Scientific Games has announced in a press release that it has named Ted Hase as senior vice president of game design, where he will lead the group’s game design studios located in the group’s Las Vegas creative centre.

Hase’s previous experience includes working at Microsoft Corporation, where he played a role in the design of the Xbox and was inducted into the International Video Game Hall of Fame in 2009 for his work on the console. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of research and development at Aristocrat Technologies, where led a game design studio for more than 10 years, and is praised as being the creative force behind titles such as Tarzan, Buffalo Grand and The Walking Dead.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ted to our team and can’t wait to get to work creating new games,” Matt Wilson, CEO of gaming at Scientific Games, commented on the group’s latest hire. “Ted’s expertise in creating innovative slot content is the perfect complement to our talented design teams. Pairing Ted’s vision and leadership with our existing team of talented game designers in our Las Vegas creative center is a winning combination.”

At Scientific Games, Hase will work with Wilson, chief product officer Rich Schneider and the R&D team to capitalise on strategic market opportunities by leveraging the strengths of the company’s game design studios.

“I’m really energised to join Scientific Games at such an exciting point in the company’s history,” Hase added on joining the firm. “I’ve admired the work of SG’s studios for a long time, and I look forward to collaborating with the team to bring awesome new games to our players, and to the industry as part of our quest to become the leading cross-platform global game company.”

Meanwhile, Scientific Games has also announced it has agreed to acquire the PlayOn cashless gaming solution from ACS in a deal that will see the ACS PlayOn product line join its portfolio and be renamed AToM – Access To On Demand Money.