confident these latest products will help to improve their floor.
You’ve recently said that Konami’s latest products are expected to gain record growth across the region. In what specific markets are you planning to support local operators in order to extend your reach in the Latin American region?
Our efforts and results are cumulative in the region. We must maintain engagement across the regulated countries where Konami is present to continually support local operators with top game entertainment options.
What are your plans for the second half of the year? Will you be presenting new products at upcoming shows?
There are many more releases for single-screen Crescent and Stack that we’re excited to introduce to Latin America this year. In particular, Konami’s Strike Zone game mechanic has demonstrated outstanding success and is featured in new Crescent/Stack games like Star Watch Magma, Star Watch Fire, and Agent: Magnifying Jackpots. These titles uniquely reward players with symbol-driven bonus events at higher bet amounts and have strong potential for expansion in the region. Additionally, this year marks the release of Konami’s new 65” screen Concerto Opus machine. In many ways, Concerto Opus is the next evolution of our Podium Goliath cabinet, which has seen strong popularity as an oversized cabinet with great game content and reasonable floor space requirements. Concerto Opus delivers those same benefits in 4K Ultra HD resolution with exclusive game releases like Solstice Celebration Triple Sparkle and Riches with Daikoku Triple Sparkle. All will be included among Konami’s G2E lineup this fall.
