We find out more about Sevens Staxx, the latest smash-hit slot release from Redline Games, a studio exclusive to Greentube and the Novomatic Group.’
SlotBeats: What makes the mechanics in Sevens Staxx different to your classic jackpot slot games?
Sevens Staxx might look like a classic fruit slot on the surface, but its feature set has transformed the traditional experience into one that is unique. We’ve included a collection-based mechanic that brings an additional element of excitement with every spin as players look to rack up Sevens symbols for a chance of winning one of three impressive jackpots.
This is complemented by the game show-style Bonus Wheel round, where players spin the wheel for a chance to land one of the jackpot prizes, or up to 20x their bet. In keeping with the straightforward style of fruit games, we’ve made sure these features are easy to understand whilst ramping up the engagement factor.
SB: The game’s bonus round is very unique, what was the inspiration behind it?
The initial idea was to design a classic fruit game centred around the Sevens symbol. Seven is a special number in many cultures and in the western world, it is of course a lucky number, especially in gaming.
We wanted to tap into this significance and make the number the game’s main attraction. It was also critical for the jackpots to be a genuine part of the slot and to appear attainable, rather than being a large, flashy number that sits at the top of the screen. Spinning the bonus wheel makes landing the jackpot seem ever more possible and rapidly builds anticipation as the wheel grinds to a halt.
It is not uncommon to lose sight of the game’s initial idea during the creative process. The design and concept naturally evolve along the way, and sometimes the end product is entirely different from where you started. But with Sevens Staxx, the result is exactly what we set out to achieve, and the team is extremely proud of the outcome.
SB: Can you tell us more about why the features work for this style of slot and the types of player it will attract?
The beauty of Sevens Staxx lies in its universal appeal. Its unique mechanics mean that it suits players with a preference for feature-rich games, but also those who enjoy the simple style of fruit-themed slots.
We specifically designed the features with a perfect amount of originality to set Sevens Staxx apart from the traditional experience without overwhelming players with too much complexity. As always, it’s a fine, sophisticated balance. In order to cater to a broad audience, players need to be able to understand the gameplay intuitively without having to read pages of rules. This consideration was top of mind throughout the creative process for Sevens Staxx and has been crucial to the game’s success.
SB: How do the visual and audio aspects add to the gameplay and help to build engagement?
For every title in our portfolio, the graphics, animation and sound play a key role in the design and ultimately the success of a game. We focus heavily on delivering optimal game flow, and the perfect blend of these elements with the mechanics and gameplay is central to that process.
For a game to stand out in today’s crowded market, you need to consider how every small detail interacts. Sound effects in particular make a huge contribution to the player’s experience, inspiring memories of winning. In Sevens Staxx, we have combined classic slot sounds with a variety of anticipation-building sound effects to leverage this phenomenon.
SB: How hard is it to create mechanics that are truly innovative yet do not put off the player in being too unfamiliar?
Knowing how far to go with innovative ideas is actually one of the most difficult parts in the design process. Innovation is essential to keeping players interested, yet you have to keep an element of familiarity so not to overwhelm players.
There’s no magical formula to this, but with experience you come to know your audience and get a good idea of what will work. Of course, every innovation attaches a level of risk – but without taking risks we would never move forward. It’s what makes the job all that bit more exciting too.
