Christmas Creations or a Midwinter Makeover? What Makes Seasonal Slots Stand out During the Festive Period?
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Every year suppliers release Christmas-themed games. Vera Motto, Vsevolod Lapin, head of product at Playson and Jo Purvis, director of key accounts and marketing UK at Blueprint Gaming discuss what makes seasonal slots stand out during the festive period.
Is reskinning an existing game enough for players?
VM and Vlv don't like to reskin content. Christmas is a significant time for online casinos. They believe that it's crucial to focus on originality. Christmas games from Habanero are originals that have proven to be popular throughout the year. Seasonal slots are important for marketing. It's important to make sure the maths concept is strong enough to perform throughout a year and not only during the holiday season. The games are best marketed as part of a wider marketing strategy based on a holiday. Jap and Jv find it important not to change the gameplay too much.
VM and Vlv are talking about Christmas slot titles and their popularity. They say that operators love to promote them during this period and they add a lot of value for both the holiday season and if the slot is good enough, throughout the year. Jp andVL agree that Christmas titles do add value, as they offer players a chance to experience a familiar format but in a new and vibrant way. They also say it's easy for operators to make themed promotions and retain a player base for longer than expected. It's not about delivering a gaming experience, but more about making sure a game’s thumbnail and graphics remain relevant.
VM launched a new New Year's themed game called New Years Bash in December. JP has redesigned several of his top-performing games with new Christmas graphics. Vl will launch a 40-day long network promotion called Merry Prize Month. The total prize pool is €350,000. The promotion will run into the new year. Buffalo Power Christmas will be released. It will feature the iconic Buffalo character dressed in festive clothes. This is a Christmas version of the popular Power series game. There will also be a series of tournaments and Cash Blast promotions.
VM believes that Christmas games are important and should go hand in hand with marketing tools. All Christmas-themed games should be eligible for tournaments and jackpots. Up! Tournament was launched last month and will run into the new year with some fantastic giveaways.
JP and Vlv discuss the use of promotional and engagement tools during the Christmas period. They think it's beneficial for both players and business. They also think that it allows their partners to bring together a large group of players. There's not an over-emphasis on these tools and promotions over the holiday period, as they still release games during busy periods like Christmas.
