Who Exactly are Blueprint Gaming?
This gaming software outfit is based on an unassuming industrial estate in Newark, a small Nottinghamshire town with a population of around 30,000 people. The town is situated about 15 miles (25km) north east of Nottingham, approximately half way between it and the neighbouring city of Lincoln. Founded in 2007, it has a total of around fifty employees.
Despite its seemingly humdrum suburban location, this unglamorous industrial area is the base for one of the more innovative software design companies in the industry. This is because Blueprint Gaming is responsible for some truly stunning designs. It is responsible for a total of approaching one hundred games in total, with the focus of the company being entirely on designing entertaining slots. The quality of their graphics is superb, a feature which stands out on every game, and is obvious from the impressive landing page of their corporate online presence.
For such a relatively small scale firm, you may be forgiven for assuming it is punching above its weight in an industry of numerous software giants, but in truth, Blueprint Gaming have not achieved all this success purely under their own steam. While it is true that the company does operate largely independently and autonomously, it can call on the financial muscle of its giant owners for support when required.
This is because the plucky Brits have been acquired by the enormous German gaming conglomerate the Gauselmann Group. Blueprint Gaming was first taken under the wing of its new partners shortly after its formation. The Gauselmann Group scouts spotted the company’s potential early, and took a controlling 50% stake in 2008. Full control followed in 2012, although the company continues to operate as a free-standing subsidiary, complementing Gauselmann’s own gaming software division, Merkur.
This corporate arrangement gives Blueprint Gaming a ‘best of both worlds’ advantage over many of its similarly sized competitors. It still has the independence required to stamp its own character and personality on its game designs, whilst being able to call on the industry muscle and influence of its powerful owners to fight for space in the already crowded casino market place.
And you can even see a physical example of this financial investment, as the company has recently opened a new overseas office, located on the UK overseas territory of Gibraltar. This will no doubt be of great assistance in promoting its excellent range of games to casino operators across the world.
What Games Can You Expect?
The company’s original founders were stalwarts in the land-based casino industry, and quickly established a foothold in real world casinos. Their first move into the online gaming market came in 2009, with the release of the company’s first slot, a licenced version of the iconic comic magazine Viz. From there, there has been no stopping them, with a consistent schedule of releases of the very highest quality.
The portfolio of games in the Blueprint Gaming locker is certainly impressive, and becoming more so as the company approaches its hundredth title. The most popular genres are certainly well stocked. Pharaonic favourites include Eye of Horus and Scribes of Thebes, while the Irish Luck theme is comprehensively covered. Meanwhile, titles like Luck o’ the Irish, Slots o’ Gold and Wish upon a Leprechaun can supply you with more shamrocks, four leafed clovers and lucky rainbows than you could ever need.
But perhaps the outstanding feature of the Blueprint Gaming range is its range officially licenced games. It has designed the slot versions of numerous movies, TV series and quiz shows. In fact it seems as if the company is the go to designer for rights owners to seek out when they are looking for a partner to launch their copyrighted games.
There are many excellent examples of this talent. Just some of the movies with an exclusive slot version include The Goonies, Ted and the timeless British classic Carry on Camping, complete with cartoon depictions of the iconic Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques. TV offshoots include Beavis and Butt-Head and Top Cat, plus a number of different editions of the TV quiz classic Deal or No Deal.
The range of officially licenced tie-ins doesn’t even end there though: there’s also their first ever online game to consider of course – the slot version of Viz. Today, the world of commercial partnerships has taken a further step with a shameless plug for their digital corporate partners: the Dafabet Megaways game.
Another aspect of online gaming for which Blueprint Gaming is rightly renowned is its talent for producing progressive jackpot games. Many of its titles are issued in this format. Indeed, special editions of already established games are a great way of refreshing more established titles. Their licencing of the ‘Megaways’ mechanic brings new excitement to many of their games, and the ‘King Jackpot’ version has a similar effect on their progressive jackpot titles.
The company has yet to stray into traditional casino game territory, with no table games at all in its armoury, although it does have some scratch cards.
Blueprint Gaming in Summary
Blueprint Gaming is not one of the most prolific companies in the gaming software industry, but its quality standards are exceedingly high. It occupies an extremely comfortable position – secure under the wing of its financial backers the Gauselmann Group, whilst also enjoying a surprising amount of freedom beneath its corporate structure. It is also full of talented and experienced software designers, who always seem to have another brilliant title on the drawing board just waiting to be released.
Jo Purvis, Director of Marketing and Relationships at Blueprint Gaming, indicates that the company has plenty more in the pipeline awaiting future development. There are more land-based casino games which the company considers ripe for conversion to the online format, and the company’s licencing arrangement with Reel Time Gaming will also produce updated releases of their titles.
So it is clear that the future is bright for this innovative company, with a number of new strategies likely to bring a steady flow of new and exciting releases.
Blueprint Gaming is licenced by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. It is also fully regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.