RadBlue tools display attributes that have been deprecated in the G2S 2.1.0 specification this way so that they are easily identifiable to a user. RadBlue plans to continue showing these deprecated attributes, and the resulting values if present, for the foreseeable future.

The G2S Message Protocol documents can provide details about any deprecated attributes and the information about what new or replacement attributes should be used.  You can find copies of the G2S standards documents here: https://www.gamingstandards.com/?page=standards/g2s_standard.

Why use GSA Message Validator? 

To quickly see if an XML message is valid according to the GSA specifications.

Where do I find the GSA Message Validator?

On the Tools menu. Select the GSA Message Validator option or press F4 to bring up the window.

A Screen Review

GSA Schema Selector: Choose which version of the GSA schema the validator will use when checking the XML text snippet.

Format Content: Make the XML more readable while working in the GSA Message Validator.

XML Message Window: Paste or type the XML text being validated into this window. You can edit it right on the screen.

Validate Button: Press the Validate button to determine if the text is compliant.

Validation Results Window: Review the validation message information in this window to determine why a message has been deemed Not Valid.

The CVT is a test tool that allows you to quickly determine whether your gaming products meet a basic standard for G2S implementation.

What does this mean for you?

It means ensured interoperability. It means a cost-effective way to quickly get products to the slot floor. It means a definitive method to assess that your products meet G2S protocols. It means confidence in your G2S gaming products.

The goal of this first CVT Demo release is to show the overall design and flow of the CVT’s user interface. At this point in the project, we are soliciting your feedback to help us make the tool as useful and easy-to-use as possible. If you are interested in test driving the CVT, simply download and run the installer (32-bit or 64-bit).

In this release, you can set up and run tests using canned data, work with test case profiles, view test results and export test session data – in essence, you can try most everything in the CVT without connecting to an actual G2S EGM.

If you would like to know more about the CVT, visit the CVT product page.

For technical details, go to the CVT Development Portal.

or

Download any of the following to get started:

Installer  |  Release Notes  | Getting Started  |  Questions to Consider

Cheers!

G2S

G2S 1.1 is now available
G2S 1.1 is the final version of G2S 1.0.3 and is the one against which your products will be certified. This version came about because the committee had been doing clarifications and enhancements for the new G2S 2.x versions (2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.0.3, etc.), and it became a bit confusing as to the correct behavior to implement. G2S 1.1 contains all of G2S 1.0.3 plus all of the clarifications from G2S 2.x. It was released in early March along with certification documents, and it will not be changing.

You can read more about G2S 1.1 and certification here:

• G2S 1.1 Protocol document and schema package
• G2S Technical Bulletin (additional clarifications to G2S 1.1)
• G2S 1.1 Certification Requirements

The next version of G2S will be G2S 2.1
G2S 2.1, currently being developed in committee, is due out toward the end of the year. This version will extend G2S 1.1, by adding functionality that satisfies a series of requests from GSA’s Operator Advisory Committee (OAC). The committee is also hoping to add Employee and Tournament classes to this version.

S2S

In the S2S world, S2S 1.5.1 has recently been released, which should make it much easier to build a site controller that receives G2S commands from EGMs and then sends them to a central system using S2S. The plan is to continue driving towards a complete rewrite of the protocol as follows:

• S2S 1.6 – addresses the OAC requests: download (SSMP-334), SDDP (443), new GAT class (447) and player class updates
• S2S 1.7 – redo the table games classes
• S2S 1.8 – redo the classes that overlap with G2S (voucher, wat, bonus, etc.)

Networked Gaming

Networked Gaming (n.): Open-standard gaming protocols, running over an Ethernet connection, that facilitate standardized communication between EGMs, servers and peripheral devices.

Some may take exception with that definition. I was reading an article the other day that claimed networked gaming had been around for the last 15 years. To which I responded with a resounding: “Er?” As it turns out, the article was referring to central determination (Class II) gaming.

Strictly speaking, all central determination systems are networked. And, as a point of fact, most central determination systems are now run over an Ethernet network. But it’s not really a good example of what’s happening with the open standard, high-speed technology effort that will push gaming technology into the future because it only has one piece of the equation: Ethernet. Here’s an example:

Using an Ethernet network, company A communicates really effectively between company A’s EGMs and servers.

