Operator News
US – Iron Man showing slot steel for WMS
By Phil - 26 September 2013
Cinematic licences Iron Man and Beetle Juice were turning heads on the stand of WMS at G2E, along with a three-reel mechanical Blade Stepper gaming machine, special features and dedicated games for international markets, a unique new Monopoly participation game on the Blade platform and more than 50 new games.
The excitement of the Iron Man films fits perfectly with the 32-inch LCD of the Gamefield xD cabinet, due to the vertically expanded 5×12 reel array with 80 lines. A player looking for action will definitely find it in the high-frequency base game features such as the Stark Industries Jericho Missile Feature, Jarvis Feature and Anton Vanko (Whiplash Feature). The Free Spin Bonus takes over the full dual-screen display to put the players in the Iron Man suit and fly them through the action of the film. During the free spins, symbols stream down from the top screen and flood the reels with big stacks of the same symbol, which creates the potential for massive wins.
The Beetle Juice slot, expected to be available early in calendar 2014, combines the same comedy-horror-fantasy elements as the eponymous cult classic film and the film’s popular music such as The Banana Boat Song and Jump in the Line to create a uniquely entertaining WAP game. Featuring the movie’s original creative “haunted house” characters, game play utilizes a large 6×9 reel array with super-sized symbols that offers players 80 lines of gaming action. Three unique Beetle Juice symbols trigger a wheel spin that can award players the opportunity to win one of four mini- bonus rounds. With multiple additional bonus rounds and award multipliers providing extra game entertainment and excitement for their original wager, players will also find that over-sized symbols in the base game result in a unique aspect for every reel spin.
Larry Pacey, Executive Vice President, Global Products and Chief Innovation Officer of WMS, said: “The ground-breaking design of the Gamefield xD cabinet features a unique, expansive field of view from its two 32-inch LCD screens and spectacular high-definition graphics that provide industry-first, attention-grabbing visual perspectives and powerful new player entertainment experiences, which have resulted in the cabinet quickly proving to be one of the industry’s strongest performing products. As follow-up games to the very successful Monopoly and The Wizard of Oz Gamefield xD games, these new player-appealing games offer the same exceptional levels of player interaction. WMS combines imaginative game content, innovative cabinet design and advanced technologies to continually raise the bar on gaming entertainment. Through this focus, we create superior differentiated products that are designed to deliver high gaming entertainment value to players and as a result, long-lasting value for casino operators.”
Headlining the expansion of the popular Blade product line is the introduction of a mechanical reel spinning Blade Stepper cabinet designed to appeal to players looking for the authenticity and excitement of the original-type slot gaming machine’s classic mechanical reel play mechanics with features that fit in perfectly on today’s contemporary slot floor. The Blade Stepper highlights a simplified user interface and button panel, and brings back all the exhilaration of the original “one-armed bandit” with an authentic pull handle mechanism while simultaneously incorporating the advanced technological gaming capabilities of WMS’ latest-generation CPU-NXT3operating platform. The Blade Stepper is being introduced with three new high-denomination themes and five themes for the low-denomination segment of the slot floor.
Phil Gelber, Senior Vice President for Product Development at WMS, said: “The new Blade Stepper cabinet takes its inspiration from players’ perceptions and memories of their original slot machine experiences. Utilizing the latest advanced technologies, WMS game developers have taken the insights we’ve gained through extensive player research and incorporated that feedback into the design of a contemporary gaming machine that combines the appeal of genuine mechanical, reel-spinning action with the high-definition graphics that today’s players look for. The Blade Stepper provides a classic slot game experience by offering the real feel of a pull handle mechanism but with a completely modern design and slot floor capabilities. The authenticity and simplicity of the Blade Stepper gaming experience is sure to deliver the same strong player appeal that has quickly become a hallmark of the Blade product line-up.”
