Realistic Games

Casino content supplier Realistic Games has unveiled a strengthening of its commercial department, via the promotion of Lauren Bradley.

Joining the firm in 2018, Bradley has been named as head of commercial and account management, progressing from her prior role of commercial manager, to oversee business developments.

Robert Lee, Realistic Games’ commercial director, commented: “Lauren has been instrumental to our commercial success in the last two years, consistently growing our client portfolio.

“She will continue to add great value in her new role, and I expect her knowledge and experience will take the company from strength to strength.”

Blueprint Operations

Blueprint Operations, part of the Gauselmann Group whose UK-facing brands include, Praesepe, Regal Gaming and Betcom, has confirmed the appointment of Nicola Wallbank to the newly created role of head of corporate accounts.

Initially joining the company in 2016 Wallbank is based in Newark, where she is responsible for responsible for a growing team of customers and account managers, and reports directly to managing director David Purvis.

Of the appointment, Purvis stated: “We are pleased to have been able to promote from within the Blueprint business. Nicola has the necessary experience to enhance our customer relationships and make a significant contribution to our growth plans.

“Nicola has a detailed knowledge of the gaming industry and is passionate about delivering a service excellence. I am confident that our customers will benefit enormously from her personal drive and positive approach to our business.”

Gauselmann has also confirmed that appointment of Janika Gauselmann to its supervisory board, succeeding Max Walberer, who passed away earlier in the year after serving for 28 years.

WeAreCasino

Italian actor Rocco Siffredi has unveiled a new collaboration with WeAreCasino, after signing on to an upcoming games project that is currently being developed.

Working alongside Rocco’s Studios, this project will include WAC’s newest slot builder features, the first games of which are expected to be released this winter.

Sem Moioli, WAc CEO, explained: “This is an extremely significant achievement for WeAreCasino, our first important gaming license that will give us the perfect opportunity to launch our new slot builders 2.0 features at their fullest potential. We are incredibly excited to build these games with Rocco and we are also already working to secure more licenses of this calibre.”

Stars Group

John Schappert has been appointed as a new independent director of the Stars Group as well as a member of the board’s compensation and technology committees, with immediate effect.

Schappert currently serves as chairman and CEO of Shiver Entertainment, a company that develops video game software for consoles, as well as chairman of Motorsport Games, a developer and publisher of video games, and Pipeworks Studios, a firm that develops video games and software.

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As part of the deal content from Realistic’s portfolio will go live on Begame’s UK-facing brands – Casushi and Fruitkings – via its partnership with Microgaming. 

“Partnering with Begame is a great opportunity as it allows us to boost our presence in the key UK market and increase the number of players that will be able to appreciate our games,” explained Robert Lee, Commercial Director of Realistic Games.

“We’re delighted to be able to join forces with an operator as highly regarded as Begame and now have the platform to supply audiences with our higher quality content that we know they will enjoy.”

The graphics package that will be a staple component in Realistic’s slot releases going forward, will be utilised by BeGame to bolster its inventory.

Realistic’s content collection is now available to the operator including the latest release Gorilla Riches, as well as titles such as its Game Changer series and classic Electrocoin titles. 

The deal will offer an ideal shop window for its upcoming schedule of new, higher quality content, enhancing Realistic’s market influence and expanding its offering with fresh experiences.

Jordan Rosamond, Head of Casino at Begame, added: “Realistic’s titles have a well-established standing in the UK market so to have them in our lobby makes perfect sense.

“We’re always looking to provide our players with the content that speaks to them, and this partnership delivers that – we’re very much looking forward to seeing Realistic’s new releases for the remainder of the year and beyond.”

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Following the licence approval, Realistic Games will be able to launch its suite of games, which includes table games, along with slot titles, to Romanian operators.

“Being granted a licence to provide our games in Romania is an important milestone for us as we continue on our growth strategy and bring innovative new content to regulated markets,” Robert Lee, commercial director at Realistic Games noted.

“Romania is a thriving region and one of the most active in Southern Europe. We’ll be announcing a string of operator partnerships in due course as we make our mark in the country.”

Titles included in Realistic’s portfolio includes its entire Game Changer series and its catalogue of Electrocoin remakes, as well as 8th Wonder, Super Graphics Upside Down and various instant win games. 

The accreditation marks the latest market expansion for Realistic which also holds certifications to offer its content to local operators in regions including the UK, Sweden, Croatia, Estonia and Latvia. 

