Author: schatzi

Slot Machine Manufacturers

Posted on by schatzi

The production of slots has become an increasingly competitive market in recent years. Not long ago, in the 1970’s, approximately 90 percent of the market was owned by one company, Bally Gaming Systems. Therefore, during that time, if you were to play a slot machine it is most likely that you were playing one made by Bally. Now there are well over a dozen slot machine manufacturers in the market, including software designers that create slot machines for online casinos. Following, though not a comprehensive list, is a sample of some of the biggest names in the field of traditional slot machine manufacturing.

AC Coin & Slot was founded in 1978 in Pleasantville, New Jersey. I don’t know about you, but when I watched Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire in Pleasantville, I had no idea the town was real. I certainly didn’t think it was in New Jersey, though parts of the Garden State seem pleasant enough. Any way, AC Coin & Slot started building slot machines around the same time gambling was legalized in New Jersey and currently, in addition to selling their own slots, are the exclusive distributor of slots made by International Game Technology in Atlantic City.

Aruze Corporation, based in Japan, produces slot machines and other products. They are licensed to manufacture and distribute slot machines in Nevada, New Jersey and Mississippi. Aruze Gaming America, their U.S. branch, is based in Vegas and is a 100%-owned subsidiary.

Atronic Americas is not, like you might expect, a company based in North, South or Central America. It’s actually a German company. For some reason, they didn’t think Atronic Deutchland sounded good. It has a nice ring if you ask me. Anyway, the company began in 1994 and has become the third-largest slot machine manufacturer in the world.

Bally Gaming Systems is the original big boy on the scene. Started in 1968, it has operated under a variety of names, including Bally Technologies, and manufactured the first multi-coin slot and the first video multi-coin slot. Though they don’t have a stranglehold on the market like they used to, Bally is still a dominant name in the industry. They are not related to Bally Total Fitness.

International Game Technology (IGT) is a manufacturer based on Reno, Nevada, home of Lieutenant Jim Dangle and his fine deputies. IGT is a multinational corporation, with branch offices located across the globe and is the largest slot machine manufacturer in the world. They were an innovator in popularizing wide-area progressive slots and created a ticketed system called EZ-Pay.

Konami Gaming is the gambling division of the Japanese company best known for creating popular video games played in arcades and on Nintendos across the world. How awesome is Konami? They created Castlevania. Enough said. They have been manufacturing slots since 1973, but have only distributed slots in the United States since 2003. They are now licensed in Nevada and several tribal territories in America.

Mikohn Gaming is a relative newcomer to slot machine manufacturing. They are based in Las Vegas and began in 1996. The majority of the games they develop and market belong to IGT.

In addition to slot machines for land-based casinos, there are some companies that specialize in designing software for online slots. Though there are many companies in this field, there are a handful of big names that are dominating the market.

Microgaming is a software development company based in the Isle of Man. They claim to have released the first online casino in 1994 and manufacture online slots for almost 100 casinos. In addition to slots, they also design games for poker, blackjack, roulette and more.

Playtech identifies themselves as the world’s largest publicly traded online gaming software developer, and I could find nothing to refute that claim. They design a wide array of games, including slots and various table games.

Real Time Gaming (RTG) was founded in 1998 in Curacao. They are best known for their progressive slots and are one of the leaders in their manufacturing. RTG is one of the few online game designers not to develop their own policy regarding American customers subsequent to the United States Congress passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006. Instead, they let each of their clients decide whether they will accept American players.

Vegas Technology is not, as you might guess, based in Las Vegas. Nope. They are located in Antigua and were founded in 1997. Vegas Technology is best known for their video slots and for the fact that you do not need to download any software to play their games.

With all of the manufacturers of slots machines there is an incredible variety of themes and reel combinations. There truly is a slots game out there for everyone.

Elearning Libraries For Online Learners

Posted on by schatzi

The library is the heart of every learning institution; From elementary school to university, libraries provide a haven for students who need references for projects and homework. They are an extension of the school providing knowledge and a quiet space for learners to bridge the gaps in their education.

