The casino industry relies heavily on game designers to continuously create innovative and entertaining games that will attract and retain players. But designing a successful casino game that stands the test of time is no easy feat. It requires a rare blend of mathematical prowess, psychological understanding, creativity, and business acumen. Only a select few designers have consistently managed to design top-tier games that casinos, like Admiral Bet casino, and players love.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best casino game designers in the industry and analyze what sets their designs apart. Understanding the keys to their success can provide valuable insights for future game creators aiming to craft the next big casino game hit.
#1. Roger Snow – Pushing Boundaries with Classic Table Games
Roger Snow’s designs have centered primarily around reinventing and enhancing classic American table games like blackjack, baccarat, roulette and craps. With over 150 table games under his belt, he’s developed a knack for knowing exactly how to tweak game rules and payouts to make them more exciting and profitable.
A few designs that demonstrate his innovative flair include:
- Blazing 7’s Blackjack – awarded “Best New Table Game” at the Global Gaming Expo in 2015. Its optional side bet on 7’s suited the thrill-seeking desires of players.
- Bonus Blackjack – eliminated the frustration of tied dealer-player hands with an inventive bonus payout system.
- Triple Attack Blackjack – allowed players to increase their bets after seeing the dealer’s up card for an added element of risk and reward.
Snow clearly understands intrinsically how small tweaks in existing table games can have a huge impact. His ability to adapt classic games to best satisfy player personalities and expectations has been unparalleled.
#2. William “Si” Redd – Popularizing Video Poker
Si Redd was the first to recognize video poker’s potential to introduce more players to poker without the intimidation of playing directly against others. His game design philosophy emphasized maximum entertainment value and accessibility above all else.
Redd founded International Game Technology (IGT) to develop some of the very first video poker machines. A few iconic video poker games he helped create include:
- Draw Poker – the original video poker game that started it all in 1979. Its familiar five-card draw poker gameplay made the transition from table to video effortless.
- Triple Play – allowed players to play three hands simultaneously for more excitement.
- Multi-Strike Poker – featured a special bonus payout system that rewarded four of a kind hands exponentially more based on how many coins the player bet.
The runaway success of his video poker designs cemented Redd as one of the true pioneers of https://slotspeak.com/swintt/ game design. Every video poker game released since owes at least some of its foundations to Redd’s revolutionary work at IGT bringing poker into the digital realm.
#3. Sheila Collins – Queen of Bingo Design
On the more casual end of the spectrum, Sheila Collins has made her mark by modernizing bingo hall design. She co-founded NeoGames alongside Moti Malul, one of the largest bingo game design firms serving millions of players worldwide.
Collins learned the ins and outs of bingo operations early on working as a bingo hall manager. This experience gave her invaluable insight into player motivations and preferences that she later infused into her game designs.
A few bingo variations that have become Collins’ calling card include:
- NeoBingo – provides dynamic jackpot prizes and bonus features like extra wild numbers or free cards to liven up traditional bingo.
- NeoGames Studio – a full-service gaming platform that allows bingo operators to easily manage games, player data, marketing and more to optimize operations.
- Bubble Blast – combines bingo with bubble shooter gameplay for a puzzling bingo hybrid.
By blending bingo fundamentals with innovative new formats and features, Collins has kept the game feeling fresh and engaging for legions of casual players. Thanks to her efforts, bingo continues thriving both in bingo halls and online.
Keys to Timeless Casino Game Design
While their specific games have been vastly different, a few fundamental qualities unite the work of all three legendary designers profiled above:
- Insight into player psychology – Understanding what drives players to play, whether it’s the thrill of risk-taking or social stimulation or puzzle-solving curiosity, is essential to create games that people inherently enjoy and keep coming back to.
- Math-based balance – Games must be mathematically sound and carefully calibrated to ensure the house maintains an adequate edge while also delivering big payouts often enough to avoid player frustration.
- Original innovations – Tweaking existing games with clever new rules, bonuses and formats has proven to be a recipe for success when grounded in player insights and mathematical principles. Revolutionary themes and technologies can also capture widespread attention when done right.
While game design starts with artistry and imagination, the best designs fuse creativity with scientific precision. Mastering the combined knowledge of human psychology, mathematics, and business is no simple task. This helps explain why there are so few designers like Roger Snow, Si Redd and Sheila Collins with a knack for consistently developing top-grossing, time-tested casino games.
Nevertheless, their winning formulas serve as an inspiring framework for aspiring game creators today. With enough skill and dedication, the next generation of designers can hope to follow in their footsteps developing all-time classic casino games for decades to come. The keys to their lasting success ultimately provide a clear roadmap to follow.