The opening ceremony held at 10:00 a.m. on the first day of the event was attended by a number of special guests including Director-General Reed Yu of the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Director Ta-sheng Lo of the Electronic Information Group under the Industrial Development Bureau of MOEA, Deputy Secretary-General Simon Wang of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Vice President Andrew Lee of IAAPA Asia Pacific Region, Vice Chairman Shan-ping Chang of the National Recreational Trade Association of Taiwan, Chairman Che-wen Ou of the Taiwan Amusement Machine Association (TAMA), and Chairman Kun-mou Lu of the Taiwan Digital Entertainment Association (TDEA). The presence of the IAAPA representative has especially added luster to this year’s GTI Asia Taipei Expo.

After the master of ceremonies introduced all the special guests, Chairman Che-wen Ou of TAMA and Director-General Reed Yu of the MOEA Department of Commerce went on the stage to address the audience, respectively, and then jointly cut the ribbon to officially kick off the 21st GTI Asia Taipei Expo. In the evening, the show organizers especially arranged a reception accommodating 50 tables for exhibitors and buyers at a banquet room in the Taipei City Hall. The reception started with an exciting performance. Besides beautiful showgirls’ cheerful dance, there were also band singing and a captivating magic show, creating a wave of excitement for the banquet. Taiwanese industry associates as well as many trade professionals and buyers from Japan, China, Hong Kong and other regions enjoyed Taiwanese cuisine together and their networking has indirectly created a good number of business opportunities.

Thank you all very much for coming to GTI Asia Taipei Expo’s opening ceremony. The show celebrates its 21st anniversary this year. Last year’s event was influenced by the world economic situation and only housed 400-plus booths, having made people worry about the event’s future development. Therefore, this year the show organizers have been especially aggressive in attracting exhibitors and urging the industry to support this international trade show of Taiwan. I feel very delighted to see the scale of this year’s event has slightly gone up to 500 booths. More than 60 companies exhibited at the show with the support of overseas exhibitors from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

The 21st GTI Asia Taipei Expo plays an important role in the international commercial game machine market and is well known and widely recognized by global industry members. Therefore, we all hope this event can continue to operate over the long term and achieve sustainable development. After all, for the related industries in Taiwan, this is very important, and GTI Asia Taipei Expo is an indispensable trade show. Running commercial game business in Taiwan is as difficult as trying to survive in a desert, but during the past four years since I took over the position of TAMA Chairman, I have persevered in contacting and communicating with the Department of Commerce, the Industrial Development Bureau and the Institute for Information Industry as well as discussing with professors from related game disciplines of various universities. When we talked about Taiwan’s future development, we all hope to provide more hope and a more promising future to the next generation.

Therefore, here I would like to bring up an important issue to share with all of you. Not too long ago, opinions opposing nuclear power plants prevailed throughout Taiwan but I didn’t see anyone proposing any concrete solutions or plans about future electricity rationing. Taiwan is surrounded by oceans on all sides. Forums held by industries, government and academia all have pointed out that Taiwan is very suitable for the development of leisure and entertainment related industries. The most important of all is that leisure and entertainment industries do not require massive amounts of electricity or generate industrial wastewater and hence produce a lot less pollution.

According to our Association’s survey, currently about 58 schools in Taiwan provide game related disciplines and approximately 7,000 to 8,000 students from these disciplines will graduate and start working this year. Taking these students’ employment into consideration, we hope that the authority in charge of our industry, the Department of Commerce, could provide more assistance. First, we hope the provisions of related laws could be properly revised so as to give more room for the operation of various Taiwan-made electronic game machine products in the domestic market. At last, I would like to express my gratitude to all the exhibitors for their support of the show, and thank you all!

I feel deeply honored to have been invited again to participate in this annual grand event of the industry and am also very happy to learn that the scale of this year’s GTI Asia Taipei Expo is larger than a year ago. This year, there are friends coming from China as well as exhibitors and visitors from the US, Korea, Japan and other regions of the world, which has indeed made me feel very happy.

I deeply believe that game machines can actually relieve work pressure and activate brain development. For young people, games can train people’s agility and body response as well as brain; for example, dance games can let our body exercise and make people more nimble. This is a strong point and advantage of game machines and should not be ignored.

