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The complete package
Edgar Pau, Head of Studio at Red Desert Games, says mechanics are important to the success of a slot game but all components must come together in harmony for it to be a chart-topping success.
Are game mechanics the most important thing for studios to get right?
For a game to succeed, studios must get the whole package right and while mechanics are a core part of this, they must also nail the maths, theme, art, sound and UX, and then bring all these factors together in a way that immerses players in the action. No one thing on its own will be enough to make the game a hit with players. When it comes to mechanics, you need to have a clear goal of what it is, how it brings differentiation to the game and what makes it exciting for the player. The mechanic must also fit with the maths – if the math model makes the mechanic appear too frequently (or infrequently) it can dilute the influence and value of the mechanic and lead to different reactions from players.
Do mechanics offer studios the greatest room in which to innovate and stand out from their rivals?
The online slot market is fiercely competitive with more studios getting in on the action every month. Studios must differentiate, and in the absence of having well-recognised land-based games, mechanics offer the easiest route for standing out and connecting with players online. Some studios have turned to things like hybrid themes and licenses to launch branded slots to help them get ahead of their rivals, but for me, mechanics are the best way of doing this as they help the studio create its own identity and hallmark. If you look at both the land-based and online slot markets, it’s mechanics that have been the game-changers in recent times in the form of Lightning Link from Aristocrat and of course Megaways from Big Time Gaming. This is why so many studios are dedicating significant resources to developing proprietary mechanics and then filing to trademark their IP.
Is this a challenging area for studios to get right?
Very much so. There is absolutely no science behind it and it’s often the case that a mechanic you think is great and will hit the mark with players falls short. It’s also hard to come up with a new mechanic and how far to go with it – do you bring something entirely new to the table or look to incrementally improve something tried and tested in the market? Some of the mechanics I have seen are far too ambitious and make light-years leaps forward. While the studio should be commended for being bold and brave, players ultimately like familiarity and are reluctant to spend time and money learning an overly complex mechanic or stick with one that initially seems to be familiar but as they play it, moves too far away from the core experience they like. That’s why studios need to carry out comprehensive market research, understand what players are looking for and keep asking themselves if the mechanic they are developing is something they will actually want to play or not.
How is Red Desert Games approaching mechanics? How do you ensure your games deliver what players are looking for?
Most of the team at Red Desert Games are slot players, and this really helps in building our understanding of what players are looking for from the next generation of slot games they play. We always have open discussions or share videos and pictures of games or mechanics we have played and liked. We are also careful not to take things too far – our approach is to do something that incrementally innovates on what is out there, whether it’s a symbol, reel strip, reel structure, gameplay or some other variable rather than reinventing the wheel. This is why our definition of a mechanic is pretty broad.
In terms of delivering what players are looking for, I think it’s important to first identify what segment of the player base you are trying to target. You can’t be everything to everyone as some of the things different player groups want are mutually exclusive. Once we’ve done this, we run our initial math model through our proprietary simulator where we can adjust parameters and run simulations over tens of millions of spins and sessions which gives us insights into what an individual session looks like from a player’s point of view.
We’re also very self-critical of our games and are always asking ourselves if we were playing this game, what’s good and what’s bad about it. We’ve even had games where we’ve gone 90% down the production path and completely shelved it or reworked it. Of course, those were our learning experiences and we’ve put in processes and stop checks to ensure that this doesn’t happen anymore as it’s a very inefficient way to develop.
Does online provide a studio with more opportunities to push the boundaries than when developing for land-based? You develop for both so how does this impact your approach to mechanics?
100%. There is more flexibility when developing online games versus land-based games, especially in markets outside of North America. As an example, in the Australian land-based market, metamorphic games are not permitted and many of our online games would never be allowed in retail casinos. In the United States, they are less restrictive, but they still have requirements that limit what studios can do. In Michigan, for example, the maximum advertised win must land once every fifty million spins. And those land-based requirements usually carry into the iGaming regulations as well. Now go to Europe, Asia or Latin America and you won’t find these sorts of restrictions. In terms of how this impacts our approach to mechanics, we actually have teams making games for both online and land-based. So being the more flexible market, it doesn’t affect us on the online side. In markets such as the U.S., having a land-based business gives our team an advantage as some of our designers have been making land-based games for almost 30 years and they’re familiar with the regulations and restrictions and how to work around them. As the same restrictions are typically present in both online and land-based, we can easily adjust the online games to satisfy the regulations.
