Konami reviews G2E performance

The gaming operator unveiled a number of products at this year’s G2E Las Vegas.

US.- This year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) marked the debut of several key product releases by Konami Gaming, Inc., including its all-new KX 43TM video slot cabinet, SynkConnectTM “cardless” player loyalty solution, MarkerTraxTM cashless slot credit, and a record volume of symbol-driven jackpot games across the Concerto Collection, from the Color BloomTM series to the Thunder ArrowTM series. In Las Vegas on October 9 – 11, more than 26,000 casino representatives from markets around the world had the opportunity to experience a variety of games and systems technology aimed at meaningful player value and enduring entertainment.

With a standard cabinet width, four-times the pixel depth of standard HD, and leading library of 4K-resolution game themes, Konami’s new KX 43 is designed as a trim-fit champion for any area of the floor. Its 43-inch, edge-lit portrait screen carries custom-programed graphic interaction with the LCD button panel, which is inlaid a relaxed slant top. KX 43 includes the core comforts and conveniences for today’s players, including USB charging port, double cup holders, and a classic bash button.

During G2E 2018, KX 43 showcased a competitive lineup of exclusive launch titles covering everything from symbol-driven linked progressives to original jackpot bonuses. A variety of titles were on display, all developed in 4K Ultra HD for graphics that catch attention and celebrate wins with stunning excitement.

Among the debut launch series on Konami’s new KX 43 is a 4-level linked progressive called Ba Fang Jin BaoTM. Available Ba Fang Jin Bao base games, including Abundant FortuneTM and Fortune TotemsTM, feature a progressive chance anytime a gold ingot symbol lands on the reels. When the progressive feature is triggered, 12 gold ingots appear across the screen, which players tap to reveal a corresponding progressive jackpot prize. When 3 matching jackpot symbols are revealed, the player is awarded the corresponding jackpot amount.

Fortune Totems is a compatible complement to Abundant Fortunes in the Ba Fang Jin Bao linked progressive series. During the free games, players select which picture symbol they wish to become gold for the duration of the feature. This selected gold symbol appears with nudging stacks and higher payouts. In addition, the gold symbol has an incrementing multiplier that increases each time it lands in a winning combination during the free games.

Vegas RiseTM is one of four debut launch themes in Konami’s new Reels UpTMlinked progressive series. This ULTRA REELS PRIMETM title features “up arrow” symbols across all 5 reels, which trigger the game’s Reels Up feature. Whenever the arrows land on reels 1 and 2, it causes reel 3 to expand upward for the chance to spin a bonus cash reel filled with instant guaranteed awards. Reel 4 and reel 5 also expanded up into independent cash reels when arrows land in each of the preceding reels. All the bonus cash reels contain instant credit prize and jackpot opportunities, including the big supreme. Vegas Rise is multi-denom, integrated linked progressive showcased on KX 43 in 4K Ultra HD.

Expanding EgyptTM is another showcase game in Konami’s new Reel Up linked progressive series. Rather than bonus reels, Expanding Egypt offers players the chance to expand reels 3, 4, and 5 into guaranteed wheel-spin awards spanning credit prize amounts to the $10,000+ Supreme. During the free game feature, the game’s standard 3×5 reel frame expands to 4×5 for increased odds of reaching instant wheel-spin prizes in the Reels Up feature. Expanding Egypt is a multi-denom, 3-level linked progressive that compatibly compliments Vegas Rise on KX 43.

Konami is bringing top gaming entertainment to the big screen with the market release of Concerto OpusTM. Boasting an extra-large, 65-inch 4K Ultra HD display, this super-sized format makes every win an incredible celebration for players and pairs. Each machine features a custom-lighted TouchDashTM button deck with dual spin buttons and cup holders, as well as an optional USB charger. Concerto Opus showcased a debut lineup of 4K game themes including incredible linked progressives.

Konami’s curved Concerto CrescentTM and tall Concerto StackTM both feature a stunning 43-inch HD vertical display, with signature Concerto highlights such as the unique side lighting element and sleek black finish. These single-screen formats give players exclusive game content designed to optimize the machines’ extra-tall portrait orientation. Concerto Crescent and Stack both maintain a standard upright base size for flexible configuration across the casino floor.

