Amusement Expo 2011
 Redemption options make things fun for players and spectators
by Peter Manougian
Amusement Expo 2011, a show for the coin-operated amusement industry, showcased redemption options that were more than just quick-coin games. Instead these games were designed to provide entertainment for the player and for the people watching.
Namco (www.namcoamerica.com) introduced its prototype vertical redemption game “Frog Frenzy” (available in June), a game with a high laugh factor. It has a tall vertical playfield with frogs on pads. Once coined up, the lily pads light up and the frogs stick out their tongues. Players try to grab as many tongues as they can to win the most tickets. The frogs can be positioned higher or lower by moving a board up or down to adapt to the customer base.
Sega (www.segaarcade.com) showcased “Super Monkey Ball Ticket Blitz” (available now), which features Aiai, the popular character from the hit home video game series. Players utilize a seven-inch trackball to navigate the monkey through several different mazes. “Super Monkey Ball” challenges players’ speed and accuracy, as they must collect as many bananas as possible to win tickets before time runs out—all while trying not to fall off the edge. When players successfully complete the maze, they are given the opportunity to launch the monkey into a bonus hole to win the jackpot. “Super Monkey Ball” has adjustable ticket payout and features a 32-inch high-definition monitor.
Another redemption game, Sega’s “Pigs Might Fly” (available now), uses a seesaw controller to launch a pig into the atmosphere and protect the earth from invading UFOs. The goal is to get past all of the UFOs to hit the mothership. If the pig does not hit the mothership, players collect the tickets from the UFO they hit. This game has a small footprint and can fit easily in most redemption rooms.
Bay Tek (www.baytekgames.com) offered “Boink” (available now), a game that makes players use both their hands and feet to hit as many targets as possible before time runs out. The company also introduced a new bowler, “Beer Ball” (at press time, scheduled to be available in April), with a flatscreen monitor at the top of the game that shows the values as the players bowl. This screen can be used for tournaments or offer special promotions.
Family Fun Companies (www.familyfuncompanies.com) introduced the wheel game “Platinum Heights” (available in May). Players are challenged to work their way up from the bottom wheel to the third wheel by stopping in the win zone to grab the jackpot. Unique features of this game include the ability for players to save their tickets if they land in the win zone or continue on to the next wheel to try to win more tickets. “Platinum Heights” features dual-ticket dispensing, which allows for more tickets to be stored inside the game.
Coastal Amusements’ (www.coastalamusements.com) exhibited “Crazy Clock” (available now), which is almost 10 feet tall. This game has a clock face staring at the players, and the object of the game is to stop one of the spinning clock hands on the highest value possible, while the second hand stops by itself. If both the clock hands stop on yellow, the values are added. If one hand lands on a red number and the other on a yellow, the values are multiplied. If both numbers land on red, the player is awarded a jackpot.
Peter Manougian is a manager for Fun World, a large FEC in Nashua, New Hampshire. He has been the facility’s game purchaser for eight years.
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