PRAGMATIC PLAY


The art of producing games


While slot release schedules need to be tight and swift, when designing a game there is much to consider. So says Catalin Bratosin, Head of Games Production at Pragmatic Play.


T


he number one priority for any slot developer is producing great games that players


in regulated markets all around the world can enjoy. Producing exciting and innovative games to a tight release schedule is no mean feat for any provider, but it is those capable of delivering quality alongside genuine speed to market that will ultimately succeed. While slot release schedules


need to be tight and swift in order to ensure competitiveness, when designing a game there is much to consider and plenty of groundwork to be done. As with many creative endeavours, the art of developing a successful slot game all comes from one initial idea, be that a gameplay element, new mechanic, the all-important maths model and the overall theme around which to base the product. Artwork and visual design are a key part of


this process. As soon as the initial idea has been conceptualised, we work out the game’s storyboard in hand-drawn black and white. The painstaking care and attention put in at this stage feeds into everything that comes next, as the symbols and transitions are designed, mocked up and tested before being brought to life in full 3D animation.


Putting gameplay first W


orking at the cutting edge of what current graphics technology makes possible is a clear priority for a


number of slot developers. With so many different and varied audio-visual entertainment options now competing for players’ attention, there is certainly merit in slots that channel high-end video games in their approach to graphical design, and it is


60 DECEMBER 2017


our approach to game design is based around a central philosophy of making sure that every piece of design and animation serves and enhances the core gameplay. We seek to fuse the classic land-based slot experience with the best in online casino gameplay, combining both worlds to cater to the tastes of classic slot fans across the globe. No animation in any of our


games goes to waste, and every movement on the reels provides the player with crucial feedback as to how the game is progressing, allowing them to place their focus on the reels and paylines, as


opposed to extraneous animations. There is no confusion in any aspect of our game design, and every movement and transition shows players that they have won, or how they might win in future. Certainly, there is freedom for slot


an approach that a number of developers have placed at the heart of their design philosophies. Eye-popping graphics featuring all manner


of on-reel animations, complete with characters stood to one side and emoting at every spin of the reels have become commonplace in recent years. There is no doubt that many players are responding positively to this approach. However, that is not to say that all slot


games need to divert towards pouring development time into pursuing the most complex and feature-laden graphical technology in their titles. Players that seek a classic and easy to comprehend experience from their slot games make up a hugely significant proportion of online casino players, and it is important that these players are not left behind in the ongoing scrum to produce games with increasingly busy audio-visual packages. Pragmatic Play is committed to immersing players in the ultimate Vegas experience, and


developers to design games with unrestricted creativity around a philosophy of this nature. From simpler games with easy to understand paylines, to more complex slots with reel- spanning bonus modes, there is endless variety to be had to cater for all tastes and styles. It’s also important for providers to ensure that both older games and new releases are constantly having their performance assessed and optimised. As technology develops, so will the explosiveness and vividness of the symbols and animations that designers can place in their games. This technological growth is taking place at pace, allowing developers to make each game a concerted improvement on the one before. The burgeoning development of the


technology that slot developers have at their fingertips has lead to significant advances in graphical output. However, it is important that developers do not allow the possibilities this presents to blind them to the fundamentals of what makes a great slot game.


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