mountpleasantt
mountpleasantt
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August 17th, 2017 at 8:26:49 PM permalink
Anyone have any experience with getting an install? I've found that a lot of casinos dont want to be the first to "test" it even if im offering it for free. is it just luck to get a casino to take it on? or does anybody have any insight?
billryan
billryan
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August 17th, 2017 at 9:19:46 PM permalink
Aren't there companies that help get games placed? I find it hard to believe there aren't.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
DJTeddyBear
DJTeddyBear
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August 18th, 2017 at 5:14:12 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

Aren't there companies that help get games placed? I find it hard to believe there aren't.

Yeah, but only if they like your idea.

Galaxy Gaming, ShuffleMaster, AGS to name a few, but you need a good idea first.

Did I mention that you first need a good idea?
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
777
777
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August 18th, 2017 at 8:18:58 AM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Yeah, but only if they like your idea.

Galaxy Gaming, ShuffleMaster, AGS to name a few, but you need a good idea first.

Did I mention that you first need a good idea?



Ask a beauty contestant if she thinks she is beautiful, and tell me what do you expect an answer from her?

I've seen this kind of help too many time -- you are stating the obvious, and I don't think you fully answer the original thread starter question. I wish I know the "insight" of the process or industry to fully address his/her question.
mrsuit31
mrsuit31
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August 18th, 2017 at 9:33:14 AM permalink
Quote: mountpleasantt

Anyone have any experience with getting an install? I've found that a lot of casinos dont want to be the first to "test" it even if im offering it for free. is it just luck to get a casino to take it on? or does anybody have any insight?



Sent you a PM
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Paradigm
Paradigm
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August 18th, 2017 at 9:37:49 AM permalink
The hardest part of the process is selling an installation. There is a reason that the big boys want 70-80% of revenue to take on distribution of a new game.

Professional persistant attempts to get in front of 20 decision makers at 20 different properties...if you can't get a bite on a free for life trial, you may not have a game the market wants.

Exhibiting at the upcoming TG Conference in November would put you in front of a lot of decision makers, but more importantly, give you valuable feedback from those decision makers on whether your game is any good/needs changing. Trust me, at the end of the 2 day conference, the comments and feel you got from TG Management folks stopping by the booth and playing your game will be really clear...the conference is very polarizing on games: they are either loved or hated.

Finally, you don't want just any installation, you need an installation at a property with the right player demographics/mix that will enjoy your type of game, a great deal staff and positioning on the floor that gets the game tried by a good portion of table game players that come in the door. Don't try selling a blackjack variant to a property without a lot of regular blackjack play.

The ideal property has a DTG that will get behind a new game and spend promo dollars on the launch. So look for properties that are doing that right now with their new games and do your best to get your game in front of this type of DTG, preferably in the form of a live demo setting with several members of his/her TG Shift/Floor Team Members.
kobalj
kobalj
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August 29th, 2017 at 9:55:26 AM permalink
Before I say anything let me point out I have only ever tried this one time and I am still in the process of trying to pull off the miracle. There are some members of this forum that have pulled it off multiple times with a lot more experience and knowledge than I posses. That being said, I love helping people when I can and I feel I have some valuable info based on my own experience.

It is very difficult but not impossible.
- First I agree you need a great idea. I personally wouldn't even try it unless I felt the game was filling a specific void or solving an industry problem.
-At the end of the day you have to be able to convince a casino executive that your game will do better than at least one of the games currently on their floor.
-The big companies will not usually give you a good offer until you prove your game's worth with actual data from placements. In my opinion if you sign with one before you get a placement, read the contract closely b/c it is a lot easier for a big company to shelve a game that can be seen as competition to one of their other games already making them money than taking an unproven game and making it work. If the contract is such where they can actually pull off shelving your game if they wanted, don't sign it no matter what they are telling you verbally!
-The fact that you are not with a big company will often times work against you as you will be perceived as an outsider. I literally was once told if it was good as I say it is, it would have been picked up by one of the big companies.
- I hired a dealer, bought my own table and manned a booth at the Southern Gaming Summit and that definitely helped.
- If possible get a software prototype of your game. Either an app or HTML5. It is an easy way for casino execs to review your game and also the industry is not what it used to be,. There's land-based, international waters, online, appstore, social casinos and ETG's and other electronic gaming machines. In my opinion there are opportunities in all of those markets and catching fire in one may ignite the others. (I know a few good programmers if you are looking to do this.)

All and all I can tell you it is one of the most challenging missions you could possibly set out to achieve but if you have the right game you can do it but it requires thick skin and tunnel vision. By thick skin and tunnel vision I mean you will constantly hear how unlikely it is to pull it off and I don't care how great the game is you will have to endure plenty of rejection. You can't fault casino execs for being apprehensive either as generally speaking new games have a bad track record.

Lastly and most importantly is one you already know. You need to be tough minded but the real key is to bust your ass!!

Good luck!!
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