Slots at IGA

Last month’s Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention included a conference program exploring issues vital to Native American casinos and the Indian Gaming Association, and more than 400 exhibitors demonstrating products vital to tribal casinos.

For major slot manufacturers, however, the Indian Gaming exhibit floor provides a forum for game debuts second only in the U.S. to Global Gaming Expo.

The slot suppliers did not disappoint in this year’s show. Here, in alphabetical order by manufacturer, are show reveals of new slots from the IGA show.

AGS

AGS once again tapped the ongoing success of the Rakin’ Bacon series with Rakin’ Bacon Hogtoberfest and Rakin’ Bacon Hogger Lager, sister games with a unique free-spin bonus augmented by three collection pots. The pots are marked “Boosted Frames,” “Expanded Reels” and “Giant Symbols.”

A gold coin on the reels triggers the spin of a two-tiered wheel. On the outer wheel are progressives and combinations of the pot enhancements. On the inner wheel are numbers of upgrades for the free spins. Upgrades are marked “Barley,” “Pretzel,” “Sausage” and “Gold Steins.” During the free spins, any stein symbol landing on the reels adds a frame to that reel spot, its color indicating the upgrade level of the award. The value upgrades with every additional stein, with the highest value achieved when the Gold Stein level is achieved. At the end of the feature, the main “Cornsquealius” pig character eats all the upgraded prizes in a funny animated sequence.

AGS also launched Hat Trick Hare, a three-pot collection game in the core video category with pots enhancing a free-spin round; and Cash Carriage, a train-themed game on the large-format SL 75+ cabinet. In the latter game, different-colored train symbols enhance a hold-and-spin bonus, including a green train that travels across the screen dumping credit awards from its carriages, which accumulate into a single cash-on-reels award.

Aristocrat Gaming

Aristocrat introduced a new Class II-only game series, in the Frenzy Jackpot family. The launch game is Mr. Money Bags Makes Another Mint—a sequel to the original “Makes A Mint” version. It is the first Class II game to be featured on the popular Baron Portrait cabinet.

This is a three-pot collection game with Aristocrat’s trademark Hold & Spin feature—and a few unique twists. The pots that enhance the Hold & Spin bonus are “Multipliers,” Wild Reels” and “Expanding Reels.” During the feature, boots beneath each reel “kick” cash-on-reels symbols upward, the object to achieve four on the top row, which triggers a wheel spin.

The wheel spins to big multipliers or any of the four jackpots, including the top progressive, resetting at $25,000.

The company is releasing a sister game called Ruby’s Wild Weekend in New York.

Aristocrat also launched a new game in its NFL series. Called NFL Super Grand Champion, the game, featured on the Baron Portrait, is the first to celebrate the player’s home city as much as its team. Instead of game highlight footage as in previous NFL games, each focuses on individual “hero” characters of the city of the team picked by the player at the beginning. For instance, the Steelers version of the game focuses on steel workers as the heroes.

Cash-on-reels symbols appear as gold helmets in the Hold & Spin bonus. This main feature starts on a three-by-five grid, but unlocks additional rows as more helmets are accumulated. The goal is to unlock a three-row “Red Zone” with higher awards. There also is a game-within-a-game that can be triggered during the main feature, a mini Hold & Spin on a nine-spot grid. Blacking out all nine spots triggers the spin of a football for prizes including the Super Grand Jackpot.

Aruze Gaming Global

Aruze launched Trolley Tracks of Gold, a clever gold-mining theme on the Muso Summit cabinet. Produced in partnership with Tommy Ltd., the game—base games are Prospector and Claw—features pickaxe symbols that mine gold nuggets to the screen to trigger the Gold Mine Feature, a hold-and-spin bonus that begins on a three-by-three grid, with three additional rows locked above the array. Dynamite symbols landing during the feature unlock additional rows.

Special symbols landing in the center circle on the screen award enhancements for the hold-and-spin including boosts of cash-on-reels awards, instant collection of all cash symbols, and extra spins.

There also is a separate free-game bonus, in which collecting four diamond symbols triggers the main hold-and-spin event.

Bluberi

Bluberi launched the latest game in the hit series that began with Devil’s Lock. Imperial Lock Dragon reprises the most popular feature of the original, in which the game’s main character (the dragon, in this case) appears in the middle spot on the reel array to pay all cash-on-reels values immediately. In the free games, the dragon stays in the middle, instantly awarding all cash-on-reels awards with every spin.

In the free-spin bonus, doors beneath the reels trigger the “Slice ‘N Dice” feature popular in previous incarnations of the series. In this feature, certain credit prizes or jackpots can transform into a unique grid-based feature. The action begins on a two-by-two grid and can expand up to a five-by-five grid with each blackout.

Achieving a full blackout on the final grid unlocks the Wheel Bonus, which can trigger free games and grant additional free games if already in the bonus. Prizes in the free games include cash-on-reels and all five jackpots. For the first time, jackpot amounts increment with higher wagers.

