Strengthening hall computer sales and increasing the number of CⅡ network-connected stores

「The company will continue to promote the adoption of the AI hall computer “Ｘ” (カイ) and strengthen proposals for its use, aiming to enhance the value of management support services that contribute to improved performance at companies operating pachinko halls.」

「Against this market backdrop, in the Information Systems Business the company promoted replacements through system upgrades to the AI hall computer “Ｘ (カイ),” which is optimized for managing data on smart gaming machines, as well as expanding sales of dedicated card units and information-disclosure terminals for smart gaming machines, in order to meet strong capital investment demand following the introduction of smart gaming machines.」

「Against this market backdrop, in the Information Systems Business the company promoted replacements through system upgrades to the AI hall computer “Ｘ (カイ),” which is optimized for managing data on smart gaming machines, as well as expanding sales of dedicated card units and information-disclosure terminals for smart gaming machines, in order to meet strong capital investment demand following their arrival.」

「In the Information Systems Business, to meet strong capital investment demand following the arrival of smart gaming machines, the company proposed expanding sales of dedicated card units and information-disclosure terminals for smart gaming machines, as well as promoting replacements through system upgrades to the AI hall computer “Ｘ (カイ),” which is optimized for managing data on smart gaming machines.」

「As in the second quarter, the company promoted replacements through system upgrades to the AI hall computer “Χ (カイ),” which is optimized for managing data on smart gaming machines, and expanded ＭＩＲＡＩＧＡＴＥ services such as “Ｍａｒｋｅｔ－ＳＩＳ” in response to changes in the market environment following the arrival of smart gaming machines.」

「Against this market backdrop, the Information Systems Business proposed promoting replacements through system upgrades to the AI hall computer “Χ (カイ),” which is scheduled to be introduced to the market from November and is optimized for managing data on smart gaming machines.」

「In its subscription-based pachinko hall management support services, the company promoted the rollout of “Ｍａｒｋｅｔ－ＳＩＳ,” a trade-area analysis service that provides customer traffic data for surrounding areas. It also released “ＣｌａｒｉｓＬｉｎｋ (クラリスリンク),” a cloud-based chain-store management system, and the “Smart Entrance System,” a web-based entry lottery service that provides the industry’s first reservation function for gaming machines.」

「The number of system upgrades for the AI hall computer “Ｘ (カイ),” as well as sales of the information-disclosure terminals “ＲＥＶＯＬＡ” and “ＩＬ－Ｘ３,” which convey information on machines with “遊タイム” to customers in an easy-to-understand manner, exceeded the levels of the same period of the previous year and progressed steadily.」

「In line with this trend, the number of AI hall computer “Ｘ (カイ)” system upgrades introduced for the purpose of managing data on machines with “遊タイム” progressed to approximately 90% of the level of the same period of the previous year.」

「At the “ＭＩＲＡＩＧＡＴＥ２０２０ Web Exhibition & Seminar,” held online in September as the first event of its kind in the industry, many companies operating pachinko halls endorsed proposals including measures against COVID-19 and optimal data displays for pachinko machines equipped with “遊タイム.” As a result, system upgrades for the AI hall computer “Ｘ (カイ)” and the introduction of information terminals for customers progressed steadily from October onward. However, during the year-end sales season, which is normally a peak period, concerns about a resurgence of COVID-19 spread, and many plans for new pachinko hall openings and renovation work were postponed or cancelled. Companies operating pachinko halls consequently adopted a more cautious stance toward capital investment, and sales of the major products, CR units and information terminals for customers, fell below the level of the same period of the previous year.」

「During the cumulative consolidated second quarter of the fiscal year, the environment surrounding companies operating pachinko halls changed dramatically amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as requests for extended operating suspensions and the growing loss of customers caused appetite for capital investment to decline sharply. In addition, the deadline for removing some gaming machines subject to the former regulations was extended, postponing the timing of capital investment and creating an extremely challenging market environment. Against this backdrop, the segment profit substantially exceeded the initial forecast, as the business held online exhibitions and seminars, used mobile technology and worked to reduce other expenses.」

「During the cumulative consolidated first quarter of the fiscal year, the already challenging market environment continued from the previous fiscal year, while requests for pachinko halls to suspend operations added further pressure. As new store openings were postponed and renovation plans were cancelled, capital investment remained limited, and sales of major products fell well below the level of the same period of the previous year. There were also periods during which the provision of paid monthly services to pachinko halls that had suspended operations was halted, resulting in lower ＭＩＲＡＩＧＡＴＥ service revenue.」

「Against this market backdrop, in the information systems business we added functions to the new AI hall computer “Ｘ（カイ）,” released in June, continued to promote replacement through system upgrades from the existing “ＣⅡ” hall computer, and focused on individual seminars and follow-up activities for stores that had installed the system.」

「The company proposed its new AI hall computer “Ｘ (カイ),” released in June, and promoted replacements through system upgrades from the existing “ＣⅡ” hall computer.」

「The ＭＩＲＡＩＧＡＴＥ service, which supports pachinko hall operations and management through analytical support, posted steady sales of ¥4,455 million, compared with ¥4,312 million in the previous fiscal year. The company recognizes the importance of continuing to grow this service, which is a subscription-based business generating recurring revenue. By promoting the newly launched hall computer “Ｘ (カイ)” (sales began in June 2019), the company will improve the efficiency and reduce the labor required to operate pachinko halls while further expanding the ＭＩＲＡＩＧＡＴＥ service.」

「During the cumulative consolidated third quarter of the fiscal year, sales of the information-disclosure terminal “ＢｉＧＭＯ　ＰＲＥＭＩＵＭⅡ,” which is being increasingly adopted by major companies, and hall computers exceeded the level of the same period of the previous year. Sales of CR units also remained firm, as proposals incorporating new functions received high praise.」

「Sales of the information-disclosure terminal “ＢｉＧＭＯ ＰＲＥＭＩＵＭⅡ,” which is being increasingly adopted by major companies, and hall computers exceeded the level of the same period of the previous year.」

「Sales of the ＭＩＲＡＩＧＡＴＥ service, which supports pachinko hall operations and provides management support through analysis, amounted to ¥4,312 million, compared with ¥4,143 million in the previous fiscal year, and remained solid. We recognize the importance of building this service, a recurring-revenue business that generates continuing income, as a core earnings driver.」

「The number of member stores in the subscription-based service (MG service), centered on the “ＣⅡ－ＳＩＳ service,” an analysis tool used by pachinko hall operators to formulate daily operating strategies, and sales of the new “ＲＥＶＯＬＡ” information display terminal progressed steadily.」

「We will strengthen sales of hall computers and increase the number of stores connected to the CⅡ network.」