02/16/2020
The launch.
The day was everything we imagined. When the game opened, we were there, and one by one, casino guests walked up, asking questions about 'how to play' and 'what was Yo!' and I was so glad I was there to answer them. Tulalip Casino made a great choice to train all 78 dealers to deal Yo!, and even smarter decision to put a roulette or snapper dealer on the game. It played out just as anticipated. The dealers caught on and enjoyed dealing Yo! They were toked graciously by the players, and there was a camaraderie among the players too. The game filled up rather quickly, and soon it was the only game in the pit making noise by the cheering players all high-fiving each other when the 11 rolled - or when a winner was declared.
Many new players, unfamiliar with craps, played. One woman said she came to the casino to learn craps. Four hours later, she said, 'I came to the Tulalip to learn craps, and now I don't need too. Yo! is my new favorite game!' - I was thrilled to hear this! I asked her to please review us on Facebook and share that thought - which she did. Another woman played, her name was Tanya, and she just lost her job of 10 years. Tanya's man was taking her out for a night on the town to forget about her troubles. Tanya sat down on the first spot and said, 'I do not know anything about any casino game, and I'm intimidated to play, but this looks like fun, so I will try it.' Tanya played for the next 3 hours, and learned the game in just minutes. When I asked her if she understood the game, her reply was, 'Yo! - yes, I do - it's super easy, and a ton of fun to play! - as she eagerly made her next wager.
I think the most significant moment of the night for us as game designers was when the entire table erupted into cheers as the game rolled an 11 on the game dice with an 11 on the bonus dice. At that moment, we witnessed as strangers became friends high-fiving and congratulating each other. The smiles, joy, and laughter were universal, and no age, gender, or race was relevant. This check marked every ideal we had for live play, and we knew we had a winner.
The launch was everything we hoped for. Huge shout out to Tulalip Resort & Casino for believing in the concept, and us. Thank you to the dealers, floors, shifts for their help and patience as the new game went live! BIG SHOUT OUT to the players who test-drove our baby - we're so glad you enjoyed the ride!