Aberrant Software

About the Company

Aberrant is a Canadian online game developer and provider based in Thornhill, Ontario. Launched in 2010, the main fare coming from their studios is a bingo platform that also supports their in-house creations of slots, video poker, instant keno, Hi-lo, and scratch cards.

In addition to software for enterprise, the company also provides turnkey solutions and support across the full range of their products.

As one of the pioneers in multi-lingual, multi-currency platform solutions the company is well-positioned for global reach.

Some of the better-known Bingo brands include Maria (closed), Trendy, Best, and Utopia Bingo.

Maria is focused on the Swedish marketplace but supports more than 20 different languages and welcomes players from most regulated jurisdictions.

Trendy is most popular in Scandinavia, thanks in no small part to the HD quality of the Aberrant product that maintains the feel and look that dedicated bingo players are accustomed to.

Best is focused mostly on the Nordics but has reached out to players throughout Europe with social networking supported onsite with forums, blogs, and personal player profiles.

Utopia is a new breed of sites with a focus on traditional cards and an entire suite of other games for an appeal to a wider audience.

All of the company's software is developed in-house for a homegrown feel and a personal touch.

Software and Games

The base of the platform is bingo, but they also offer several other metrics.

• Bingo - 75, 80, 90, and 30 Ball Styles
• Slot Machines - Classic and VLT Style
• Video Poker
• Keno
• Hi-Lo and Match side games
• Scratch Tickets
• Administrative Back-office which allows complete customization of the gaming suite to include any or all products.

Bingo

75 Ball, Variant, 90 Ball, 80 Ball, and 30 Ball games are popular to varying degrees all around the globe. The games allow auto-dobbing and can be delivered in any of many languages.

The software sorts cards for the player, always highlighting the best card so no missed payouts occur. This feature is great for players who enjoy side games or really get into their chat sessions as the bingo game doesn't require their full attention to play and win.

America is the place where 75-ball bingo is the most popular. This product is the classic 5x5 grid with 25 numbers and can be modified to offer a free space or wild space in the center, with or without Daub-all gameplay where the prize is only awarded once a player fills their entire set of 3 cards.

Variant Bingo also uses 75 balls, but it is more popular in Scandanavia. It's a relaxed, longer-lasting game with multiple prizes.

90 Ball is the British favorite and is popular in the Americas and the Spanish-speaking world. Usually, the game is played in three rounds with 3 different prizes.

80 ball is a UK-style side game played with a flurry of activity.

30 Ball is another fast-paced game that is usually begun and ended in about a minute.

Slots

Aberrant has developed more than three dozen slots games ranging from traditional one-line, 3-reel games and video slots to a suite of HD games.

From A to Z themes range from "Al's Diner" to "Zoo Zillions".

None of the games are what you might call 2020 and beyond, but they all offer a certain charm and attraction.

Let's take a quick look at one game, chosen by random from the portfolio of slots - Kremlin Kash, it's representative of many of the titles.

The game has five reels with three paying positions each and 9 pay lines. Users can change coin size and the number of coins bet per line, but not the number of lines - all nine lines must be played with every spin.

The gameplay is traditional in style with three or more matching symbols from leftmost to right on a designated pay line required to win. There are no wild symbols and no free spins round but there are scatter symbols.

Land three scatters to trigger a picking bonus. Select a Russian dance for a prize.

Can-Can Can is a three-reel game with five pay lines. Rather than spinning reel strips, each reel position changes until all are new and pays are awarded.

Zoo Zillions has five reels and nine pay lines and a bonus-symbol-triggered picking game. Select the penguin you want to slide down the ice into the pool. When it comes up for air it will reveal a prize such as a 25x multiplier.

Video Poker

It's unclear how the results are determined - whether true odds from a virtual deck of cards or by fixed odds or a bingo-type engine.

The following games are available in two different presentations - classic and Ultra HD

• Aces and Faces
• All American
• Bonus Poker
• Tens or Better
• Jacks or Better

Keno

The keno games are played on a virtual keno machine rather than seeing a piece of paper or keno card represented. Site operators configure the paytable, so be sure to check the help file and maybe even use an online keno calculator to find the best picks for you.

Hi-Lo

This fixed odds game is a fun addition to any bingo site, giving players the thrill of guessing whether the next number will be higher or lower than the last.

The games have fun, animated characters and are currently delivered in Flash format. As time progresses toward the phase-out of that technology they may be converted to HTML5 or employ a workaround solution.

Scratch tickets

These games are all a simple "match 3" affair and can be played alone or as a bingo side game. Some of the cards have animated characters t add life to the game. These too, are presently in Flash and require permission for the user to open in a browser for instant play.

Administrative back-office

Readers with a commercial interest can contact the company for a full rundown on the enterprise solutions offered by Aberrant Software. The software suite comes bundled and modular components can be activated for your chosen configuration.

The Final Analysis

The Aberrant Software platform is highly customizable, but players will recognize the product as time-honored and familiar. While none of the games outside the bingo suite will ever compete directly with the fast, lean, instant-play HTML5 games of today with 3D shading in High Definition and surround sound capabilities - they hold their own in the niche they are in.

This reviewer, for all my harsh critiques of modern cutting-edge slot studios, still enjoys "time one" slots from time to time for nostalgia as well as the nicely surprising payouts when they happen.