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Exclusive Q&A with Marcus Honney, AvatarUX MD
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As a rising star of the iGaming industry, could you give us some background on the company?
M.H.: AvatarUX officially launched during SiGMA 2019 and we’ve enjoyed a swift rise in the casino supplier market. As one of the original partner studios of Yggdrasil’s YGS Masters programme, we released our first game, Lilith’s Inferno, and received great reviews from both players and operators, setting us on a steady course to hit the ground running in 2020.
From the very beginning we’ve been incredibly fortunate that the investor interest in our project has afforded us the opportunity to choose partners with whom we can truly collaborate with. We took the approach that we wanted investors that were going to be part of the journey with us.
The partners we have are all from the industry and are passionate about games. With experience in both the operator and design elements, and a proven track record in European and Asian gaming – AvatarUX is a truly global unit.
AvatarUX is one of the original partner studios of Yggdrasil’s YGS Masters programme, how important a step was it to join forces with such a well-established company?
M.H.: Being an independent studio, it was paramount to align ourselves with partners who had experience in the European markets. Yggdrasil’s connections were a major factor in why we applied for its YGS Masters Programme, and since being accepted our relationship has gone from strength to strength.
As a new casino supplier, there is a lot to focus on promoting our games effectively. Rather than attempt to do that alone we felt it prudent to join forces with an experienced publisher who can get games to operators swiftly. Currently we use Yggdrasil in our Go To Market strategy in Europe, to promote our portfolio of games and help formulate our road map.
The slot designing sector is highly competitive – what makes AvatarUX’s offering stand out from the crowd?
M.H.: At AvatarUX, we are always looking for that balance between art and captivating game play. Today you need an identifiable expression as a studio to get awareness and affection from customers whether they are operating brands or players. As a studio, we’re not afraid of doing something new but we’re also very conscious of the feedback we receive from operators and adjusting to that. Being a smaller team we have the benefit of agility – it’s easier to turn around a speedboat than a yacht, and it’s our ability to react quickly to customer feedback, while utilising the global experience of our partners that helps us stand out in a very competitive market.
We are also very focused on the game development process and finding the optimal maths model to deliver the perfect gaming experience. As a result, we always invest a lot in R&D prior to starting production. Essentially, we finalise the game as a basic playable math prototype and then add the best-looking art and animations. The result delivers a significantly higher level of quality for the real-money player experience.
You released your first title, Lilith’s Inferno, earlier in the year to very positive feedback. Can you tell us more about the game development process?
M.H.: With the company still relatively small, the development process is all about collaboration. The initial concept is looked at collectively by the team. An early playable maths prototype is then produced and from that point on, everyone gets the opportunity to contribute to how the game is developed. We then discuss the features we want to use, but the prototypes are the key starting point for us.
Our next four releases are going to be based on an exciting new mechanic named Popwins, but each release will have additional features. The first game with the new mechanic, PopRocks
will be released in April. With these next titles we are in an ideal position to use the vast experience of our team to add new features to a game mechanic we know will be a hit.
The game’s Asian-influenced art and game mechanics seemed to be a real hit with players – do you plan to continue releasing games in this style going forward?
M.H.: We were delighted with the feedback we got about our first game, it was also very well received by critics on YouTube and Twitch. The game’s mechanics were especially popular, and we will be introducing more new game mechanics with our next four releases. Going forward, you will see a road map with Asian-influenced art style games based on known classic mechanics with incremental innovations. And while the games may be based on local classic casino art style, our designers in Hong Kong never shy away from adding an exciting new twist.
What are AvatarUX’s aims for 2020?
M.H.: As an independent studio with high ambitions we see the need for very agile publishers that can help us establish ourselves among operators, studios and affiliates. We are launching four more games this year to complete the series and establish our games library. It’s important for us to carry on the momentum we built up after the release of Lilith’s Inferno as we evolve and develop the studio. With ICE just around the corner we will be able to showcase our innovative game mechanics and start 2020 as we mean to go on. We understand fully that there is a lot of competition and that we need to be mindful about our decisions going forward, but we are excited about the future and we will focus on continuing to grow.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Exclusive Q&A with Marcus Honney, AvatarUX MD

Latest News
Former Sky Bet strategist Andrew Mook joins Midnite as Head of Brand Marketing
Fast-growing UK sportsbook and casino Midnite has continued to strengthen its leadership team with the appointment of Andrew Mook as Head of Brand Marketing.
Mook joins Midnite having most recently been Head of Marketing Strategy & Planning at Flutter. Prior to that, he was Head of Creative Strategy at Sky Bet.
It is the latest high-profile hire for Midnite, after the appointment in April of Mook’s former Sky Bet colleague Zach Amin as Vice-President of Sportsbook.
Mook has been tasked with raising awareness of Midnite’s next-gen product among UK bettors and establishing a brand strategy and identity as the company aims to build on recent marketing activities including sponsorship of the 2025 World Snooker Championship and launching its first TV advertising campaign.