Realistic’s Romanian approval follows the launch of the company’s recent slot revamp, which saw one of its classic titles receive a makeover with 6 Appeal Extreme, a 5×3, 20-payline video slot featuring a higher maximum payout, a higher RTP and a feature buy-in.

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Continue reading to hear from Alex Levchenko, CEO of Evoplay Entertainment, Robert Lee, commercial director of Realistic Games, Peter Causley, CEO of Lightning Box and Nikolay Illyustrov, game producer at Playson.

CB What sources provide the inspiration for the theme of a new slot?

Nikolay Illyustrov: Essentially, it’s a combination of strategically tracking trends and understanding market needs but having a core group of inspired games developers makes a huge difference.

It keeps our slots individualised, cutting edge and fresh. They never underestimate the influence and heritage of classic games and yet understand that there is a constant need for innovation. 

Peter Causley: Anything and everything is the simple answer as there is often no real rhyme or reason to the source of the inspiration. I will say, however, given the nature of slots and why people play them, that ideas that inspire wealth and prosperity are not a bad place to start. Anything that is on trend in society at large or popular culture can be a good thing too. You want themes to be fun and engaging, and most of all promote feeling of positivity. 

Robert Lee: Topicality plays a major role in creating the initial concepts. By taking inspiration from current trends and looking at what’s relevant in individual markets, we develop game themes that resonate with a broad range of audiences. That’s partly why seasonal games maintain prominent tab positions year after year.

We also build on and develop what has worked previously, taking games that have delivered positive results and adding a new twist that keeps the theme fresh and exciting for players. 

Alex Levchenko: We are living in the golden age of gaming development. We have analytics tools for market research by region, as well as limitless demographic information and can put the user first. Once you know them better, and what they’re looking for, it is important to keep up with the latest trends and tap into their expectations with something new. 

CB: Why do themes like ancient Egypt and Irish leprechauns have such enduring appeal? 

AL: The history of these themes are as ancient as Egypt itself! Seasoned players all remember the first Book of Ra and the experience this slot delivered, so of course users will always come back to any game that offers this nostalgic feeling.

PC: These themes perpetuate because they were assigned to some of the great games of the past and we’re all looking for a share of that success. But I think the feelings of wealth, luck and general positivity which I mentioned previously are at the root of them. 

NI: It is all about psychology. When you find a topic with that much gaming heritage it becomes such a recognisable commodity that players are immediately attracted to it. Your brain marks it as easy to understand, with a familiar and safe playability.

Players may also have a history of playing these games when they first started and that triggering of nostalgia can make players warm to a new game more so than others with less recognisable concepts.

“Anything that is on trend in society at large or popular culture can be a good thing”

RL: These themes have been around for a long time with proven success, first in the land-based arena and now in the online and mobile markets. Building a game with longevity is the ideal scenario for any studio, so when you have games like Cleopatra and Rainbow Riches that have truly stood the test of time, it is natural that developers will try to emulate games with the same level of longstanding popularity. There is a lot to be said for familiarity. 

CB: Do game studios copy themes from successful games in the hope some of that success will rub-off? 

PC: They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and it’s easy to be critical of a studio that goes down the route of a tried and tested theme. But we’re a risk averse industry, so it’s no great surprise that there is sometimes safety in numbers.

Why take the risk on something outlandish when you know that players like theme A or theme B? As long as you put your stamp on it and don’t just copy what others have done, I think it is legitimate.

RL: As the online slots market has become increasingly saturated with content, it has become more noticeable that studios are taking to copying successful themes, games and features.

However, a lot of developers that take influence from existing titles will add their own flare and characteristics in order to tailor games to their style, markets and customer demands. There are many facets to what makes a successful game and no “one-size-fits-all” approach. 

NI: Some game studios try to copy specific games that have been very well-received in a hope that some of that success will rub-off, but it can’t be argued that well designed familiar concepts perform well no matter when they were released.

“They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”

It’s important get the fundamentals right as you can always add to things, but essentially great gameplay comes from solid foundations, be they from classic slots or from innovative cutting-edge concepts.

CB: Do we run the risk as an industry of a being accused of a lacking originality and innovation?

RL: With the industry becoming increasingly competitive from a supplier perspective, it’s likely developers will take fewer risks on new ideas and concepts. But that doesn’t mean to say innovation has flat lined. In an industry as creative as casino game development there will always be room for disruption. 