In fact, the Taiwan government now also hopes to develop the game machine industry. For an island country like Taiwan, the industries offering long-term development are limited, so we are keen to facilitate this industry to continuously increase its production value. Currently, the game machine industry has the Industrial Development Bureau’s strong support and our department’s cooperation, and we hope the industry enjoys a more robust development in the future. I personally feel honored to participate in the opening ceremony of GTI Asia Taipei Expo on behalf of the Department of Commerce and hope that the 3-day event is a success and all goes well. And, thank you all!

Regarding the number of visitors attending this year’s GTI Asia Taipei Expo, there were a total of 2,500 buyers with close to 600 overseas trade professionals (inclusive of Chinese industry associates) from 44 countries and regions including Asia’s India, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Israel, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, China, Macau and Mongolia, Europe’s Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Russia, the UK, Poland and Serbia, America’s Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Puerto Rico and the US, Africa’s Egypt, Ghana, Libya, Mauritius, South Africa and Morocco, and Oceania’s Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. A good number of buyers from newly emerging countries came to Taiwan to check out and purchase products. They thought highly of Taiwanese companies’ development capabilities, product quality and comprehensive after-sale service. Many overseas trade professionals were impressed and touched by the friendliness and genuine hospitality of Taiwanese people.

Jointly organized by TAMA, TDEA and Haw Ji Co., this indispensable annual event of the electronic game industry has attracted the participation of overseas exhibitors like Namco of Japan, CPI from Australia, US-based SUZO-HAPP, and JCM as well as well-known Taiwanese companies this year. They jointly introduced a wide array of new products at this year’s GTI Asia Taipei Expo, offering an abundant feast for the eyes of buyers. A good number of exhibitors presented eye-dazzling unique and creative new products. Many Taiwanese exhibitors showcased independently developed products, demonstrating Taiwanese companies’ cutting-edge technology in product development and design. Below is a brief introduction of this year’s show:

◎888 Technology： The company specializes in providing the services of customized production and development of game machines and motherboards.

◎A-Lin：The exhibitor displayed a full series of thermal printers it distributes for Italy-based Custom Co.

◎Asia Amusement：The firm showcased a variety of kiddie rides and battery cars including “Excavator”, “Dozer” and “Forklift” as well as “Dream Train”, which is their newest kiddie ride product.

◎Bandai Namco：As in the past, this Japanese powerhouse has brought many amazing games to the show floor this year such as “Mach Storm”, an air combat game equipped with a cabin, and the famous car racing game “Mario Kart Arcade GP DX”. Other attractive fun games at its stand included “Ace Angler”, “Super Alpin Racer” and “Taiko no Tatsujin”.

◎Bingotimes：This year the company promoted a range of products including “Aladdin” and “Fairy Forest” coin pushers, various dual screen video slot machines like “Robin Hood”, “The Wizard of OZ” and “Monster Castle” as well as S100 Simplified Robotic Arm Series, S200 Simplified Dice Thrown series, S220 Automatic Simplified Dual Channel Series, R200 Automatic Robotic Arm Series, B200 Dual Rail Drawing Machine, Shuffler, Dual Screen Station, and Bcross Casino Management System.

◎Borden：The exhibitor was focused on promoting an array of slot games this year such as “Sea Fishing King”, “First Class Clam” and “The Tiger-killing Hero”.

◎Chan Ming：Chan Ming provides a complete range of electronic game parts and components including finished cable products, wiring materials, and electronic components.

◎Cheer Jingle：The firm mainly displayed pinball bingo machines, Mario slot games, video games, and parts and accessories.

◎CLECO：At the stand of CLECO, there were a wide variety of parts and game machines including coin hoppers, coin acceptors, UFO lamps, pushbuttons and PC boards as well as slot machines, pinball bingo games and crane machines.

◎Crane Payment Innovations（CPI）：Specializing in providing all types of coin hoppers, and coin acceptance and dispensing systems, this well-known international parts supplier was focused on promoting payment systems at this year’s show.

◎Da Sheng：The exhibitor strongly promoted pinball bingo machines, game machines and cabinets this year, receiving good marks with high-quality products.

◎Dar Dun：The company exhibited various products including “Rolling Ball Kingdom” and cabinet products like “Da Feng Cabinet” and “Da Yu Cabinet” as well as “The Monkey King” and the linked slot game “Alice 2”.

◎Entropy：Entropy specializes in providing OEM/ODM slot machine cabinets and its own brand of ticket redemption machines.

