UK-based game studio Blueprint has seen a considerable spike in its sales of digital machines, the company announced on Tuesday. The Gauselmann Group subsidiary credits renewed market confidence, a strong product offering and the opening of new gaming ventures on the UK high street as factors helping drive the sales of this segment.
Analysis of Blueprint machines orders processed during and following October’s ACOS exhibition, in which the company participated, shows about 30% of the total volume has come from operators launching new venues.
“Clearly the UK high street is undergoing a period of significant change and low stake, low prize gambling entertainment venues are bringing much-needed life and energy to UK high streets,” said David Purvis, Managing Director of Blueprint Operations.
Blueprint Gaming participated in the latest edition of the Autumn Coin-Op Show (ACOS), held Oct. 20-21 at the ILEC Conference Centre, London. Returning as an in-person event, attendance numbers easily matched pre-Covid levels with the first day being busiest by far.
“We put a lot of care and resources into our presence at ACOS, which included holding a virtual exhibition the week prior for those members of the industry who were unable or not comfortable with traveling to London, and the investment that we made has certainly paid dividends,” Purvis commented on the participation.
The company went into the ACOS show on the back of a “very successful quarter,” in which sales were 50% up on the same stage 12-months ago. But the positive trend continued even once the show concluded.
In the month following ACOS, the company continued to take a significant amount of orders. According to the business, customers know that despite supply chain issues, and due to meticulous planning and the Blueprint machines carrying a “Made In Germany” badge, these products are not subject to the long transit times incurred when production is in the Far East.
“As it stands, currently we are able to quote the normal delivery times, which means that operators are able to invest in their existing premises and, perhaps most significantly, new venues can open with a full complement of top-earning Blueprint products and start to pay back on the investment made,” Purvis claims.
“Looking ahead, I think there’s a buoyancy and quiet confidence in the market,” Purvis further reflected. “The high proportion of vacant premises sitting empty on the high street has led to a restructuring of shop rents and the emergence of a more leisure-oriented retail experience all of which augurs well for the future.”
Blueprint’s new product offering in the machines vertical comprises three cabinets, which aim “to extend the digital entertainment experience from the home environment into retail venues,” according to a press release.
The Ultramax Cat C features a seamless edge-to-edge gaming experience, courtesy of two 31.5” screens. The B3 Wave+ and Auroramax+ also feature large screens: the Wave+ has a 43” curved portrait screen, while the Auroramax+ boasts two 32” HD screens.
Both the Wave+ and Auroramax+ cabinets feature a new 15.6” video play deck “to deliver a more interactive experience” and feature the QXI6000 Quad core PC for enhanced graphical performance and smooth gameplay.
