GameCo, Inc. announced that it has entered into a license agreement with video game producer Bandai Namco to create a skill-based slot game on its Video Game Gambling Machine (VGM) platform based on Soulcalibur II, one of the most popular fighting games of all time.
Ranked by Complex magazine as one of the best fighting games of all time, Soulcalibur II s the third installment in the popular video game series of weapon-based fighting games that originally debuted in 1995. GameCo’s Soulcalibur skill-based video game gambling machine is expected to debut in casinos by the end of the year.
The Soulcalibur VGM will feature a faster-paced take on the classic 3D fighting experience of the popular Soulcalibur series, while maintaining the same feel and core game-play elements of the franchise that veteran gamers will appreciate. The game, which will take approximately 45 to 60 seconds to play, is being designed with game play features that will be entertaining and familiar to existing fans of the series, while also being easy for casual players to grasp and enjoy.
In accordance with this license agreement, Bandai Namco will leverage its original engineering, production and creative teams to adapt the game to GameCo’s VGM. GameCo will hone the game play for a shorter-form session and optimize it for a casino gaming entertainment experience. This marks the first time that a AAA fighting video game will be adapted for skill-based gaming at land-based casinos.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. to bring this highly regarded classic fighting video game for the GameCo VGM experience,” said Blaine Graboyes, co-founder and CEO of GameCo. “We are focused on developing entirely new gaming entertainment experiences that enable casino operators to evolve their gaming floors with products that engage current players and simultaneously attract new players. Our VGMs combine the engagement of playing video games with the excitement of gambling to develop new immersive offerings that help casinos generate critical incremental revenue.”
“Soulcalibur is a fan-favorite among video game enthusiasts,” said Yoshiyasu Horiuchi, executive officer of Bandai Namco’s AM business unit, “and we’re excited to bring the franchise to casino floors, where we can present the brand in a completely new environment with GameCo’s revolutionary VGMs.”
GameCo’s patented arcade-style VGM cabinets feature a single-player, 45-to-90-second video game adapted from top console, PC and mobile games that allow a player’s skill to determine the payout and winnings, while maintaining the same casino-based economics as slot machines.