Eclipse Gaming Systems

Eclipse used the IGA show to launch Precious Pot, with base games Kung Fu Kitty and Sakura Samurai. It is a single-pot game on the new Callisto cabinet. A fun primary-game feature involves the main kitty character. At random, a kitty paw scratches a reel to trigger a re-spin of the reel or a nudge to change a losing spin into a winner, or knocks the collection pot over to trigger the main free-spin bonus.

The free spins, also triggered by three bonus symbols, occur on reels that expand up to seven reels by seven rows high. The kitty also appears here, adding multipliers to cash-on-reels and even jackpot symbols. The initial eight-spin feature can be extended with two bonus symbols, adding three spins. “Grow” symbols cause the reels to expand.

Any wild symbol can trigger the Pick’Em feature, in which players pick icons to win free spins, multipliers, or one of four jackpots, including the Grand progressive.

Eclipse also debuted Wicked Mad Hot, a two-game family with three collection pots that enhance a free-spin bonus with stacked wilds, expanded reels and growing multipliers. All pays are doubled in the free spins.

Finally, Eclipse displayed the newest Class II electronic table game developed in partnership with Interblock, an electronic Craps game featuring a realistic portrayal of how a live craps roll unfolds.

Gaming Arts

Gaming Arts unveiled a game that was distinctive in its retro look, 7s Fireblitz Power 5, from White Hat Studios. It appears as a traditional three-reel video slot with fruit symbols dotting the reels. A wager of 320 credits or more triggers “Power Play Mode” for the hold-and-spin feature. Fireblitz symbols collect all cash-on-reels awards and consolidate them into a single cash award, locked as the feature continues.

Gaming Arts also launched Imperial River Temple, a two-game Asian-themed slot featuring a “Dragon Boat” above the reels that holds three collection pots. The perceived persistence feature has the pagodas on top of “MultiRise,” Jackpot” and “Extra” rise up as corresponding symbols land in the primary game. The main hold-and-spin bonus begins on a three-row array, with arrows that unlock up to three more rows.

After unlocking three rows, a secondary hold-and-spin event, Jackpot Bonus, takes place on a three-by-three grid including cash-on-reels, jackpot symbols and an extra-spin spot.

Incredible Technologies

Incredible Technologies debuted a new cabinet—the Prism Spark, featuring a 43-inch portrait monitor and a 27-inch top monitor. The launch title is Warrior’s Wealth, with base games Purple Dynasty and Red Dynasty. Any firecracker symbol can trigger a mystery “Symbol Boost” free-spin bonus, beginning on a single reel array but with three more arrays potentially unlocked during the feature—the top array appearing on the 27-inch top monitor. As the bonus progresses, random symbols are replaced by the top-paying symbol.

The other mystery bonus triggered by a firecracker symbol is called “Prize Blast.” Ten free spins occur, with green doors revealing cash-on-reels symbols that accumulate in buckets over the reels, to be awarded at the end of the feature.

IGT

IGT continued its yearlong celebration of the Wheel of Fortune game family’s 25th anniversary with the launch of Wheel of Fortune Dream Destinations on the towering SkyRise cabinet. The game combines the tried-and-true wheel spin with a variety of bonus features.

For instance, the game reprises the Guaranteed Wilds Feature first seen in the game Regal Riches. Six or more wild symbols appear as blue gems in the base game, and when six or more are accumulated, they are distributed as guaranteed wilds in 10 free games. Some wilds spin during the feature to reveal credit awards or jackpots.

There also is a Jackpot Bonus triggered by a replica of the famous puzzle from the Wheel of Fortune game show. Special symbols in the primary game solve the puzzle, triggering a true-pick bonus in which icons send different-colored gems accumulating under each jackpot meter, including the top Mega and Grand jackpots.

Another new launch was Siji Link, with base games Spring and Summer. It is a three-pot game, the collection pots enhancing a hold-and-spin bonus on a five-by-five grid, with the top two rows locked. Firecracker symbols unlock the top two rows, and in addition to the normal cash-on-reels symbols are miniature wheels that can spin to one of the jackpots. Also debuted was King Khufu, another three-pot game with enhanced free spins.

IGT also launched a new Class II-only cabinet called the Dynasty 55, the large-format cabinet housing wide-area progressive games. The launch game is Dynamite Pop, a brand refresh adding a collection pot feature and the Diamond Blast Bonus, which awards a credit prize for three or more diamonds.

Interblock

Interblock added to its AMUSE line of electronic table games with Destroyer: Naval Strike, an entertaining game that applies wagers to a layout that recalls the legendary competitive game Battleship. There are three sizes of ships, each with a designated award for a hit. Players arrange the ships on a grid, and then send dice in a chamber tumbling to a letter and number which correspond to a spot on the grid. Three missiles are launched, landing on a ship for a win or in the water for a miss. Each hit grants an additional missile, and the player can buy three additional missiles.

