Meet the Slots Creators – Play’n Go’s Tommy Adolfsson Saarela Interview

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Hello, Tommy! You have an impressive slots portfolio. Can you name the best three slots ever released by Play’n GO?

Wow, that’s a big question! Everyone has their own favourites, and depending on whereabouts in the world you go, different games have become the most popular.

I don’t know if I could name our BEST ever slots, but if you talked in terms of universally popular, it would be titles like Book of Dead, Reactoonz and Legacy of Dead.

2020 was a challenging year for all of us, yet Play’n GO managed to release some great slot titles. Which slot takes the 2020 title of the best Play’n GO release?

We had a lot of big releases in 2020. Legacy of Dead, which I just mentioned, was our first game of the year and did brilliantly.

Our innovative titles like Gold Volcano and Diamond Vortex were also really well received for their unique takes on the slot format.

Again talking in terms of popularity, it was Reactoonz 2; it exploded onto the scene, and people loved it from the first spin!

Looking to the future, what is the next significant release Play’n GO is planning?

There’s always something to look forward to with us! In March, we have House of Doom 2: The Crypt, the sequel to 2018s House of Doom. It’s fun, freaky and has some great music in it with gameplay that players will love!

We also have a new adventure for Rich Wilde, Rich Wilde and the Amulet of the Dead. Rich is being called to answer for his past adventures, and this time, he may finally have gone too far!

These are just two of the exciting adventures we have in store for players this year; it’s going to be just as action-packed as 2020 in terms of titles.

Your music slots are really taking off, will there be any more games added to the series?

Yes, for sure, we’ll have more music games for the market in 2021. Over the past 18 months, our portfolio’s music portion has become increasingly popular. We always want to give the market what they want, alongside innovating and bringing new ideas to the table.

We like creating the music slots because, while they give music fans a chance to hear some of their favourite bands and songs, the games also appeal to fans of slot games in general with some great features and gameplay everyone can enjoy.

In a market with hundreds of game studios, what would you say is the company’s biggest differentiator?

Where do we start, hahaha! If you listen to the feedback we get about our games; people see us as distinct in several ways.

Whether it be the details in our narratives, people love the stories that we tell, and the fact we try to come up with new and different ways to tell stories in popular themes, like ancient Egypt or Norse mythology.

Our families of games are also another reason why people enjoy our games. Our Arthurian slots, the Rich Wilde series, our Reactoonz games, people know that when they see one of these games, they get all the hallmarks of that series that they like wrapped in a brand new adventure, with new features to experience.

Most importantly, our three values, quality, trust and energy, are the cornerstones of everything we do, and we believe that shines through in all of our titles.

We would love to hear more about the slot creation process. Can you let us know which is the most exciting part of the entire process when creating a new slot?

I think a lot of people would agree that the most exciting part of creating a slot is when you release it into the world and get to see the reaction of the people. There’s nothing better than watching people enjoy something you’ve helped bring into the market and get positive feedback.

Our way of creating slots is extremely rigorous. There are many milestones along the way to ensure every component of the game is the best quality possible, from the graphics and animation to the features and symbols, even the composition of the music. Every part of a slot is essential to the whole, and we don’t underestimate that.

What about any inside funny stories? Do you have something to share with us?

There are probably lots of pretty funny stories, some that are kind of crazy too, but I’ll have to keep those to myself, just in case…sorry!

How can you tell if an online slot is Going to be a hit or not?

If there were a secret to that, we’d definitely want to be in on it! You can’t ever say for certain if a game will be a hit or not, but, using our experience and the expertise we have within the company, we can always have an idea of where a game will do well and who it will appeal to.

Sometimes, a game can take you by surprise and just take off, exceeding even your own expectations, which is always a pleasant surprise!

What is your focus for 2021? Is there anything you’re extra excited about?

This year we want to give MORE! Last year was big, our biggest year ever, but the same was also true of 2019, and we improved on that. We aim to provide MORE quality to the industry through our games, our services, and how we help and support our operating partners. We have plans to continue innovating in the industry and releasing more top tier content, which will allow our operators to keep providing top-quality entertainment to players. That’s what it’s all about.

I can’t give away any secrets just yet, but watch this space!

Did you use to play slots before entering the iGaming industry? Can you share with us your biggest win on an online slot? (you don’t have to name the stake, just the multiplier, and the game is more than enough)

I was a fan of poker and sports betting before I got into slots, but I played many slot titles before I started working in the industry. My biggest win was a few years back; I hit two double wild lines on a €1.80 bet and got a 3600x win. I was pretty happy about that!

What are your hobbies?

That’s an interesting question because, for me, hobbies have changed over the last year due to Covid. Missing out on travelling, fantastic events and trips out; you need to find other things to occupy your time. A lot of that is spent walking my dog Shiva, going out for food, drinks etc., but I’ve also rekindled my interest in video games, and now I spend way too much time in front of my PC in the evenings! Slots have also become a kind of hobby, as I spend a lot of time trying out new games and seeing what’s coming out in the market.

If you weren’t in the gambling industry, what other industry would you want to work in?

Hmmm…that’s a very difficult one. I’ve been in this industry for many years now, and I love being a part of it. I have years of experience with sales and love doing it, so I would probably go for sales in some other industry. For now, though, I can’t ever see myself leaving this industry; I’ll be working here for many years to come!

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