Professional Documents
Culture Documents
20060911CasinoFest2 G2S
20060911CasinoFest2 G2S
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
A Bit of History
Efforts towards a single Game to System protocol
started in 1998 (Gamma C-Link)
XML / Web services model introduced in 2002
Formal Standards (BOB) were released in 2004
BOB Simulators were built in 2004
IGT - Concurrent solution using SuperSAS
Goal - network based SAS protocol
• Deploy new game features without delay
• Reduce implementation problems
2005 - IGT joins GSA - protocols are merged
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
The Merging of Two Protocols
IGT creates SuperSAS, GSA develops BOB
September 2005 - IGT rejoins GSA
IGT and GSA agree to merge their two protocols
Result is Best of Both = Game To System (G2S)
Seven months of Analysis and Design is complete
Protocol documents and schemas are finished
3rd Party Development Tools are underway
Certification Program is being developed
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Here is what is on the gaming floor today...
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Why do we need a new protocol?
Current protocols are fine for EGM to SMIB
communications
Challenge is expanding beyond current model
EGM Configuration and Code download are coming
Can expand by adding additional wiring to your floor
New features must work with your existing system
It would be nice if all games and systems spoke the
same language in this new world
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Historic Approach to Adding Functionality
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Challenges of the Historic Model
New wiring infrastructure for each new feature
Lots of new gear needed between host and EGM
How many network ports does each EGM have?
Often new features don’t integrate with existing slot
accounting system
Challenges with getting everything working together
Adding a new feature is like building a solution from
scratch
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
G2S (Web Services) Approach
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Benefits of a Standard Network
Off the shelf network hardware
Game Play
Manage active games within EGM
See game play details (via event or log) on any system
Metering by device
Device = Theme + Paytable + one or more denominations
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
G2S Administrative Classes
Code download
Manage what code is on which EGM
Download new code / code updates for EGM or devices
Also allows Uploads of game logs, debug logs, etc.
Communication configuration - EGM communication
(valid hosts and who owns what)
Option configuration - Configure EGM options and
settings
Device configuration - Manage EGM functional
resources
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
G2S Application Classes
Currency device classes - manage currency devices
Coin Acceptor - Which coins are currently accepted?
Note Acceptor - Accepted Notes; logs; events
Hopper - enable / disable; events
Note Dispenser - Dispensed Notes, logs; events
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
G2S Application Classes
Id reader class - magcards, RFID, SmartCards, etc.
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
The first hour of a new EGM
Discovers Communications Configuration Server
Updated with Host info for that property
Receives Security certificates for that property
Discovers Option Configuration Server
Game and peripheral device configurations are updated
commsOnline message to all other hosts
Hosts ask EGM for supported features (classes)
Hosts discover which features they own
Hosts do command and control setup
Hosts grab meter snapshots; set subscriptions
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
The first hour (continued)
EGM gets voucher and player configuration
information from hosts
Hosts indicate which features are enabled at the
property
Game Play begins
EGM notifies hosts of events and meter updates as
per subscriptions
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Adding a new Feature to your casino
While travelling, you discover a new feature at a
property
You meet with the vendor and sign up for a trial
Vendor brings in new server; joins your network
Casino extends configuration to include new server
EGMs in the test group are configured
EGMs initiate communication with new server
Try the new feature for 30 days
If you like it, you pay. If not, vendor removes server
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Innovation!
With the web services model and standard
protocols, anyone with web services expertise can
get into the space
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
GSA Certification
GSA Certification
GSA compliance – independent testing by 3rd party
lab using GSA certified tools and pre-defined test
scripts
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Testing Centers
Interoperability Centers will be available for
manufacturers
Test Authority (Open Group) will certify Test Suites
and Testing Agencies
Test Suites will be commercially available to anyone
Like UL testing, GSA testing can be done in any
certified Test Agency
Test Labs
Casinos
Manufacturers
Update on latest efforts…
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
New Solutions for Old
Problems
New Player Features
Bonus Programs
Now - Replace existing server New - Bring in a new server
with a new system and try the new features
with your players
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Try out a new game
Now
Bring in a new model on trial
Meter readings to see which games players prefer
Buy more if they seem popular; if short term
attraction, then you have “extra” EGMs
New
Install new code on a few compatible EGMs
Yield Management - periodic meter reports to
determine success
Expand to additional EGMs as desired
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Detailed Game Performance Info
Now
Most systems do cabinet level performance
numbers
To get performance breakdowns for each game in
cabinet - must manually read the game meters
New
G2S has detailed performance information for every
game in the cabinet
If existing system won’t extend, can buy (or build) a
performance analysis system that gives all detail
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
New Note, bug in code, etc.
Now
Someone goes to every EGM to install new code
Configuration changes are tracked manually,
implemented on every EGM
New
New note - download new code via G2S, validated
by EGM, passes to Note Acceptor via GDS
Configuration change - make the change in the
configuration server, automatically pushed to every
EGM
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
A Word or two on GAT
GAT (Game Authentication Terminal) protocol is
currently being used in several jurisdictions to
validate game code
With New protocols, regulators are hoping to use
GAT to validate game code stored in EGMs and on
Code Servers
This methodology will dramatically speed
acceptance of code download
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
Finishing Up
Benefits of G2S
EGMs will be able to talk to multiple servers
More accurate info is available from every game
Option and Code changes can be made in one
place, automatically distributed to all EGMs
Much more efficient casino slot operations
Much better use of resources
Try before you buy
Many new innovators will be able to enter this space
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
When can I get G2S?
G2S 1.0 Protocol is complete
Many GSA member companies are now figuring out
how to get this new technology into their products
Third party development tools are in progress
Certification program definition is in progress
Start your strategic planning now
Start thinking about network infrastructure
[Start bugging your slot floor management provider]
Exciting times are ahead!
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
The Ending Note
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006