Light & Wonder

Light & Wonder launched a new game in the long-running Quick Hit series. Featured on the imposing Cosmic Sky cabinet, Quick Hit Ultra Link uses all that extra real estate for a bonus on a giant wheel that can land on any of four enhancements for the main hold-and-spin bonus event.

If the wheel lands on the gold enhancement slice, it triggers a game within the game—a four-space wheel that can land cash-on-reels or Quick Hit symbols.

Three Quick Hit symbols trigger the main hold-and-spin event, consisting entirely of locked and accumulating Quick Spin symbols which, as in the original game, trigger one of the progressive jackpots, its level depending on the number of Quick Hit symbols accumulated during the feature.

L&W also introduced the next game in its Universal Monsters series, Bride of Frankenstein. Featured on the immersive LightWave cabinet presentation, it reprises the main feature of previous titles in the series—awards for combinations of lead-monster symbols (in this case the Bride) played out on a top prize board, which buzzes electricity between the award and the electrodes on the triggering monster’s neck. The spectacle is simultaneously displayed on the LightWave LED backing display.

This latest game also features a collection feature that can add a third monster symbol to trigger the main bonus.

L&W launched two other games on the Lightwave format—Huff N’ Puff Link, which adds a hold-and-spin feature to the familiar game; and Hot Hot Flaming Pots, on the new Lightwave Solar cabinet, a for-sale cabinet with a 49-inch curved portrait monitor. The latter is a three-pot game with enhanced free spins.

Konami Gaming

Konami launched a new gold mine-themed game on its Solstice 59C cabinet. Called Diggin’ Bros. (with base games Cache and Stash), it features dynamite symbols that enhance awards on free-spin and hold-and-spin bonus events. During the base game, green dynamite symbols split cash-on-reels symbols in two for a double prize, and red dynamite symbols randomly spread wilds across the screen.

The hold-and-spin event is triggered by six or more gold nuggets and/or diamond symbols. During the hold-and-spin feature, a green dynamite symbol splits cash-on-reels symbols in two, and red dynamite boosts the prize values of the cash awards.

Konami also debuted Dragon’s Law Super, an extension of the Dragon’s Law series on the triple-screen Dimension 27 and Dimension 43 cabinets, with a bonus wheel added to the display. When free spins are triggered, the wheel can add three or five games to the original eight, or add reel sets, all the way up to eight reel arrays. There also are jackpot slices on the wheel. When a wheel slice lands, that wedge becomes a collect symbol. Spins continue until a collect lands.

The company also displayed Unwooly Super Riches, a brand extension on the Dimension 49C cabinet. It reprises “Sugar” and “Spice,” the sheep characters from the original game, and adds a hold-and-spin feature that unlocks additional rows and includes a special symbol that pays all cash-on-reels awards on that reel.

Novomatic Americas

Novomatic launched the game Ghost Party on its uber-comfortable V.I.P. Royal cabinet (with armchair operation of the spin buttons). It is a five-pot game featuring the Vision Link multi-game progressive link. The five enhancements are represented by five ghost characters, which include dog and cat ghosts. When triggered, they enhance a free-spin round with cash-on-reels awards, extra spins, and a jackpot bonus in which ghostly eyeballs fill meters beneath each jackpot.

Novomatic also introduced the Dream Cabinet, a multi-game unit including both slots and video table games.

Sega Sammy Creation

Sega Sammy introduced Bonanza Bros., a new hold-and-spin video slot based on the legendary Sega arcade game featuring several Blues Brothers-style characters. Here, the characters appear above the reels as collection pots that can enhance the hold-and-spin feature with every spin, adding cash-on-reels symbols, boosting awards and instantly collecting the cash symbols on the reels.

During the feature, “ON” symbols add letters to the word “BONANZA,” which triggers a second-screen feature in which money bags float up the screen toward balloons to award credits, cash-on-reels awards, and jackpots up to the Grand progressive, which resets at $10,000.

Zitro

Zitro launched Treasure Shore, a pirate-themed game family with initial base games Black Beard and Red Beard. The game features both a free-spin bonus and the Bonus Link hold-and-spin feature.

The Bonus Link feature is more frequent with the player’s “Energy Boost” bet. During the Bonus Link, the array expands to a six-by-five grid, with the top three rows initially locked. Cascading gem symbols during the feature unlock additional rows, as well as awarding multipliers and boosting cash-on-reels awards. For the latter enhancement, the award boosts can expand to a three-by-three area around the symbol.

Unlocking the top row on the grid adds jackpot symbols to the gridI including the top Mega, resetting at $100,000.

Additionally, Zitro drew a lot of attention at the show with another launch, Funny Bunnies, a pot-collection game in which the pots are represented by cute green and blue bunnies. These bunnies collect toward enhancements in the main feature, a hold-and-spin bonus in which the cash symbols appear as digits, from two to four, representing the credit awards. When two or more cells display the same value, they merge, lining up the total digits into a single, larger award easily into five or even six digits.       The enhancements apply multipliers to cash symbols on a row, increase the value of cash symbols, and expand the array row by row to a five-by