While most professional developers can spend years working on creating a true video game masterpiece, some gamers will still prefer simple online games, such as classic slot machines, which can be created in just a couple of months. For example, some popular online casino game providers offer three to five (or more) games per month.
On the other hand, the biggest companies in the industry can make their fans wait for years for the launch of big games with a smile on their face. The truth is that there is no simple recipe for success when it comes to games. Moreover, the process of creating a casino game is somewhat simplified than the step-by-step process of creating a game for consoles or PCs. But what are the biggest differences? How far apart are these categories of games in terms of money, time, and tools?
Casino Games: Not Easy, But…
First of all, just like console games, casino products can look very different, so the complexity of game development will also vary. If you visit an online casino recommended by a reputable platform such as Svenska Legalcasino, you will mostly find online slots, table games, as well as lotteries and live dealer games. If you compare a simple game such as Aviator with a 3D slot, the mechanics will obviously be very different. Read what exactly attracts casino players by clicking on this link.
In principle, it is quite possible to develop a casino game in months or even weeks, especially if the provider already has a ready-made basic structure. Another sad fact is that when you look at different slots from the same provider, you can see that a lot is reused: the general structure, types of rewards, payouts, etc.
But let’s start with a starting point: what and how many resources does a publisher need to develop a game from scratch?
Costs, staff, and game development tools
Various sources claim that the base cost of creating a casino game is between $20,000 and $500,000. This is a good budget, and it usually includes the following items:
- Staff – programmers, graphic and sound designers, testers, animators, regulatory and compliance experts, and perhaps a mathematician.
- Game engines – Unity, HTML5 (specifically designed for web games), or even Unreal Engine (more common in console/PC games).
- Development platforms and programming languages.
- Graphics and animation tools.
- Mobile testing and development tools.
- Investments in security and fairness, thanks to random number generator (RNG) software and SSL encryption.
- Payment gateways are for players to use to make transfers to the casino.
When you look at complex console and PC games, such as AAA games (GTA, Red Dead Redemption, Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, etc.) produced by giant companies, the components are the same, but the cost is multiplied by 10, 100, or maybe 1000.
See also: The Social Side of Gaming: How Online Gaming Brings People Together
Console and PC Games: How They Inspire Generations?
How many casino games could be created with the budget spent on a gaming product like The Last of Us, Final Fantasy, or Cyberpunk 2077? Well, at least 400, maybe even 10,000, considering that the minimum budget for a simple casino game is $25,000. In other words, these games could cost anywhere from $100 to $200 million to develop.
The above should be enough to describe how much more difficult it is to create games for consoles and PCs, but let's take a closer look:
- Complex games require a sophisticated graphics system with 3D design and modeling, animation, visual effects, sound, and rendering tools. While a slot machine, for example, might have a simple movement pattern in its symbols, these games require much more.
- The requirements for versatility are much higher. In a game like Plinko, this becomes very obvious: the ball can move in many directions, but the chain of movements is very predictable. AAA games can in some cases require real actors to create the movement pattern and create an ultra-realistic gaming experience!
- It is estimated that it usually takes 50 to 200 people to create a AAA game (e.g. 360 for GTA). A casino game can be created by 5 to 50 people, at most a little more.
- This unique Last of Us game took six years to create. A simple casino game can be created in a few weeks to a year if it is a game that is expected to be popular in the market.
Sometimes they are simpler, but never easy
Given these huge differences between casino game development and traditional games, you might think that creating popular table games, slots, and other categories of casino games would be easy. But you should never forget that these professionals also face some unique challenges.
