Hollywood2020

BETTING ON LAS VEGAS NEW PALM CASINOS

NOW A CASINO IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

Diamond I Technologies(website) is in the news for their "Wi-Fi Casinos". Pending legislative vote in Vegas, this firm could be one of the first to deploy their wireless technology for hand-held gaming and also entertainment apps. Note, they are location based and offer tracking info including CRM (see below).

To revolutionize the gaming industry through the development, innovation, and integration of new technologies. Diamond I Technologies mission statement.

Click on thumbnail to see that this blogger hit a Wild Royal Flush....not bad for the first time trying this new technology.

Diamond I Technologies' WifiCasino GS is a secure wireless PDA-based gambling and media network designed for Vegas-style casinos and resorts. The WifiCasino GS allows patrons to gamble anywhere on casino premises (as permitted) including poolside, in their rooms, restaurants and at the bar.A quick survey of the site shows that they also offer wireless hand-held applications for cruiselines and racetracks. 

SHOCKWAVE DEMOS DO EVERYTHING EXCEPT PAY OUT

This blogger especially likes the "Safari-theme" slots -the Shockwave demo does everything except PAY OUT !

TALK ABOUT CASHING IN ON CRM... Additionally, all usage data can be statistically recorded and fed into their optional proprietary analysis and CRM system that provides the resort with detailed user statistics and behavioral details.

ADS IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND? In other words, it's a goldmine for advertiser and sponsor driven promotions and demos.  For more info or demos go to: Diamond I WifiCasino GS Gaming System

UPDATE 6/5/05: Las Vegas Governor Kenny Guinn signed AB47l on Weds, June 1. Note that according to an AP story by Elizabeth White in LAS VEGAS SUN 6/2/05 the bill was initiated by Cantor G&W (Nevada) LP, an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald LP, the New York-based financial services company. The AP story says "an adaptation of its (Cantor's) interactive bond-trading technology will work for casino gambling". The AP story explains Diamond I's involvement in the legislation when it notes "Joining in support of the biall later on were representatives of Louisiana-based Dimaond I Inc. which has developed its own device; and Reno-based International Game Technology,the world's largest manufacturer of slot machines. Also see Hollywood2020 post on 6/5/2005 LAS VEGAS GOVERNOR APPROVES PGDs (PERSONAL GAMING DEVICES) IN CASINOS.joyce schwarz 6/5/05

E3 SPEAKER SAYS TWICE AS MANY MEN AS WOMEN WILL DOWNLOAD MOBILE GAMES

Mobile Games May Be Too "He-man" for 'Chick-gamers' To Download New stats from Seattle based-research firm M:Metrics link show that men are twice as likely to download a mobile game than women.

Chart from M:Metrics Seattle-based research firm showing that men are twice as likely as women to download mobile games. (click on thumbnail to see pie chart). Link above to M:Metrics site to see details on chart and press release on report with more stats.

WOMEN JUST AS LIKELY AS MEN TO PLAY MOBILE GAMES....

The difference in gender downloading is surprising considering that there is an almost equal split in mobile game play with 32 % of females and 34% of males reporting they play Mobile games. 

"Mobile game publishers and carriers should be encouraged by these findings, as they reveal that women's appetites for mobile games have not been sated by the down-loadable options available on carrier decks," according to Mark Donovan, vice president, product and senior analyst, M:Metrics. He adds, that there is a significant opportunity for the industry to provide a compelling gaming experience for women, as currently, only half of the mobile games audience is being served."

WHY MORE MEN THAN WOMEN DOWNLOADING GAMES?  Women more likely to download Tetris and card games? "One needs to look to the game catalogs being offered in the marketplace to find the source of the discrepancy between play and pay," adds David Hu, analyst, M:Metrics. Only 10% of games are arcade puzzle games like Tetris, and card games, which are universally popular, and the most common genres downloaded by women."

OTHER INTERESTING STATS FROM THE REPORT INCLUDE:

67% of mobile game downloaders are men

*Women = 46% of mobile content downloaders across all categories

*48.9% of ring-tone down-loaders were women.

TOTAL MOBILE GAME DOWNLOADERS : less than 5% ?

As I scroll down the press release from M:Metrics, I find that only 3.4 percent of all of the subjects in the research study say they downloaded games. Thus M:Metrics estimates that 5.980,082 of the total mobile phone populace downloaded a game. (As of May, 19, 2005 the total number of current US subscribers is 182,140, 362 according to www.CTIA.org).

That figure, (3.4  percent) of approx 182 million mobile phone users who download games, seems to this blogger, like a very low percentage. Note, once I hear back from one of the M:Metrics analysts, I will update this post My initial question is:

"IS IT TOO DIFFICULT OR TAKE TOO MUCH TIME HARD TO DOWNLOAD A GAME?" (Are the files too big? Is a download too complex?)

"Is buying of downloadable of games driven by the same motivation that that pushes ringtone purchases? " Or is having a 'trendy' ringtone more important than buying games.

I'll get back to you with their comments. M:Metrics spoke at the iHollywood Next Gen Game Forum conference on May 19 (details and link below). iHOLLYWOOD NEXT GEN GAME FORUM ,iHollywood's Next Gen Games Forum (link) May 19 , 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fox Sports Skybox at Staples. (see link for details and other upcoming conferencesw from iHollywood).