Whether the next big thing is made from an entirely original theme, or a mechanic – like Megaways – that takes the industry by storm, eventually fresh concepts will come around that establish as the new primary sources of inspiration. 

PC: We do, but no more so than the movie or music industries that spawn their own fair share of imitators. But it’s a balance. If you do something too similar to what is already out there you get panned for being a copycat or offering players insufficient variation.

“it’s likely developers will take fewer risks on new ideas and concepts”

If you’re too ‘out there’ or whacky you run the risk of losing the player, which is just failure by another name. The trick is to design something that is familiar yet different at the same time

AL: There’s an interesting theory that all the stories in the world have already been written. You can see that with gaming, whenever you open one – there will always be an element of déjà vu.

At the same time, there’s a way to create something new by taking inspiration from what already exists. The risk here however is to avoid stagnation, and this is where technology comes in – to provide an innovative new approach for an existing theme. 

NI: As the generation changes, new concepts and mechanics will evolve and possibly dominate classic themes. On top of this, the evolution of technology gives game designers more and more tools to work with.

Yet again it comes to the demand of consumers – classic slot design and gameplay will always be attractive to players but that should in no way hinder how a company innovates.

“Branded content is expensive, and certainly doesn’t guarantee ROI”

CB: Is branded content the only way to guarantee exclusivity when it comes to themes? 

NI: Branded content means that you already take a massively popular concept and just put it in a slot or table game. Yes, you can innovate in the mechanics, but not on a theme.

For a game developer, this hopefully increases the likelihood of popularity, but the lifetime of such a product is questionable. It is much more effective to create a ‘star’ game of your own and implement its images into brand strategy as well. 

AL: Branded content is expensive, and certainly doesn’t guarantee ROI. We believe it’s essential to invest in technical innovations, as well as designing ideas to create unique content – by creating our own magic worlds, with our own characters and their stories. 

PC: Branded content has a long history and will have a rosy future in this industry because it is a solid way of guaranteeing eyeballs on a new game. It is the same principle in Hollywood, where the big-name star draws a crowd.

But as far as exclusivity of theme is concerned, some companies have made it their business strategy to rip off others, so in many markets licensing guarantees nothing! I would say branded content has its time and place, but it is not a panacea.

RL: It certainly helps but I don’t think it is the only way.  Working closely with key partners will pretty much guarantee you exclusivity with them if you have the right game for their customers. 

We have started to release all of our new content exclusively with one different partner for a period of time before general release and this is working very well for both parties.

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The launch of a selection of its slots portfolio with the Isle of Man-based casino software developer kick starts a content distribution deal that is to also include a number of exclusive releases.

Robert Lee, Realistic Games’ commercial director, stressed a belief that this agreement supports the company’s ongoing focus on increasing customer reach: “It’s fantastic to see this agreement go live, and we’re looking forward to providing Microgaming’s customers with exclusive access to our original content.

“Launching with Quickfire, a truly market-leading platform, will open the door to opportunities in new markets and increase our brand visibility with operators.”

Under the terms of the deal the Reading headquartered games studio has integrated 40 slot titles initially, including what it lauds as its “best performers” in Super Graphics Upside Down, Six Appeal, and 8th Wonder, with its suite of table games set to follow.

Furthermore, the firm will also deliver one game per quarter to Microgaming over a three month period of exclusivity, before widening distribution across its partner network.

The launch with Microgaming, which boasts an existing portfolio of titles supplied in more than 20 regulated markets worldwide, also enables Realistic to access new territories and casino brands.

James Buchanan, director of global operations at Microgaming, said of the deal: “Since signing with Realistic we have been eagerly anticipating the launch date and are now thrilled to see its slot games live on our platform.

“We strive to provide our customers with nothing less than the highest-quality content. Judging by the quick success of Realistic’s slot titles, we are confident that the future launch of its table games and exclusive releases will further enhance our portfolio.”

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THE PITCH

Realistic Games has announced its delight at adding to its Super Graphics series, as it debuts its latest title Super Graphics Lucky Cats.

The HTML5 slot, which has a top prize of 500x starting stake, can be played across a number of devices, including desktop, phone and tablet.

GAME DETAIL

This new release, featuring an anime theme, takes its maths model inspiration from another Realistic release, Six Appeal, and features new Japanese Lucky Cat scatter symbols, alongside familiar characters from the other Super Graphics titles: Satsuki, Queen and King.

