New Life Games Tech Forums

I recently came back from Laughlin NV, and was quite impressed with the casino at the "Aquarius". The casino was filled with newer/very impressive games. It truly looked like a mini Vegas casino. So my question is, we have the S2000's/Visions/Barcrest etc , but when will these newer type games be readily available to home consumers? I played a slot that was technologically amazing, it was an IGT with "reel depth" technology. Anyone played one? I'm assuming it would be years till we see them at home?

As always thanks for putting up with my novice experience in slots.

It may be eons before you see a reel depth for home use, those machines are all leased at the moment, not available even for casinos to own, yet. I'd say the purchase price would be well above $10,000 with spinning reels and 2 LCD see through touch screens, you could only imagine the price.

Did you swing by the NLG Command Center on the other side of the river?

No I didn't what a fool.. My condo is pretty much right down the street on the water side in Bullhead. I didn't realize they were having a BBQ until I got home. How was it?

It was my understanding that most of the reel depth games were of the server based variety.  We will probably never see those at home.

Unless you can get your hands on the server and software... :96-

One can always dream about that.

I love those machines with the see through touch screens!!  I've only seen them in Mohegan Sun.  I'm going to Vegas in November - I'll be on the lookout.  If I find a CD on floor that's labeled "IGT Server Software"  I'll be real discreet - I promise.
:97-

I'd put some soft bubble gum on the bottom of your shoe,
lightly step on the CD case,  and hop to the nearest bar on my heels :97-
Picture that scene... :96-

Oh, it'll happen -- in 2030 or so, when it's a completely obsolete system. They'll probably have 3D holographic slots by then -- with 3D holographic arms that will reach out of the machines and wave themselves in front of you to get your SSN and direct-link access to your credit cards and bank accounts via a wireless encrypted chip implanted under your skin. All wins will be directly credited back to your accounts and reported to the F#$kg IRS.

And if your credit's no good the holographic arms will turn you upside down and shake all the change out of your pockets.  :14-

Actually some Pachislo's use the layered LCD'd now but they are not touch screen but do interact with the reels and put on a good show

They've had them for a few years now. As much as folks badmouth the Pachis, they tend to be ahead of the curve in sensory stimulation technology (LCD movie screens are an earlier example). On the other hand, they have virtually no bookkeeping, software setup, or security.

 :72- :72- :72- :72- :72- :72- Does it throw you out if your pockets are empty? :30-:127-

..."Would you like a free holographic drink while you play, sir? The machine will send signals to your synapses to simulate both the taste of your chosen beverage as well as a state of intoxication relative to the number of holo-beverages that you've consumed."  :96-  (Probably not until 2075 :125-)

I say that we will be getting tranmissive reels, lots of graphics - especially those linked to the mag stripe or perhaps RFID in your players card. This will allow the server based gaming to put up player targeted advertising all around a specific individual, not just on the machine he is playing. While the technology is there to do it, regulation lags slowly behind.

So we "might' get a holographic experience with wheels spinng all around us but its going to be double-diamond-deluxe or yet another clone of RWB.

 

In all seriousness, I sincerely hope not. The good news is that server based gaming isn't receiving a warm reception from the casino executives. Perhaps they're smart enough to see how the technology is mostly a last ditch effort by IGT to regain the stranglehold on the industry that they've become accustomed to, and how it would just sucker them into paying IGT hostage fees for licensing and all aspects of hardware and software upgrades over the next decade.

You don't need server based gaming for that to happen but you do need to have the top boxes networked in conjunction with the player tracking system.
Basically you are going from glass to LCD, static images have had their run there is no reason the top box or the belly glass for that matter shouldn't be an attrract system that is keyed to the people around it. Without server based gaming the game itself could not morph but the above doesn't even need to be platform specific.

What exactly is a server based system? I'm not to technical..

Short answer: A server in the back room contains all of the slot games and controls all of the machines on the gaming floor, which are just dummy boxes with monitors with no game software installed.

If you're a techie, think "Thin Client". :186-

Just to build on that... any "gaming terminal" can then be any theme at any particular time.
So for instance you see a slot that you want to play - you pop in your players card - the system realizes that you like Mermaids Gold, Sizilling sevens and Double Diamond deluxe.
By the time you turn around there might be those very slots right beside and behind you.

The "scary" notion for the players is that the server will also be able to change the HOLD %% that the house takes. So at one moment it might be a 92% pay back and if the place starts to get busy they could scale back the percentage to say 85% - there are supposed to be safe guards that they can't do that while you are playing but the very fact that they could do that in the first place is spooky. Theoretically they could give you - the new player 110% - payback and after you have won a bit of money (and got you hooked) they could change that back to 85% and leech all of it and more back. Sort of like drug pushers giving school kids their first couple fixes for free.....

