Digital product designed for the local Madrid market dominated the FER show as it opened its doors on Wednesday morning.
The local ‘community’ had recently declared its acceptance of the video-based AWP product – long after most of Spain’s other 16 provinces had approved it – and at least gave the local market something of a boost. Thousands of machines will now be converted to take advantage of the changes and many of them were exhibited on the floor of Spain’s national show.
But for all the heavy attendance and splendid displays at FER, it covered up the damage done to the industry by a very severe recession. With 18 per cent unemployment and tight monetary controls, the games and gaming industry is suffering. A good, well-controlled operation in arcades is only down about 20 per cent; many report a 35 per cent shortfall in cashboxes.
The expected advance in video-based AWPs was there, with a large showing of hybrid games, utilising reel mechanisms with video feature screens. But there were also many products entirely video-based, usually with two screens.
A full report on the Spanish trade show will appear in our November issue.
