BY FRANK LEGATO
Global Games 2024
Our annual report on the games to be displayed by the world ’ s top slot manufacturers at the Global Gaming Expo
BY FRANK LEGATO
It is once again time to preview innovations in hardware , game style and game content that will , as always , greet the industry at the Global Gaming Expo in October .
Welcome to the 23rd edition of Global Games , our annual inside report on the games to be displayed at the G2E show . Much of what you will find on the following pages is exclusive information , as the major suppliers give us a sneak peek at the games to be displayed every year , often before they ’ ve been shown to customers or the industry at large .
Every year , the Global Games report provides a snapshot of the overriding trends in the slot sector . This year is no different .
For the past few years , the biggest trend in the slot sector has been the hold-and-spin bonus , which was pioneered by Aristocrat with Lightning Link and Dragon Link , then coopted by just about everyone else . This year , it ’ s all about the pots . The big new game mechanic is the pot-collection bonus — in particular , the three-pot metamorphic bonus . This is where “ perceived persistence ” is deployed to show you three pots of coins , three pigs , three panda bears or three of any of a number of other icons . The “ pots ” are of different colors , and each time a matching symbol lands on the reels , it travels up to the corresponding pot , making it seem to bulge as the award gets closer .
At any given point , one of those coins or icons can burst the corresponding pot , triggering a bonus with a particular enhancement . It ’ s normally a hold-andspin bonus , with burst pots awarding enhancements to the spins like multipliers for coin awards , an extra spin when the three have expired , a “ collection ” feature awarding all coins , or , popular lately , a “ double ” pot that triggers a second reel set ; the hold-and-spin bonus then accumulates coins on 30 spots instead of 15 .
As happened previously with hold-and-spin , each manufacturer has given its own special twist to the pot collection bonus . Some of the manufacturers are now adding funny cartoon game mascots to the mix . They often pop up to add symbols required to trigger the hold-and-spin feature .
The pot-collection style of bonus feature is still evolving , to be sure . When the slot suppliers reveal their new “ model years ” at G2E , you can expect to see many variations of not only the pot-collection feature , but the hold-and-spin event , which itself continues to evolve with unique characteristics stamped on the feature by various manufacturers .
Beyond the game trends , several of the manufacturers will launch new cabinets at the show , as well as new games for markets such as VLTs , historical horse racing , Class II , iGaming and other gaming verticals .
So here , in alphabetical order by manufacturer , is a look into the near future of the slot-machine sector . We hope you use it as a guide to the slot-supplier booths at the industry ’ s premier trade event .
Have a great show !
All articles written by Frank Legato
Global Gaming Business OCTOBER 2024