New slots unveiled

19 November 2015

By John Grochowski

Every year, hundreds of new games are introduced on slot machines. That’s all in keeping up with player demand for new, exciting ways to play. Peak popularity for any game lasts only a few months, and new games have to be continually cycled onto the floor.

During the three days of Global Gaming Expo this fall at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, I took trial runs on dozens of games that you’ll be seeing in the coming year. Here are a few that caught my eye.

Game of Thrones, from Aristocrat: With a hot theme based on George R.R. Martin’s series of novels and the hit HBO TV show, Aristocrat loaded Game of Thrones slot with special features. Video, animation and graphics surround you with the quest for the Iron Throne in the mystical world of demons, dragons and direwolves.

Aristocrat has long been a master of making free-spin bonuses entertaining, and Game of Thrones gives the gamemaker plenty to work with. Bonuses keep with the theme, naturally, with the Battle of Blackwater Bay, the Wall and Mother of Dragons among the bonus events. Two big, curved screens are stacked on top of each other to immerse you in the Game of Thrones atmosphere.

Crazy Money Deluxe, from Incredible Technologies: The Infinity Skybox cabinet gives Incredible Technologies the ability to build up with extra impact and bonusing opportunities by topping its advanced Infinity U23 cabinet with an integrated 55-inch vertical monitor.

That gives IT a tall cabinet, easily spotted from across the casino floor, without taking up the extra horizontal space taken by some jumbo cabinets. It’s all used to good effect on Crazy Money Deluxe, which adds a wheel bonus and a linked progressive jackpot to the popular Crazy Money Line. There’s a money catch bonus – touch the screen to catch the falling bills. And just as in last year’s megahit Money Rain, when you get a winning combination, the presidents on the currency give you a smile.

Quad Bust Tiger Strike, from Everi: When Multimedia Games and Global Cash Access merged, they rebranded the company as Everi, pronounced “every” – fitting enough for a company that produces cash handling solutions as well as slot games.

One fun new slot game is Quad Burst Tiger Strike, where any random spin can turn into a double spin, with a second set of reels in the top box for an extra chance to win. In regular, single-screen play, if you collect enough bonus symbols to launch a free-spin event, you get four reel sets on the main screen for your free spins. But if you’re in double-spin mode and launch a bonus, then both the reel set on the main screen and the reel set in the top box burst into four. Then you have eight sets for reels going four your free spins, and a shot at some monster wins.

Tiger Tiger, from American Gaming Systems: AGC, incorporating Cadillac Jack after their merger, is bullish on its new Icon cabinet for Class III games, and Tiger Tiger is a great way to show it off. Tiger Tiger has a dynamic streaming stacks feature, with long rows of the same symbol. In the free spins bonus, there are only four different symbols – all the small-payers sit out the event, you see stacks for Bengal tigers, black tigers, huntresses and wild symbols. That opens the door to a screen full of the same symbol and the possibility of some roaring big wins.

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