Interview for
G Gate Media
16.12.2024
Interview
Vladislav Tsaturyan, Art Lead at GameBeat, recently gave an interview to G Gate Media, where he shared valuable information about the process of creating slot games. He talked about the importance of choosing the right theme, the team involved, the development costs, common mistakes, and what makes a slot game successful.
Finding Inspiration for Slot Themes
Creating a good slot theme requires both creativity and understanding of player preferences. Tsaturyan explained that, for example, reading a book like The Witcher, which follows a monster hunter, could inspire the creation of a slot game based on that concept. This is how our Dangerous Monster came to life.
Another interesting example is FruitFellas: Fortune Wheel. In this case, the GameBeat team reimagined the classic fruit theme as a group of movie-inspired gangsters in a unique noir style. The concept was influenced by Italian mafia films, with the slot name referencing the classic movie Goodfellas.
And if there are limited creative resources, popular gambling themes like Ancient Egypt, Pirates, and Aztecs & Mayans are always a reliable choice, as they have long been favorites inspired by legends of hidden treasures and adventurous quests.
Key Specialists and Costs in Slot Game Development
When creating a slot game, a dedicated team of professionals is essential. Each member plays a vital role in ensuring the success of the game. Here is an overview of the key specialists needed and the costs involved:
The cost of creating a slot game can vary widely depending on its complexity, with an average range between $100K and $500K. The budget is usually organized in the following way:
Stages of Slot Game Development
The process of creating a slot game involves several well-planned stages, starting with the idea and ending with the game’s launch. To create a game that is both visually appealing and engaging, the team follows these key steps:
Common Mistakes in Slot Game Development
One of the most common mistakes in slot game development is overly complex animations and excessive mechanics. Players typically prefer simpler slots, as they want to relax in a familiar gaming environment. Any added complexity can drive users away.
A notable example of poor visual design is the game Our Days, where it’s unclear what symbols are needed for a win. Is it a diary or a letter?
In addition to a flawed concept and overly complex mechanics, poor mathematical design can reduce player engagement. If the game does not offer fair chances to win, the players will lose interest quickly. A great example is the slot Big Bass Bonanza, which features many bonuses but suffers from low multipliers, leading to payouts that are too small to keep players engaged.
However, mistakes are part of the learning process. The developers of Big Bass Bonanza recognized their misstep and created Fishin’ Reels, one of the studio’s best games to date.
What makes a good slot game?
A successful slot captivates players from the first moment and keeps their attention through a well-balanced combination of design, engaging mechanics, and a solid mathematical model. All these aspects must work in harmony within a single product. If the game has poor math, players won’t stay; if the visuals are bad, they will leave too.
An example of excellent balance from GameBeat is the slot Stolbik 777.
Our Art Lead also highlighted the essential role of marketing in the success of a slot game. He explained that while design and mechanics are crucial, proper promotion is crucial for the success of the game. Streamers now play a key role in attracting players, as they are paid to play certain slots, and viewers often follow their lead. Effective promotions and strategic placement on casino sites significantly increase a game’s chances of becoming popular. Without a strong marketing strategy, even the best game might not reach its potential audience. For the final part of the interview, he summarized everything in a checklist:
Checklist for Creating Slot Games:
Finding Inspiration for Slot Themes
Creating a good slot theme requires both creativity and understanding of player preferences. Tsaturyan explained that, for example, reading a book like The Witcher, which follows a monster hunter, could inspire the creation of a slot game based on that concept. This is how our Dangerous Monster came to life.
Another interesting example is FruitFellas: Fortune Wheel. In this case, the GameBeat team reimagined the classic fruit theme as a group of movie-inspired gangsters in a unique noir style. The concept was influenced by Italian mafia films, with the slot name referencing the classic movie Goodfellas.
And if there are limited creative resources, popular gambling themes like Ancient Egypt, Pirates, and Aztecs & Mayans are always a reliable choice, as they have long been favorites inspired by legends of hidden treasures and adventurous quests.
