p. 40 ngr:Layout 1 7/14/22 2:05 PM Page 40
NEW GAME REVIEW by Frank Legato
Golden Fire Link Light & Wonder, Inc.
T
his new game series on L&W’s Kascada cabinets centers around values displayed on “Fireballs” on the reels. The base game is played on a five-by-four reel array, but during the main progressive bonus and free-game event, the reels can expand to eight rows. The game is available in 10-line, 15-line, 20-line and 50-line versions. Featured base-game titles in the series are Dragon Song and Buchae Blossom. Fireball symbols result in instant awards of credits or jackpot prizes. During the base game, the Fireballs return from one to 100 times the total bet, or one of the two static jackpots—a $15 Mini or $50 Major. During the free games bonus, Fireballs return up to 20 times the bet, the Minor or the Mini. During the main Golden Fire Link feature, Fireballs are good for up to 100 times the bet or one of the four jackpots—the Minor or Mini, the Major progressive resetting at $500, or the Mega progressive resetting at $10,000. The Mega also can be won via a line combination of five bells. Scattered green gem symbols on the three middle reels trigger eight free games, and the reel array can expand during the feature—beginning with five rows, each “Unlock Row” symbol activates another row, up to the maximum eight rows. Fireball symbols return the prize displayed.
Manufacturer: Light & Wonder, Inc. Platform: Kascada Format Five-reel, 10-, 15-, 20- or 50-line video slot Max Bet: 200, 500 Denomination: .01, .02, .05, .10, .25, 1.00, 2.00 Top Award: Progressive; $10,000 reset Hit Frequency: 30.01% Theoretical Hold: 5.06%-12.49%
Four or more scattered Fireball symbols in the base game trigger the main Golden Fire Link hold-and-respin bonus event. The four Fireball symbols remain in place after their value is awarded on an accumulating display. Players are given three free spins, and each time a Fireball lands, the additional bonus is awarded and the spins return to three. The Fireballs also expand the reels one row, up to the maximum eight. Collecting 24 or more Fireball symbols during the feature unlocks a top bonus wheel, with the chance to win the top progressive prize.
Money Line Everi Holdings
T
his game on Everi’s Empire Flex cabinet employs a novel display, play mechanic and math model. During game play, cashon-reels symbols, multipliers and free-spin symbols appear on an otherwise blank game field, which accommodates three reels and five rows of symbols. It is an easy-to-learn play mechanic based on successful three-reel mechanical themes, with a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” pay scheme. On random spins, all empty reel positions on the third reel will fill with cash symbols—five cash amounts, with any multipliers on the other reels applying. “Free Spins” scatter symbols on the first two reels trigger seven free spins, with possible re-triggers. A wheel symbol on the third reel triggers a spin of a bonus wheel at the top of the display, yielding credit awards ranging from $30 to $750 and a possible multiplier up to 6X. Money Line features player-selectable multi-denomination and the ability for players to choose to
40
Global Gaming Business AUGUST 2022
Manufacturer: Everi Holdings, Inc. Platform: Empire Flex Format Three-reel, single-, three- or five-line video slot Max Bet: 450 Denomination: .01, .02, .05, 1.00, 2.00, 5.00 Top Award: 125,000 Hit Frequency: 61% (.01, .02, .05), 56% (1.00, 2.00, 5.00) Theoretical Hold: 4%-15%
activate one, three or five pay lines. The game also offers a clear bet-up incentive with volatility decreasing and feature frequency increasing at higher bets and denominations.
