Starting a slot franchise: what does it take?

As the igaming landscape continues to evolve, many vendors are launching their own franchises to build on past successes. Despite the huge potential, launching a franchise requires Adept Navigation to overcome many challenges to reap the rewards. In this roundtable, we have gathered insights from four prominent vendors who develop franchises: Gaming Relax, Blueprint Gaming, Thunderkick, and Rubyplay. From regulatory hurdles to technological innovation, we dive into the aspects that challenge and enrich the path to establishing a new franchise.

With technology advancing at a rapid speed, how important is it for franchises to stay on top of the latest trends in slot development?

Mike Collins, Games Product Owner, Thunderkick: This is very important. If we don't adjust with the times, the number of players will decrease, and that's the main problem. Currently, we are working with a portrait-first, mobile-first mentality when creating our titles. With more customers than ever before using their smartphones to spin, it is very important for any provider to think about how to make their games accessible to as many people as possible.

We also pay close attention to the evolution of available platforms and operating systems. Compatibility and accessibility go hand in hand, and our titles always use the most innovative and latest technology to ensure they play as intended.

Dr. Eyal Loz, Chief Product Officer, RubyPlay: There is no incentive for developers to risk a well-proven and profitable game franchise by changing core elements of the core experience. What we see instead are additional features aimed at giving existing players new ways to engage with what they are already familiar with. This is done through elements such as side mini-games, cash prizes, purchasing features, and ante bets.

Players love to try new things, but if they are too similar to what they already know, they are more likely to end up swinging and missing. This is when there is an opportunity to embrace new technology, but unfortunately, innovation comes with big risks and costs. Rubyplay's Immortal Ways series combines the familiar "10, 000 ways to win" that players love with an innovative hold-and-spin mechanic that is easy for players to understand. Player feedback was that the game is both familiar and completely new at the same time. After all, both players and the industry are very resistant to change and adapting to new developments.

Shelly Hanna, Product Manager at Relax Gaming: It's very important. I think the days when player behavior could be predicted five years into the future are over. Today, players have more options in the market and are more likely to explore different games at the same time.

We need to evolve our games and listen to player feedback, both in terms of design, innovation and technology. As a franchise, it's important to stay on top of the latest trends to remain a market leader.

A franchise can't just be a skin or a slightly odd variation of the first, second, third, etc. It needs to bring a lot more to today's players.

Joe Purvis, Marketing & Relationships Director, Blueprint Gaming: The key to success for any game, franchise or not, is there. The fundamental conditions for making a successful game remain the same, no matter what it is. It's the secret sauce that every vendor strives for perfection, balancing maintaining consistently high quality with the ever-challenging task of delivering games regularly to compete in a crowded, ultra-competitive market.

What franchises do a little differently is to preserve the magic of the successful original and provide enough new features and mechanics to justify the existence of the next iteration. Consumer tastes in most mainstream media, whether film, TV, or games, have shown a strong appetite for sequels, spin-offs, and the addition of their favorite brands, characters, and universes for some time. So capitalizing on this is a big boost, but it also comes with the challenge of meeting already high expectations.

How do new franchises differentiate them with content and themes as the market is saturated?

MC: Simply put, innovation is the advantage of providers in such a crowded market. If everything is ready, such as names, themes, stories, and game mechanisms, a new franchise will not have a great response. It will take some time to come up with a completely original idea, but if you invest in that time and make a unique thing, you will be rewarded.

There is no doubt that enhancement of game experiences will affect franchise performance. I want to use graphics, sound and animation to immerse the players in the main stories of the game. Returning to the previous answer, the evolution of technology in recent years has made it easier for developers to realize more than once expected online slots.

EL: The theme is an important way that suppliers can innovate and reduce high returns and overall business risks. In the existing powerful franchise, vendors can explore new themes, new UIs, and new innovative side functions. Experienced vendors can maintain freshness and relevance for many years if they properly manage franchises.

In the case of a brand new game franchise, the best advice is that it is common for players to mix and succeed in what they already know. A novel new idea is difficult to pass.

Immortal Ways with Diamonds combines classic themes and innovative game mechanics of new franchise. As the series was released, we repeated experiments on various themes, adding small changes to games variable, calculation, and flow. One theme does not fit all, and it is certain that different performances will be performed on players in different jurisdictions.

SH: I think every studio has a DNA for making a outstanding game. I think it's important for players to balance finding something that is already effective and adding a new twist.

It may be risky to put a new concept in the market, but we are in the market to promote the core of our work when putting the game into the market. I trust very good teams around the world.

Whether you explore different slot themes or introduce innovative technology and functions, the team needs talent and confidence to realize it. If you believe what you're doing, you can go anywhere.

JP: Differentiation is also an indispensable factor in gaming. Currently, many studios are globalization, and the number of regions in the world to be sold is increasing, so players' preferences are diversifying. Just because Egypt is the theme doesn't mean it will be popular. You must know your skills and mathematate mathematics models, core games, bonuses, and general mechanics with animation, sound, and design.

