Several
speakers indicated that Japanese consumers are already familiar with the
concept of gaming machines that involve some skill, via the popularity of
pachinko and pachislot in that country. Such games are officially designated by
the Japanese authorities as leisure pastimes, rather than as gambling.
"There are
elements of skills throughout pachinko-style machines,” Thomas Jingoli,
executive VP and Chief Commercial Officer of gaming equipment supplier Konami
Gamingtold the panel audience. "Certainly everybody will come out with products
through this particular market that will definitely have elements of skills,”
he added.
While
industry sources have told GGRAsia that games with a percentage of return to
player (RTP) reserved for an element of player skill are not new, there has reportedly
been an uptick in interest in the category, as the casino industry and its
suppliers think about products that might appeal to so-called millennials, those
people that came to adulthood at the turn of the century and that may not
currently be players of traditional casino video slots.
"It could
be perfect timing for skill-based games to be introduced in Japan since all the
other mature markets like Nevada have started to introduce those games,” noted
Takashi Maekawa, VP for business development at Sega Sammy Creation Inc during last
week’s panel at the Tokyo conference.
"Maybe by
the time [a] casino is opened in Japan, we will probably be in the second or
third phase of developing skill-based games, giving us time to learn what kind
of skill-based games works in the market,” added Maekawa.
Fabio
Celadon, senior vice president, gaming portfolio at International Game
Technology (IGT), said during the panel: "Very strong here [in Japan] is
virtual reality… when we look at the pachinko and pachislot industry, immersive
experiences are clearly central to the experience of players.”
"That
brings to mind some of the new developments that we are launching in G2E Asia:
4D technology that allows players not only see 3D optics as they play slot
machine gaming, but also touch, [via] a new technology to interact with the
games. I think those things that create immersive experiences will be an
important factor here [in Japan],” he added.
Source: GMB / GGR Asia
