As the links between video games and online casino continue to be taken to new levels, the Game Play series discovers how key characters within the gambling industry embarked on their gaming journey.
In this week’s Game Play feature, Rahul Chudasama, Head of Business Development at Blaze Gaming, picks out the title that impacted him “in a way no other game has”, yearns for a long-lost mobile game and expresses his admiration for the God of War series.
Are you a PC or console gamer and what was your first home gaming experience?
I am definitely a console gamer, because for some reason I cannot bring myself to play on a PC. This may offend a lot of the hardcore gamers out there, but it’s just my personal preference.
My first console was the Xbox 360, which may show how young I am, but I still remember that one Christmas when I got it. I knew it was going to be a console but didn’t know which one, and the first-ever game I played on it was Gears of War, which my parents did not approve of!
What is your favourite game of all time and why?
Halo 4 is hands down my favourite game. The story hit me in a way no other game has, as the main protagonist gets to travel across planets on a mission of self-discovery.
The visuals and environments were stunning, and I remember being blown away by how much the series had evolved.
I’ve spent countless hours in both the campaign and multiplayer modes and created some of the best memories with my childhood friends along the way. Sometimes we still go back to the game to relive those moments. The Halo series just has that magic that keeps me coming back.
What mobile game have you spent the most time playing
With the rise of mobile games, I must admit that a few games have sometimes had me hooked for months on end, which wasn’t great during my time at university.
The best game has to be Indestructible, which lets you merge the thrill of driving games with a shooting element. You were able to either play the campaign modes or even online multiplayer.
This game was the source of my procrastination for sure, but worth every moment. Sadly, the game has now been decommissioned from the App Store and I have not played it since.
Which mobile game are you currently playing?
The current set of games on my mobile range from the likes of 8 Ball Pool and Pokémon GO to addictive tactical games called Stickman Archer.
These games kind of reflect my current busy lifestyle as they are used more for passing time rather than pleasure, which my inner child is not really happy with.
However, the perks of working in our amazing industry is that we are surrounded by games, whether it is playing Blaze’s vast catalogue or even spinning a few reels on another studio’s new releases. I think it’s fair to say that I get my daily dosage of gaming.
Last video game completed?
The last game that I got to complete was God of War Ragnarök. I really surprised myself with this one, as I have that toxic trait of leaving games half-completed and moving on to the next fixation. This is a testament to how great this game is because it was able to keep me coming back to complete each level whilst equally wanting me to quit because of the number of times I failed.
Favourite video game character?
Kratos from God of War is my favourite character because of his incredible depth and complexity.
He’s not just a warrior fuelled by rage; he’s a man haunted by his past, striving for redemption while battling inner demons. His journey from vengeance to fatherhood, especially in the more recent games, shows real character growth.
His iconic moments of battling gods and monsters are epic and, being a fan of mythology, this series was perfect for me. I also love the development of the character, because Kratos is the ultimate embodiment of strength and redemption.
Favourite all time slot?
Gold of Minos by BGaming is my favourite slot game because of its thrilling theme and immersive gameplay.
The ancient Greek mythology setting, with the legendary Minotaur and other characters, immediately drew me in. The graphics are vibrant and maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but they’re one of the best I have seen in the industry. The sound effects only enhance the excitement of each spin.
Even though it is your simple 5×3 slot, the game hooks you with its beautifully illustrated expanding wild which triggers the bonus game of respins that continue until a winning line is achieved and every blank spin equates into a multiplier. All this makes it a truly engaging game.
It would have been a little biassed to talk about the amazing portfolio of games Blaze Gaming has to offer, right? So I’d better choose this one – but Blaze does have plenty of games to offer too.
