20060911CasinoFest2 G2S

Introducing G2S:
GSA’s Game to System Protocol

Russ Ristine, VP, Radical Blue Gaming
What’s happening on casino floors?
 Today’s Buzz - Game Download and Configuration
 Current floor technology is not adequate!
 Should you just pull more networks?
 Great Security
 Throughput argument
 I need this new feature right away; but what about the next
one???
 Goals
 Don’t be left behind
 Hope to minimize change
 Hope to minimize costs
2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006
What Is G2S?
 The gaming industry’s protocol for networked casino
floors (Games to Servers)
 Based on current, proven technology standards:
XML, SOAP, Web Services, etc.
 Messaging accomplishes everything from SAS +
whatever else we could think of
 Consists of three independent components:
 G2S Message Standards (The contents of the messages)
 Standards for Transport (XML over TCP/IP using SOAP)
 Standards for Security (SSL - just like the Internet)
A Bit of History
 Efforts towards a single Game to System protocol
started in 1998 (Gamma C-Link)
 XML / Web services model introduced in 2002
 Formal Standards (BOB) were released in 2004
 BOB Simulators were built in 2004
 IGT - Concurrent solution using SuperSAS
 Goal - network based SAS protocol
• Deploy new game features without delay
• Reduce implementation problems
 2005 - IGT joins GSA - protocols are merged
The Merging of Two Protocols
 IGT creates SuperSAS, GSA develops BOB
 September 2005 - IGT rejoins GSA
 IGT and GSA agree to merge their two protocols
 Result is Best of Both = Game To System (G2S)
 Seven months of Analysis and Design is complete
 Protocol documents and schemas are finished
 3rd Party Development Tools are underway
 Certification Program is being developed
Here is what is on the gaming floor today...
[Looks like hex to me…]

A G2S Meter Request
Host Request EGM Response
<getMeterInfo> <meterInfo
<getDeviceMeters meterSubType = "G2S_onDemand"
meterDateTime = "2004-03-07T15:20:27” >
deviceClass = "G2S_noteAcceptor" <deviceMeters
deviceId = "1” /> deviceClass = "G2S_noteAcceptor"
</getMeterInfo> deviceId = "1" />
<simpleMeter
meterName = "G2S_currencyInAmt"
meterValue = ”14000" />
<simpleMeter
meterName = "G2S_currencyInCnt"
meterValue = "14" />
<simpleMeter
meterName = "G2S_currencyToDropAmt"
meterValue = ”14000" />
<simpleMeter
meterName = "G2S_currencyToDropCnt"
meterValue = "14" />
<simpleMeter
meterName = "G2S_dropDoorOpenCnt"
meterValue = "2" />
[A little easier to
understand] </meterInfo>
Companies involved in G2S development
 Aristocrat
 Atronic
 Bally Technologies
 IGT
 Konami Gaming
 Multimedia Gaming
 Radical Blue Gaming
 Rocket Gaming Systems
 Seminole Tribe of Florida
 WMS
Why do we need a new protocol?
 Current protocols are fine for EGM to SMIB
communications
 Challenge is expanding beyond current model
 EGM Configuration and Code download are coming
 Can expand by adding additional wiring to your floor
 New features must work with your existing system
 It would be nice if all games and systems spoke the
same language in this new world
Historic Approach to Adding Functionality
Slot Floor System Vouchers Bonusing Player Media Server
Challenges of the Historic Model
 New wiring infrastructure for each new feature
 Lots of new gear needed between host and EGM
 How many network ports does each EGM have?
 Often new features don’t integrate with existing slot
accounting system
 Challenges with getting everything working together
 Adding a new feature is like building a solution from
scratch
G2S (Web Services) Approach
Slot Floor System Config Server Code Download Vouchers Media

