Welcome to our exclusive interview with Connor Blinman, the Head of Games at Gaming Corps, a leading game development company known for its innovative and engaging gaming experiences.
In this interview, we will delve into the Gaming Corps' newest slot game, "Piggy Smash." Connor will provide us with an insider's perspective on the creative process behind this game, its unique features, and the company's vision for delivering an unparalleled gaming experience to its audience.
Join us as we uncover the inspiration, innovation, and dedication that have culminated in the creation of Piggy Smash!
Welcome, Connor! Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Before we start, can you introduce yourself and Gaming Corps to our readers?
"Firstly, I wanted to say thank you so much for chatting with me. My name is Connor Blinman, and I’m the Head of Games at Gaming Corps. In my role, I work across the entirety of Gaming Corps’ portfolio of gambling products, which ranges from traditional slots and table games, to Mine, Plinko and multiplier games."
Can you introduce us to Piggy Smash and explain the core concept behind this new slot game?
"Absolutely! We originally came up with the idea for Piggy Smash back in 2023. The team had sat down to brainstorm some ideas on how to start 2024 off with a bang, and I think it’s safe to say that we’ve done just that.
For those of you who might not be familiar with the game, Piggy Smash follows a relatively simple concept. The aim is for players to use the hammer to crack open the various different coloured piggy banks in the hope of winning different prizes or unlocking different features. We wanted to keep players on their toes, so each different coloured piggy bank corresponds to a different prize."
What inspired the design and theme of the Piggy Smash slot?
"In a word, nostalgia.
Nearly everyone had a piggy bank growing up – it would be so exciting to crack it open when it was full to be able to finally see how much you had managed to save. We wanted to replicate that sense of excitement and give players the chance to smash open the piggy banks once again.
That association of money and savings then influenced our decision for the game to be set within a bank vault. When we were brainstorming ideas, we had come up with a number of designs that could relate to piggy banks, and the bank fault just seemed to click. We thought that players would enjoy this, but that it would also add a cheeky bit of humour to the game."
What makes the game mechanics of Piggy Smash unique compared to other slot games?
"So, Piggy Smash is the first title to incorporate our Smash4Cash™ mechanic. Each time the player places a bet, the hammer will drop down and attempt to ‘smash’ the piggy bank open, hence the name.
I think that this is a mechanic that may sound simple from the outset, but it is something that the online casino industry has never seen before. Other mechanics on the market can sometimes take some time to get to grips with. But the simplicity of Smash4Cash™ means that it feels familiar to players from the get-go, they are not having to spend considerable lengths of time learning how to play the game."
Can you describe some of the key features and bonuses that players can expect in Piggy Smash?
"Of course! Since the base game is relatively simple in concept, we wanted to create additional levels of gameplay that would make Piggy Smash that bit more dynamic. This was when the team came up with the idea of adding a range of different features: Instant Win, Rampage, Multiplier and Multiplier Rampage.
Instant win is quite self-explanatory, but when this feature is activated, it gives players the chance to win a mega-jackpot of up to x1000 the total bet, which I personally think is super exciting.
I like to think of the Rampage feature as an equivalent to free spins from a traditional slot, but with a twist. If the Rampage feature is unlocked, the hammer transforms to smash up to ten different piggy banks in a row, for free. It is very cool.
When the Multiplier feature is activated, the value of the next piggy bank that is smashed open will be multiplied by up to x10. And then the final feature, Multiplier Rampage, combines both the Multiplier and the Rampage feature to create something very exciting – when this is activated, consecutive piggy banks that are smashed open will be a Multiplier, adding to that thrill that players experience with a win."
Can you provide details on Piggy Smash's RTP (Return to Player), variance, and the maximum payout players can expect?
"The RTP of the game is bang on 97%. It is a high RTP for our players to really get a feel for the overall game and all it has to offer. Arcade games usually have these high RTPs and the time on device is really important to its success.
Overall, the game is of low-medium volatility, sitting at a 4/10 on our scale. The maximum payout that we observed in simulations is 1120x total bet but wins of 1000x via the fixed Jackpot feature are more likely - hitting on average 1 in 99000 bets."
What can players expect from future releases in the "Smash4Cash" series following the release of Piggy Smash?
Well ...
We are already preparing to launch the next game in the Smash4Cash™ series, “Rampage!”, which you can expect to see later this month, so stay tuned for that.
For Rampage!, we are sticking with a relatively simple design – ultimately, we want to let the mechanic do the talking. The game will draw upon our wheelhouse, combining the thrill of a traditional slot game with the arcade-style games that Gaming Corps knows and loves."
What innovative elements is Gaming Corps planning to introduce in the "Smash4Cash" series to redefine or enhance the slot gaming experience?
"While I’ll hold the cards close to my chest for now, it is important to state that we are most definitely looking to enhance the player experience by introducing new features and new ways to play the game.
We have considered implementing features such as “Bonus Buys” to allow the player to get a short cut to the Rampage or Multiplier Rampage feature but we’ve also looked at new themes and narratives to explore for future games. All of which are on our radar as well as many, many more opportunities."
Can you give us a sneak peek into what's next for Gaming Corps, apart from Piggy Smash and the Smash4Cash series?
"This year has already got off to a great start, and we certainly plan on maintaining that momentum throughout 2024.
In addition to expanding our Smash4Cash™ series, we plan to release at least one new slot game each month.
Players can expect to see Gaming Corps pushing the boundaries of innovation as we continue to deliver even more exciting experiences with our games.
Our arcade-style games will also be expanded over the course of the next 12 months as we continue to add more titles – and if you’re a fan of Crash games, you’ll certainly love our new title “Samba Soccer”.
Gaming Corps has gone from strength-to-strength over the last few years, and we can’t wait for you to see what comes next!"