Discussing ELA Games' slot content and future plans - Oleksii Shulgin

Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you and what is your role at ELA Games?
I have been in the iGaming industry for over 8 years and I have been involved in the creation of over 200 slot games, as well as a huge number of websites, videos and marketing materials. I believe that all of this has led me to this point.

I'm currently a studio manager and a game producer at ELA Games. My main focuses include deciding on all the game mechanics and documentation, the planning and release of the games, as well as the control and distribution of resources and the overall performance of the entire studio.

How did you first start in the gambling industry? What were the initial challenges?
I had a small web studio and one of my clients offered me a position as Head of the Art Department at one of the leading providers at that time. This in itself was a challenge which I happily accepted.

With so many game studios on the market, what do you think is the biggest differentiator for ELA Games?
Our team is game-addicted. As our slogan says - we make games, we provide games and we love games! Our team has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in games, with over 10 years gaming experience.
We have an unparalleled passion for game creation, which allows us to come up with the hottest titles to suit each player’s taste. We are focused on producing lots of games with the best-performing mechanics that will truly capture the imagination of our players. Our games have both unique casino features and out-of-this-world graphics, along with an array of original characters. From the cool animation style to the sound design and more, our games stand out from the rest of the competition.

Can you please tell us what is the slot with the most Big Wins from ELA Games? We are sure our readers would like to give it a spin, if they haven’t already.
I would highly recommend numerous games based on their excellent mechanics. The first is “It's Shark Time!” which combines classic slot symbols and a unique underwater theme. In addition to the Free Spins and the Bonus game, the game has cash prizes and the player can receive a large payout at any time, regardless of the winning lines. All they have to do is wait for the Sharks!
“Bullet Hole” is another great pick, in my opinion. It is a western game with the best atmosphere. The game also has very popular features; Hold and Spin, Cash Prizes, Free Spins, Multipliers, and Gamble feature, which is a cowboy duel. This slot enables players to truly immerse themselves in the world of the wild west!
My third and final pick is “Spinanga” which is an attack-style game with a classic twist. One of the features of the game awards players a very impressive cash prize, once they land the same 5 themed symbols. The slot also gives out free spins upon the collection of random wilds. This continues until the player collects all the wilds. Better yet, at the end they can enjoy a Super Spin! Trust your luck during the Super Spin!

What are your top 3 favourite slots from ELA Games? Can you please tell us the reasons behind your choices?
This is a very difficult question, since I like all our games. I would say my favourite games are

#1 - “Wild Piranha” has a unique theme that I had been thinking of incorporating for several years, as I have never seen a piranha game before. In my opinion, the game’s mechanics and themes are truly unparalleled. The Piranha is a wild symbol and when other fish are eaten, it increases in size, increasing the winnings accordingly.

#2 - “Slot Crab” is the most unique and eclectic game in my opinion, as its terrific mechanics are combined with the well-known Claw Machine feature to create a very successful game. The claw grabs toys from the basket and turns them into additional wild symbols. We've added real physics to the Claw and toys to make the game even more alive!

#3 - Vilk&Little Red has the most beautiful artwork in my opinion! This, combined with the game’s highly-innovative main feature makes it very appealing to players. The slot’s main feature is its ability to launch free spins at any time after the start button is activated. Moreover, this allows players to choose with which multiplier to launch the free spins. What’s important to note is that most providers charge money for this feature but with us, it’s absolutely free.

What is the most important aspect of a slot from your perspective?
It is generally accepted that a key aspect of every slot is either its mathematics or its mechanics, but I fundamentally disagree with this. There are many more important components that are at play in every successful slot and it’s all about balance. Striking a good balance between the mathematics, the mechanics, the artwork, the animation, the sound, the code, and the marketing is truly key. If you remove any one of these, the success of the slot will most likely be compromised.
Before building a slot game, thorough assessment and analysis is a prerequisite, if you intend to ensure success. Then, there are other innovations, but the core remains the same.

Is there any way to predict if a slot is going to be a hit or not?
Of course there is, but as you can understand, I don’t want to reveal all of my secrets. But there is a hint in the previous answer.

Looking to the future, what is the next big release ELA Games is planning?
There are a lot of incredible games coming to the ELA Games this year and beyond! There's plenty to play, no matter what your gaming tastes are.
We have several highly-anticipated games being released in Q1, including “Wild Bandidos” and “Viking Rush.” While you wait for those upcoming games to drop, you might be wondering if you've missed some big games in recent months!

Do you have any advice for those who would like to work in the gambling/ e-gaming industry?
In the vast majority of roles within this industry, no two days will ever be the same. The nature of this industry means that there are infinite variations to be played out – and as they do, your business needs to react to them as swiftly as possible.
I can advise you to set yourself a goal, start working towards it, and every day, you need to ask yourself, what did I do today to get closer to the goal?
Plan the steps you must take to realise your goal, and cross off each one as you work through them.
The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You'll also quickly spot the distractions that can, so easily, lead you astray.

If you weren’t in the gambling industry, what other industry would you want to work in?
I would probably return to advertising. I love creativity and in my view, advertising is an artform.

Is there a message you would like to give those who support ELA Games, before we say goodbye?
I would like to say a big thanks for your support and faith in us! We are only moving forward and we have a lot of cool ideas, which means there are a lot of interesting games ahead! We look forward to continuing to take the industry by storm and we have no doubt that the best is yet to come.

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