PlayerServer
Bonuses
Advantages of the G2S model
 To implement a new feature
 Plug in new server
 Configure a group of EGMs
 Try out the new feature
 Get rid of it if you hate it
 G2S is designed so every functional group could be
owned by a separate server
 G2S Protocol already accommodates new features
 Configuration
 A rich Accounting Model
 All Messaging required to implement the feature
How fast is fast?
100 Million bps (initial floor

communication speed)
8 Million bps (Hi speed DSL)
19 thousand bps (current floors (SAS))
Network Backbone = 1 Billion bps

Changes you’ll need to make
 New Network infrastructure
 1 Gbps backbone
 100 Mbps to every EGM
 Staff must transition from slot machine mechanics to
network configuration and management
 Slots + IT = Success
 Don’t go cheap - like a computer, your network can’t
be too fast
 Can implement gradually, but your slot floor
management system must get on board soon...
Benefits of a Standard Network
 Off the shelf network hardware
 Off the shelf network management software
 Off the shelf security solutions
 Internet technology on your casino floor

 Load Balancers
 Expertise (design, deployment, tuning)
 Can easily add new features
Inside G2S: GSA’s Game to
System Protocol
The Core G2S Classes
 Communication
 Web services and multicast
 New EGM says “Hi” to the hosts it knows
 Cabinet
 Owner Host can enable / disable play at an EGM
 Reporting of cabinet door events
 Event Handler
 Any Host can subscribe to the events they need
 Events can include associated data
 All managed by subscriptions - one set per host
More Core Classes
 Meters
 Each host can request any meters + gets 2 subscriptions
 Complete meter support for all of G2S features
 Meters by Device and by Class
 Game Play
 Manage active games within EGM
 See game play details (via event or log) on any system
 Metering by device
 Device = Theme + Paytable + one or more denominations
G2S Administrative Classes
 Code download
 Manage what code is on which EGM
 Download new code / code updates for EGM or devices
 Also allows Uploads of game logs, debug logs, etc.
 Communication configuration - EGM communication
(valid hosts and who owns what)
 Option configuration - Configure EGM options and
settings
 Device configuration - Manage EGM functional
resources
G2S Application Classes
 Currency device classes - manage currency devices
 Coin Acceptor - Which coins are currently accepted?
 Note Acceptor - Accepted Notes; logs; events
 Hopper - enable / disable; events
 Note Dispenser - Dispensed Notes, logs; events
 Printer class - manage printer, download templates
 Handpay class - process hand paid wins and key

offs
 Id reader class - magcards, RFID, SmartCards, etc.
 Player class - the player tracking stuff customers

love
 Progressive class - run progressives over the

network
 Track Coin IN by Progressive Server
 Bonus class - (roll your own bonuses)

 Support for multiple Bonus Servers
 Voucher class
 Support for ticket in / ticket out
 WAT class - Wagering Account Transfers
 GAT class - authenticate code running in EGM &

devices
 Central Determination - the world of Class II gaming
The first hour of a new EGM
 Discovers Communications Configuration Server
 Updated with Host info for that property
 Receives Security certificates for that property
 Discovers Option Configuration Server
 Game and peripheral device configurations are updated
 commsOnline message to all other hosts
 Hosts ask EGM for supported features (classes)
 Hosts discover which features they own
 Hosts do command and control setup
 Hosts grab meter snapshots; set subscriptions
The first hour (continued)
 EGM gets voucher and player configuration
information from hosts
 Hosts indicate which features are enabled at the
property
 Game Play begins
 EGM notifies hosts of events and meter updates as
per subscriptions
Adding a new Feature to your casino
 While travelling, you discover a new feature at a
property
 You meet with the vendor and sign up for a trial
 Vendor brings in new server; joins your network
 Casino extends configuration to include new server
 EGMs in the test group are configured
 EGMs initiate communication with new server
 Try the new feature for 30 days
 If you like it, you pay. If not, vendor removes server
Innovation!
 With the web services model and standard
protocols, anyone with web services expertise can
get into the space
 The compelling features of today (config and

download) will be interesting history in 5 years
GSA Certification
GSA Certification
 GSA compliance – independent testing by 3rd party
lab using GSA certified tools and pre-defined test
scripts
 If both devices are certified, they should work

