The obnoxious bear is back
UK-based games developer Blueprint Gaming creates exciting slots for the global online gambling market. Part of Germany’s Gauselmann Group, the firm has really made a name for itself with its innovative titles such as Eye of Horus, Fishin’ Frenzy, and its collection of slots based on popular films and TV series.
As part of that collection, the company will launch its upcoming release ted Cashlock on December 1 based on the popular feature films. VegasSlotsOnline News can’t wait, and we caught up with Charlie Jacka, head of product at Blueprint Gaming, to see what we could find out about the new game and the company’s idea of the perfect slot.
Tell us a bit about your role at Blueprint Gaming and your favorite thing about the iGaming industry.
I’m coming up to five years at Blueprint Gaming and they’ve been the highlight of my career so far. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to love what I do at an incredible company among some seriously talented people.
I oversee the game development journey
Having begun as an account manager, I’ve steadily progressed to be recently appointed head of product. I’m now in a position where I oversee the game development journey and have a key role in the games we produce. Blueprint as an employer is known in the industry as one that nurtures its key assets and develops them as much as it does its product and I’m proud to have reached the stage I’m now at.
The iGaming industry is a fast-paced, vibrant, and ever-evolving space. There’s an extraordinary camaraderie among those who work within it, and I’ve made many lifelong friends as a result. It’s a space full of innovative, driven, and tenacious individuals that power a host of amazing brands and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Blueprint Gaming offers a mix of different games, such as Jackpots and Megaways. What features are necessary for the perfect slot in your opinion?
That’s the million-dollar question that I don’t think any one person has the absolute definitive answer to, however, our roots are in the creation of amazing slot games, so I like to think we know a thing or two about getting it right.
We’ve long been developing games that deliver precisely what players want – engaging and innovative mechanics and features within entertaining themes or under popular IPs. As players at heart, our game design is about ensuring titles offer the right blend of these key gameplay factors.
what one player might think is perfect, another may find vanilla
The other factor is, what one player might think is perfect, another may find vanilla, such is the wide breadth of preferences and trends across demographics. Addressing this, we’re proud to offer one of the industry’s most comprehensive libraries of games, from the traditional land-based style titles to high volatility Megaways experiences that thrill.
The popularity of our games has seen the development of much-loved series with favorites such as Fishin’ Frenzy and Eye of Horus evolving to use a variety of key features and mechanics like Megaways and Jackpot King.
How are you able to keep your ideas fresh and innovative when releasing so many slots?
The key is to ensure we strike the right balance between quality and quantity, first and foremost.
One of the benefits of having the strong foundations we’ve built is that we can then evolve the content players love with new versions of popular game families. These retain the charm of the originals yet move the game forward with the creativity of the development team that we have at our disposal.
Outside of these series, we continue to innovate and pioneer new gaming experiences and this has seen a number of trends develop based on mechanics we have been first to the market with.
We draw on our experience of what works to usher in new variants of mechanics too, such as with our successful Fortune Play mechanic – inspired by the Free Spins rounds of earlier games – which offers play across an enhanced reel set.
Now onto your upcoming slot ted Cashlock, due for release on December 1. We haven’t heard much about this game yet at VSO News, can you explain a bit about it?
We’re thrilled to have been working on another entry into the hugely popular ted franchise and we’ve introduced several new features for fans of the obnoxious bear to have fun with, including symbols that lock in place.
Cash Lock positions can be upgraded from bronze to silver to gold
Psychedelic ted sees six or more Psychedelic Rainbow Ted symbols in view triggering the Free Spins bonus. Every Rainbow Ted that lands in view adds a special Cash Lock border to the reel position. The Cash Lock positions can be upgraded from bronze to silver to gold, increasing their value for the Super Cash Lock feature.
This is activated after free spins have completed. Every reel symbol with a special Cash Lock border is replaced by a special ted symbol, with each one guaranteeing a prize based on the color of the Cash Lock border.
It wouldn’t be a ted game without the infamous Thunder Buddies! It comes into play during Free Spins where you can win an instant Cashpot or one of three upgraded Free Spins rounds, including Super High Free Spins where every Cash Lock symbol that lands in view are guaranteed to be gold.
We’re sure ted Cashlock will be a hit among players across the board.
Of course, it’s part of the ted series of games. What is it about this theme that makes it great for slot gaming?
Anyone that’s played a Blueprint-developed ted game knows they’re a whole lot of fun. The movies are full of memorable and hilarious quotes and scenes, so there’s a lot to work with for our development team. This was the main reason that we decided to apply for the license because as a brand, it lends itself perfectly to slot gaming and design.
Traditionally, we’ve always had a tongue-in-cheek approach to creating slots, and so ted and the many other amazing brands we work on fit the genre of game we’re looking to develop. The fun nature of the base material provides plenty of laughs, and that’s what we aim to achieve when adapting it into a slot. Players always return to a game for more if they engage with the graphics, animation and sound alongside the game structure – all of which are as important as the IP itself.
Which of your ted games has proved most popular with players to date?
The original made a big impact when it was first released a few years ago and is still one of our most popular slots today, with operators and players appreciating the way in which we brought the infamous sweary bear to players.
117,649 different ways of winning
On the back of that success, it made sense to give it the Megaways treatment, which brought the flexibility of the much-loved mechanic and added 117,649 different ways of winning.
The entry to the franchise really caught the attention of players and operators and it became one of the most well-received releases of the year. The title’s bonus game was a key driver for its success, allowing players to unlock Megaways upgrades throughout the round to increase the win potential.
There’s been a similar buzz around ted Cashlock and we fully expect it to be as successful as the others and the latest in a line of popular Blueprint-branded games.
Outside of this release, what other Blueprint Gaming slots should our readers try their hand at?
One of Blueprint’s strengths is the choice and diversity in our huge games portfolio that offers something for all tastes.
We’ve got a rich history of successful branded games with ted, The Goonies, Rick and Morty and Deal or No Deal which have brought engaging gameplay and famous, classic names to players to have fun with.
Then we’re also able to utilize our wide selection of proprietary titles ranging from traditional land-based style titles to high volatility Megaways experiences that thrill.
Finally, what’s next for Blueprint Gaming?
There’s always a roadmap of releases ahead of us that holds more slot entertainment and our plans for the rest of the year and 2023 are no different.
First up is D10S Maradona, our latest big-name IP and the perfect way to enjoy the buzz of the World Cup that is almost upon us. Due for launch on November 10, the game’s title is a play on the Spanish word for ‘God’ and the legendary number 10 the player wore throughout his career.
perfectly partnered by an upbeat Latino soundtrack
Featuring abeautifully crafted design that evokes the famous footballing murals that can be found across South America, it’s perfectly partnered by an upbeat Latino soundtrack that plays as the action hots up on the 5×3 reels featuring 20 pay lines and a max win of 10,000x.
Beyond that, we’ve got a fantastic mix of original themes, seasonal treats, new entries to popular series and more branded launches that we can’t say too much about at the moment but rest assured that all the quality and innovation that players have come to expect from Blueprint will be maintained and elevated in the coming months.