◎Feiloli：Feiloli strongly promoted crane machines, gift vending machines, electronic games, and sports-themed fitness products at the show, and “Dream Shooter Arena” basketball machine, “Cotton Candy”, “Master Sketch” photo sticker machine, “Ultima Assaulter” boxing machine, and “Toy Party” crane machine captured the most attention.

◎Feng Chen：The exhibitor presented an array of products including bill devices, bill dispensing devices, ticket dispensers, ticket acceptors, bill acceptance and dispensing devices, multi-denomination coin dispensing motors, and coin acceptors.

◎Feng Yi Fu：The company was focused on promoting pinball bingo machines like “Lucha PK” and “F?tbol de Carnaval” (Spanish language) as well as inquiry machines, roulette games and Mary games.

◎Feng Yung Cheng (FYC)：At this year's show, the exhibitor introduced various cute and fun kiddie rides in different shapes such as rocking horse, train and mechanical animals. “Mantou Pirate Ship”, “Twitter Coffee Cup-Cocoa”, “Sweet Donut” and “Star Bus Yellow” are very popular among children.

◎Global Electronics：The firm mainly promoted electronic games like Mario slot games and poker games.

◎Guan Shing：At the exhibitor’s booth there were an array of medium and small-sized crane machines and mole whacking games.

◎Guangzhou San Ho：The company specializes in providing a range of digital products including electronic entertainment equipment, multifunctional shape-changing digital tea tables and large-sized commercial electronic equipment.

◎Han Sen：Han Sen showcased various electronic parts and components, Mario slot games and pinball bingo machines.

◎Homer Tech.：The firm specializes in the development of hardware and software, kickoff machines, drawing machines, shuffling machines and robotic arms, and also distributes slot machines. At its stand, there were large-sized game machines such as “Baccarat” robotic arm.

◎Huai I：Huai I introduced a range of products including LCD monitors, game machines, power supplies and coin acceptors.

◎Huang Chia：The company specializes in distributing and selling various used slot machines.

◎I Cing：At the exhibitor’s stand there were a variety of education-category games including “GoGo Pony”, “Crazy Frog”, “Mini Basketball”, crane machines, and Pet Family.

◎Injoy：Holding a leading position in the simulation game sector, Injoy presented “Dido Kart”, “Power Boat”, “Top Gunner” and “Allied Tank Attack” this year.

◎ICT： ICT showcased a range of related parts including bill validators, coin acceptors, coin changers, combo acceptors, identification devices, card dispensers, bill dispensers and coin dispensers.

◎IGS：At the exhibitor’s stand there were diverse exhibits including amusement-category products, simulation machines, non-electronic game machines, FEC games and mobile platform games. This year IGS was focused on promoting “Over Take”, “Danz Base” and “Hero Roberts” and its 5D motion theater, “Monster Eye”, captured the most attention.

◎JCM：This well-known international parts supplier strongly promoted bill validation modules and related products including “iVIZION?”, “iPro”, “Taiko” and “Paycheck 4 printer”.

◎Joymax：Joymax presented an array of coin pushing machines such as “Lucky Party”, “Fun Farm”, ”Gold Rush”, “Dream Journey” and “Crazy King Kong”, all of which captured a lot of attention.

◎Jyuee Ang：This well-known Taiwanese parts provider showcased a range of parts including pushbuttons, counters, topper lights and illuminated lights, and also introduced an innovative game, “Parkour”.

◎KCT International：Participating in GTI Asia Taipei Expo for the first time this year, the company cooperates with the well-known international game developer WMS to introduce a good number of slot machines including “Any Way” and “Princess Sakura” as well as a multi-game machine that can accommodate multiple games based on request.

◎KKK Development：The exhibitor strongly promoted a new product – “Texas Poker Showdown” at this year’s event.

◎Kwang Yi：The firm mainly displayed pinball bingo machines, roulette machines Mario slot games and slot machines such as “Poker King” and “5.6.7.8 Bola”.

◎Lechihwa：Lechihwa showcased the whole venue-typed games – double-track stopper bar-typed multi-machine linked keno game and double-track push plate-typed multi-machine keno game, the machine-typed game – 5-player keno game, and coin pushing machines as well as patented countertop fast coin deliver devices and coin counter motors.

◎Lidu：Lidu displayed slot machines developed by famous foreign companies including EGT, AGI and ARUZE.

◎Loei：Loei introduced video games, accessories, roulette machines and Mario slot games.