RFID (Radio Frequency tags) can also be embedded into players cards - and just by having these on your person could allow readers to recognise the player as he is walking through the casino. It figures out your trajectory and all of a sudden all of your favorate themes are just 2 steps in front of you at all times.

RFID is currently used in access cards that don't have the mag stripe on the back. You just hold them by the reader and it recognises the tag and grants/denys access. In a not too distant future all products you purchase will have RFID tags in them and instead of swiping poduct by product you will roll your cart under a wand and it will scan your entire buggy in one swoop.
Walmart has mandated the use of RFID tags in all products it has in its stores. Right now its just at the warehouse level but you can easily see where this is going. The last article shows the 2010 mandate and beyond. They are using it to track inventory shrinkage by employees and item level tagging.

This first article is from 2004.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/92806/Wal_Mart_begins_RFID_trial_in_Texas?taxonomyId=78&pageNumber=1 (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/92806/Wal_Mart_begins_RFID_trial_in_Texas?taxonomyId=78&pageNumber=1)
The second is 2006
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/109418/Sidebar_Wal_Mart_Offers_RFID_Update?taxonomyId=015 (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/109418/Sidebar_Wal_Mart_Offers_RFID_Update?taxonomyId=015)

Now in 2008 they are charging suppliers who don't put rfid tags in their products (this site takes a moment or two to load so don't be thrown off looking at the banner for 45secs)
http://www.rfid-world.com/205904108?printableArticle=true (http://www.rfid-world.com/205904108?printableArticle=true)

Is this regulated at all? It almost makes me second guess using a players card. However, having a slot at home make me really not care either way :72-

What regulations would you like ??

When you sign up for your players card you are basically volunteering whatever info you choose to give to them..... via vi a little thing called Free will.... for this privilege that you grant them they give you points which you can trade for a free drink, coffee cup or room charges......oh you also waive all sorts of rights in the fine print.

Your personal information is protected in their systems and your card carries simply a number. No info is ever disclosed so they are not breaking any privacy laws. I would actually trust a casino system over that of Amazon. Who incidentally collect a ton of info on everyone. The min pay back is regulated so they are not violating any gaming laws....there are laws on the books that say they can't change odds during active play .... not sure if this equates to 0 credits on the machine or just a increment in time... until server gaming is on the floor the particulars are not that relevant.

The collection of what machines you played in their systems could just as easily be done via cameras.... which are everywhere....
......ever scratch yourself, playfully grab your girlfriends behind, check out the waitresses bosom, pass gas..... its already all on camera both visual and infrared.....and likely categorized and recorded with facial recognition software.

Whats interesting this is not limited to player tracking cards or casinos and in fact they may be behind the leading retailers in this respect.

At some point you will be walking through the department store, the rfid reader in the shelving will determine you have on BVDs and the LCD marketing screens will start posting adds for more comfortable fruit o the loom or Haynes underwear. Tommy Hillfigure adds will pop up for those wearing Lactose shirts... Old Navy will pop up if you have Walmart George or Gap.

This is not fiction this is whats being planned for retail and soon..... just goggle it. If you want to avoid this...... start purchasing your own loom and making your own fabric....and milking your own cow. Welcome to 1984 (Orson wells) ...... 25 years late.



  

Or better yet, go to these stores informed and ignore the ads and target marketing. Make a point of consciously not purchasing things that they shove at you unless you came to the store with prior intent to buy the item. It's always about the dollar: if people don't succumb to their ploys they will cease. Of course, this is wishful thinking, since most people are sheep, and stupid sheep at that. Unfortunately these marketing ideas are likely to be a huge success. :60-

Stat, thats a good idea until the retailers realize this and adapt to post the competitors brand to get you buy the one you already like..... makes your head hurt.

If most people buy what they intend to buy before entering the store and do not respond to ads that they see while shopping, then the targeted ad campaign will fail and be discontinued. It's really that simple: money talks.

The companies track purchases via credit card numbers and those store discount customer tracking cards and they will be able to see if people's purchase decisions are being affected by the in-store targeted ads (Targeted ads in Wal Mart? :5-  :72- :72- I wonder if they will have Wall to Wall ads at Target :96-). Unfortunately, the majority of people in this country were never taught how, or have become too jaded, to keep their guard up against the constant barrage of marketing attacks.