Konami will be showing their largest lineup to date of games for their KX 43 cabinet at NIGA 2019. The still-new cabinet made its debut at G2E 2018 and now features even more themes and new game mechanics. If you haven’t seen this platform, you should try to go get a look at it; preliminary reports from the field have been encouraging.

What makes a game work is not the cabinet alone: it’s the elusive mix of platform, theme, artwork, sounds, math, mechanics, colors, and intangibles. But, like signs, the cabinet can do a lot to attract a player to a game. That’s an important first step. A large vertical screen has worked for several other suppliers to accomplish this goal, and the KX 43 joins them, with a 43” ultra-high definition LCD topped by a smaller horizontal LCD that adds to the height. The key is that these tall screens get noticed from a distance; their height alone makes them easy to spot. It’s the same reason that almost everyone is going bigger – including Konami (their popular Opus sports an even taller 65” vertical LCD).

Konami Kx43 Dimensions

But the KX 43 is covering the other end of the spectrum by extending their lighting effects from the button deck to the casino floor. Literally, the two color-changing light strips hit the floor at the bottom of the cabinet. This may not seem like a big deal, but it makes the KX 43 very distinctive amongst the sea of overhead lights. Compare this game to the hundreds of boxes you’ll see on the show floor at the San Diego Convention Center and see if you don’t agree.

As leading innovators of slot machines and gaming enterprise management systems for the global gaming market, Konami Gaming, Inc. And Konami Australia Pty Ltd have been creating big waves in the gaming industry. Every machine, game or system that KONAMI creates focuses on the experience. Conceived by imagination. Konami Gaming, Inc. Is a Las Vegas-based subsidiary of KONAMI HOLDINGS CORPORATION (TSE: 9766). The company is a leading designer and manufacturer of slot machines and casino management systems. As leading innovators of slot machines and gaming enterprise management systems for the global gaming market, Konami Gaming, Inc. And Konami Australia Pty Ltd have been creating big waves in the gaming industry. Every machine, game or system that KONAMI creates focuses on the experience. Conceived by imagination.

One lighting effect missing is the side triangular holographic that is the signature of the company’s “Concerto” collection, including the Opus.

“With KX 43, we set out to explore other areas of hardware innovation, such as the screen display, dash, and top-to-bottom trim lighting,” Konami senior director of marketing and product management Steve Walther says. “KX 43 has a distinct look on the

Konami Kx43

floor that establishes its own attraction.”

He’s right about the “dash,” or button deck. The company has added two wide attract light panels above and below the button screen that are noteworthy. Several competitors have added lights to their decks, but none are as large or attractive as these (see photo).

Again, the cabinet is only one component of success. The rest is up to the games on board. “In addition to some of the Opus cross-over themes,” Walther says, “KX 43’s debut library includes exclusive game content, like the ‘Reels Up’ series.
“Reels Up” is an integrated linked-progressive, featuring four original base game options: “Vegas Rise,” “Expanding Egypt,” “Mayan Times,” and “Hong Kong Lights.” Each of these games features a symbol-driven progressive mechanic, unique jackpot features, multi-denomination options, and custom topper animation.

“The level of creativity, energy, resources, and attention that has been invested into KX 43’s game launch library is groundbreaking. More importantly, it aligns operators for the greatest success with the latest entertainment,” Casey Whalen, Konami’s VP of North American Game Sales, told me. “From popular brand extensions to original jackpot mechanics, KX 43 offers an outstanding game library for players and operators to choose from.”

So far, many California Native American operators are responding well to this new line. “As we near the grand opening of the most significant expansion in our history, adding a hotel, F&B and entertainment spaces, we are bringing KX 43 to our guests in a big way… it emphasizes the excitement around what we have to offer,” said John Dinius, general manager at Sycuan Casino Resort in San Diego.

Likewise, at Jackson Rancheria in central California, director of slot operations Ben Mauck says, “Our floor staff loves the easy access to the printer and bill validator, and our techs love the simplicity of the cabinets’ features, including ease of install and placement. The presentation of the pod configuration is my personal favorite – it has a clean, sharp look that stands out on our floor.”

The much bigger Concerto Opus specialty cabinet from Konami was an immediate hit upon its release following G2E with its giant ultra-high def screen. The KX 43 provides many of those Opus game themes and mechanics, but it delivers them in a standard width platform.

Konami Kx43 Cabinet

Other themes being shown at NIGA are “Hao Yun Lai,” “Ba Fang Jin Bao,” “Dragon’s Law Rapid Fever,” “Dragon’s Law Boosted,” and “Chili Chili Fire Boosted Wins and Wilds.” The latter titles are set for release this summer.

Konami Kx43

The Konami booth is #2131 and is located between Aristocrat and Novomatic near the center of the convention floor.

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