Electronic gaming software company Join Games Malta Ltd. will bring what they call the “first iGame for mobile Virtual Reality (VR)” to Macau in September, the company told Business Daily at G2E Asia.
“There’s zero entry barriers for players’ entry and for the [gaming industry] – it’s an obvious way to get mass market penetration,” the company’s Commercial Director, Martin MacDonald told Business Daily.
The company has previously developed Video Slots that combine live actors with game play, revealing this year an interactive Virtual Reality Slots iGame called Kleopatra VR.
According to MacDonald, the game “can be used on any regular mobile phone” and requires VR equipment at a cost of “US$20 (MOP160) from Amazon or Alibaba” while “the complete equipment for Oculus VR and HTC VIVE can go for around US$3,000 to US$4,000”.
According to the Commercial Director, Join Games is currently in discussions with several gaming operators worldwide to include the game in its offerings, with the game available in Macau in September.
“We want to reinvent the iGaming industry by creating new kinds of experiences for players. What the modern and young player is looking for is a better value exchange between him and the operator,” he said.
For Mr. MacDonald most gaming offers so far have been “quite prescriptive” with Join Games focusing on developing something appealing to the “Playstation generation”.
“People are now used to games that are more cerebral, more competitive, that allow multiplying and offer more recognition such as leader tables and boards. This makes it more interesting,” he added.
When it comes to legislation of skill-based gaming, he said “legislators are starting to get their head around it trying to keep up with developments”.
“The sensible jurisdictions are realising that this is what the industry needs, with many people lamenting the lack of innovation in the sector for years,” he concluded.
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iGaming Malta
Although having developers “spread out” in Europe, Join Games is based on the small island country of Malta in Southern Europe.
With a population of around 450,000 people, the online gaming industry has become one of the country’s thriving sectors, representing around 8 per cent of its Gross Added Value (GAV) and currently employs more than 5,000 people, according to the Malta Gaming Authority.
In 2015, the local government collected almost 28.2 million euros (MOP251.4 million/US$31.3 million) from the 269 licensed operators in the country’s remote online gaming industry.