◎Lu-Hao：The company provides various gift machines and crane machines like currently the most popular scissors cut prize machines and stacker prize machines, and also supplies coin changers and frog whacking machines. It was focused on promoting mini crane machines at this year’s show.

◎Micro Sova：Micro Sova presented a range of products including online game systems, LAN games, multiplayer game machines, standalone game machines, and various 3D games, and strongly promoted the newest title “Pilgrimage to the West”.

◎Min-Yan：The firm exhibited a multitude of related products including pinball bingo machines, Mario slot games, video games and kits.

◎Neng Yang：Neng Yang was concentrated on promoting a multiplayer game – “Royal Boatrace”.

◎New Sun Yu：Specializing in manufacturing slot machine cabinets and supplying electronic game related parts, the exhibitor was devoted to promoting “Double Screen Cabinet”, “Metal Slot Cabinet” and “Video Game Machine” at this year’s event.

◎Pan Asia：Pan Asia displayed a broad array of education-category games this year such as “Demon Hunter Falling Devils”, “Shooting Mania”, “Turtle Adventure”, “Fish Lagoon”, “Marine Treasure”, “Selection Vending Machine”, “Crazy Race”, “Eiffel Tower” and “Go Go Pony”.

◎Paokai／TWCT：The company provides a wide variety of products ranging from education-category games to amusement-category machines and cabinets, and showcased an array of gift machines, crane machines, selection vending machines, basketball machines and gaming machines this year. It strongly promoted “Mini House”, “Mini Twin” and “Mini Shop”.

◎Saint-Fun：Saint-Fun supplies a wide range of products including arcade games, redemption machines, coin changers, management systems and non-electronic game machines. The most eye-dazzling exhibits at its stand were Taito’s new products – “Groove Coaster”, “Transformers Human-Alliance”, “Sugar Crane”, “Bone Easter” and “Digging Saga”.

◎Sheng Yang：At the company’s stand there were FEC games, pinball machines, bingo machines, horse racing games, and parts as well as “Sea Story” and “Panda Baby”.

◎Shiang Huei Da：The company introduced “Lucky Magic 678 Ball Pinball”, “Soccer Pearl”, time control boxes, video games, coin changers, self-service car wash control boxes, and battery charging time control boxes.

◎Subsino：The exhibitor strongly promoted slot machines and linking systems, online gambling games and systems, SmartCash card reading systems, and interactive kiddie rides. “Monkey King” at its stand attracted the most inquiries from buyers.

◎Supreme-Exim：The exhibitor displayed a variety of electronic game parts including pushbuttons, LED strips, tower lights, top sign boxes and joysticks.

◎SUZO-HAPP：The firms’ exhibits included various parts, components and units such as LCD monitors and pushbuttons.

◎Taiwan YuanMei：The company was focused on promoting “Lottery Pinball 567 Ball”, “Devil X Steel” “Grand Fruit Mario”, “Pandora's Box”, “Pinball Hunter” and “2014 World Cup” at this year’s show.

◎Tekserve：Tekserve’s products include hardware accessories, fasteners, plastic cable ties, plugs, and rivets for sheet metal. It had sheet metal parts, rivets and assembled parts on display at its booth.

◎Victorious：Victorious brought an array of FEC games, poker games, reel games and fish hunter machines to the show floor.

◎Wee Chin　Weche：The firm’s core products include gaming machines, crane machines, vending machines, FEC games, cabinets and related parts and accessories.

◎Winner Enterprise：Winner Enterprise was focused on promoting “Animal Cruise” at this year’s show.

◎Ying Tchin：This long-standing company in the industry provides LCD monitors, power supplies and amplifiers, and strongly promoted a variety of high resolution monitors at this year’s show.

◎Youal-Jifh：The exhibitor displayed an array of pinball bingo machines, “Happy Farm” gift grabbing machine, video gift machines, mini double-claw crane machine, “Rotary Star II”, video games, and video crane machines, attracting many trade professionals to check its products.

◎Zeroplus：Zeroplus’s core products include peripheral controllers for home game consoles, arcade games, and multi-dimensional theater systems. It brought “Shooting Sport”, “Piling Up” and “3D Fun Catcher” to the show floor this year.

◎CoDelux：CoDelux provides services related to slot machine product

◎DG Entertainment：The company offers game technology related services.

