INTERNATIONAL
News Release
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| WMS' Networked Gaming Solutions Advance Commercialization of Casino Evolved(TM) Vision |
WAGE-NET® 2.0 to Drive Continued Casino Slot Floor Evolution with New Game Enhancing Portal Applications on Display at 2009 Global Gaming Expo Comprehensive Business Services Solutions -- From Planning to Deployment to Service -- Support Innovative Technologies and Products to Facilitate Transition to Casino Evolved
WMS’ WAGE-NET networked gaming solution is based on open
architecture using industry standard communication protocols developed
by the At G2E, WMS will demonstrate several system applications utilizing advanced technologies and platforms to deliver new content that creates dynamic player entertainment experiences and drives increased revenue opportunities for casino operators. For the first phase of its Portal application roll-out, WMS will debut its first four distinct series of Portal applications –- Ultra Hit Progressive®, Metascreen™, Mega Multiplier® and Winners Share™. WMS expects to begin commercializing the first of these applications on banks of WMS gaming machines in calendar 2010. These Portal applications reflect WMS’ long-standing commitment to create unique software applications that allow casino operators to harness the power enabled by networked gaming to advance their slot floors towards a server-enabled Casino Evolved environment, product-by-product and slot-bank-by-slot-bank. At G2E 2009, WMS also will demonstrate next-generation versions of its Remote Configuration and Download (“RCD”) platform and its Account Based Wagering and Patron Services enterprise-level networked gaming platforms.
“The phenomenal success of our server-enabled foundational technology platforms: Sensory Immersion Gaming, Community Gaming®, Transmissive Reels® technology and Adaptive Gaming®, as well as our network-ready Bluebird®2 gaming cabinet, clearly demonstrate that WMS is an industry leader in innovation and in commercializing the next-generation products that provide casino operators with differentiated server-based solutions to enhance the earnings potential of slot machines. In addition, the introduction this year of Bluebird xD™, our new category-creating gaming cabinet that takes full advantage of networked gaming capabilities, illustrates WMS’ continued focus on creating innovative, solution-based advanced gaming platforms. Further down the road, yet already in advanced stages of development, is our WAGE-NET 3.0 solution that adds our Account Based Wagering and Patron Services platforms to the RCD and Portal platforms to further push forward the evolution of the casino enterprise, bringing new levels of player enhancements and operating efficiencies.” WAGE-NET 2.0 – The First Portal Application Families With the four existing foundational technology platforms in place, WMS’ Portal applications on WAGE-NET 2.0 are the next phase of the Company’s Future Ready initiative. It consists of unique software applications that deliver new, dynamic player entertainment experiences. At G2E 2009, WMS will debut its initial families of Portal applications for banked WMS games, each of which adds unique player experiences to the base slot game. Each of the first four Portal families debuting at G2E – Ultra Hit Progressive, Metascreen, Mega Multiplier and Winners Share – will feature unique themes and offer differentiated game play mechanics and player features that will continue to evolve. The first family of portal applications to be introduced in WMS’ networked gaming 2.0 phase, Ultra Hit Progressive (“UHP”), is based on a mystery triggered, multi-level progressive architecture. The gaming application leverages the Central Game Controller to create for the first time an integrated experience between the base game and progressive jackpots. By creating this integrated second game dynamic, WMS believes the life of the base game will be extended. At G2E 2009, WMS will showcase the first two themes in the UHP Portal family – Jackpot Explosion® and Piggy Bankin’™ games. The Jackpot Explosion game features a four-level jackpot with a host of configurable options. All players experience the anticipation as the lava rises up the screen as coin-in builds and the jackpots increase. When the progressive jackpot hits, one player is shown the big win and the volcano dramatically erupts. With the Piggy Bankin’ UHP theme, as coins pile in, the piggy bank grows bigger and bigger until it finally shakes and cracks open under the strain when the progressive hits. Both themes feature innovative audio and visual entertainment as the jackpot grows, which is designed to attract attention and invite even more players to the games.