Key Specialists and Costs in Slot Game Development
When creating a slot game, a dedicated team of professionals is essential. Each member plays a vital role in ensuring the success of the game. Here is an overview of the key specialists needed and the costs involved:
- Game Designer: Responsible for the game’s concept, mechanics, and balance, as well as crafting the story and scenarios.
- Artist: Designs the visual elements, including symbols, backgrounds, animations, and interfaces.
- Animator: Brings the game to life with dynamic animations and special effects.
- Developer: Handles the programming and integration of all game elements, including the mechanics and bonus features.
- Sound Designer: Creates immersive sound effects and music to enhance the gameplay experience.
- Tester: Ensures the game is free of bugs and meets quality standards.
The cost of creating a slot game can vary widely depending on its complexity, with an average range between $100K and $500K. The budget is usually organized in the following way:
- Concept and Game Design: 20-30%
- Art Design and Animation: 30-40%
- Development and Testing: 30-50%
Stages of Slot Game Development
The process of creating a slot game involves several well-planned stages, starting with the idea and ending with the game’s launch. To create a game that is both visually appealing and engaging, the team follows these key steps:
- Concept: Developing the game’s idea and overall features.
- Game Design: Creating the mechanics, math, and bonus features (e.g., reels, symbols, paylines, wilds, and free spins).
- Art Design: Designing visuals and animations using tools like Photoshop, Blender3D, Spine, and After Effects.
- Development: Programming and integrating all components, typically using HTML5.
- Testing: Identify bugs and ensure the proper balance of the game’s payouts and win frequency.
- Release & Post-Release: Launch the game and analyze its performance for updates.
Common Mistakes in Slot Game Development
One of the most common mistakes in slot game development is overly complex animations and excessive mechanics. Players typically prefer simpler slots, as they want to relax in a familiar gaming environment. Any added complexity can drive users away.
A notable example of poor visual design is the game Our Days, where it’s unclear what symbols are needed for a win. Is it a diary or a letter?
In addition to a flawed concept and overly complex mechanics, poor mathematical design can reduce player engagement. If the game does not offer fair chances to win, the players will lose interest quickly. A great example is the slot Big Bass Bonanza, which features many bonuses but suffers from low multipliers, leading to payouts that are too small to keep players engaged.
However, mistakes are part of the learning process. The developers of Big Bass Bonanza recognized their misstep and created Fishin’ Reels, one of the studio’s best games to date.
What makes a good slot game?
A successful slot captivates players from the first moment and keeps their attention through a well-balanced combination of design, engaging mechanics, and a solid mathematical model. All these aspects must work in harmony within a single product. If the game has poor math, players won’t stay; if the visuals are bad, they will leave too.
An example of excellent balance from GameBeat is the slot Stolbik 777.
Our Art Lead also highlighted the essential role of marketing in the success of a slot game. He explained that while design and mechanics are crucial, proper promotion is crucial for the success of the game. Streamers now play a key role in attracting players, as they are paid to play certain slots, and viewers often follow their lead. Effective promotions and strategic placement on casino sites significantly increase a game’s chances of becoming popular. Without a strong marketing strategy, even the best game might not reach its potential audience. For the final part of the interview, he summarized everything in a checklist:
Checklist for Creating Slot Games:
- Money: Creating a slot game requires between $100,000 and $500,000, without equipment costs and office maintenance.
- Idea: You can take ideas from games, movies, mythology, and other sources.
- Team: You will need game designers, animators, testers, sound engineers, developers, and other specialists, depending on the tasks at hand.
- Game Development: Plan the concept, art design, and game mechanics; write code and conduct testing.
- Marketing: A solid marketing strategy is essential before release to ensure as many players as possible hear about your slot.
- Release & Support: After the release, work continues — bug fixes and regular updates are likely needed.