Overview
While producing multiple slot games at Mutuel Play, our team developed a streamlined and efficient workflow for game
production. In 2019, we noticed that Clash of Clans continued to enjoy significant popularity within mobile markets.
User research highlighted that players were especially drawn to its fantasy-themed, persistent world, where they take on the role of a village chief. The game's core mechanics is building and expanding a village using resources earned through battles, rewards, and in-game production resonated strongly with users and provided a rich foundation for slot game adaptation.
Market Segment of
"Clash of
Clans" on Challenges
Directing a New Art Style: As the visual direction required a detailed illustrative style, I identified the need to collaborate with a specialized external illustrator. I led the art direction, created detailed briefs, and provided ongoing feedback to ensure consistency with both the game theme and technical constraints.
Feature Integration: Working closely with the lead Mathematician, Senior Developer, and Game Director, I helped define how gameplay mechanics would align with thematic elements. We crafted a narrative flow where fantasy elements weren't just aesthetic but functionally integrated into gameplay.
Complex Spine Animations: Beyond standard symbol animations (win, nudge, big/mega wins), I introduced advanced Spine animations to bring characters to life, such as archers or cannons bursting out of symbols and clearing the reels. These animations helped amplify excitement and made gameplay more dynamic.
In-House Sound Design: Given the game's unique vibe, we opted to compose custom sound effects. One memorable moment involved recording our own developer shouting "Fire!"" for the cannon feature, we isolated vocals in a small office, edited them in Adobe Audition, and integrated the effects into gameplay.
Ideation & Collaboration: Together with the Director, Mathematician, and Senior Developer, I co-led ideation sessions to define how gameplay mechanics would map to the fantasy setting. Once the core logic was locked in, I transitioned into implementation, ensuring a seamless handover across design and development teams.
Ideation
Game Mechanics & Math Model
The Director, the Mathmatician, Senior Devekoper and myself started ideating on the gameplay and how to align it with the game theme. Once we fixed down the game logic we proceeed with building the game.
Math and Game Features
- Free Spins: Triggered by 3+ Magic Potion symbols, with retriggers during feature.
- Wilds: Game Logo acts as a wild (substitutes all except Magic Potion).
- Clearing Symbols: Act like regular symbols but animate with themed effects (e.g., cannon, archer).
- RTP: Game theoretical return to player for the game is 95.01%
- Symbol Hierarchy: Skeleton, Archer, Barbarian, Dwarf, Wizard, House, Tree, Ace, King, Queen and Jack
Slot Creative Production Process
Once the specifications were finalized, I led the creative production process across multiple disciplines. I began by briefing and art-directing the illustrator to develop characters, symbols, and background elements that aligned with the game's fantasy theme. I then designed responsive user interfaces optimized for portrait, landscape, and desktop formats. Following this, I produced detailed Spine animations to bring character interactions, symbol transitions, and reel effects to life. On the audio front, I composed the music, mixed sound effects, and synchronized them with gameplay features. Once all creative elements were complete, I delivered optimized assets to the development team according to technical specifications, and finally, I supported the QA phase by reviewing the final builds on desktop, portrait and landscape while assisting with visual and audio fine-tuning to ensure a polished launch.
Illustrator Handover
PSD Desktop slot grid design
Framed Symbols
Barbarian Spine Sprite sheet export
Random Spins Archer Clearing Animation
Random Spins Cannon Clearing Animation
Marketing
In addition to leading the game concept development, art direction, and animation production at Mutuel Play, I was also responsible for creating a wide range of marketing assets to support our commercial efforts. This included designing promotional materials for operators and partners, such as banners, game logos, feature showcases, and animated teasers to help drive engagement and visibility.
I also maintained and regularly updated the company's YouTube channel, producing video content and trailers to highlight key features and gameplay for each release. Furthermore, I supported the company's website by refreshing visuals, uploading new games, and ensuring that all content aligned with brand and product strategy.
This dual focus on both creative production and marketing allowed for tighter alignment between product vision and external communication ensuring that the promotional output resonated with both end users and stakeholders.
Strategic Partnership with Buzz Bingo
Following my work supporting Buzz Bingo in launching their bingo platform and branding the SaaS Bingo product I developed at Playtech, we established a strong working relationship with the company's Chief Commercial Officer. This collaboration led to a strategic partnership, where Buzz Bingo provided funding for the development of exclusive products. In return, they received first-access and market exclusivity to the games we produced, solidifying a mutually beneficial arrangement that supported innovation and long-term growth.
Click Below to view Cash n' Cannons review
Which Bingo Review
Key Takeaways
Positive Takeaways:
- Maintained strong cross-functional collaboration between design, development, and product stakeholders
- Successfully directed external contractors (illustrators, sound designers) to align with the product vision
- Integrated user research insights into gameplay mechanics and visual design decisions
- Delivered a consistent multi-device rich experience across portrait, landscape, desktop, and mobile
- Developed a scalable asset delivery workflow that improved speed and communication with developers
Areas for Improvement:
- Having a curated stock audio library readily available would have significantly improved efficiency when mapping sounds to game interactions and feature triggers.
End Product
"Cash 'n Cannons" was praised for its cohesive art style, engaging animations, and rich sound design. It stood out in our company portfolio as one of the most immersive mobile slot experiences, blending gameplay mechanics and storytelling seamlessly while showcasing our ability to innovate within a fast-paced production pipeline.
