Larry's Story

Larry Pacey is a visionary leader and innovator whose career has profoundly impacted the gaming and technology industries. From the early days of digital typography in advertising to pioneering online gaming strategies and revolutionizing casino gaming, Larry has consistently driven innovation and change. His work at renowned companies like Atari, Sega, and WMS Gaming has set new industry standards, introducing groundbreaking technologies and concepts that have transformed gaming experiences worldwide. Central to Larry's success is his ability to surround himself with talented individuals and foster strong, collaborative teams, mentoring leaders who have each contributed their own unique stories to the larger narrative.

Influenced by his father, a trailblazer in advertising, Larry's journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of creativity and technological advancement. His unique ability to see beyond today and anticipate the innovations of tomorrow has been a constant driving force throughout his career. From early ventures in computer print and video graphics to pioneering full-motion animation, 3D experiences, connected online communities, and digital economies, Larry has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Explore Larry's story to uncover the milestones, innovations, and principles that define his remarkable career, and delve into the detailed timeline to learn from the rich tapestry of achievements and collaborations that have shaped his path.

CHAPTERS

Father's influence growing up

Larry's father had a significant influence on him growing up, exposing him to graphic design and early digital typography technologies as computing began to revolutionize the advertising and publishing industries. Larry discovered a passion for the synergy between art and technology.

In high school, Larry's father brought home a desk-sized early typography computer, the Compugraphic 7500 Photo Typesetting Computer, for Larry to learn programming on. He also arranged for Larry to train on early Scitex minicomputer electronic color prepress systems, the precursors to Photoshop and desktop publishing.

Two years before the Wargames movie?

Larry found himself exploring the early days of the computer networks. Maybe going some places, he wasn't supposed to be?

The College Years

These years were challenging as the universities were teaching mainframe classes as well as working for the college leading the develop of a business model simulator used by universities to teach finance. Simultaneously, Larry was working at home on early desktop systems pushing them to achieve early graphics.

Early career in advertising

During these years, Larry was pushing the creative boundaries of what a computer could achieve with early color graphics in award winning print and TV campaigns for Carnival Cruise Lines, Florida Tourism, and Bertram Yachts.

Getting recruited to make games!!

Computing, interactivity, and gaming were making it possible for full-screen graphics and Larry got recruited by one of his clients.

After a few years, he moved out to the West Coast to join Atari Corporation and most notably shipped a series of games for Jaguar including what is widely recognized as the best console version of NBA Jam Tournament Edition. Outshining the latest gaming hardware from Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn.

Also, if you are extra deligent, there is secret codes to unlock and play as Larry in the game. You can hear the famous, Tim "BOOMSHAKALAKA" Kitzrow call out "Pacey for 3"!

Image is from the Jaguar version of NBA Tournament Edition and the trademark was owned by Acclaim. Today the trademark is owned by NBA Properties, Inc.

The Internet!

Larry joined Sega to form a new division focused on original IP and online games. Two exciting things came from this:

First, Larry was Executive Producer and Co-created 10six, one of the first games where your stuff stayed online even when you weren't playing. You had to team up with friends to protect your land. It launched in the late 90s and is still going today as ProjectVisitor.com.

Second, they developed Transactor, a technology featuring Limited Edition Digital Objects. This let digital currencies and game items exist outside the game - a decade before Bitcoin.

Video was one of the launch trailers produced by Segasoft and HEAT.net.

Reinventing Casino Gaming!

Larry was recruited to WMS Gaming based on a recommendation from past colleagues at Sega to address the significant challenges the company faced. The organization was struggling with unreliable, antiquated technology, poor processes, and a lack of organization structure. Working closely with leadership, Larry and his team initiated a comprehensive overhaul of the game development and engineering processes.

Within his first year, the team's efforts led to a tripling of the company's game development throughput. Over the next three years, they executed a strategic three-part plan. The first phase focused on stabilizing the current solutions. The second phase involved building out teams and attracting fresh talent. The final phase introduced next-generation technology that empowered teams with new capabilities to create casino games unlike any seen before.

