Seeking suggestions for development/marketing of new video poker variant

Hi. I've been lurking on these boards for a while, but just decided to register and post. I've read a lot of interesting and valuable information here about the development and marketing of table games/side bet variants but not so much about new forms of video poker. I have co-invented what I believe to be a new form of video poker, filed a provisional patent application and retained a gaming mathematician. What remains now is to develop the game into the best version it can be and to think about how to get the game into the marketplace. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for (a) consultants who specialize in developing or improving video poker games, or (b) options people have for pitching/marketing a new video poker game? I would very much appreciate any advice or suggestions anyone could provide. Thanks very much in advance.

Hi Aces,

There are discussions of video poker buried in here somewhere. Realize has a collection of games he's attempting to market. I did the demo for his Bonus Discard Poker.

I've also made an atypical slot game that I haven't had much success marketing. IGT was, apparently, in transition when I attempted to contact them. A couple of the other majors simply didn't respond to their web forms. A contact made at Cantor just didn't seem to get it, though this might be less of a problem for you depending on how novel your game is.

In terms of "developing or improving", could you be more specific? Are you asking for things like, what the casino's like in terms of math... things like variance? Or what player's like, maybe in terms of playability? Or aesthetics?

Once you get your patent, you should be able to begin marketing the game. I would suggest Action Gaming as the first place to start as they have always been great at giving me an opportunity to meet and talk with them. Right with them would also be LED Gaming and to a lesser degree WMS. IGT had some great people in the video poker department, but since the buyout, they have reorganized and I'm not sure who to talk with now. I have also filled out the submission of new ideas on the IGT webpage, but haven't heard anything back after submitting three games.

My next major step is to talk to the online gaming companies with the hopes of getting my games in the online marketplace. I'm hoping to do this toward the end of this year. It really seems like this is the best current option for new games since the cost for the company to produce and host the game is much cheaper than creating the game and putting it in the land based casinos. I will keep you posted.

Have you created a demo of your game? Most everyone I've talked to needs to see how the game is played, so you will want to get this done sooner than later. I went about my process somewhat backwards by getting the demo done first and then started working out the math (Crystal Math is the math person I use and he does an excellent job!) I can always go back and redo the demo to reflect the correct math since I usually just hire someone to do a bare bones working demo to show my game.

If you want an idea of some of the games I currently have, please visit www.realizegamingllc.com and you could play the demos for MultiDraw, String Poker, Bonus Discard (demo by Socks!), and Slide Poker. I will have a few more coming soon, but I'm currently working on a few potential deals and need them to be finalized before moving forward with my other games.

Quote: RealizeGaming

Once you get your patent, you should be able to begin marketing the game. I would suggest Action Gaming as the first place to start as they have always been great at giving me an opportunity to meet and talk with them. Right with them would also be LED Gaming and to a lesser degree WMS. IGT had some great people in the video poker department, but since the buyout, they have reorganized and I'm not sure who to talk with now. I have also filled out the submission of new ideas on the IGT webpage, but haven't heard anything back after submitting three games.

My next major step is to talk to the online gaming companies with the hopes of getting my games in the online marketplace. I'm hoping to do this toward the end of this year. It really seems like this is the best current option for new games since the cost for the company to produce and host the game is much cheaper than creating the game and putting it in the land based casinos. I will keep you posted.

Have you created a demo of your game? Most everyone I've talked to needs to see how the game is played, so you will want to get this done sooner than later. I went about my process somewhat backwards by getting the demo done first and then started working out the math (Crystal Math is the math person I use and he does an excellent job!) I can always go back and redo the demo to reflect the correct math since I usually just hire someone to do a bare bones working demo to show my game.

If you want an idea of some of the games I currently have, please visit www.realizegamingllc.com and you could play the demos for MultiDraw, String Poker, Bonus Discard (demo by Socks!), and Slide Poker. I will have a few more coming soon, but I'm currently working on a few potential deals and need them to be finalized before moving forward with my other games.

Hi RealizeGaming,

Very good Info.

Thanks very much for the helpful response. I would be very interested to hear any information you would be willing to share about online marketplace options/opportunities, as that is something I know very little about, although I suspected that might wind up being more promising.

I have not yet created a demo, mostly because I want to finalize the math and game configuration options so the demo would be the most marketable version possible. I definitely intend to create a demo once I reach that point, which I hope to be within a few months.

I looked at your site and checked out the demos, which I enjoyed. I particularly liked Bonus Discard, as I like a strategic element of play.

Thanks again, and please keep me posted of any developments.

Thanks very much for the response Socks. What I'm envisioning by "developing or improving" is establishing the precise set of options for play that would render the game most marketable. To me, that has a component of appeal to both player and casino -- probably maximizing the attractiveness of play for the player within the constrains of what a casino would realistically consider offering. For my game, it would mostly be trying to maximize player fun/accessibility along the axis of easy to understand vs. strategic complexity. Having a better understanding of that would enable me to create a demo that is most likely to generate interest.

Thanks again, and I would be very interested in any feedback or suggestions you may have on this point.

I would be happy to help you as much as I can. That's the great thing about this site..everyone does such a great job of helping each other.

Glad you liked Bonus Discard Poker!