Liam Blackley, a Canadian iGaming expert working at Casino.ca, leads a discussion of the game design differences between video games and casino games. Liam also looks at the industry trends among the vast real money slots selection in Canada and how casino game designers ride these trends.
Gamificationsummit: Thanks For Talking To Us Liam. Care To Start With Your Background And Experience?
Liam: Sure, I’ve been in the iGaming industry for several years as an online casino reviewer and regulatory guide writer. I got to see firsthand as several new trends in casino games burst onto the scene, and analysed these new games so I could explain them in an approachable manner to an audience of new players. Beyond iGaming, I also work as a game designer in video games and board games, which has a lot of crossover with casino game analysis.
Gamificationsummit: What Do You Mean By Casino Game Analysis? What’s The Process You Use At Casino.Ca?
Liam: The foundation of analysing casino games is return to player (RTP), which describes how much money the game pays out relative to the money wagered. Calculating odds gives a lot of insight into a game, and RTP is one way to express that underlying math. Table games with multiple bets can have a range of RTP while slots typically are reduced down to a single RTP figure.
But beyond the math, I also look into subjective factors like the visual and audio design, creativity of new mechanics relative to competing games, and technical performance. Versus video games, casino players desire more consistent gameplay which means less innovation, so the number of factors through which a game can stand out from the crowd are few and far between.
Gamificationsummit: What Are The Similarities Between Designing A Casino Game And A Video Game?
Liam: Game feel is a big one, trying to create a cohesive experience with emotional impact. Video games sometimes use game feel to bury their gameplay mechanics, like turning math equations into exciting combat. On the other hand, casino games use game feel to highlight their gameplay and draw attention to the gambling aspect with bright colours and dramatic sound design at every turn.
Another similarity is how both types of games are designed to guide players through the experience, helping them understand the game’s mechanics. Sometimes this is as simple as a tutorial level or a slot pay table, simply listing information. Other times it’s subtle design like the use of visual elements to illustrate cause-and-effect. For example, lining up a row of coloured slots symbols pays out a jackpot of the matching colour.
Gamificationsummit: Many Modern Video Games Share A Common Goal With Casino Games: To Keep Their Players Coming Back For More. How Much Crossover Is There In The Game Design Of These Two Industries?
Liam: Casino games and video games have arrived at a few of the same mechanics, but came at them from different directions. For example, many mobile games use “freemium” gameplay which offers paid upgrades to a free base game. A number of online slots also offer paid upgrades, typically through a guaranteed bonus when players pay a higher initial wager, but the crucial difference is that base slots gameplay is still paid.
While video games reward this purchase through expanded gameplay and a competitive edge, the theoretical reward in casino games is potential for profit. Freemium video game players don’t expect to see a monetary return, while casino players do. At the end of the day, video game players keep coming back for fun and entertainment, with money being an obstacle to those goals. Casino players want to spend money, as risking money is an essential part of the thrill of gambling, and will return to a game for the chance to spend money.
Video games are moving towards software as a service (SaaS) with a constant feed of new gameplay features to keep players engaged with a single title. The gambling industry instead pumps out hundreds of new slot titles every year, sometimes every month, with many copycat games designed to create new content without having to truly innovate. Both industries have a drive for novelty to keep players hooked but try to deliver novelty without disrupting their player base.
Gamificationsummit: Is The Canadian Market Novelty-Seeking? What Market Trends Influence Casino Game Design For A Canadian Audience?
Liam: Canada’s in a bit of a weird spot, as only a few provinces permit a widespread online casino market. Additionally, Canadians often turn to sports betting to gamble, which is far less gamified than even the most basic slot machine.
But Canada also loves mobile casino games. And that’s one of the big trends game designers have had to pay attention to in recent years—mobile compatibility. This ranges from technical performance on mobile devices, to how cramped the visual presentation is so players can still navigate the game on a small smartphone screen.
Even still, Canada loves band-wagoning on a trend as much as anyone. So new, novel games will draw in plenty of Canadian players. That’s all the more reason sites like Casino.ca are important, to guide players towards worthwhile games and safe gambling platforms, rather than just trend chasi
