Chipy’s Exclusive Interview with Belatra Games’ Chief Business Development Officer - Mikhail Voinich

Chipy sat down with Mikhail Voinich from Belatra Games to discuss the company’s journey and its approach to gaming innovation.

Chipy: Can you tell us about the origins of your company and its mission?

Mikhail Voinich: Belatra Games was established in 1993 by a visionary engineer with a mission inspired by the vibrant excitement of Las Vegas. Starting humbly in a garage, we aimed to revolutionize arcade and casino entertainment for a global audience.

Initially focusing on land-based casino gaming machines, our early hits like Piggy Bank, Lucky Drink, and Princess of Swamp quickly gained popularity. Our commitment to quality and innovation made our machines staples in casinos worldwide. 

Transitioning into online gaming, we've built a diverse portfolio of over 100 games, including classics and inventive originals such as Mummyland Treasures, Crystals Digger, and Big Wild Buffalo.

Our mission is to push the boundaries of innovation in online gaming, creating cutting-edge and immersive experiences. We focus on developing new and unique games, ensuring our players enjoy various choices that resonate with their preferences. 

With over 30 years of dedication, we've studied our players' needs, refining our offerings to meet their desires. Our portfolio includes slots and roulette, bingo, scratch games, sic bo, lotto, Plinko, and instant games catering to a broad audience. 

By blending creativity, technology, and a passion for gaming, we strive to set new standards of excellence, delivering unparalleled entertainment and excitement.

Chipy: How do you balance innovation with maintaining a familiar experience for players?

Mikhail: This issue has been crucial to our success in the market for over 30 years. Starting with traditional mechanical slot machines, we recognized the need to adapt as the world moved online in the 2010s. By 2015, we transitioned to digital formats and soon prepared for the shift to mobile, which became dominant in the early 2020s.

Our strategy focuses on attracting new audiences while enhancing the loyalty and comfort of long-time players. We strive to preserve the nostalgic feel of our classic games, now available 24/7 from the convenience of home. 

Simultaneously, we innovate by developing new games with improved graphics and sound effects, understanding that the lifecycle of online games is shorter than offline ones. We release new games monthly to keep our players engaged, and maintain a diverse lineup, ensuring a dynamic and captivating gaming experience.

Chipy: How do you handle player complaints or issues with your games?

Mikhail: Handling player complaints or issues with our games is critical to our commitment to providing an excellent gaming experience. While these situations are relatively rare, we have a robust system to promptly and effectively address any concerns. 

First and foremost, we have a dedicated Customer Support team trained to handle a wide range of issues, from technical problems to gameplay concerns. We understand that timely responses are crucial to maintaining player satisfaction, and we strive to provide immediate assistance whenever necessary. 

Feedback from our players is invaluable in helping us improve our games. Each complaint or issue is logged and analyzed to identify patterns or recurring problems. This allows our development team to address the root causes and implement long-term solutions, enhancing the overall gaming experience for all our players.

We invest heavily in testing and quality assurance, to minimize the occurrence of issues. This proactive approach helps us maintain a high standard of quality and reliability in our games.

Chipy: What has been the most significant change in the industry since you started?

Mikhail: The transition to online gaming has definitely been challenging. This shift introduced new challenges, such as adapting to a different platform and addressing graphics and sound issues. However, we also faced unexpected hurdles: our understanding of player behavior, based on offline experiences, had to be re-evaluated for the online environment, which demands brighter, faster, and more exciting games.

Marketing and game promotion also evolved, with player communities becoming crucial. Online feedback, both positive and negative, spreads rapidly, making community support essential. 

Adapting to these new dynamics has been vital to our success, ensuring we meet the expectations of modern players while maintaining our commitment to quality and innovation.

Chipy: What advice would you give to new developers entering the industry?

Mikhail: Be prepared to work hard to keep up. The rapid pace of change, driven by new markets and formats, demands a constant stream of fresh content to satisfy the clip mentality of today's players. However, don't overlook the power of nostalgia. The trend for retro games is vital. 

Sometimes, a successful new release can be a modern take on a classic from the 90s. Embrace innovation, but remember that the appeal of familiar experiences can also captivate players.

Chipy: What is your favorite game that you’ve developed and why?

Mikhail: One of the standout games we’ve developed is undoubtedly Mummyland Treasures. This game holds a special place in my heart for many reasons, and I'd love to share why it’s my favorite.

The development of Mummyland Treasures was a profoundly creative and collaborative process. From the very beginning, we aimed to create a game that wasn’t just visually stunning but also rich in narrative and engaging for players. The concept of a mystical mummy guarding ancient treasures allowed us to weave in historical references and a sense of adventure that would captivate our audience.

Mummyland Treasures stands out with its hypnotic atmosphere, created by dazzling graphics and ambient sounds that immerse players in the world of ancient Egypt. The game features a compelling storyline with a mysterious mummy that appears during every spin, adding to the sense of adventure. Its 7x7 layout with cascading reels offers 823,543 ways to win, and scatter symbols trigger free games with increasing multipliers. Additionally, the Craft Bonus feature allows players to buy the Free Games feature anytime, enhancing the excitement.

Upon its release, Mummyland Treasures quickly became a favorite among players. The intriguing storyline, immersive graphics, and innovative gameplay mechanics resonated well with many players. The positive feedback we received was overwhelming, and it didn’t take long for the game to gain a loyal following. The appeal of exploring ancient Egyptian culture and unearthing hidden treasures proved to be a powerful draw. 

The game continues to be highly popular among players and streamers, captivating audiences with its blend of excitement and mystery.

Chipy: We have reached the end of our interview. Would you like to say something else to our users?

Mikhail: An essential part of our development process, alongside player feedback, is the exchange of experiences. We collectively raise the quality standards by sharing our discoveries and insights and learning from others in the industry. 

Participating in industry events is a great way to facilitate this knowledge exchange. In just a month, we’ll attend the SBC Summit in Lisbon, where we look forward to welcoming everyone at the Belatra booth. Join us to share experiences, forge new connections, and enjoy the company of fellow iGaming enthusiasts.

We’re grateful to Mikhail for sharing his valuable perspectives and thank you, our readers, for taking the time to explore this conversation with us.

Stay tuned for more insightful interviews and industry updates!