That’s great, but . . .

Using an Ethernet network and open standards, company A now communicates really effectively between the EGMs and servers for companies A (your slot system), B (your player management system), C (your cool bonusing applications) and D (your totally amazing augmented reality games). Now, you’ve got technology – regardless of the vendor – that you can easily leverage across your entire slot floor.

What matters in this scenario are things like innovation, quality, ROI and vendor responsiveness because interoperability, extensibility and flexibility are already there.

Open Standards

Open Standards (n.): A technical standard that gifts rights of use to the public and can be implemented royalty free. There are three open standards for the gaming technology industry: the Gaming Device Standard (GDS), Game To System (G2S) protocol and System To System (S2S) protocol. All three standards are maintained by the Gaming Standards Association (GSA), which has a membership comprised of gaming vendors, operators, test laboratories and regulators.

What’s the catch? While using an open standard is one thing, implementing an open standard is quite another. Since the goal of open standards is interoperability, GSA has quite sensibly set up a certification program for vendors implementing GSA standards. Certification ensures that whatever the technology is, it will play nice with what’s on your floor. Independent test labs, such as BMM, GLI and Eclipse, are already participating in the certification program. Manufacturers can even set up their own test labs, as long as the labs are accredited.

Server-Based Gaming

Server-Based Gaming (n.): 1. EGMs that receive information from a central host server. There are two basic types of server-based gaming:

1. system-based: EGMs receive game content and results from a host server (for example, central determination games).
2. system-supported: EGM is responsible for game play and outcomes, but things like game configuration, game updates and media are downloaded from a host server.

Depending on the implementation, server-based gaming may or may not require an Ethernet connection, and may or may not use open standards.

Go forth, knowledgeable consumer

So, what questions should you be asking vendors as you navigate the latest technology offerings at G2E this year?

Does the product conform to one of the Gaming Standards Association’s open standard protocols? Is it GSA-certified? If not, is there a timeline for certification?

You will hear many arguments as to why you shouldn’t worry you’re pretty little head about open standards, but remember: the real difference between proprietary protocols and open protocols is choice, flexibility and innovation.

Open standards are essential to realizing the full benefits of an Ethernet-based networked slot floor (and, in case you were wondering, the G2S protocol includes a class for central determination as well as download). And in all honesty, some vendors may not want you to really understand your options (Do you blame them?). It’s up to you to be an informed consumer.

What other questions do you have about networked gaming? What issues are you encountering as you talk to your vendors about implementing open standards in their technology?

In short, G2S moves your casino from a closed-system world (where you can only get new applications from your system provider) to an open network, where anyone can write an application that lets you have all sorts of amazing new interactions with your players. The applications taking the lead these days are remote game configuration and downloading new code to run on your gaming machines. These are just the tip of the iceberg. Much like e-mail and file sharing were the tip of the iceberg for the Internet – and now look where we are!

As you (and your slot floor) move into this new world, it is critical that you are an intelligent consumer – making sure that the solution you implement (or is installed for you) can take advantage of future applications. I suspect there may be some pressure from your current solution providers to make sure you don’t go shopping around for solutions from just anybody. This might cause your casino to become as flexible and innovative as (gasp!) the Internet.

So, what do you do? Concede that your current solution providers are the best at what they are doing now – the highly regulated, incredibly important applications that are the bread and butter of your casino – and let them know they will continue to be an important part of your future. But, imagine going to a gaming show, seeing a cool new application that might be just perfect for your players, and then having it up and running a month or so later. And, if it’s not quite right, having the vendor iteratively update their application until it’s just perfect for your players. In the G2S world, a gaming machine (EGM) can talk directly to multiple servers at the same time! This means that your current system provider can continue to do what they do best (all of the important stuff), while your EGMs also talk to other applications that are not as highly regulated (since they are just “marketing” apps).

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be exploring various aspects of networked gaming, and ways that you can prepare yourself and your slot floor for future innovation. In addition, I would be happy to explore specific networked gaming topics that interest you. So, what you would you like to talk about?