How do mechanics differ from market to market in terms of player preferences? Where are the greatest differences?
It really varies from market to market. Not just the popularity of certain mechanics, but also in the type of games, the themes and the math preferences. If I look at the U.S. market, it’s clear that some of the popular land-based mechanics are also performing well online, such as hold and spin/cash on reels. Megaways has also been popular in the U.S. But then if you go to markets in Latin America, you see things such as crash games being popular or Dragon Tiger from PG Soft in Brazil, which is a simple but well put together game. I’ve also seen markets where a segment of the player base doesn’t even play the base game and goes straight to the buy feature. In Europe, it’s a real melting pot with the greatest variety of mechanics and game types. This is why developing mechanics is not for the faint-hearted, and why those who enjoy international success such as Megaways should be applauded. But given the runaway success of Megaways, it’s no wonder other studios are looking to bring their own unique, trademarked mechanics to the market.
The post The complete package appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Soft2Bet Invest Wins the “Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024” Award at SiGMA East Europe
Soft2Bet is delighted to announce that its Soft2Bet Invest venture has won the Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024 award at this year’s SiGMA East Europe taking place this week in Budapest, Hungary.
The award celebrates executives and organisations that make significant impacts on the industry through technical innovation, advocacy or mentoring and investments. Winning the “Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024” award for this category is therefore fantastic recognition of Sof2Bet’s work and efforts in the field.
Soft2Bet Invest launched a €50m iGaming Innovation Fund to support innovative iGaming and casual gaming companies and provide financial and business support to entrepreneurs. It reaches across the corporate spectrum and is open to growth-stage and/or mature companies that are harnessing pioneering technologies in casual gaming, AI, traffic differentiators or behavioural-UX analytics.
Launched in 2024, Soft2Bet Invest has already attracted major interest from iGaming startups and visionaries wanting to innovate and revolutionise the sector. Its investment bracket ranges from €500K to €1m per individual project, with the investment strategy to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer at Soft2Bet, commented: “Winning this award is highly rewarding since we launched Soft2Bet Invest just this year. It shows the hunger there is among our industry peers for a specialist investment fund that can harness the energy within iGaming and turn entrepreneurial dreams into realities. Soft2Bet’s focus has always been innovation, of spirit, business and technology, and this award recognises those qualities. We’re truly delighted to have won it!”
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Tusk Casino proudly announces another thrilling win for one of its players, Trace, who secured an impressive R2.3 Million on the Secrets of Cleopatra slot, crafted by PG Soft. This notable win is proof of the exciting potential of Tusk Casino, supported by www.SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za, the leading online gambling guide for South African players.
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The nominations include:
- Best Marketing Campaign: Our rebranding campaign has been recognized for its strategic approach and impact, reflecting Atlaslive’s dynamic evolution and our continuous efforts to connect more deeply with our partners.
- Best eSports Betting Provider: This nomination highlights our cutting-edge eSports offerings, which are designed to meet the growing demand for immersive and reliable eSports betting experiences.
- Innovation in iGaming Technology: At Atlaslive, we thrive on challenges and excel in high-pressure, high-traffic moments. Our peak performance technology, which ensures seamless operations even during the most demanding periods, has earned us a spot in this category.
- Best iGaming Supplier: Being recognized as one of the leading suppliers in the iGaming industry is a testament to our comprehensive and scalable solutions, which continue to set new standards for reliability and excellence.
The final vote for the EIGE 2024 Awards will take place during the European Gaming Congress, held on October 15-16, 2024, in Warsaw. Atlaslive is proud to attend as an industry leader, contributing its expertise in two key panel discussions:
- The Future of Esports: Opportunities and Challenges – October 15
- Optimizing Sportsbook Operations for Enhanced Performance – October 16
Atlaslive’s CEO, Maxim Slobodyanyuk, commented, “Our success is built on a foundation of relentless innovation and a deep understanding of the iGaming landscape. Every solution we develop is designed with our partners’ growth and success in mind, ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive in a competitive market. These nominations validate our strategic direction and the trust our partners place in us. We’re not just reacting to industry trends; we’re actively shaping the future of iGaming. By staying ahead of technological advancements and continuously refining our offerings, we aim to lead the industry in delivering exceptional value. Our vision is clear: to be the go-to partner for businesses seeking not only cutting-edge technology but also a collaborative and forward-thinking approach to long-term success.”
Join Atlaslive as the company shares insights and shapes the future of iGaming.
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