“Our innovative Portal applications bring new, dynamic entertainment
experiences to slot players and allow casino operators to further
optimize the gaming equipment investments that they already have made,”
said WAGE-NET 3.0 - The Next Evolution in Managing the Casino Enterprise The newest innovations of the Company’s enterprise-level WAGE-NET platforms – the Account Based Wagering System (ABWS) and GamEdge™ solution – will also be on display at G2E. ABWS is a robust cashless network system and the GamEdge platform is WMS’ focused loyalty management and patron services application. In the new “Cabana” section of its booth, WMS will demonstrate how combining ABWS, which provides numerous benefits arising from its real-time, centralized transaction approach, with the ability to deploy patron services and the analytical applications of its GamEdge™ solution can personalize the gaming experience while enhancing player entertainment and retention. WMS Establishes New Networked Gaming Operations Division
To complement and support the innovative technologies that comprise its WAGE-NET
system, WMS is broadening its commitment to partner with casino
operators and facilitate the process to network-enable their casino
floors. Along with expanding the Company’s infrastructure and deploying
a new Networked Gaming Operations division – dedicated to the planning,
deploying and providing service support for WAGE-NET – the
Company is establishing a Networked Gaming Engineers (“NGE”) group and a
Business Systems Analysts (“BSA”) group. Beginning with WMS’ proprietary
Edidin concluded, “WMS is focused on making the transition to the Casino Evolved future as easy as possible for casino operators. We remain firmly committed to a truly interoperable solution based on industry standard protocols, as we believe interoperability will be an important driver to the successful industry-wide adoption and collaboration of networked gaming functionality. Our open-system-based advanced technologies and business processes create value-enriching partnerships between the casino operator and WMS. From the physical game and enhanced player experiences to casino enterprise enhancing technologies, WMS is successfully executing on a comprehensive plan that allows casino operators to implement networked gaming solutions and to benefit from our Player Driven Innovation™ focus.” Product names mentioned in this release are trademarks of WMS, except for the following:
G2E is a registered trademark of the
About WMS is engaged in serving the gaming industry worldwide by designing, manufacturing and marketing video and reel-spinning gaming machines, video lottery terminals, and in gaming operations, which consists of the placement of leased participation gaming machines in legal gaming venues. More information on WMS can be found at www.wms.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning our
products, plans, strategies, outlook, pending regulatory matters and
future business performance. Forward-looking statements may be typically
identified by such words as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” and
“intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ
materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking
statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our
forward-looking statements are reasonable, any or all of our
forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Consequently, no
forward-looking statements may be guaranteed. Factors which could cause
our actual results to differ from expectations include (1) delay or
refusal by regulators to approve our new gaming platforms, cabinet
designs, game themes and related hardware and software; (2) a failure to
obtain and maintain our gaming licenses and regulatory approvals; (3) an
inability to introduce in a timely manner new games and gaming machines
that achieve and maintain market acceptance; (4) a decrease in the
desire of casino customers to upgrade gaming machines or allot floor
space to leased or participation games, resulting in reduced demand for
our products; (5) a reduction in capital spending or interruption in
payments by casino customers associated with business weakness or
economic uncertainty that adversely affects our customers' ability to
make purchases or pay; (6) a reduction in play levels of our
participation games by casino patrons; (7) cancellation or modification
by customers of new gaming machine or participation orders; (8) a
software anomaly or fraudulent manipulation of our gaming machines and
software; (9) a failure to obtain the right to use, or an inability to
adapt to rapid development of new technologies; (10) an infringement
claim seeking to restrict our use of material technologies; and (11) the
unfavorable outcome of any legal proceedings in which we may be involved
from time to time. These factors and other factors that could cause
actual results to differ from expectations are more fully described
under “Item 1. Business-Risk Factors” and “Legal Proceedings” in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
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