Pulse
Slot Mechanics GREENTUBE
mechanic performance Michael Bauer, CFO/CGO at Greentube, says the best way to
discover whether a new mechanic is a commercial hit is to pair it with a brand-new game that has no history.
What mechanics has Greentube created and how do they work?
Over time, Greentube has created a huge variety of game mechanics and we are constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. Finding the next profitable mainstream mechanic is basically the holy grail for every game designer.
Of course, that also means that not all new concepts resonate well with players, but we are certainly prepared to take those risks. One area we have excelled in is creating unique concepts that are specific to certain markets. Te Dutch, Greek and German markets are great examples of this.
What we have found is that in the Netherlands players gravitate towards games that feature the Supermeter concept, in Greece we had success with reels that break down into four sets following a win, and Germans enjoy games in which they receive extra spins.
Looking at this more broadly, this year we added to the hugely popular Diamond Link series with the release of Cops ‘N’ Robbers, a game that has quickly become a fan-favourite thanks to its board game mechanic featuring special features.
How complex is the process of patenting a new mechanic?
Te process is quite complex to be honest and our patenting strategy focuses on US and sometimes Australia. In Europe method patenting is not really possible and the only protection really is getting a trademark for the name of the mechanic. In the US, we are moving forward with getting several of our mechanics patented, but it’s time-consuming,
P110 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
suppliers often copy what we’ve done once they see it gaining popularity. Tis is a result of the fact that it is not possible to get method patents in Europe. A very good way to combat that is to create a wider brand out of a new mechanic.
Michael Bauer CFO/CGO Greentube
expensive and there’s a great deal of scrutiny involved.
Hitting upon a strong mechanic, branding it to drive recognition and iterating around it has time and again paid huge dividends in the slots space. What’s the key to creating recognisable, compelling and adaptable mechanics?
Branding is a very important element of what we do. We want to drive recognition to our brand, and of course, the core game mechanics that make Greentube what it is today.
Te fact that we can create a brand-new mechanic does not necessarily mean we can claim ownership of it for ourselves as other
Te best example of this is Megaways. Big Time Gaming were able to license the mechanics, which was quite unique at the time. It worked well as others didn’t want to reinvent the wheel and ultimately, they were more than happy to pay for the brand as it had garnered so much attention. Of course, over time the problem with this approach is that too many bad games have been created using the mechanic and this has diluted the attractiveness of the mechanic and brand.
Generally, takes a lot of time and investment in marketing to achieve what they did, but if you have a strong enough mechanic and belief in the product then it’s absolutely worth doing.
What effect does a strong foundation of mechanics have on the rest of the game design process? Does it facilitate greater creative freedom and a chance to take risks with other elements?
If you’re developing a brand-new mechanic, it’s not necessarily that helpful to have a strong game brand in place because you can never
The fact that we can create a brand-new mechanic does not necessarily mean we can claim ownership of it for ourselves as
other suppliers often copy what we’ve done once they see it gaining popularity. This is a result of the fact that it is not possible to get method patents in Europe. A very good way to combat that is to create a wider brand out of a new mechanic.
monitoring new Greentube:
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