In early 2023, slot gaming is more popular than ever. And the recent study by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) only confirms this. According to the research, in 2023, casino and, namely, slot games was the most profitable online gambling product in Europe, generating €14.9 billion in profits.
With this in mind, the GBC Time team has decided to dissect the process of slot creation. So, we asked Bilyan Balinov, CEO of Felix Gaming, about the company’s upcoming release and its development process.
Felix Gaming is an online gambling software provider that has been in the market since 2017, offering slot games to remote casino platforms. The company is licensed by the Curacao eGaming Authority, so it offers a safe and legit gaming experience.
In this case study, Bilyan shares the secrets of releasing a slot game amid the economic crisis and a full-fledged war on the European continent. The text below is in Balinov’s own words.
Creating a slot game in 2022 under a Curacao license
We are super excited about our latest game, which is called RollZone! It got inspired by the 1st-person shooting games we all used to play – especially the ones taking place in abandoned warehouses and radioactive areas full of all kinds of crazy creatures… And we wanted to replicate that gaming experience in the online casino world.
The team drew inspiration from the 1986 nuclear disaster at Chornobyl
Besides the computer games, we drew inspiration from all the movies and documentaries about the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster we had watched in the past. To this day, the area around Chornobyl is called The Zone and has been declared a human-free zone ever since the accident that happened more than 35 years ago.
We wanted to replicate the look and feel of an abandoned radioactive zone where it is much more probable you will stumble across a zombie than a living creature! And what better zone to enter and feel like a shooting game than Chornobyl?
The team invested a lot of time in the research of the Chornobyl area
For us, every aspect of the game is very important to create a unique playing experience:
- The visual part;
- The music background;
- The one-of-a-kind math model that the game’s payout is built.
We invested a lot of time and effort into researching the abandoned Chornobyl area – wanted to make the game as realistic as it gets. The audio is also vital to the overall sense of a horror movie you are at the center of…
The goal of the project – to create a game that captivates the audience
At Felix Gaming, we have always tried to create long-lasting games instead of releases that the players get a taste of one day and forget about it the next. And I am happy to say that we have succeeded in producing blockbuster games that remain popular to this day.
The target audience of the game – Gen Zes and Millennials that are into horror movies
Our target audience consists mostly of players in their 20s and 30s who are into horror-themed TV shows and like playing apocalyptic computer games. With this game, we are targeting players who are into dark slots which feel like mysterious TV shows or apocalyptic movies.
The game was launched globally
We launched the game for all regions we are currently present in.
The Curacao license helped avoid many problems
We did not have any difficulties with this launch since we already had the license we needed to launch the game in particular areas. When it comes to Felix Gaming, business needs usually follow regulations.
Main stages of the slot launch process
For me, the process of creating a new game has always been similar to, let’s say, writing a song.
Find a source of inspiration
To begin with, you need a source of inspiration. And this source could appear out of the blue anywhere, anytime – could be while you are watching your favorite TV show, for example.
Then you have to write the music, and the text, and, finally, it is time to record it.
It was the same while we were working on RollZone. First, we came up with the idea of creating this horror-themed slot, inspired by the nuclear disasters in Chornobyl and Fukushima. It was at the start of 2021, and we could have launched it much earlier but unfortunately, the war in Ukraine broke out and we decided to postpone the release. The moment just did not feel right.
Create graphic elements and build your own math model for the game
Then, at some point, we decided to give it a go and started working on the graphic elements – the design team needed a few months to create the whole concept and build all the visual elements. Simultaneously, we were building our very own math model.
Develop the HTML part of the game
After that, came the HTML part. And in the end, it was like a jigsaw with all the pieces fitting together.
What were the easiest parts? To be honest, there are none – every part of that process has its own difficulties and challenges, but nothing beats the excitement when the game is live – to see the product you have invested so much in over the last few months come to life!
The team used graphic elements to create a unique gaming experience
As I have already mentioned, when we first started working on that game, we drew inspiration from the various 1st-person shooting computer games that take place in abandoned radioactive areas – and there are a few! With that in mind, we wanted to use graphic elements that build a unique experience for every player – to create this perfect mix between slot and computer games. Our idea has always been to make it so attractive and captivating that once you start playing it, you feel like you have entered the Zone! And I am happy to say that we have managed to do it!
The key feature of the game – Nuclear Ways
One of the main features players can look forward to is:
- the Nuclear Ways, which help your winnings literally explode!
- Split symbol functionality that divides certain symbols into 4 parts, taking your payout potential to a whole new level.
- Free Spins with progressive multipliers.
This all contributes to a great gaming experience.
Every team member was crucial to the game development process
Everyone who was involved in the process was crucial to delivering the end product. It is like a football team where you have your star player but each and every one of the 11 guys on the field should do their job, otherwise, you won’t get the results you aim for.
The slot launch process took just a couple of months
The whole process took us a few months. But, as I have already told you, there was a pause between the initial idea and the project realization.
Up until now, the feedback we have got is very positive and the players of that age consider RollZone to be great entertainment.
Expert’s advice for a successful slot launch: create a unique product
The best piece of advice I could give to anyone who’s in that business is to try to create something truly unique and not just follow the pack. There are too many copycats in our industry but that is not a successful and sustainable business model, especially from the long-term perspective
True, it is very difficult to make a name for yourself and stand out above the rest but if you manage to do it, you will know that you have really made it. If you are just copying the competition, you can have one lucky day at the office but it’s a one-hit wonder, nothing more.
