Originally posted on September 28, 2022, with the latest updates made on January 30, 2024.
Greetings, Mr. Burrows! We appreciate your presence in Real Gambling’s Q&A session. Can you please introduce yourself to our audience, share your journey within the iGaming industry, and provide some background about Crazy Tooth Studio?
HHello! I’m Will Burrows, serving as the Vice President of Design at Crazy Tooth Studio. Crazy Tooth Studio In 2011, Ben Hoffman established CTS, enlisting both myself and Jason Newmark, now VP of Production, to help create a fresh and innovative gaming studio. We began our journey in the gaming sector creating physical slot machines for notable companies like Bally, IGT, and AGS. Around four years ago, we made a shift to the iGaming industry, partnering with Games Global, and have since launched nearly 20 online gaming titles, with many more in the pipeline.
Can you share how the company has navigated the trends and shifts in the gaming industry over the past few years?
The most significant challenge we faced while adapting to market evolution was moving from traditional land-based gaming in North America to the dynamic and varied landscape of iGaming. By constantly educating ourselves on successful iGaming practices, maintaining a close relationship with our publishing partner, and never hesitating to take on new challenges, we’ve effectively engaged audiences with each new release. It’s crucial for us to strike a balance between responding to market trends—whether they're related to themes or gameplay mechanics—and pushing for innovation. Carving our unique path and creating engaging games that excite both ourselves as designers and players will always remain a priority.
CTS has been a prominent player in the gaming market for a significant time. What aspects do you focus on when developing games? In your opinion, what key features define your titles?
While we're in the process of creating new games, our primary goal is always to craft something enjoyable and thrilling, complete with a unique twist. I believe the hallmark of our titles is that we fully explore each idea from its inception to completion, ensuring that every concept, mathematical model, or theme we introduce is meticulously developed.
We noticed your recent video titled CTS Lab 14: 777 Super Big BuildUp™ Deluxe™. Is that particularly how you derive titles for your games? What does the naming process actually entail?
Indeed, that is pretty much how the process works! For real, it isn’t far off! We often brainstorm by covering a whiteboard with various words and phrases to see what resonates and aligns with what we’re creating. Naturally, ensuring our titles are distinct is also a critical factor.
Do you have any amusing or intriguing anecdotes related to any of your projects?
Are you referring to our quirky promotional videos? If that's the case, each video has its own set of entertaining stories. Here are a few examples:
For the promo shoot of Ancient Warriors™, a local arboretum requested we leave the premises, so we shifted the filming to a nearby park. Surprisingly, this change worked out well because it provided access to the river—where you can see Ben attempting to cross.
The prop dummy featured in the 777 Super Big BuildUp™ Deluxe™ video still resides in our studio and has been affectionately dubbed Harold.
The filming for the Seven 7’s™ video led to several pies being involved, which, of course, we devoured.
CTS Lab 10: 3 Devils Pinball™ was entirely filmed, edited, and starred Jason by himself during the COVID-19 lockdown! The show must go on.
Can you provide us with more details about your upcoming titles – Build The Bank™ and Bubble Beez™? Are you aiming to attract any specific demographics or player segments with these games or future releases?
Build The Bank™ stands out as a sleek and playful futuristic game featuring a construction robot that zooms around, guiding players through a bright and engaging construction site filled with thrilling and substantial rewards. This game seamlessly merges whimsy with the classic allure of casino vibes and fast-paced gameplay that iGamers adore. It promises something for all players, with Build The Bank™ notably offering MEGA PILE™ features.
Bubble Beez™ has a mobile game With a polished casino feel and enough excitement to keep players fully engaged, they won't want to stop exploring the vibrant hive. The Queen Bee might even activate a special feature with her magic wand. Our Bubble Beez™ characters and the action packed into this game are designed to maximize fun, featuring Tumble Reelz™.
In your opinion, what has been your most successful release thus far, and what makes it stand out?
While there are certainly objective metrics that could provide insight, such data is constantly fluctuating over time. Every one of our iGaming releases is available to a wide audience, consistently entertaining existing fans while attracting new ones daily. Some of our popular titles from the start have included: Lucky Clucks™, Aureus™, and 777 Super Big BuildUp™ Deluxe™. Other games, such as Golden Hook™ and The Incredible Balloon Machine™, have found strong player bases after their initial launches.
What is your personal favorite game among your releases?
Choosing just one is quite challenging. Each game is distinct and provided a unique experience during development, making it tough to select an overall favorite. However, if I have to express a preference, I'd lean towards Aureus™. It's quite distinctive and fast-paced—not to mention, the game features some fantastic dance moves.
Looking ahead, how do you perceive the future of the iGaming industry? Are there any significant shifts you anticipate that might influence CTS's development path?
Having been in the gaming arena long enough, we've observed various trends rise and fade, while some have truly established a foothold. Nonetheless, one constant that remains timeless is the emphasis on quality. We'll continue our efforts to research and create games that players will enjoy, ensuring that regardless of the prevailing trends (be it in mechanics, themes, etc.), every game we release will meet our high-quality standards.
In the future, I wouldn’t be surprised if more unique and niche themes emerge—similar to what we see in other entertainment sectors, where there seems to be a fascinating contrast between specific perspectives and broader appeal. I believe this principle can certainly apply to gaming. Distinctive themes or experiences that reimagine classic concepts or introduce entirely fresh ideas could entice players to take a deeper look.
Now, let’s discuss your aspirations, objectives, and dreams. How do you envision the growth of Crazy Tooth Studio over the next ten years? What would you consider the primary direction for advancement?
Our passion lies in game creation. Therefore, our foremost goal is to keep challenging ourselves and producing captivating gaming experiences. Additionally, we have started collaborating extensively with Incisor®—a new development platform that connects all our operations, allowing us to optimize the development process efficiently and creatively, especially for the iGaming domain. This is definitely a topic we anticipate discussing further in the upcoming year!
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