The Hello Taiwan Pavilion invites the visiting buyers to try games and have a picture taken, receiving good feedback.

GTI Asia Taipei Expo attracts trade professionals from across the world. Pictured are the booths of Lechihwa, Sheng Yang and Jyuee Ang.

Game manufacturers in central Taiwan are aggressively expanding overseas markets and their capabilities cannot be ignored. Pictured are the booths and products of Da Sheng, Dar Dun and Lu-Hao.

Although the international economic situation has continued to stay stagnant this year and related industries in the emerging market of China have been influenced by drastic changes in local policy, this year’s GTI Asia Taipei Expo still saw the introduction of many exciting new products and even attracted the participation of the company that distributes the products for the well-known international company WMS. Moreover, Asia-Pacific President Michael Conforti of WMS attended the show and had an interview with GTI Magazine.

Bandai Namco of Japan brought many popular products to the show floor including “Mario Kart Arcade GP DX” featuring famous game characters, the latest installment of its classic music game series – “Taiko no Tatsujin”, and “Alpine Racer”, a realistic skiing game. At the exhibitor’s stand, the air combat simulator “Mach Storm” drew the most attention. Game designer Kazushi Imoto was present at the show interacting with Taiwanese players and buyers. During his interview with GTI Magazine, he talked about creativity, conceptualization and planning of game design.

Not only can visiting monks give sermons, but also Taiwanese companies are capable of developing innovative products. IGS, the leading game developer in Taiwan, strongly promoted Danz Base, a music game, this year. However, the product that has excited widespread interest and sparked up discussion in the industry is a 5D motion theater which cost more than NT$50 million and took IGS several years to develop – “Monster Eye”. It is a rare big-budget production in Taiwan in recent years as well as the first local motion theater product, which not only signifies a breakthrough in Taiwan’s 5D simulation technology but also represents a milestone in the technological development of the Taiwan game industry.

As for the aspect of crane machines, super mini-sized crane machines are gradually becoming the market’s mainstream and related products have rolled out in the show one after another. The kiddie ride sector has also seen a different trend. Asia Amusement’s “Dream Train”, employing the capsule machine function, is not only a kiddie ride but also a gift machine and is more appealing to children. This year Bingotimes showcased several eye-catching products such as “Aladdin”, a video coin pusher, and “Fairy Forest”, and captured a lot of attention from visitors. GTI Asia Taipei Expo 2013 used “Taiwan’s originality amazes the world” as its slogan to enhance the “MIT” image representing product excellence. Continuing last year’s momentum, this year’s event utilized “Hello Taiwan” to let the whole world better understand Taiwanese enterprises’ solid capabilities and spirit.

The GTI Asia Taipei Expo exhibitors networking reception features a captivating dance and singing performance as well as an exciting magic show.

Many new faces at this year’s show unanimously said that although the number of exhibitors has decreased this year, the event was still regarded as a very valuable platform for generating new business opportunities. Chin-hao Liao, representative of Winner Enterprise, pointed out “we aimed to reach clients from China through the show, but surprisingly, buyers from the Middle East also visited our booth to inquire about our products. The chance for future cooperation is high.”

From the opening remarks of Director-general of the Department of Commerce, we have learned that in fact the Taiwan government has started to attach importance to the electronic game industry’s development and the Industrial Development Bureau has put great efforts into launching various programs including “digital learning program” and “cross-sector cooperation program”. All these moves aimed to find more ways for the industry to build a sustainable future.

Under the circumstances of exports shrinking and domestic demand being limited, the development of the Taiwan electronic game industry is indeed facing a crisis. At this time, GTI Asia Taipei Expo should further take on the responsibility of connecting Taiwan with overseas markets. Chairman Wen-che Ou of TAMA stressed that the electronic game industry, with a long history and solid foundation, is an integrated industry that combines leisure, entertainment, environmental protection and green energy, possesses a complete industry chain and can boost employment. The Taiwan government should now attach greater importance to related industries’ potential and achievements than in the past and also should break free from its outdated view which has existed for many years. Moreover, the government should lend a helping and guiding hand to the industry and keep its doors open. The 22nd GTI Asia Taipei Expo is scheduled to take place on May 7~9 and please pay close attention to related updates. GTI Asia Taipei Expo looks forward to meeting global industry members again in Taipei in the summer of 2015.

※The article is published in the GTI Magazine Issue No. 126 in June, 2014.