When three or more cats hit the reels, the white cats will multiply to give the player their number of free spins, whilst the gold cats will add together to give their multiplier. The cats can give players up to 216 free spins, at a 12x multiplier to start with.

WHAT THEY SAY

Robert Lee, commercial director of Realistic Games, said of the new release: “The Super Graphics series of games contains some of Realistic’s most popular titles, and we have experienced considerable success with those games. Add in the concept of Six Appeal and we believe we have the purrfect game for players.

“We are thrilled to release Super Graphics Lucky Cats, with those cat symbols offering players huge free spins potential with incredible multipliers. We look forward to players engaging with the latest game from the Super Graphics stable of titles.”

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Under the terms of the new deal, the Reading-based studio is to provide its fellow supplier with a growing portfolio of both three and five-reel slots.

Robert Lee, commercial director at Realistic Games, stressed a belief that the new partnership is to give the company access to a host of new markets and casino brands: “By signing this agreement not only do we add another tier one supplier to our growing list, but it is also a great opportunity for us to increase our customer reach.

“We can offer them a lot of new and different game types, and are very confident we will be able to provide their customers with content that players will enjoy.”

As a result of the agreement Realistic will see an added expansion of its territorial reach, while complementing Microgaming’s existing portfolio of titles in more than 20 regulated markets worldwide.

James Buchanan, director of global operations at Microgaming, said of the new addition to the company’s platform: “As a content supplier of choice, we are always on the lookout for high-quality games with standout functionality to deliver premium entertainment to our operators.

“We are thrilled to add new content from Realistic Games to complement our diverse portfolio, and look forward to taking their games live on our platform.”

This follows London-based Ascensus Interactive becoming the latest poker room to join the Microgaming Poker Network, with the flagship Players Come First brand live from last week.

As a result Ascensus Interactive gains access to the MPN’s poker and campaign management functionality, offering players a seamless experience through the advanced reporting portal, while the network also boasts frequent promotions.

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Abudarham joins Realistic after two and a half years with leading developer Yggdrasil, where she was a campaign expert.

Robert Lee, commercial director at Realistic Games, said: “We’re thrilled to have Abigail join us, and look forward to her using her industry experience to enhance our team.

“Expanding our workforce in Gibraltar has been a key target for us, so hiring Abigail is a perfect opportunity to help us grow.”

Abudarham added: “I’m very excited to be joining the Realistic team, which is one of the most respected suppliers in the industry.

“I am eager to get started and help the business achieve its goals.”

Realistic recently increased its reach in the bingo market through an integration with leading operator Buzz Bingo.

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RELEASE DATE

Out now.

THE PITCH

“Realistic Games are hoping players will cash in on its exciting new slot game, Fortune 5.”

GAME DETAIL

This latest 3-reel 5-win line slot, “built using the newest HTML5 technology,” affords players the opportunity to enjoy the best of the action across mobile, tablet and desktop devices.

BONUS FEATURES

Fortune 5 also promises users access to a “unique” bonus round, which gives players the opportunity to win the top prize on each feature entry. The bonus round is to be activated when three relevant bonus symbols appear on the win line, the more bonus symbols that appear the better the starting position.

Players can attempt to move through these level by randomly stopping on either an up arrow, down arrow or cash prize. The higher the level, the bigger the win up to a maximum of x250 stake.

THEY SAY

Robert Lee, commercial director of Realistic Games, said: “We are very excited about the launch of Fortune 5. With a unique feature round that further engages the player, we are confident of its success with our existing partners and players”.

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Created in a live environment, Realistic Roulette has been delivered in cutting-edge technology, recreating the land-based experience for players on mobile, tablet and desktop, providing unrivalled clarity.

The premium product has been built using the latest WebGL technology, which – as similar to the firm’s recent launch, Black Ice – allows players to tilt, pan and change the view of the game. Realistic Roulette also uses real life land-based ball spins to ensure that the player gets the best possible experience.

Robert Lee, Commercial Director of Realistic Games, commented: “As we have seen with slots, customers are attracted to a quality product which has been thoughtfully put together and contains innovative features.

“Realistic Roulette is a high-end table game that is unlike anything else on the market. More experienced players will love its authenticity, whilst the younger generation will appreciate its top-quality graphics, sound, and animation.

“We’re delighted to have been able to harness the latest technology to produce something truly unique and give our operating partners a genuine point of difference when it comes to this very important part of their product portfolio.”

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