Part 3: ICE Totally Gaming 2017 - Emerging Patterns
The major gaming event in London called ICE Totally Gaming 2017 has come to an end. Let's focus on some highlights from the last few days. Apart from product demonstrations, some successful business deals were made. Blockchain and virtual reality were key topics in the discussions. In fact, one panel dared to predict the vision of the future through a voting process.
Challenges in the recent future
An old saying goes, "Forecasting is difficult, especially about the future." Three panelists, Valery Bollier (CEO and co-founder of Oulala Games), Michael Bolcerek, and Tal Ron, disagreed with this statement on Thursday at a panel arranged near the conference.
They shared their thoughts on the challenges the gaming industry may face in the coming years. The audience cast their votes in favor of Bollier's point of view, who anticipated a significant shift in customer preferences: "Gaming companies will fail if they don't adapt to the millennials."
Bollier referred to Adrian Neilan's speech from the previous day, suggesting that the 20-40 age group, known as millennials, has grown up with computer games and social networks. They're not content with games based solely on luck; they seek challenges and desire to showcase their achievements.
"They want social games where they can interact with their friends. It's about showing that you're better, that you know your stuff better." Valery Bollier, CEO of Oulala Games
Clearly, the industry believes that games must change to remain appealing and relevant. It will be exciting to see how these challenges are addressed while maintaining the industry's house edge.
Films continue to influence the gaming sector
The gambling giants will continue to rely on slot machines for now. Customers are drawn to these games thanks to familiar brand names. 2017's conference featured numerous film adaptations. NetEnt is adapting "Planet of the Apes" into a series of games, with the first being released in the second half of this year.
NetEnt is recognized for its detailed visual style on their games, which makes them among the pioneers exploring virtual reality (VR) technology. At their stand, NetEnt showcased a revised version of their popular slot game "Gonzo's Quest" in VR. Before developing entirely new VR games, the company wants to observe whether customers adopt "Gonzo's Quest VR." This will also help gauge the market's need for VR hardware. The CEO is already convinced of the technology's future potential:
"We believe, based on our own research and the trends we observe, that VR will have a place in the future of online gaming." Per Eriksson, CEO of NetEnt
More games based on popular culture were presented by Playtech and BetConstruct. Playtech is expanding its collection of DC comic games, while BetConstruct is creating a slot machine inspired by the Jungle Book.
The manufacturers are sticking to the usual mechanics of their games. The transition to more skill-based games targeting the younger demographic hasn't taken place yet.
Blueprint succeeds at ICE Totally Gaming
The appearance at the ICE Totally Gaming convention proved highly beneficial for Blueprint, a game developer owned by Gauselmann Group. The company announced several deals. For instance, "Onboard Leisure," a company specializing in casino cruises, ordered 500 machines, while Shipley Estates claimed 1,000 of them. A buyer's identity was unknown at the time.
Blockchain technology's impact on the betting industry
Using cryptocurrency like bitcoin in online gambling is still a relatively niche topic. However, blockchain technology has potential to reshape the sector. Its decentralized and secure nature could reduce financial transaction costs and eliminate the need for intermediaries like banks and bookmakers.
During his presentation at the conference, Hans Lombardo, a Quanta Lottery Group consultant, envisioned this future himself, highlighting the decentralized and secure aspects of the technology. As transactions and ownership are stored across a network, they can be verified at any time. Lombardo foresaw a "tsunami" that will affect bookmakers, urging them to explore the technology and understand its advantages and disadvantages.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
