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Teeing off for a winner
Repton have devised the back end system for a potentially world-beating golf gaming
system.
The back-end system for a game played on a golf driving range may not sound as
though it requires a great deal of innovative work. Even so, by coming up with
the idea of using Citrix Metaframe and Microsoft Windows NT as the framework for
a gaming information system that would be in operation 24-hours a day. Middlesex-based
Repton did enough to win this month's CRN Syscap Approved Innovator of the Month
award. The award, which is sponsored by technology financing, leasing and rentals
company Syscap and backed by CRN and its sister title Computing, recognises innovation
in the design, development and delivery if IT solutions to the public and private
sectors.
Peter Corbett, IT manager of World Golf Systems, said the firm deserves September
award for the enthusiasm alone. "They were as excited about doing the work
as we were, and came up the idea if integrating our technology with Citrix rather
than going down the Unix route. This was relatively low -cost option and one
that has proved incredibly reliable. It also meant that we did not need much
technology on site", he said.
Keeping costs down and enabling remote management were both important to the
potential for gaming product TopGolf, which Watford-based World Golf is already
selling across the globe. World Golf has invented chip that goes inside the
golf ball and sends information about the direction and speed of a shot to a
gaming platform. The software then processes this information and displays it
on a screen.
Players can monitor their score and performance and play interactive games with
others.
Pioneering World Golf Systems has opened its own range in Watford, which has
already attracted thousand of visitors. Ensuring that that the solution would
work and require little or no technical management was vital to the whole concept,
because TopGolf is likely to be deployed in ordinary golf ranges, shopping centres
and amusements parks without technical support.
Greg Carlow, managing director of Repton, said that is why company had to provide
remote management and absolute reliability.
We've had to do everything outside the golf gall. They wanted "five-nines'
" resilience and it had to be modular and capable of being supported remotely.
The idea is that you can go to any location and make a range of games available
using pre-configured and pre-tested units. It is all supported over the web
so that you don't need technical people on site", he said.
Repton was put forward by Compaq as a potential supplier, and was up against
some big industry names for the business. However, it was the only company to
propose using Citrix Metaframe. Thin client stations that relay game details
run on Microsoft Windows NT servers and provide a much more cost-effective answer
that the multimillion-pound solutions some firms had proposed.
In the end the basic Repton solution cost only about £60.000, according
to Carlow. World Golf's total investment in its TopGolf game is much larger, however,
and Repton has taken on a large share of the risk in developing the back-end system.
But the rewards can be substantial. The second TopGolf location is set to go
live soon at the major shopping centre in Madrid. If it is successful, Repton
can expect to be supplying many more back-end systems as well as the online
management services. " The company has taken a big risk and invested a
lot of time and money, and we fully expect it to get the benefits in the end",
said Corbett.
Phillip White, sales director of Syscap, said the massive potential market for
TopGolf demonstrates how showing flair and creativity in developing solutions
can transform integrators' business prospects almost overnight.
"For integrators, VARs and developers that have the courage to invest in
their own ability and use technology in an innovative way, there are no limits,
he said. " It would be great to see more small businesses such as Repton
pushing the barriers of what people believe can be achieved and using technology
not only to visualise new solutions, but to deliver then as well. It is what the
Innovator award is really all about."
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| Taken From:
CRN/Syscap Approved Innovator of the Month |
For More Information:
Please contact our Business Development Team on 020 8894 9000 or email
bus.dev@repton.co.uk
Howgoodisit.com, Swan House, 203 Swan
Road, Hanworth, Middlesex TW13 6LL |
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Teeing off for a winner
Repton have devised the back end system for a potentially world-beating golf gaming
system. |
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