With new multiple product strategy and unique skill games cooperation

There were a lot of innovations to discover this year at ENADA primavera at the funworld trade show stand in Rimini. The game system manufacturer in Italy known for PHOTO PLAY presented itself for the first time as a multiple product company with multiple new products and a fresh market presence. funworld’s revolutionary cooperation with Microgame in the skill games sector was introduced as an absolute innovation.

The highlights

ENADA primavera 2008 was very successful for funworld, as Europe’s market leader in the touchscreen business was not only able to greet many visitors at the stand, but also report numerous direct orders. Sales after the fair have likewise gone well.

Although the key PHOTO PLAY brand continues to attract significant interest, the two new product brands, “BET-solutions” and “fun|select”, have also been very well received. BET-solutions offers the complete infrastructure for sports betting and fun|select introduces a choice of commercial products with proven game concepts. Above all the simple and attention-grabbing skill game “Stacker” from the fun|select product unit enthused visitors to the trade show.

“How well our new business divisions were received on the Italian market confirms once more to us that the step from a single to a multiple product company was the right one. With the new, innovative products we are able to further expand our pioneering role and accelerate our ambitious expansion plans more intensively,” Josef Öhlinger, funworld ag Chief Executive Officer is delighted.

New cooperation in the skill games sector

The presentation of the cooperation between funworld and Microgame, the leading provider of online games in Italy, was particular cause for enthusiasm. Through the creation of effective synergies in the skill games sector it is possible for the first time to transfer game content from an Internet platform to PHOTO PLAY terminals and vice versa. This makes the collaboration of the two most important players in the Italian market unique, which will have a sustainable impact on the entire branch.

 “We are very satisfied with our trade show presence, as our expectations were by far exceeded. We are particularly delighted about the major interest in the cooperation with Microgame and about the new skill games project. The first major customers have already made enquiries regarding exclusive distribution in their regions, which shows us we can anticipate the cooperation to be a great success,” emphasises Andrea Scampini, General Manager of funworld italy srl, with enthusiasm.

Sound Leisure is honoured to have signed a landmark agreement with the world’s premier distributor and restorer of classic and antique jukeboxes.
 
Jukebox Gallery BV is based in the Netherlands and is a specialist agent for all types of modern and latter-day jukeboxes, with a global reputation. The company’s decision to stock the Sound Leisure’s hand-built range of classic jukeboxes is a huge compliment.
 
“This is a wonderful opportunity for Sound Leisure to introduce its range of Nostalgia boxes to more European customers. The only way for us to enter new markets with this type of specialist product is with a team of dedicated, professional partners. After visiting Jukebox Gallery’s emporium in Holland, I believe we would have to go a long way to find anyone with such an amazing set-up.
 
“We were frankly overwhelmed at the company’s expertise and professionalism and
feel they have exactly the same ethos as us regarding customer service and after-sales. Anyone who ever has the chance to visit their showroom and museum that houses what must be the world’s finest collection of antique jukeboxes and amusement machines should take the opportunity, it is an awe-inspiring experience - we were all like kids in a sweet shop,” he added.
 
Alan, Chris and Michael Black visited Jukebox Gallery in Holland with Colin Vernon who runs the Classic side of the business to finalise the deal and also have a guided tour of their facility.

Atronic International GmbH Latin America has moved its office!

As of the 1st March, 2008 the Peru office of Atronic International GmbH Latin America has been relocated to new premises in Lima, Peru.

The main address and telephone numbers are as follows:

Atronic International Peru
Av. Van Gogh 349,
San Borja
Lima, Perú

Tel: +511 618-3200
Fax: +511 618-3201

The move was initialised by the need for a bigger office due to the growth of the Atronic team in Peru. The new premises offer more space and are more comfortable for both employees and visiting customers.

Atronic’s General Manager for Latin America, Oscar Londono, said, “The bigger space will allow the Peru team to offer a better service to Atronic customers and make them feel more comfortable when visiting Atronic Peru.”

Merit Entertainment is pleased to announce that its full 2008 software release is now available in download form for all MegaNet-connected operators currently running 2007.5 ION software.

After downloading Merit’s latest software the operator simply installs a 2008 security key, reboots the machine and the software activates automatically. All machine settings are saved so there is no need to reconfigure the game after downloading the software.

The software’s download progress can be viewed on the MegaNet operator Web site, plus each operator will receive a notification e-mail once the download is complete and ready for the 2008 key.

Merit’s outstanding 2008 ION software features Luxor 2, the high-energy sequel to the 2007’s top-earning game. The release is also packed with new hits like Beer Pong, Chainz2: Relinked and Card Pirates as well as proven player favorites like Photo Hunt, Trivia Whiz and Tri-Towers.

Operators who connect their Megatouch machines to an AMI jukebox also receive all the benefits of MegaNet for free. For details on how to connect your machines today, visit www.accessmerit.com.

funworld ag and Microgame SpA officially announced that they have met an important trade agreement in order to number among the protagonists in the growth market of skill games in Italy. The agreement is of twofold significance:

Firstly, funworld ag will act as a content provider for Microgame by immediately making available over 25 of the most renowned and beloved PHOTO PLAY games to a further 600,000 players, which belong to the player’s community of the Benevento supplier. “Diamond”, “Fun Tower”, “Shanghai”, “Kniffler”, “Kick the Fish”, “Seven” and “Find it Mordillo” are only a few of many games that will soon be available under the “skill” heading in Microgame’s online skill games catalogue.

On the other hand, the agreement aims to develop synergies in the distribution sector. funworld italy srl, the Italian branch of the Austrian group funworld, will offer all the online games offered by Microgame in its own distribution channels; consequently not only skill games but also certain interesting products, such as sports and horse betting, online lottery scratch cards, online bingo, poker as well as the “totalisator” games (tris, totocalcio and totogol).

The transferral of game content from an Internet platform on PHOTO PLAY terminals and vice versa is now available worldwide for the first time and makes the cooperation of Microgame and funworld so unique.

“The agreement between funworld, the worldwide market leader in the production and distribution of touchscreen games, and Microgame, the leading provider of online games in Italy, belongs to our strategy of  forging strong and profitable relationships with the most important players in the international field of online games, to constantly be able to guarantee entertainment experiences for our players and improved value for our shareholders,” declares Josef Öhlinger, CEO of funworld ag.