Relax Gaming EXCLUSIVE Interview: Chief Product Officer, Shelley Hannah, on the Popularity of Ancient Tumble

How difficult is it to continue to innovate with such an expansive series? 

Relax Gaming relishes the challenge of evolving a game series and taking it to the next level. Developing the Tumble portfolio has really highlighted our strengths in creativity and collaboration. Everyone who has worked together on enhancing this well-known series has thrived at tackling the challenge of building something great that truly resonates with players.  

Understanding the fundamental mechanics of a successful game collection is crucial when introducing new features. The goal is to maintain the familiarity players expect, while still incorporating fresh and exciting elements that complement the core mechanics and features from previous games. Fundamentally, any new additions or successful elements from previous Tumble titles should always contribute to moving the series forward.

What is it about Tumble games that resonate so much with players?  

In 2019, when we were internally preparing for the launch of Temple Tumble, there was a huge degree of excitement around the game from everyone at Relax. There is always an air of caution that comes with such expectation, you can never honestly tell how the player community will receive a game, but in hindsight, we were right to be excited!  

It’s hard to pinpoint the success of Tumble games to one element, as it genuinely varies from game to game. That said, all titles do share the bonus entry requirements. Each time you play the bonus, you enter with the Tumble wins from the trigger. I believe this has been one of the most vital elements in the series success. 

Secondly, when analysing a typical slot game during the period that Temple Tumble was released, research suggested that the player looked for scatters or bonus symbols. With the Tumble mechanic, every spin has the possibility of activating the bonus. A few lucky tumbles could turn an average spin into a feature entry spin with a nice tumble win to kickstart the bonus.

What are the key milestones in the evolution of the Tumble series to date?  

First on the list would be awarding an element of choice back to the player in Temple Tumble. This allowed the player to decide the type of bonus they want to experience at a time when there was only one bonus to pick from.

Secondly, the addition of the first Bonus Buy option to feature in a Tumble game with TNT Tumble. Being able to jump directly into the action for a fixed price was an industry-wide option to include in most games moving forward. 

Then finally, if we jump ahead to Ancient Tumble, this was a groundbreaking moment. We had created something truly unique by incorporating multiple Tumble features into one standalone game to bring our most feature-packed Tumble title to market. 

Notably, the introduction of Relax Enhanced Spins is already proving to be something we will include in productions moving forward due to their growing popularity. 

It’s been an incredible Tumble journey so far, and we’re not finished yet!

Are there any particular elements that Relax believe must feature in every game? 

1. Player choice has become more and more important 

2. That way you can offer something that works for a range of players 

We believe every game is unique and no title should be tied down to particular features or mechanics. 

There are components that the audiences expect to be included as standard nowadays or at least to have the option to include at their discretion, such as Bonus Buys and Power or Enhanced bet options. 

These fundamental elements all fit nicely into the player choice functionality that players are now used to experimenting with. We try to include these elements in all games to enhance the overall player experience.

Do you see Cluster Pays slots such as Ancient Tumble playing a big part in the future of online slots?  

Yes, they will! Although not more so than other mechanics that have proven to be popular within the industry, but they will keep their place amongst the many game mechanics that resonate with players. 

What makes any mechanic stand out from the crowd is how it interacts with its in-game features and how the player experiences them. That is where we can continue to innovate with new ideas and features set on top of a tried and tested mechanic, such as Cluster Pays. That’s what makes slot game production so exciting.