With this offering, Konami gathers all of its best game styles and gives operators the opportunity to offer them in a community-play package.

The community play part is a horse race, in which all players at a bank can participate for one of four progressive jackpot levels. New Konami games in the K2V 2.0 video platform or two different stepper game platforms can be linked in this setup to a four-level mystery progressive.

The mystery bonus is triggered by coin-in levels, and players qualify to participate according to their wagering levels. The more the bet on the triggering spin, the more horses are allotted the player for the bonus race—a good design for promoting high average wagers.

Progressive reset levels are configurable by the operator, but typical levels would reset at $5-$10 for the “Mini” jackpot, $50-$100 for the “Major,” $100-$200 for the “Mega,” and $1,000-$1,500 for the “Maxi.”

Each base game retains its own bonus features and play style. Supported game series include five-reel, multi-line video slots; the “KonXion,” “ScatteReels” and “Xtra-Reward” scatter-pay video slots; Advantage-Plus five-reel stepper games; and “27 Ways” scatter-pay steppers.

When the bonus is triggered, an overhead LCD video display features the “Running of the Roses” horse race, and eligible players (players who were making wagers on the game when the mystery trigger enacted) are each allotted horses. The race plays out on the big screen, and one player is awarded one of the four progressive jackpots.

All players are awarded consolation bonus  prizes.

In all, this setup gives the operator a chance to pick the highest-earning Konami games on the floor and place them in a configuration that promotes high average bets and creates excitement on the floor.

Manufacturer: Konami Gaming

Platform: K2V 2.0, Advantage Stepper

Format: Five-reel, multi-line or scatter-pay video slot; five-line or scatter-pay stepper

Denomination: .01, .05

Max Bet: Configurable

Top Award: Progressive; $1,000-$1,500 reset

Hit Frequency: Various

Theoretical Hold: Various

By Frank Legato

Frank Legato is editor of Casino Connection and also editor of Global Gaming Business magazine. He has been writing on gaming topics since 1984, when he launched and served as editor of Casino Gaming magazine. Legato, a nationally recognized expert on slot machines, has served as editor and reporter for a variety of gaming publications, including Public Gaming, IGWB, Casino Journal, Casino Player, Strictly Slots and Atlantic City Insider. He has an B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in communications from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. He is the author of the recently published book on gaming, How To Win Millions Playing Slot Machines... Or Lose Trying.