Characterized by a sleek immersive design and backed by the powerful KP3+TM platform, Konami’s dual-screen Concerto upright and SlantTM have become the launch point for a number of top-performing releases from Chili Chili Fire to Sparkling Roses. Concerto’s rich library of original game content continues to introduce leading entertainment from base game innovations to never-before-seen jackpot mechanics.

Konami’s popular SeleXion® is bringing the industry’s most agile and customizable multi-game technology to a record variety of Concerto cabinets: upright, Slant, Crescent, and Stack. SeleXion’s robust processing power gives players the fastest game change speed and an optimal interface to enjoy a fun mix of their favourite games in one spot. Operators can custom select up to ten different game themes on a single machine, as well as a progressive bonus.

SeleXion’s expansion to Concerto Stack and Concerto Crescent provides a versatile solution for casinos to feature a rapidly expanding library of single screen game releases from Konami. New single screen titles like Mayan Chief Great StacksTM, Lotus Land Deluxe WildsTM, Agent: Magnifying Jackpots, and Inspector: Sign of the Jackpots can all be featured on one machine. Players have access to an entertaining variety of the latest games with one of the most popular multi-game platforms globally.

The focus of Konami’s award-winning SYNKROS® casino management system during G2E 2018 was on enhancing player convenience, in-game marketing, and branded loyalty program touchpoints. SYNKROS was operating live throughout the booth as a comprehensive demo environment for guests to explore a variety of leading tools and features. From “cardless” player loyalty solutions to top windowing technology, Konami’sSYNKROS introduced a number of leading advancements at G2E 2018 designed to empower casino operators with the latest systems tools to benefit their business and their customers.

The year marked the industry debut of Konami’s SynkConnect “cardless” player tracking convenience. This touchless, multi-channel solution empowers casino players with a variety of secure methods to augment or replace a traditional player loyalty card at the EGM, including their personal mobile device, fobs, a room key, and more. It helps open up more opportunities for players to connect and engage with property loyalty programs by combing Near Field Communication (NFC) through a card reader. For mobile cardless connection, players simply tap a personal smartphone device at the zone of the card reader bezel and the card reader changes colour to indicate blue for inactive/uncarded connection, green for successful active connection, or red for misread/failed connection.

Konami has also developed SynkConnect Mobile as a robust mobile application to give players all the benefits of touchless authentication. This cardless player tracking convenience empowers players to log in to any equipped EGM through the app and enjoy all the tools to view and manage their loyalty account from anywhere. Properties can customize the SynkConnect app options to mirror the property brand and link it with an existing app.

Konami’s SynkConnect helps transform how casino players connect and engage with the casino’s loyalty program using the technology conveniences already interlaced through their daily life and the guest experience. With more new ways for players to connect, SynkConnect helps eliminate barriers caused by dependence on traditional loyalty cards and increase “carded” play activity through a number of convenient methods of authentication.

With Konami’s new MarxerTraxTM, casinos can issue, record, manage, and track slot credit that is extended to player accounts directly in SYNKROS for optimal credit collection and AML compliance measures. MarkerTrax allows operators to manage a player’s credit limit in order to provide slot credit directly to a carded patron’s electronic Cashless Wagering Account (CWA). Rather than issuing physical cash in the amount of the marker to a slot player, a PIN-protected CWA is created for the player account. Once the credit line is established, the patron can draw down funds via a standard marker and apply them to their CWA account, which can then be used to apply credits directly to any equipped slot machine.

By tracking not only the extension of credit but the use of the credit, MarkerTrax can improve both credit collections and compliance. It allows patrons to receive information about their slot credit automatically and access electronically from any EGM at any directly affiliated casino. For operators, it creates a verifiable audit trail to ensure that casino credit is played in the casino and not taken elsewhere. SYNKROS with MarkerTrax also prohibits shared accounts, so credit can clearly be traced to the patron who signed the credit application and marker.