No Ongoing Fees Makes Ace of Games the Cat’s Whiskers for Independents

FatCat Softworks is entering a new era with a bold offer of a CatC/B4 offer free of content contract and the backing of a leading distributor.

FatCat, which was founded back in 2015 by Paul Slavin and David Ash (previously of FatSpanner), has been a constant in the UK gaming industry, creating innovative gaming products and offer bespoke software and hardware products to clients in the gaming sector and outside.

The company has a software development team with a background in land based and online gaming and there is seemingly nothing they can’t turn their hands to including Cat B3, Cat B4, Cat C, Cat C Lite, Cat D, SWP along with Mobile and Online. Now, however, the company is looking at a new opportunity and along with existing conversions and rebuilds to supply the single pub/club market with a brand-new premium product.

“ The move was inspired by the realisation that the FatCat content on the company’s B4 games, which it was using on its Cowells Arrow conversions, and distributed exclusively through Automatic Machine Services, was standing up to, if not outperforming some of the more mainstream suppliers’ offering on site.”

“It made us realise that we didn’t need to just solely concentrate on this end of the market. Following conversations with independent operators and distributors, we also understood that the UK single site sector was crying out for an alternative supplier, that wasn’t vertically integrated with its own operation,” says Paul.

FatCat invested heavily in its brand-new CatC/B4 cabinet marketed as Ace of Games Ultra, creating a full HD menu and converting all its games to HD. They are also working on community games and TITO for the arcade market. The company has also invested heavily in its new “Quantum” system which will give the operator the choice to connect their Ultra cabinets to the “Quantum Connect” portal from your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. They can get instant access to machine connection data, hopper levels, machine errors, game and financial performance and to download new games and more. The system will also notify you instantly when there is something unusual or wrong with your machines. We feel the new “Quantum” system is as good if not better than any existing machine connection system currently in the market.

The decision to avoid ongoing content fees is strategic. “We obviously know that this is a rich source of revenue to manufacturers, but we also understand it can be unpopular with some operators who feel that they do not really ‘own’ the machines that they buy. Effectively, if they stop paying for the content – what do they actually have? We felt that there was a gap in the market for a premium product that more than competes in terms of revenue and looks but which gives operators the flexibility to update their content when they are ready – kind of on a pay as you go basis,” adds Paul.

FatCat is looking to take on the big cats and EAG is likely to be the launchpad for the Ace of Games Ultra – featuring eye-catching twin 24-inch screens and the redeveloped HD menu. The games have all the specifications of their rivals in the market, are compliant with the leading payment wallet technologies and all the necessary protocols.

“It’s an exciting time for FatCat and an opportunity to tackle a different end of the market from that which we have been previously associated with. It has taken a great deal of investment but we are confident that this product will appeal to those looking for a truly independent product from a truly independent supplier,” concludes Paul.

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29 September 2023

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