Blueprint Games allows you to build a lon g-standing heritage by incorporating the first success of the curated games and applying the lessons to new titles. Having an appropriate balance between experience and new and fresh ideas is extremely important as knowing what players are absorbed in slots and other games. A process with complex and subtle nuances.

How do you think the current regulations in the main markets will affect the creation and development of new slot franchise?

MC: It is important to understand the regulation status of major markets for the creation and development of new slot franchise. The regulations are a challenge for gaming providers as well as opportunities. Compliance guarantees a fair and secure experience, and while the trust of the players increases, these regulations can limit the creator's creative freedom.

The successful slot franchise realizes this important balance by finding an innovative method that attracts players at the same time, along with the regulation framework. Always adapting to new trends leads to maintaining a competitive advantage in the Nikkon Moon Industries.

EL: Historically, the franchise games developed in a strictly regulated market are better than other franchise games developed in a gentle market. In other words, products designed in the concept of untreated markets have a hard time adapting to complicated restrictions. Therefore, I think that regulations should be considered to be more advantageous for more creative designers.

In addition to this, franchise games developed to comply with strict restrictions in the regulatory market can be easily supplemented with free side functions that can further enhance players' performance and retention in an environment with loose regulations. 。 For a business, it is always easier to relax than to limit the plan.

RubyPlay's Immortal Ways series follows strict design principles so that all games in the series comply with the strict regulation requirements. Additional functions we are developing, such as the purchase function of the Immortal Ways game, are provided only when regulation is allowed.

SH: This affects the industry as a whole, but it is most important to get the latest regulations and the latest information on changes that can affect all aspects of games. It's hard to not only meet the player's needs, but also come up with slots that strictly follow the rules of many variations in the regulated markets.

By relaxing the game, we will ensure regulations and take all means to create a safe environment for players. Any franchise should be at the core of values.

In the game industry, more and more regulations are being applied. The construction of successful franchise requires the strongest basic technology that makes it easier to adapt to products when new regulations are introduced.

JP: It is clear that speculation of regulations is constantly flowing, as public agencies are regularly discussing, and it is clear that it has affected game development. In many markets, the current regulation does not hinder or affect the development of new slot franchise, but only set a specific rule and comply with it properly. That is.

Each studio recognizes the merit of consistency beyond the jurisdiction area, which helps standardize and product development efficiency. As a result, there is no need to invest time in unique products that meet the requirements of a specific market or to create excessive complex products. Conversely, it is necessary to set up the game according to the specific tolerance and restrictions of different areas, which requires additional resources.

Nevertheless, innovation comes from many changes in regulations, and franchise can always be adapted to the innovation of new products and develop the possibility.

Furthermore, when specific regulations are applied, we will meet, authenticate, and provide compatible exciting jackpots to meet specific needs. Adjust the scale/ operator.

Player's royalties are the most important in this industry. What kind of engagement and retention strategy do you think is the most effective for slot franchise in a crowded market?

MC: Incorporating mechanics from past franchises that resonated with the player's heart is a clear way to ensure future release. Instead of fixing something that is not broken, aiming to improve what has been released in the past is not too far away from the original!

Nevertheless, adding something new in each franchise title will not hurt. In addition to keeping the game experience fresh, it can also excite players who want their favorite games to blow new winds.

EL: The holy grail for suppliers is to develop Evergreen Franchise. Innovative design that does not forget the core player experience in existing franchise games.

I don't know what will touch the player's cord, but once an engineer is found, it is necessary to build in the series while respecting the first successful parameters. The average faithful player feels fresh and prefers a familiar and familiar thing. If the player scoops his feet, he will be hit.

As a result, more and more designers are focusing on very effective side functions that are very effective for maintaining the possibility of the existing franchise game and the loyalty of lon g-term players.

The Immortal Modes series of RubyPlay does not leak into that example. Currently, many accompanying functions are being developed, including the introduction of functions for purchasing functions and changing other innovative gameplay that does not affect the wel l-functioning core gameplay. < SPAN> Furthermore, if specific regulations are applied, we will adhere to different versions of the jackpot king system to meet specific needs, and provide compatible exciting jackpot products. Adjust the market size/ operator for this.

Player's royalties are the most important in this industry. What kind of engagement and retention strategy do you think is the most effective for slot franchise in a crowded market?

MC: Incorporating mechanics from past franchises that resonated with the player's heart is a clear way to ensure future release. Instead of fixing something that is not broken, aiming to improve what has been released in the past is not too far away from the original!

Nevertheless, adding something new in each franchise title will not hurt. In addition to keeping the game experience fresh, it can also excite players who want their favorite games to blow new winds.

EL: The holy grail for suppliers is to develop Evergreen Franchise. Innovative design that does not forget the core player experience in existing franchise games.