One of their most notable achievements was the development of the first ergonomic slot machine, a design now mimicked by every slot machine in the industry. The team also introduced community gaming with "Monopoly Big Event," a pioneering concept that allowed everyone wagering to play shared casino games based on the famous Hasbro board game. Another groundbreaking innovation was the creation of transmissive reels, which combined legacy mechanical slot machines with transparent LCD displays to show new types of mathematical outcomes and full-screen animations. Additionally, the group spearheaded the introduction of sensory immersion using Bose 3space audio, creating incredible soundscapes that have been emulated by competitors for years.

These innovations transformed WMS from a domestic casino provider into a global leader in the industry. During Larry's tenure as EVP of Global Product Strategy and Chief Innovation Officer, WMS earned prestigious accolades, including being named the #1 Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune and one of Fortune Magazine's 100 fastest-growing companies.

Pictured here with Clint Eastwood a series of games based on his movies including a Fistful of Dollars. What a great name for a slot game!

Fortune 100 Fastest

During Larry's tenure at WMS, the company was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 fastest-growing companies. Despite global economic challenges, WMS achieved numerous milestones and continued to innovate. Additionally, The Wall Street Journal ranked WMS among the top 20 publicly traded companies for compound annual return over the past decade.

Presenting at DEMO

At the DEMO tech conference, Larry Pacey introduced his latest breakthrough: bleededge transmissive technology. This cutting-edge innovation, developed and patented by Larry, brings interactive 3D graphics to transparent displays overlaying traditional mechanical devices. By bridging old-school gaming machines with modern, networked gaming possibilities, Larry’s work unlocks fresh, dynamic experiences for players and introduces entirely new mathematical frameworks for game outcomes. This milestone, the result of years of technological and regulatory efforts, exemplifies Larry’s commitment to transforming the gaming industry and reimagining a century-old legacy for a new era.

Success is a team sport

Larry's career has been built on surrounding himself with the best and brightest, fostering a culture of innovation. This spirit drives teams, both small and large, to achieve beyond their means and has led to his many commercial and critical successes over the years. It allows teams to navigate uncharted new territories, creating first-of-their-kind products and gaming experiences that excite with new and never-before-seen possibilities.

100th Patent Awards Event

At the annual patent awards dinner, Larry was recognized as a prolific innovator, having surpassed 100 issued patents. Today, he holds over 170 patents and is cited in nearly 5,000 patents.

Game of the Year Nominee

Larry Pacey's passion has always centered around connecting with people and bringing communities together. He believes that lowering barriers to entry is crucial for building large, vibrant online communities. This philosophy led him to create free-to-play games, starting with his early endeavors at Sega and continues today. Combining his passions for casino gaming and the emerging social gaming trends of the early 2010s, Larry spearheaded the development of a game called Lucky Cruise, an early experiment that validated the potential of authentic casino games in a free-to-play model. This success paved the way for WMS's highly successful Jackpot Party Social Casino.

After the sale of WMS, Larry continued his quest to leverage these same passions. Reuniting with partners from his Atari and Sega days, he developed the award-winning Titanfall: Assault, an action strategy mobile game, which garnered Apple and Google Editor's Choice awards and was nominated for Game of the Year. Throughout these projects, Larry has showcased his commitment to assembling the right team, having a clear vision, and demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship. His approach emphasizes listening to the community and building alongside them, creating live services that foster living, breathing communities.

Titanfall is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc. Titanfall: Assault was developed by Particle City Inc. a company cofounded by Larry Pacey and Vince Zampella.

Jackpot Party Casino is a Copyright of SciPlay Corporation. Available @ www.jackpotparty.com

Digital transformation

Larry has been a strong believer in the connected digital future and was a board advisor for an award-winning leader in the field. Bridging the gap between digital and physical. Joingo was just such a company, creating a digital portal for land-based businesses to drive traffic to stay connected with their patrons.

Back to back 2019 and 2020 Global Gaming Supplier of the Year Awards

Technical highlights include EDGE X cabinet and Mobile nCompass system solution were winners in Casino Journal’s 2019 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Awards.

And the MarX cabinet won the Top Performing NEW Cabinet – Core category while Top Performing NEW Premium Cabinet was won by the flame55 platform.