Traditional libraries usually contain volumes of encyclopedias, books, and periodicals meticulously organized under the Dewey Decimal System. Only a few years ago, libraries had the physical card catalog where borrowers have to sort through alphabetically organized series of index cards containing the title of the book, author and subject. Stern, obsessive compulsive librarians would shush boisterous students and severely reprimand anyone for showing the least sign of disrespect towards a book. Libraries like books, music and almost everything else are now making a radical change of moving into the virtual world.

Virtual libraries are websites and web portals containing catalogues of ebooks and archived media. They are resources that can be used as elearning tools for learners. Most of the virtual libraries on the web are websites of physical libraries. The contents however are limited and most of the time, the library only indicates the availability of the book you searched for and you are required to physically checkout the book. However, there are library portals where the contents are free and open.

The World Digital Library (WDL) is an online portal that consolidates library contents from the 6 continents. The project was headed by the US Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, with the participation of partner institutions in other countries. WDL is also supported by United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with financial contributions from private foundations and businesses.

The service is free and open to the public. This virtual library aims to provide primary information on cultures and histories of different countries. The interface is available in multiple languages so it is accessible, even to non-English speaking online learners.

Just like any normal library, the World Digital Library can be an extension of the online schools. This is an extremely useful resource for online as well as traditional students with homework and projects. Unlike Wikipedia, the sources in the virtual library are credible; the materials came from previously published books, and various archived media.

Another free virtual library portal is the WWW Virtual Library or VL, for short. The library continuously grows in content and is now reportedly containing 300 sub-libraries. The main categories at this time are: Agriculture, Arts, Business and Economics, Communications and Media, Computing and Computer Science, Education, Engineering, Humanities, International Affairs, Law, Natural Science, Mathematics, Recreation, Regional Studies, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Society and Information and Libraries.

Virtual and online libraries are essential e-learning tools for online learners because the contents are checked by the organizations and institutions that created them. Relying on sites like Wikipedia can sometimes lead to erroneous information that may mislead students. Many people believe that if the information came from the internet, then it is automatically true. In actuality, a lot of information on the internet have been created without factual basis. Students have to be careful in choosing their sources and the virtual libraries are references they can rely on.

The world, indeed, is shrinking. Individual learning institutions from different countries contribute knowledge, virtual libraries are this generation’s answer to the great Alexandrian Library of the ancient world.

 

 

Online College Experience A Success

Posted on by schatzi

Every day there is an increasing number of schools providing distance learning programs. This kind of learning makes educational institutions favored by a large number of students. You can earn anything, including a degree from an accredited online college. But this kind of learning takes dedication and commitment to be successful and the choices you make and the approach you use will determine how successful the online learning experience will be for you.

Decide that online learning is best – Online learning unfortunately is not for everyone. Considering that there is no face to face interaction with classmates and teachers, you must be a self-motivated and driven person to be a success in the end. Physical classrooms fit some people better, but if you are comfortable with independent learning then an online college might be just good for you.

Keep in mind online does not mean faster – One common misconception is that online learning offers a faster learning experience. Just because you can learn at your own pace does not mean that you will manage to finish the course faster. The course scheduling must be done reasonably so you have enough study time that success calls for. Think more about achieving your learning goals rather than completing the course in the shortest time possible.

Sign up with an accredited school – The last thing you want is to waste your time and money on a college that is not accredited because then it means that your certificates will not be valid. A college that is not registered and accredited will get you nowhere so there is a need to do your homework when choosing the best online college so that your efforts will amount to something in the end. You can use local education departments to get a list of accredited colleges you can join.

Meet all system requirements – Your computer must meet with the requirements for a pleasant e-learning experience. It must be up to date and reliable in performance. The requirements vary from one college to the other, especially in terms of windows. Browser requirements can also be different and you must adhere to the requirements. If there are software requirements, then you should also make sure that you meet them all before beginning the course. The readier you are, the easier it will be to enjoy a smooth learning experience. Reliable internet connection is also a must.

Manage your time – Online learning offers you lots of independence and if you are not careful with time you could end up lagging behind. Plan your hours so that you have enough time to listen to lectures, watch helpful videos, schedule study blocks and also create reading time. Make sure your study environment is suitable and that you remain very comfortable when sitting for the studies. You must also know what your distractions are and come up with ways to work around them so you do not waste too much time.