9/29/09 - In only two short months the online gambling industry has seen an avalanche of new games of all types from a wide range of Internet gambling software providers.
The Swedish company Play 'n Go was among the most prolific in recent weeks, launching 3 new themed slots and 4 mini-titles in its latest Casino 1.9 package. Included in the package are Cats 'n Cash, a 5 reel 15 pay-line slot, Fortune Teller, a 5 reel 20 pay-line slot and a 5 reel, 20 pay-line slot branded Photo Safari.
The firm's mini-game inventory has been expanded with the addition of four 3 reelers on a shared progressive network branded Bells of Fortune, Gift Shop, Golden Goal and Speed Cash.
Staying up in Scandinavia, NYX Interactive launched slots Paradiso and Shake 'n Bake, whilst Net Entertainment supplied licensees with its own version of Fortune Teller and the new slot Ghost Pirates.
On the mobile gambling front, Microgaming associate Spin3 launched Bingo Bonanza and Dragon's Fortune to its licensees, and Wagerworks unveiled a major mobile initiative which will see many of its top branded games making the transition to the mobile gambling environment, including popular titles like Elvuis, Dracula, Cleopatra, Hi Five and Rainbow Riches. Looking ahead, mobile fans can expect to see Cluedo, Monopoly, and table games like Blackjack, Roulette and Video Poker. Wagerworks recently released a new game based on a Barcrest fave called Winbig Shindig - a 10 line slot that is already generating positive player responses.
Relatively new provider Top Game has launched Reel Gangster, a 5 reel 20 pay-line slot, and the gangster theme has also been evident in the new Betsoft offerings which include Barbary Coast, Out of this World, The Bees, Diamond Dreams, Monkey Money, Once Upon a Time and two Video Pokers - Deuces Wild and Pyramid Poker.
Video Poker fans will also be pleased with the new proprietary software Bonus Poker 50 hand game released by WinADay, a 3D subsidiary of Slotland.
Party Gaming has continued its roll-out of new games with the 5 reel 20 pay-line slot Tarzan, featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs's king of the jungle. A range of similarly brand themed slots are either out now or in the pipeline, including Resident Evil, Naked Gun, Rambo and High Noon, and the company has contracted in the popular Bejeweled game from Cryptologic.
The Gibraltar-based gambling company has also launched Multi-hand Blackjack Pro for those who prefer table action to slots.
Cryptologic has continued to spread its games around in multi-platform deals, with Bejeweled also appearing on Virgin Games through a GTS collaboration, and two exciting 50 line slots due in the form of Batman and Wonderwoman.
Orbis released the new Cashdrop game at EiG, and the GTech G2 group comprising Boss Media, Dynamite Idea, St Minver and Finsoft livened the marketplace up with a slew of new games that included a single no-draw game based on predicting the fall of dice called Casino Dice, 4 Play Hi Lo Bingo, Kenocash, Hot Pursuit, Luxor Temple, Rockin' Fruits, Irish Magic, Hells Bells, Burning Ocean and Spot of Luck.
Look out for some exciting new material from Freemantle Media, too - among new MGM movie themed offerings are Fame, Robocop, A Fistful of Dollars and Stargate.
Scratchcard specialists Neogames have been energetic of late, launching 9 liners like Bon Appetit and the single line Pirates Paradise.
Introducing a competitive new dimension to the industry soon will be games developed by the giant Sega group, which will soon launch its own games on the Playtech online gambling platform according to recent reports.
Latvia-based CTXM has added its contribution to the treasure chest of games awaiting players with 2 amusing new additions to its 3D Freaky Slots Series - Freaky Wild West and Freaky Gym. This prolific developer is also entering the movie theme sector with Gangster and Vampire slots planned soon.
Rummy fans have a new game called Rummy 500 from Rummy Royal, and RTG's latest is the South American jungle themed Mayan Queen slot. Rival Gaming has introduced an investigative note with the 5 reel new slot Moonlight Mystery, and Playtech has lined up the major Marvel brands Ironman and The Incredible Hulk, providing some stiff competition for the same brands developed by Cryptologic.
Microgaming has continued its relentless competitive drive of four new games every month, with the latest batch due out any day now said to include Wooly World, Pure Platinum, Kung Fu Monkey and Texas Hold'Em Poker Gold. The Isle of Man company has also broken new ground with its multi-player Wheel of Wealth where players can chat and play in the same virtual room and participate in common jackpots.
US provider Cyberarts has been active as well, releasing three versions of bingo with a fourth - an 80 ball game - imminent.
Wizard Gaming, which appears to have lost all its licensees but is reportedly signing up new supporters, has released Groove City and Rocket Girl slots along with Bahamas Blackjack and Jacks or Better VP.
The blizzard of new games defines an industry that is clearly both dynamic and highly competitive, with the strong creative flair that has always characterised its offerings remaining very much in evidence.
