Success - GTI 2003

Success - GTI 2003

2003 saw the tenth edition of the GTI Expo held from September 5 - 8, at C Zone, Hall 1, Taipei World Trade Centre, with Taiwan's one and only international trade show for the electronic gaming / amusement industry declared a success by Show organisers Game Time International and Taiwan Slot Magazine.

The GTI Expo 2003 attracted the participation of companies from China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea in addition to 79 local exhibitors - overcrowding the booths to display their best products, according to show organisers.

In addition to well known companies from local Taiwan, Lisa's Company and San Fu Electronic Co., Ltd. from China, Wai Lee Amusement Co., Ltd. and Yatta Lunta Deshi Kaisha from Hong Kong, and Andamiro from Korea set up their individual booths this year to join the grand event.

Many exhibitors appeared for the first time, while a number of companies who didn't get in early were unable to exhibit as all booths were already reserved.

Overseas visitors travelled from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, U.A.E., Malaysia, Indonesia, Macao, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Hungary, U.S.A., Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, Ireland, Austria, Latvia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Guatemala, Columbia, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Venezuela, India, Cambodia, Israel, Kazakhstan and Germany in order to see this world-class Asian trade show.

Special guests participating in the inauguration ceremony in the morning of the first day included Mr. Liu Kuen-tang, Chief of the Department of Commerce of Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Mr. Cheng Chih-ming, Division Leader of 7th Division of the Department of Commerce of MOEA, Legislator Shen Chih-hui, Mr. Kim Young Gon, Vice Chairman of KAMMA, Mr. Jacky Chen, Chairman of TAMA, and Mr. Liang Chuen-tsai, Chairman of China Federation of Amusement Park Commercial Association (CFACA).

Mr. Jacky Chen and Mr. Liang Chuen-tsai delivered inspiring speeches, urging the government to amend related regulations with priority and calling for official assistance to motivate the whole electronic gaming/ amusement industry.

Mr Chen said, "GTI Expo has been an international event to promote Taiwanese companies from manufacturers, distributors, and to operators. It is firmly concerned with the interest of the whole industry and a significant ramification of national economy. Three years and seven months have passed by since Electronic Game Establishment Administrative Regulations was approved and effective on February 3 2000."

"What is unusual is that local governments in cities and counties respond differently to this change. Some choose to open up to electronic game these establishments, some choose not to, some amend the regulations to their own favor, while others just ignore the regulations. Such chaos makes us confused and don't know whose rules to obey," he said.

Mr Chen also pointed out that a tradeshow with an international scale is a key for domestic companies to get linked to global markets, and the domestic market acts as an indicator for Taiwan companies to advance into global markets.

Mr. Kim Young Gon, Vice Chairman of KAMMA, said that it was a great pleasure to have the chance to be present at GTI Expo 2003 and gave sincere regards to its success, "KAMMA holds the Kamex Show annually in Korea and keeps amicable cooperation with TAMA in Taiwan. This positive interaction has motivated the industry in both countries to grow and improve. And we do hope that GTI Expo would turn into a tradeshow that makes global influences"

The GTI Expo 2003, which was deferred until September due to the SARS outbreak, had a high commercial performance in exporting and importing businesses and great influence in demand. A growing demand for booths also demonstrated the great importance of GTI Expo in the Asian gaming/amusement industry.

Each exhibitor presented the latest products and spared no effort in promotion to make every potential contract deal with local and overseas tradespeople. The show presented various kinds of machines. Amusement machines took more than half the whole exhibits, including roulettes, bingo games, fruit games and Mary-type machines.

Bigigo Co., Ltd launched Sliver Star 2, an innovative machine combining several kinds of games, Mary-type games, roulette, and money tree games.

Subsino Co., Ltd. occupied the most booths this year and presented a series of new machines, including Rich Party, Golf Circus, Royal Slot, Real Baccarat Treasure Island XP, Top Hat, Cupid, Dragon Story, Treasure Stars, Festival, Flip Poker, Magic Sky, Treasure Poker, Treasure Vegas, Modern Life, Real Baccarat, Marine Circus, Royal Three, Super Bug, Golden Treasure Island, Mr. Boss, Bingo Queen Bee, and interactive kiddie driving games of Happy Land. Out of all exhibitors, Subsino exhibited the most kinds of machines and the quantity of exhibits climb to the highest.

IGS presented Plus (Top Winner Plus), EZ Touch II, Rock Fever Remix, Tropical Fruit, Alice in Wonderland, Super Derby Multi-play, Tarzan III, Happy Match, and many other new machines. Both contents and designs drew buyers' attention.

Wu Mar Harng Enterprise presented Fantasy World, Toy Solider, Tom's Adventure, and Caza Fantasmas, a series of new machines are right on their way into the market, including Elfin Cupid with roulette game affiliated and edutainmental machines like Peekaboo, Black Jack, and the COPA series. Astro Corp. presented Go & Stop, Olympian Games, Keno 21, Magic Hammer, Dino Dino, Poker Master, ZULU, and Monkey Land, all manufactured by themselves and have received positive responses worldwide.

Game Master System (GMS) released Internet roulette, an innovative roulette game which allowed players to bet by phone. They also released Ha-La Internet Cafe and intellectual coin-inserting time counter, Big or Small, an innovative dice game, Super Match, a kind of multi-player auto roulette, Magic Slot, Mini 2000, The Dogs, and Win A Lotto. Saint-Fun International presented Show Hand 30, Juice-Joint, Lucky Draw Machine, Shark Hunter, Chang Machines, All Pass, Real Fun Giveaway, and various kinds of cabinets and parts.

GTI organisers are looking forward and committed to presenting a more brilliant GTI Expo 2004, to be held from June 24-27 at the Taipei World Trade Centre.

Picture: some of the crane machines displayed at GTI 2003 manufactured by Taiwan companies.

For more information on companies and products, please find them in GTI magazines or contact Game Time International at: Tel: +886-2-2760-7407 ~ 10, Fax: +886-2-2762-3873, E-mail: gametime@seed.net.tw www.taiwanslot.com.tw.