Wazdan
We were lucky enough to arrange an interview with Wazdan, the leading slots provider that stands behind the popular Volatility Levels™ feature! We talked with Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, who shared some details exclusively for our readers.
If you want to know more about Wazdan’s popular Hold The Jackpot mechanic as well as what exciting new features they have in store for you, keep reading our interview!
Welcome, Andrzej! We’re happy to have you in our SlotsWise Interview Series. Could you start off by introducing yourself and Wazdan to our readers?
“Hello! I’m Andrzej Hyla and I’m Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, with over 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry. At Wazdan, we strive to provide our partners and players with high-performing slot titles and memorable products that can be enjoyed anywhere, which in itself is a major reason why I have stayed with Wazdan for so long.
As Chief Commercial Officer, I’m responsible for key commercial growth in major regulated markets across the globe as we look to continue our notion of market expansion from 2021. It has been such an exciting journey so far, and I can’t wait to see where it leads me.
Wazdan is known to be an ardent driver of innovation, integrity, and consistency, and would say that we have stayed true to our identity under my term as CCO.”
Wazdan was founded in 2010 and your games are certified across Europe and the United States, which is impressive. What’s your strategy for staying up top in the competitive industry?
“We have followed a clear strategy, focusing on geographical expansion in regulated markets for some time now, which has allowed us to thrive in certain jurisdictions. With certification to supply our innovative games in 17 jurisdictions, our products are presently enjoyed by players in regulated markets across the globe, helping us on our mission to become a leading international games supplier.
Our US entry was a significant milestone for us, with our New Jersey entry quickly followed by receiving our West Virginia licence, marking a particularly exhilarating new phase. The US market could truly be a behemoth in the iGaming world in the coming years, but for now, it’s easier to approach it as numerous separate markets, since each state has its own regulations, needs and unique culture.
We’re also planning to enter additional US markets in the near future, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, and we’re always looking to establish footholds in newly-regulated markets.”
Let’s dive into your games! Could you tell our readers more details about your upcoming release Dwarfs Fortune™, which will hit the market in March 2022?
“Our Hold the Jackpot collection has become a real staple of our offering over the past 12 months, and we are so excited to be able to bring more entertainment to our players with the next instalment, Dwarfs Fortune™.
The slot title takes players on a journey in search of untold riches, buried deep underground in a mine coated in precious gemstones. It provides impressive win potential with the abundance of Bonus symbols and Jackpots on offer and combines easy-to-understand mechanics with a collection of innovative new features to create a well-balanced playing experience.
The game boosts player engagement with the introduction of innovative Increasing Value Sticky Bonus symbols that not only stick to the reels for up to 9 re-spins, helping players get into the bonus round, but also increase their value with every spin. This means players can enter the Hold the Jackpot bonus round with big prizes and increase them to infinity, by collecting more Bonus symbols, including new Increasing Value Cash symbols and Collector symbols.
If players manage to collect all 20 Bonus symbols, their hard work will be rewarded with the Grand Jackpot of 2,500x their bet!
Dwarfs Fortune™ also utilizes our Unique Wazdan Features that allow players to adjust the product to suit their unique needs and requirements, e.g. the Buy Feature allows players to choose between four bonus entry levels, each awarding additional Bonus symbols.
Dwarfs Fortune™ is a real gem o a game and we expect our players to enjoy the product to no end.”
The “Hold the Jackpot” mechanics has seen great success among players. We’ve seen this feature in action in the brand-new Sizzling Moon™ slot. What made Wazdan adopt the feature and how popular are these slots among the players?
“With each game that belongs to the series, the Hold the Jackpot mechanic is tweaked to ensure that our audiences get a different experience every time, with some offering bigger jackpots or additional bonus symbols, and others providing unique reel layouts, innovative features, and cumulative prizes.
Not only do our titles offer players the thrill of landing winning combos, but players can also trigger huge jackpots and win generous cash prizes, with our recent release Sizzling Bells™ offering massive wins worth up to 15,000x the player’s bet.
It should come as no surprise that the unique mechanics provided by the Hold the Jackpot series are enjoyed by players all over the world, gaining immediate recognition from our fans around the globe and influencing our decision to continue adding titles to the series.”
Wazdan’s unique Volatility Levels™ feature allows players to modify their win size and frequency by choosing from 3 levels of volatility. How has this feature inspired players to try your games?
“We understand that players don’t want a title that only offers them huge win potential. They are looking for games that will engage them with modern visuals, animations, and most importantly a level of control over their playing experience at the same time.
Our unique Volatility Levels™ feature allows players to modify their win size and frequency on the fly! The high volatility setting brings players more sizeable wins, but they will happen less often, and on the other hand, low volatility provides players with more frequent, smaller wins. Players looking for a more balanced experience can select the Standard mode, where both win size and frequency are more leveled.
Its reception amongst players has been overwhelmingly positive, making Wazdan stand out as the only supplier that offers such Freedom of Choice™ (one of the core pillars of our philosophy) in its slots. With our Volatility Levels™ feature putting players in complete control of their gameplay and accompanying features providing unprecedented levels of customization, we are seeing more new players than ever before.”
What is your personal favourite production that you’ve already released and why?
“Power of Gods™: Hades is the eighth Wazdan slot title to utilise the Hold the Jackpot mechanic, as well as being the first game that allows players to choose a Volatility Level™ of the bonus round when using the Buy Feature.
What makes this game so special to me is the fact that it visually looks fantastic, but also offers a dark theme and superb features. I am truly fascinated with the classics and Greek mythology, so naturally, I was drawn to this title that places the Lord of the Underworld at its focal point.”
If you could choose one, what would you say is your favourite game from your competitors?
“Yggdrasil, known for their Norse-inspired slots, released an iconic series of games back in 2018 that have stayed with me to this day. One title in particular – Vikings Go To Hell – arrived as the third game in the series, and there was something about the hellish theme and flawless visuals that really resonated with me and has stayed with me until this day.
Yggdrasil did a great job with this one, creating a truly replayable experience fitted with amazing graphics, great features and a robust theme that carries through the entire collection.”
Many of your games are packed with modifiers and bonus rounds. Are there any other features you plan to introduce in 2022?
“We believe there’s always room to innovate and evolve as a supplier, so you can expect to see a bunch of new exciting features in our games coming out this year.
Our upcoming slot, Dwarfs Fortune™, sees us introduce new bonus symbols, such as Increasing Value Cash symbols and Collector symbols, which can be used in conjunction to enhance players’ winning potential to infinity! This game is jam-packed with new features, and we can’t wait to see players discover infinite dwarven treasures hidden deep in the mines of Dwarfs Fortune™!”
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! We’re excited to see the new Dwarfs Fortune™ slot and try the new bonus symbols.
In the meantime, make sure to visit Wazdan and try their high-performing slot titles!