SLOTBEATS RICK & MORTY™ Q&A WITH JO PURVIS

Wubba Lubba Dub-Dub! Casino content developer Blueprint Gaming’s recent Rick and Morty Megaways had roaring success last week after they recorded their “strongest ever launch.”

Inspired by the Emmy-winning show, this latest slot, developed in partnership with Adult Swim and Warner Bros, has become Blueprint’s strongest ever launch in their first week where records were broken across plays, stakes and users.

The game enjoyed the highest single day figures for plays, a 37% increase on the previous record set by The Goonies.

In conjunction with our announcement, director of marketing and relationships at Blueprint Gaming, Jo Purvis, spoke to SlotBeats about the dynamic duo, the Megaway mechanics and future releases.

SB: What inspired you to take on a Rick and Morty slot?

JP: Licensed slots are an important part our games strategy and the opportunity to produce a game around the genius scientist and his inherently timid grandson was really exciting for us. Rick and Morty is very popular right now and the show’s theme fits perfectly with our heritage of developing fun, engaging games for our loyal player base, plus fans of the Emmy-winning animated programme.

The interest around the game before the release was tremendous, and the positive response post-launch has been overwhelming, with operators and players alike enjoying the feature-rich gameplay.

It’s become Blueprint’s strongest ever launch in the first week, breaking records across plays, stakes and users. The game enjoyed the highest single day figure for plays, an increase of 37% on the previous record set by The Goonies.

SB: What was the process like when working on Rick and Morty Megaways?

JP: We have a great working relationship with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, having collaborated together on previous releases including The Goonies and Top Cat. IP licence holders typically have stringent guidelines in place for developers to follow when building branded games and this case was no different.

Given Blueprint’s strong reputation for creating quality licensed games, Warner Bros. Consumer Products entrusted our design and development team to bring the best out of the brand and provide an out of this world gaming experience.

SB: How important was using the Megaways mechanics in the game?

JP: The Megaways mechanic is undoubtedly one of the most popular features right now in the iGaming industry and its inclusion on Rick and Morty made perfect sense. The key for us is being able to add exciting concepts around the core function and putting the Blueprint stamp on the overall gameplay.

Megaways is just one aspect of the whole game package. The inclusion of the mechanic provides immediate familiarisation to the player, having that understanding of how the gameplay will function before they spin the reels for the first time allows the user to become fully encapsulated in Rick and Morty’s world and enjoy all that brings to the game.

The game’s packed with appealing bonus features and modifiers that are based on the animated show, while the stunning graphics makes for a fun gaming experience.

SB: What other titles can we expect from Blueprint Gaming after the partnership with Adult Swim and Warner Bros?

JP: In the months ahead we’ll continue to develop games in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and we are currently working with other IP licence holders to transform their brands into the high-quality slots games operators and players have now come to expect from Blueprint.

Our next branded title, which is scheduled for release later this month is based on the hilarious film Sausage Party, which will see players head to Shopwell’s supermarket and follow the antics of Frank and his buddies as he aims to discover “The Great Beyond”.

SB: How popular are franchised games compared to original titles?

JP: Compared to in-house developed titles, branded games have the distinct advantage of being instantly recognisable with players and have the power to attract a much wider audience. Fans of the licence jump at the chance to play the slot version of their favourite TV show or film.

During the novelty period immediately after a game launch, a franchised game has the potential to be more popular than an original title. Only after this initial 2-3 week period can you really analyse a game’s popularity, as keeping players engaged in the slot is then a gameplay factor.

It comes down to whether the game has the depth and math model to retain a player’s interest and keep them coming back, turning into a ‘go to’ title rather than just a fleeting spin.

Not only does a licensed game welcome new customers, but they also generate interest in the Blueprint brand itself and allow users to experience other games in our portfolio. They complement our existing range of in-house titles and increase engagement levels.

SB: What was your main aim when you began to work on Rick and Morty Megaways?

JP: As with every Blueprint game produced, we aim to create unique moments in slot gaming. We endeavour to offer something different in every game, especially with branded games which deserve the full attention of our design and development teams, creating a bespoke experience which brings the brand to life and incorporates all the aspects which fans would expect from the license.

We’re really proud of Rick and Morty Megaways. The positive reception to the game from the industry suggests that our highly skilled team has created a trippy gaming experience that has captured the interest of players worldwide.

See the full interview over on SlotBeats here.