OK, most of you chippers don't go to the G2E (Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas), because you aren't in the trade. BUT, many of you eagerly buy-up the spoils from the show, and some of you even go to or monitor the show to learn about gaming trends. Although I've attended the show for the last two years, this is my first time working it, and I realized that what I couldn't comprehend might interest you as well - essentially, in just a few days, companies construct working casinos to show their wares; AND EVERYTHING BETTER WORK & LOOK PERFECT! Behold, the first day of G2E set-up! The show actually runs next Tue-Thurs, but it doesn't just happen on it's own. The first day: 13 hours of before and after pics (in order), and my company's booth is essentially set-up; now all we have to do is mount signage, merchandising, and make all the games work & communicate correctly - should be fun. For now, I'm off to the Wynn for dinner - HA!!!

Aristocrat raising their main lighting and signage (blue things that look like trampolines).

Bally (signs proudly celebrate 75 years in gaming). Note the lack of carpeting.

Bally(left)WMS(right): note the huge white curtains placed strategically to ruin view of competitor's booths to spectators entering the hall (HOW RUDE!).

IGT: the Evil Empire (boo, hiss!)

Atronic; The Good Guys!

A competitor's wiring harness; MOST impressive! -at the end of each blue line, a bank of slot machines will be powered...

Second view; note the orange data cables, to carry player tracking and accounting data.

Atronic 13 hours later; note the new Game of Life games on the game-like playfield! Took a crew of 5 guys over 6 hours to get that thing right...

Atronic left view; there are something like 170 slots in the booth this year, signs go up tomorrow.

What's taking so long? These pics are in order; Atronic is basically done with the basic set-up, while others are twiddling their fingers...

Chaos in the Bally booth.

This was in the aisle outside the Bally booth as I was leaving; could it have something to do with Bally celebrating it's 75th anniversary???

2 more by the Bally booth: I WAS REALLY TEMPTED TO SPIRIT THEM AWAY!!! 2 70's era electro-mechanicals that I REALLY want in my collection. The Monte Carlo was a Europe-only issue; note the hold buttons (you could hold reels from a non-winning but advantageous spin, put in another coin and spin the remaining reels), AND the roulette bonus wheel! The Medalist features the Olympic rings, before you would get sued for using them; the game is a 5 reeler, with the first 3 reels paying as a game, the 2-3-4 acting as a 2nd game, the 3-4-5 reels acting as a 3rd game - a marvelous tour-de-force of mechanical engineering (pre computer).