The Gaming Standards Association has announced that progress on the new Game-to-System (G2S) protocol has been efficient and steady. Also that its Merger Workgroup, a sub-group of GSA’s G2S Committee, formerly known as the BOB Committee, has reached consensus on three substantial development points. Reaching consensus is critical, because it has created the platform on which G2S will be based. In the coming months, the G2S Committee will review the workgroup’s efforts, enhancing them and working toward approval of the new G2S standard.

Jim Morrow, VP of Advanced Development, Bally Gaming and Systems, who serves on the workgroup, said, “While we are not yet finished, we have reached consensus on three major issues that distinguish G2S over BOB and SuperSA.” The merger workgroup consists of three types of experts: GSA members with expertise in the BOB protocol, IGT specialists in SuperSAS, and game and system developers who have worked on implementing one or both protocols.

With the first point of consensus, the group has defined a composite meter model that embraces a “flat” methodology combined with a “hierarchical” method enhancing extensibility. “Flat” means that a host can readily get to any meter needed, and the hierarchical addition allows a great deal of forward-flexibility without modification of existing hosts. Second, where BOB was “state-based” technology, G2S encompasses state-information and adds SuperSAS event-based technology. The addition of the event-based technology allows the user (host) to ask for a customizable sub-set of relevant data in compact, rapidly communicated form.

Third, and new to G2S, is an element that existed neither in BOB nor in SuperSAS, which is the inclusion of a Slot Machine Interface Board (SMIB), in the G2S architecture. G2S recognizes that there is value in a separate player-tracking component; therefore, G2S makes an allowance for retaining a separate SMIB in a slot machine and will include messaging to support such. Representatives from GSA will attend this month’s ICE tradeshow in London, where they will be available to discuss G2S in greater detail. GSA will be at stand #3026.

Morrow said, “We have not crossed the Ts or dotted the Is, but it is hugely important that we have reached consensus on these issues. A great deal of work remains. We thank all our participating member companies for their efforts so far and encourage all GSA members to participate.” The workgroup now plans to focus on the details. After a complete rewrite of various sections of the protocol and their accompanying schemas, as well as the proposed extensions to GSA’s protocols, it will allow the group to move into the production phase. (E-01.18.06)

© Copyright 2006 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage