It has been a busy 12 months for Blueprint Gaming. As the UK-based developer prepares for ICE, CasinoBeats talks to Jo Purvis, the company’s director of marketing and relationships, about the supplier’s latest blockbuster title

You’ve just released your latest game, Mars Attacks!. Could you tell us a bit more about how you have translated such a cult movie into a slot?

JP: “We’ve worked in partnership with Warner Bros Consumer Products to transform this sci-fi classic film into a highly-engaging slot for the first time. We’ve taken every step possible to bring the film’s characters and storyline to life, paying close attention to every detail to ensure the gameplay meets expectations of its loyal fanbase.

“It features five out-of-this-world progressive bonus rounds that build up to the final stand, while the game also contains an Alien Invasion Gamble enabling players to upgrade the feature, and Martian Modifiers that offer 3,125 pay ways.”

Mars Attacks is Blueprint Gaming’s latest licensed slot release – what make these games so appealing to operators and their players?

“Licensed slots are an effective way to grab the attention of players. The brands that we
incorporate into our games have a huge following and are a perfect group for us to tap into and potentially acquire.

“Take The Goonies, for instance, which we launched last year. The slot game, inspired by the classic 1980s film, enjoyed immediate success and was the number-one game with 85 per cent of UK operators in the first three weeks after going live.

“Branded games are also great in keeping users engaged for the long term. Other licensed slots within our portfolio, including Top Cat and TED, to this day perform strongly despite being over a year old.

“Players are loyal to a brand that they love, and this keeps them coming back for more. Both these titles will see fresh light in 2019 as we release sequels featuring the brands.”

With a marketplace rich with games based on classic films and TV shows, what separates this latest release from the rest?

“When creating licensed slots, we make sure that the gameplay has the same look and feel as any other Blueprint release, including the use of a number of innovative modifiers and bonus rounds to create an immersive gaming experience.

“With Mars Attacks, we’ve brought the game to life in a way that enables players to quickly identify it is a Blueprint release, while ensuring that the branding remains on point to capture the imagination and resonate with fans of the film.”

“When producing these kinds of [licensed] games – you have to build them from scratch

What factors must developers be wary of when producing licensed slots games?

“When producing these kinds of games, it simply cannot be a case of planting an image of a famous Hollywood film onto an existing game and re-skinning it – you have to build them from scratch.

“That way, from the early stages of design and right through to the final stage of development, you have every opportunity to make sure the game remains on-brand.

“Players will want to relive some of the joy and excitement they felt when they first saw these films. It’s important that the development teams delve under the hood and understand what the brand truly means in order to maximise the potential of the licence.”

What does the future hold for licensed slots?

“Licensed slots will continue to form a key part of our development strategy going forward and we have a number of new releases in the pipeline. Similar to our recent releases, we’re finding real value in bringing classic movie titles back into the spotlight.

“We’ve got some really exciting releases to showcase in the coming months which are inspired by popular films. Although we can’t give too much away at the moment, we’ll be revealing a sizzling new addition to our portfolio at ICE which is sure to be a banger and will get the 2019 party started.”