Bally bringing Pong to casino floors

We know, you've got a zillion ways to get your Pong on whilst lounging around in your geeked-out crib, but how in the world will you deal with the withdrawals on this year's trip to Vegas? Thanks to Bally, you may not have to suffer at all, as Nevada gambling regulators recently approved the concept behind Bally Pong, a "slot machine that would for the first time allow hand-eye coordination to affect payout." Put simply, the machine would enter a 45-second round of Pong if three bonus icons line up on the five-reel video slot machine, and regardless of one's skill, a minimum award would be doled out simply for reaching the bonus. Oh, it gets better -- Bally also said that this was just "the first in a series of skill games (including Breakout!) it had planned," so those looking to see a hint of vintage when they hit the casino floor should be very pleased if everything goes as planned over the next few months.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[jlarpi @ Jul 29th 2007 3:03AM]

This is good, because my generation won't play slot machines. They're too mindless and borring, and you lose your money too fast.

[SYN @ Jul 29th 2007 3:12AM]

precisely. with a generation of people being raised on video games, just pulling a knob and hopeing shit happens isn't going to work.

a lot of games nowadays give you small interactive mini-games, but from what i have seen, its nothing more than a fancy scratch ticket to determine a bonus.


who is ready for a packman penny slot where your score is paid out in credits? i know i certainly am

[Alexander @ Jul 29th 2007 7:48AM]

@SYN: They've been doing this for YEARS in Pachinko machines. There is always a little slot machine game, and by sending the balls into certian areas you effect payout (more balls, which you turn in for prizes.) of the game.

Again, Japan is just one step ahead.

[duderino @ Jul 29th 2007 4:32AM]

yeh whats next NFL Blitz at the belagio, cuz the only thing worse than losing to that cheating ass game, would be losing for money in the middle of the desert.

[Dinraj @ Jul 29th 2007 10:02AM]

Cute chick!

[Stan Winstone @ Jul 29th 2007 11:33AM]

Girl caption- "Oh my gawd! Like, it wants quarters or something?"

[kuonji @ Jul 29th 2007 4:08PM]

The one constant in casino gambling is the removal of skill in almost all video-based gambling machines and turning all winning odds into just a numbers game. Introducing skill sounds like it could be a lot more fun.

[opus13 @ Jul 29th 2007 8:49PM]

"This is good, because my generation won't play slot machines. They're too mindless and borring, and you lose your money too fast."

thats precisely right.

I design slot machines (no kidding) and this is a constant issue. this is breaking new ground because of the "skill based" factor. Skill based slot machines are non existent, so that each player has the same, non-discriminating bonus award. it's that way by law, not by choice.

[Mark @ Jul 29th 2007 10:46PM]

I can tell you right now that old people and folks with bad hand-eye coordination will be suing casinos left and right, or at least avoiding these games.

And because the primary audience of casinos are geezers and retards, that's gonna have a bad effect on their business.

[tiuk @ Jul 30th 2007 11:00AM]

Maybe the idea here is to expand their primary audience past the stereotypical "geezers and retards".

[jdiggity2 @ Jul 30th 2007 8:59PM]

I'd rather play beer pong at O'Shea's.

[Matt @ Jul 30th 2007 9:34PM]

I second that. Come to think of it, why am i browsing engadget when I could be playing beer pong?

[shena @ Oct 21st 2007 6:22PM]

lol - cute chick has man hands! lol remember that crazy episode from seinfeld?! lol hilarious!