After spending some time with Brian Christopher on the East Coast at Foxwoods Resort and Casino, it was time for me to jump on a plane and head to Las Vegas for G2E.
The Flip The Switch team hit the ground running, visiting a few manufacturers and making stops along the way. Our first day, Sept. 29, brought us to Eclipse Gaming Systems, Aurify Gaming, and Interblock Gaming.
Our morning kicked off with a visit to Eclipse to see what latest tricks they have up their sleeve. Eclipse made a splash at last year’s convention by using a sweet banana scent to lure G2E attendees into their area. This is also the same manufacturer that caught my attention while doom scrolling LinkedIn earlier this year thanks to their laser etched bananas. Needless to say, with the various tactics this team puts into play, I was eager to see what was going on.
We headed to the booth and found our Flip The Switch pal, Bree Cardona, who also serves as the Director of Marketing for Eclipse. Bree was quick to quip that there were no banana scents at play this year, but not to fret because she had some banana flavored coffee to bestow upon us. The attention branding didn’t stop there, they also included a banana peel glass cleaning cloth that, of course, also included the faint addition of “Banana Bash” on the peel – just like those lasered ones!
If there is one thing about me, I have always appreciated the various trinkets and swag items that can be found at conferences. Eclipse has truly proved themselves when it comes to creative marketing centered around a product. If you’re going to do something, “full send it.” Not to get too carried away with my many thoughts on swag, I will get back to the point.
Bananas aside, what impressed me the most from Eclipse this year was how fast their team is working to bring new games to the floor – games that have a proven record of resonating with players. Bree let us in on an incredibly interesting tidbit- the most impressive “fun fact” that I have learned at any G2E. What is the tidbit you may wonder? Why, it is all about timelines.
Once Eclipse realized how much their original Banana Bash title was resonating with players, perhaps you’re a fan yourself, they got cracking on an extension. We got to check out Banana Bash Sunrise Stacks, and see the new take on the game that includes the addition of a fourth accumulator at the top of the cabinet. From inception, to design, and even testing, it took the Eclipse team a mere six months to create the tile. Did you ever think the runway for a slot was that short? It seriously made me stop to applaud how quickly their team takes an idea and makes it happen.
After being impressed by the speed and efficiency of the Eclipse team, it was time to walk over to Aurify Gaming. As soon as I entered the booth, my attention landed on Triple Scary Monsters Unleashed. The graphics were bright and the subject matter was a celebration of all things “spooky.” To my delight, that was one of the games that was selected for us to demo and learn some more about. The game features three different bonus features represented by a Frankenstein style monster, a vampire, and a mummy. You are able to combine the different features for even more action.
I do think that spooky titles are making more of a return to the gaming floor. In more recent years there have been a few haunted games that have become a hit with players including the ever popular “Mo Mo Mo Money” series by Aristocrat Gaming. Over the course of the next couple days, I am very excited to see what other spooky themes might be making it to the floor.
For our last booth visit of the day, we headed over to Interblock Gaming. At last year’s annual conference I was enamored with their “Marble Run” game. This year I had two favorites. I really liked their Blackjack X2 title. This game split the play screen into two meaning you could play with a buddy from the same shared bench. I really like playing blackjack with my husband but sometimes I do not like playing at an actual table because other players can be mean- if you do play by the book (which I do). Blackjack X2 would allow us to play together, while each playing our own game, without the fuss of others.
My second favorite game that I saw in the Interblock booth reminded me of bubble craps – another of my husband’s favorites. In Frog Treasure, you play as a cute little frog trying to hop your way along lilypads. While the journey may sound idyllic, the frog has to contend with three predators: a snake, bird, and fish. If the dice land one of those three creatures, you are gobbled up and the round is over. If you are not gobbled up, your initial bet can grow depending on which lilypad you land on. The options include 1.1X, 1.2X, 1.3X, 1.4X, 1.5X, and 2X. If you have had enough hopping, you can elect to cash out after capturing some lilypads.
We will be back tomorrow with more G2E 2026 coverage!
