The pace with which the igaming industry moves is certainly no secret to anyone, with the turnover of new games progressing at breakneck speed and showing no signs of slowing.
One of the central characteristics of these continues to be Big Time Gaming’s Megaways mechanic, which is certainly not running out of steam and often sees suppliers entangled in a game of one-upmanship in breaking the mould further still.
Last month, Booongo adopted the mechanic for the first time as it released Aztec Pyramid Megaways, which it lauded as “a milestone moment” and added that it “felt like the right time to test our products in the Megaways waters”.
Here, Yuriy Muratov, head of business development and account management at Booongo, talks with CasinoBeats about the provider’s debut Megaways entrant, challenges of differentiation, and regions of target.
CasinoBeats: What was the thinking behind bringing the Megaways mechanic into the Booongo games portfolio?
Yuriy Muratov: The Megaways mechanic needs no introduction, being hugely popular and utilised by many studios all over the world. It truly has become a mainstream game style and we’re very happy to bring it into our portfolio.
The hugely volatile nature of the mechanic ensures that players have the chance to win huge sums and offering that potential to fans is very exciting for us. The lure of getting a very, very big win is what attracts many to a slot, and Megaways games offer this in abundance.
CB: Tell us more about Aztec Pyramid Megaways, what does the gameplay offer?
YM: Aztec Pyramid Megaways incorporates the Megaways mechanic into a slot environment that is clearly designed by Booongo. With clear paylines, dynamic gameplay and straightforward artwork, we’ve put the Megaways stamp on our game, rather than letting it dictate game creation.
“There is still plenty of scope to differentiate and create when developing Megaways games”
Aside from the traditional Megaways staples such as tumbling wins, there is also the chance to trigger the Max Megaways, which can bring huge wins. Ultimately, we have tried to keep the game uniquely Booongo, rather than developing just another Megaways game, and we hope our fans love it.
CB: With so many developers utilising Megaways, how are you looking to differentiate your games compared to those that are already available?
YM: There is still plenty of scope to differentiate and create when developing Megaways games, and as players ourselves, we feel there is a niche for us to produce something amazing in this space.
While there are plenty of Megaways products out there, there are very few that are continually top performers, which is a level we feel we can attain. We want to develop a Megaways slot of the quality that Booongo slots are renowned for.
CB: How will Megaways complement your existing approach to slots development? Will these games also include Hold and Win mechanics, which are a staple of Booongo slots?
YM: There are plans to combine the Megaways mechanic with our engaging Hold and Win game modes, uniting two hugely popular styles of slots. Not only do we have plans to roll out a Megaways Hold and Win game, but we have also started mapping out combining Megaways with other mechanics, which we have not announced yet. That is a project we are very excited about so stay tuned for more information.
CB: Which markets are you targeting with your Megaways games? How popular is the mechanic in LatAm?
YM: The Megaways mechanic is incredibly popular all over the globe, and as such, Aztec Pyramid Megaways is aimed at players from across the world. This is no different in Latin America, where we have experienced impressive commercial growth and look forward to a stellar launch of this game.
CB: How does Megaways fit within your product roadmap, what other games can we expect in the coming months?
YM: We have plenty of innovative content set to the hit the market, with more Hold & Win games expected to join our Megaways title, with extremely engaging bonus games, free spins adjustments and more.
There has been a significant focus on adding interesting mechanics and we are very excited for what the second half of the year holds for us.