Spinstars

Spinstars is a developer of online slot games available on the Microgaming Aggregation Network (Quickfire). The studio focuses on bringing classic slots into the present and the future with stunning graphics and time-tested mechanics. Far from being “one-armed bandits” or AWPs, these games feature multiple reel sets and combinations of ways to engage, player choices (strategies), and potentially huge returns.

The company set to work on building a strong portfolio long before Microgaming announced the exclusive deal. While some of the game themes are universal and others are niche-oriented like Steampunk500, others are designed with specific markets and players in mind. The Voice of Holland should appeal to the players in the Netherlands and the entire portfolio is seen as conducive to exciting players in Germany and Belgium as well.

For those with long histories playing slots online and especially aficionados in the Netherlands where the games were most popular, imagine the cookie-cutter games of Simbat Entertainment Systems as found on the NetEnt Casino Module from 2008 until the Dutch/Seychelles developer disappeared from the landscape. The last two places I recall seeing this type of game was at telecazino and perhaps drgambler, both sites have since vanished into the ethers. 

This style of play may be familiar to fruity (emptier) players as well, but for most online slot fanatics, the experience will be a completely new one. This reviewer was very impressed with the amazing graphics and animations married to nostalgic maths and mechanics, with every spin conjuring long-forgotten feelings of discovery this type of game inspired.

If one of their goals was to inspire nostalgia but also to simply blow anything from the past right out of the water. They have succeeded.

Licensing

The Gibraltar company is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. While there is some indication the studio may be part of a larger game group with offices in London and Amsterdam, we’ve been unable to verify that with any certainty.

Software and Games

For operators, some of the features beyond diversifying a portfolio include the following bulleted points provided by the company:

• Easy and flexible API integration
• Detailed back office
• Keep track of performance
• Instant support
• Client area

Operators can plug the Spinstars proprietary API in through the provided back office and with just four API calls be up and running.

The back office or ‘client area’  provides detailed statistics, player info, gameplay info, marketeering tools, and other assets in an easy-to-use and professional environment.

For players, the system holds your progress in memory so you can pick up where you left off several days later if you need to or want to. The built-in AI allows instant player support to solve almost any potential gameplay problem if one ever arises.

For the benefit of players and operators alike, a bonus system can be implemented using either bonus funds or free spins so operators can promote the particular suite of games to a targeted audience. Especially in regions where “classic” slots are more well-known and familiar to players than some of the video slot styles and mechanics. 

The deal happened just in the nick of time for Microgaming who entered the regulated Dutch market on October 1, 2020. Between their legacy games, a plethora of studio partners, and this novel offering which already has appeal in the area, Dutch players will have quite a selection of licensed games to play from here on out.

The games

Many of the elements of these multifaceted classic games are actually more interactive than those found in today’s video slots. Players can choose from among multiple game modes, hold reels between spins, nudge the reels in some cases, and wager wins in sub-games.

If it is all new to you, please don’t feel intimidated by the alienness of the experience - the thrill of discovery can be had in demo mode as well as when playing for real money and this type of gameplay is really a world unto itself. It soon becomes second nature to check the mechanics and adjust your strategy for particular features. 

When you experience a streak or “go on a roll” you will be making decisions with nearly every spin. It can be an exhilarating game of “guts” or you can simply take the wins as they come along until you feel comfortable with more advanced play. Inevitably, you will develop your own style of play and perhaps enjoy the games as much or more than any other you have ever played. They are different.

Spinstars’ magnus opus to date must be Steampunk 500.

This game incorporates many of the elements of the genre with the main game and 3 separate bet levels, each offering more ways to win. This is accomplished by changing the volatility of each betting level. The first level is medium, and the next two are high variance, with the last perhaps higher than the previous.

• Betting 1 credit gives play on three of the four reels with a single win line
• Betting 5 credits activates 5 win lines on three of the reels
• Betting 10 credits will give you play on four reels with 10 win lines
• Betting 20 credits is the same with twice the bet

I didn’t play the game long enough to reach the pinnacle of the game but with three of the Griffon symbols the main gauge went up to level 4, all four tesla coils were lit, and the highest pay table was activated. This was accompanied by an intense musical soundscape, epic really, and a sense of anticipation that is almost palpable.

With subsequent losing spins the meter went down and after the last spin, the paytable returned to normal. During the enhanced-pay spins something, perhaps a gear symbol landing on a pay line kept the spin meter from going down in numbers, effectively awarding another spin.

I’m not automatically a fan of all things Steampunk but this carried off the theme with exquisite mastery - nice animations, a powerful soundtrack, and of course - it’s simply fun to think about playing a slot machine powered by steam!

While I was sorely tempted to try Time Machine next,  I opted for Nudge Attack. Rather than offering ladders or steps or progressively disappearing high and low pay options - this title features a board game as a sub-game with dice throws and the chance to take down a jackpot or go broke if you push your luck too long.

The guitar and horns soundtrack was almost too much but it was a light and fun tune. The game sounds were just what you would expect from a pub-style slot.

Between one and six random nudges can be awarded after any spin with dice as well as fruits, stars, and 7s on the reels. Reel strips are shown on a flyout next to each reel so you can see which symbols will or will not come up if you use the nudges. 

Matching a pair of dice (4) on two of three reels triggered a chance to throw the dice and advance along the board. Extra throws and an increasing credit award are randomly scattered on the board before play. Trigger the board game in the basic game to roll and hopefully collect credits before the Skull symbol appears and kills your fun.

Volatility: Bet 1 Low, Bet 5 Medium, Bet 10 High, Bet 20 High

• The game features 3 reels. The middle win line is the only active win line
• The game has a Board sub-game
• The game features a Nudge

Games released to date include:

• Crazywheel 500
• Tropicana
• Wild Joker
• Chinatown
• Mixxit
• Jurassic Classic
• TimeMachine 500
• Steampunk 500
• Nudge Attack

The Final Analysis

With new studios popping up nearly every week, it’s nice to see one take the big leap to revitalize a seemingly lost genre of online slot games. The games’ inclusion on the Microgaming Aggregator Network assures they will get out to the widest possible audience and the timing of the release fits perfectly with the Isle of Man company’s expansion into the Dutch market while finding ready players in Belgium and Germany as well.

Any pub fruity player should find the games attractive even if they are not exactly as one might find in many European betting shops.

I can’t imagine leaving these games out of recommendations to any player, beginner, novice, or well-seasoned. They have their own vibe and feel and will always be a go-to type of game for me. What a welcome addition to the world’s gamescape!