Konami’s recipe for expansion in Asia? Dragons, a Goliath of a slot cabinet and some dazzling 3D, for starters
Konami Gaming is focused on growing its markets in the region and has chosen for this year’s G2E Asia a new progressive, a new cabinet and a new system to help it realize that ambition.
Although Konami has always had a presence on the continent (it was founded in Japan in 1973 as a manufacturer of video game equipment), it has over the past two decades been ramping up its efforts to serve the casino industry worldwide. The first expansion occurred in 1996 with the formation of Konami Australia Pty Ltd. Last year, the company announced that it was establishing a branch office in Singapore to help concentrate its efforts to sell and support its games and products in East Asia, especially in the booming market of Macau.
“Konami has experienced success in Asian gaming markets with products such as Podium and Advantage 5, and we will continue to unveil innovative products to support our presence in the market,” says John Gomes, Singapore branch manager.
The company is particularly excited about G2E Asia 2013 where it will show for the first time in Macau its KP3 video game series; a new progressive, Dragon’s Victory; a new cabinet, the Podium Goliath; and the Synkros casino management system.
The theme at the stand this year is “Born From Fun,” and KP3 on the Podium cabinet will be one of its highlights. Konami is giving special attention to the graphically dynamic KP3, one of its newest video platforms, with an eye-popping, real-time 3D interface that adds a fresh and uniquely personal dimension to the slot experience.
The new Podium Goliath is a whopping 93 inches tall.
Director of Game Product Management Steve Walther explains that the realism is thanks to the more powerful processor featured in the KP3, which also enables greater creative flexibility in game design, while the Podium cabinet brings it all together with dual displays that work in harmony for seamless play and lighting that synchronizes with the action during “celebration” modes.
Dragons hold a special place in Asian lore, especially in China, so Konami is confident it has a winner in Dragon’s Victory, a four-level linked progressive that features a colorful take on the fire-breathing beast that appears when the progressive is randomly triggered. During the progressive game, 12 “Pearls” are displayed which the dragon randomly selects to uncover a colored medallion. Once three medallions of the same color are uncovered, the corresponding jackpot level is awarded.
Dragon’s Victory is compatible with both the KP3 and K2V game series and will be released with Konami’s most popular titles.
The new Podium Goliath is a larger version of the company’s very popular Podium video platform, and, indeed, at a whopping 93 inches tall more than lives up to its name. It features dual 32-inch high-definition LCDs, an enhanced sound system, an ergonomic button panel to provide greater comfort for longer play and 360-degree “attract” lighting. It also is designed to support K2V and KP3 games, including stand-alone progressives. But initially it’s the sheer size of the Goliath that demands attention, and in the United States this is being exploited in high-traffic areas for maximum effect.
Synkros, another of Konami’s G2E Asia 2013 unveilings, represents the latest evolution of the Konami Casino Management System, one that “Synkronizes” all aspects of a gaming operation, as Mr Walther puts it. It offers advanced capabilities for real-time analysis and an extensive kit of innovative marketing tools designed to increase time on device, visitation rates and player card signups. These include True Time Tournaments—a unique approach to system-delivered community gaming that allows players to participate in tournaments at their convenience via “on-demand” and “group-start” formats—and SuperSeries, a multi-level, multi-themed floor-wide bonusing tool.
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