We sat down with Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming, to discuss the studio's exciting new releases and kickstart April in the best way we can! It was great to hear more about Tom Horn Gaming's creative process for its games, and take a sneak peek into the studio's plans for upcoming releases.
Therefore, make sure to read our exclusive interview with Tom Horn Gaming and learn more about their awesome slots titles!
Welcome, Ondrej! Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today. Could you start off by introducing yourself and Tom Horn Gaming to our readers?
"Hi, I’m Ondrej, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming. We are a group of iGaming enthusiasts creating and delivering exceptional iGaming software solutions across our vast operator partner network in a number of markets.
We started out as a small team in central Europe more than 15 years ago, so I can say we’re quite seasoned iGaming professionals. Over the years we have expanded significantly, and now we have teammates scattered across many countries and continents and we operate as a fully remote, distributed team.
Our focus initially was on the land-based environment where we supplied gaming software for VLTs. We then moved to the online space and now we’re developing mobile-first gaming products which have been hugely popular among players around the world."
Tom Horn Gaming has a rich portfolio of online slots, all of which boast high-quality graphics and interesting features. Could you share some details about the creative process of your games?
"We take pride in encouraging people across all our teams to be as creative and innovative as possible and we welcome any ideas that can lead to great games.
Creating a game is not filling out a prescribed formula, it’s a collaborative team effort, during which we brainstorm ideas, experiment, and learn from each other. While exploring new ideas for a specific project, we often come up with solutions, which we later utilise in our other gaming projects.
Once the idea for a new game gets more definitive outlines, the complex game development process, involving different teams, kicks off leading up to the final game. It all sounds pretty simple and straightforward, but believe me, it is a long journey full of obstacles, U-turns and hard work. But we love it and wouldn’t do anything else."
SlotsWise loves the Frutopia slot, it’s a game where players will benefit from unique features like Frutopia Levels! How challenging was the development process of this slot and how complex are the implemented features?
"Tom Horn Gaming has created some fantastic fruit-inspired games. As the name suggests, Frutopia falls into this category. The game, however, expands the notion of this genre and brings a new galactic twist with this one.
Frutopia is a game with a character, easily recognisable in casino lobbies. It is enhanced, with a number of exciting features, a refined math model which makes up for a perfectly paced slot. Combine this with the popular low poly style, which fits the game’s story perfectly, the high volatility and the end result is an incredibly engaging and exciting game.
Given the complexity of game features, we spent a lot of time fine-tuning the smallest detail until the last minute to make sure we provide our players with the smoothest possible, immersive experience. I think Frutopia does live up to our expectations and aspirations and it is a strong favourite among players."
Another game that caught our players’ attention was the Mine Mine Quest slot, thanks to its huge grid and bunch of features. What inspired you to create this slot?
"The idea behind Mine Mine Quest was to incorporate some elements from the social game Candy Crush Saga into the slot game and thus attract a new demographic of players, millennials.
Despite the RNG logic, we tried to implement similar elements of randomisation, which make the game more entertaining. I believe we have achieved our goal and the result is a beautiful game with captivating gameplay."
Your website announces a new online slot called PengWins. When will this game go live and what can players expect from it?
"PengWins is our most recent release and we’re very proud of this game. It is a medium to high variance game set against a cool Antarctic background, where the mischievous PengWins family sets out on their adventure in a quest for big wins.
The game comes with three different wild features, frequently distributed nice wins, which might lead up to x1200 the stake. So pretty awesome.
PengWins is a beautifully rendered 3D slot with meticulous details, a fun soundtrack and as such promises an unforgettable player experience."
If you could choose one, what game from Tom Horn Gaming would be your personal favourite and why?
"There are several games in our games portfolio that are my personal favourites. I think Beastie Bux is a cool game, with an unparalleled theme - old Belarusian banknotes becoming the main ‘characters’ of the game - and our famous 243 respin feature. It has great rhythm and all aspects of the game add up nicely.
The second game I'd like to mention is Frutopia. I feel very proud of this title. It features vibrant, energetic artwork and has a great atmosphere. All features, from energy core symbols through Frutopia progress bars, Frutopia levels to free spins are well balanced, working in perfect harmony and creating smooth gameplay which completely absorbs you and makes you feel good. Big wins are a nice add-on :)"
Are there any games from other developers that inspire you to create your slots?
"There are many great games by different game developers out there. We keep a close eye on what’s happening in the industry and also closely follow developments in other verticals such as PC games, console games, mobile games for inspiration."
What upcoming releases can we expect from Tom Horn Gaming in 2022? Can you tell us more about them?
"We have some exciting games in the pipeline for 2022, covering different topics and incorporating many popular as well as new features and mechanics. PengWins is the first taste of what is to come. I can reveal that the next game will be an Asian-themed slot with various types of wild and buy-in features. A lot to be excited about! Stay tuned and watch SlotsWise.com for new game updates."
Thank you, Ondrej, for taking the time to chat with us! We're excited to see the new Asian-themed slot and try the new bonus features.
In the meantime, make sure to visit Tom Horn Gaming and try their high-performing slot titles!