He said: “Midnite is the most exciting name in UK betting right now. There’s a genuine ambition here to shake things up and do things differently. The opportunity to help shape the brand at this stage of its growth is incredibly rare, and I’m thrilled to be on board.”
Midnite’s sportsbook was launched in 2018 by Nick Wright and Daniel Qu, who previously created daily fantasy sports platform Dribble in partnership with Sky Bet.
The brand is focused on disrupting the UK betting market, prioritising the player experience with a slick website and app and a brand platform designed to speak to a new generation of players.
Wright said: “Andrew brings a wealth of experience from some of the biggest names in the industry, but what really stood out was his passion for building bold, creative brands. As we continue to grow, having someone like Andrew to lead our brand marketing efforts is a huge asset.”
The post Former Sky Bet strategist Andrew Mook joins Midnite as Head of Brand Marketing appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BETER Names Adam Conway as General Manager of Esports Business Division
Seasoned esports professional joins fast-betting content provider, bringing over 20 years of trading and product experience to elevate its offering
BETER, an award-winning provider of fast-betting content, data, and live streaming for esports and sports, has appointed former SIS senior executive Adam Conway as its new General Manager of Esports Business Division, significantly strengthening the company’s position in the market.
Conway is a highly accomplished manager in the betting industry, with more than 20 years of experience in overseeing and launching successful product portfolios.
Adam joins BETER following a ten-year tenure at SIS, where he held various positions—from Head of Trading to Global Head of Esports and Competitive Gaming. Before SIS, he held roles at several companies, including Head of Trading at betting powerhouse Ladbrokes.
As Esports General Manager at BETER, Adam will be responsible for strengthening the provider’s leadership in the fast-betting domain, as well as developing and expanding the number of in-house events for the company’s flagship ESportsBattle tournaments, which currently feature disciplines such as eFootball, eBasketball, and eHockey.
Conway will spearhead the development of new disciplines—eCricket and eTennis are set to launch soon—and focus on enhancing relationships with existing clients while establishing new partnerships.
Adam will lead a team of over 200 specialists and 500 professional athletes, delivering more than 500,000 esports events annually across four countries. He will also work closely with key industry bodies, including the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
Gal Ehrlich, CEO at BETER, said: “Adam’s background in esports is unmatched, and we are thrilled to have him on board as we continue to enhance our esports offering, especially our flagship ESportsBattle tournaments.
“We’re already the go-to provider for fast-betting content, data, and live streaming in esports and sports. With Adam as our Esports General Manager, we’re confident we’ll strengthen that leadership and further distance ourselves from the competition.
“We’re excited to welcome Adam and look forward to the significant value his expertise will bring to our partners worldwide.”
Adam Conway, Esports General Manager at BETER, added: “It’s an honour to join BETER and contribute my extensive experience in trading and product development to such a pioneering company.
“BETER is the undisputed market leader, and I’m excited to help ensure it remains at the forefront—delivering exceptional products to operator partners and bettors alike.”
The post BETER Names Adam Conway as General Manager of Esports Business Division appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Hit the red line and massive payouts in Vegas Velocity from Rival
Speed down The Strip towards the game’s 10,000x max payout, boosted by Expanding Turbo Wilds and an Overdrive Respin feature
Experience the neon lights and pulsing rhythm of the City of Sin in Vegas Velocity from Rival. This is a slot where players shift into gear and hit the gas as they race towards big wins.
Vegas Velocity sees players strap in for a thrill ride like no other, lighting up the reels with Expanding Turbo Wild symbols and an Overdrive Re-spin feature.
This is one of the studio’s most visually striking games to date, capturing the electrifying glow of the Las Vegas strip, which flashes past as players speed towards the game’s 10,000x max win potential.
The action hits the red line when Expanding Turbo Wild Symbols drop onto the reels. They can land on reels two, three or four and light up the reel (literally), substituting for all symbols to boost wins.
There’s also the Overdrive Re-spin Feature for added adrenaline-fuelled action. When a Wild Car symbol is part of a win, it expands to fill the whole reel.
It then Locks into place for a free Overdrive Respin. Any additional Wild Cars that form a win during the respin award another Overdrive Respin.
This occurs until there are no more Respins in play, and the feature then U-turns back to the base game.
Vegas Velocity is set across five reels and three rows with ten paylines active in the base game. This is a highly volatile slot with a score of 5/5.
Operators can choose from a range of RTPs including 92.62%, 94.64% and 96.00%, which is the game’s default Return to Player setting.
Ryan Maclean, Head of Games at Rival, said: “Vegas Velocity offers players a fast-paced thrill ride where the adrenaline builds with each spin as they speed towards massive wins.
“The game captures the electrifying excitement of The Strip and where neon lights pulse to the beat of the city.
“By keeping the pedal to the metal, players can trigger high-octane bonuses such as Expanding Turbo Wilds and Overdrive Respin, which help them shift up a gear and hit the game’s biggest payouts.
“This is a strong addition to our growing game portfolio, and we look forward to seeing players buckle up, hit the gas, and light up the reels in what is one of our most explosive slots yet.”
The post Hit the red line and massive payouts in Vegas Velocity from Rival appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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