together the first time they are connected
 All parties benefit through

 Improved speed to market for products
 Products work together when they show up on your floor
 Plug and Play (easier installs, reduced service calls)
Testing Centers
 Interoperability Centers will be available for
manufacturers
 Test Authority (Open Group) will certify Test Suites
and Testing Agencies
 Test Suites will be commercially available to anyone
 Like UL testing, GSA testing can be done in any
certified Test Agency
 Test Labs
 Casinos
 Manufacturers
 Update on latest efforts…
New Solutions for Old
Problems
New Player Features
Bonus Programs
Now - Replace existing server New - Bring in a new server
with a new system and try the new features
with your players
In-house Player Promotion

Now - No access to the data New - Contract with third
stream from the EGMs or party, or innovate in-house;
SMIBs - need to get vendor configure a test group of
to extend their software games and try it out.
Try out a new game
Now
 Bring in a new model on trial
 Meter readings to see which games players prefer
 Buy more if they seem popular; if short term
attraction, then you have “extra” EGMs
New
 Install new code on a few compatible EGMs
 Yield Management - periodic meter reports to
determine success
 Expand to additional EGMs as desired
Detailed Game Performance Info
Now
 Most systems do cabinet level performance
numbers
 To get performance breakdowns for each game in
cabinet - must manually read the game meters
New
 G2S has detailed performance information for every
game in the cabinet
 If existing system won’t extend, can buy (or build) a
performance analysis system that gives all detail
New Note, bug in code, etc.
Now
 Someone goes to every EGM to install new code
 Configuration changes are tracked manually,
implemented on every EGM
New
 New note - download new code via G2S, validated
by EGM, passes to Note Acceptor via GDS
 Configuration change - make the change in the
configuration server, automatically pushed to every
EGM
A Word or two on GAT
 GAT (Game Authentication Terminal) protocol is
currently being used in several jurisdictions to
validate game code
 With New protocols, regulators are hoping to use
GAT to validate game code stored in EGMs and on
Code Servers
 This methodology will dramatically speed
acceptance of code download
Finishing Up
Benefits of G2S
 EGMs will be able to talk to multiple servers
 More accurate info is available from every game
 Option and Code changes can be made in one
place, automatically distributed to all EGMs
 Much more efficient casino slot operations
 Much better use of resources
 Try before you buy
 Many new innovators will be able to enter this space
When can I get G2S?
 G2S 1.0 Protocol is complete
 Many GSA member companies are now figuring out
how to get this new technology into their products
 Third party development tools are in progress
 Certification program definition is in progress
 Start your strategic planning now
 Start thinking about network infrastructure
 [Start bugging your slot floor management provider]
 Exciting times are ahead!
The Ending Note
 For on-going questions or inquires on protocols,

please contact
info@gamingstandards.com
 This presentation is available on GSA’s Website:
www.gamingstandards.com
[Now is the perfect time for questions or comments]

20060911CasinoFest2 G2S

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

20060911CasinoFest2 G2S

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introducing G2S:

GSA’s Game to System Protocol

[Looks like hex to me…]

Slot Floor System Vouchers Bonusing Player Media Server

Slot Floor System Config Server Code Download Vouchers Media

100 Million bps (initial floor

8 Million bps (Hi speed DSL)

19 thousand bps (current floors (SAS))

Network Backbone = 1 Billion bps

 Off the shelf network management software

 Off the shelf security solutions

 Internet technology on your casino floor

 Printer class - manage printer, download templates

 Handpay class - process hand paid wins and key

 Player class - the player tracking stuff customers

 Progressive class - run progressives over the

 Bonus class - (roll your own bonuses)

 WAT class - Wagering Account Transfers

 GAT class - authenticate code running in EGM &

 Central Determination - the world of Class II gaming

 The compelling features of today (config and

 If both devices are certified, they should work

 All parties benefit through

In-house Player Promotion

 For on-going questions or inquires on protocols,

[Now is the perfect time for questions or comments]

You might also like