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Microgaming Named in ‘The 10 Coolest Offices of 2017’

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MicrogamingISLE OF MAN – Microgaming’s new HQ has been named in ‘The 10 coolest offices of 2017*’ in the UK, featuring alongside some of the biggest consumer brands.

Microgaming’s new headquarters opened for business on 31 July 2017, just over two years after construction began. Located on Circular Road and named Sixty Two, the 5-storey office is home to over 120 Microgaming employees. A unique sky bridge joins the new and existing office (Twenty Six), creating a campus for the company.

“We have been enjoying the new building and its facilities for a little over three months now and feedback from staff has been incredibly positive. Our presence on the Isle of Man continues to grow with over 120 staff at Sixty Two and nine vacancies currently listed on our website.” Roger Raatgever, CEO of Microgaming

To provide the best possible environment for employees, there are hot desks, standing desks, work booths and break-out areas on each floor. To encourage staff to take time out away from their desks, the fourth floor is a communal area, featuring a table tennis table, pool table, poker table, dart board and a library.

There is a fully equipped in-house gym and treatment room, and for staff to refuel there is a canteen and coffee shop with an exclusive Microgaming coffee blend. Not forgetting, the rooftop garden offers stunning panoramic views of the island, which can also be enjoyed via a periscope in the reception area.

“To feature in the list of ‘The 10 coolest offices of 2017’, standing alongside some of the biggest consumer brands in the UK, is a fantastic achievement. A lot of time and effort went into designing and creating a building that was not only fit-for-purpose from a business perspective, but allows employees to thrive and feel empowered. I am very proud of what we have created.” John Coleman, CFO of Microgaming

Microgaming’s office has also been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible and has achieved a BREEAM rating of Excellent.

Let the Fantasy Begin; Microgaming’s the Phantom of the Opera™ Online Slot Live Today

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MicrogamingISLE OF MAN – Microgaming presents its latest branded title, The Phantom of the Opera™ online slot, delivering innovative features accompanied by the timeless musical score.

Microgaming’s The Phantom of the Opera™ online slot is based on the successful film adaptation released in 2004 that grossed over $154 million worldwide. The 243 ways, 5×3 reel game features the musical’s world renowned scores and the film’s iconic characters, which act as high-paying symbols that can be double stacked during play. The game’s low symbols are themed specifically to the brand.

Feature rich, the game comprises a number of bonuses, all of which pay homage to the storyline – two of these are found in the base game. First of all, The Letter Bonus, which symbolises the letters that The Phantom sends to the new owners of the theatre to issue his demands, awards a random cash prize when landing on reel five.

The Chandelier Bonus represents a famous scene from the story where The Phantom cuts down the chandelier in anger. During this randomly triggered base game feature, the scene darkens, the music changes and The Phantom laughs as the chandelier falls onto the screen, turning two or three reels wild.

Three or more scatter symbols trigger the feature selection where players can pick one of three bonuses or the ‘Choose For Me’ option, where a player will be awarded one of the features at random. The three bonus features in the game are the Masquerade Bonus, Music of the Night and All I Ask of You – each representing a key scene and musical score.

The Masquerade bonus is a three-tier pick feature experience where players can be awarded cash prizes, additional picks, or a level-up to progress to the next tier. The higher the tier, the higher the cash values available, and the music changes as players journey through each level. Once a player runs out of picks, their bonus round ends.

10 free spins are awarded in the Music of the Night feature, during which players may encounter a variety of gameplay enhancers, including random wilds, wild reels, multipliers and extra spins. Multiples of these random events can occur at the same time, adding more excitement to the game.

Finally, All I Ask of You awards 10 free spins with a unique wild mechanic, Dancing Wilds™. Christine and Raoul both feature as wilds and move randomly between every spin in time to the music. When landing in specific ways, they can generate standard wilds, a single wild reel, adjacent wild reels, a 2×2 wild block and a 3x multiplier.

“The Phantom of the Opera™ is a mesmeric game, combining a new game mechanic with visually stunning artwork and a musical score that is legendary. There has been much hype about the slot since we unveiled our plans at ICE in February and I’m delighted that the stage is now set and it is ready to launch with our vast operator base. Our incredibly talented game studio have truly realised the brand.

“Working with The Really Useful Group to bring this game to market has been a pleasure; we are excited to see how the game performs in the coming months.” David Reynolds, Games Publisher at Microgaming

Microgaming announced the signing of the licensing agreement with The Really Useful Group to make an online slot based on the 2004 movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera™, back in February at ICE 2017. The software company stunned attendees with an aptly themed bar and opera singers performing the title track ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at intervals throughout the day.

The Phantom of the Opera™ stage musical is one of the most successful pieces of entertainment of all time. It has been played to over 140 million people in 35 countries in 166 cities around the world, grossing an estimated $6 billion. It opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London in 1986. Now in its 31st year, and having won 70 major theatre awards, The Phantom of the Opera™ continues to mesmerise audiences at the very same theatre in the West End.

Available to Microgaming and Quickfire operators, The Phantom of the Opera™ online slot goes live Wednesday 1 November 2017.

https://www.microgaming.co.uk/our-news/2017/11/let-the-fantasy-begin-microgaming-the-phantom-of-the-opera-live-today

Foxium Chooses Microgaming’s Quickfire Platform

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MicrogamingISLE OF MAN – Game developer Foxium is integrating with the Quickfire platform via an exclusive deal.

Foxium, with offices in Estonia and Sweden, is a full service game development studio with a decade of gaming experience. The company has produced a number of online titles, such as The Odd Forest, The Lost Riches of Amazon, Fruitz, Lucky Bakery and Big Time Journey, which are rich in story and features.

The deal, which was brokered by the RNG Foundry, will see Foxium’s content launch exclusively to Quickfire, available to more than 250 operators live on the platform. The first Foxium game to launch on Quickfire will be Vampire: The Masquerade – Las Vegas, a 5×3 reel 20 fixed payline game with stunning visuals, voice actors and an expanding storyline. There are three different free spins rounds, as well as a pick me bonus, keeping players entertained. The slot comes with free games and is set to go live Wednesday 1 November 2017.

“We are delighted to have Foxium on board, delivering exclusive content to Quickfire at no additional cost to our operators, following the recent removal of a platform fee. We believe Foxium games will be a popular addition to the platform.” Andrew Clucas, Director of Quickfire at Microgaming

“The exclusive deal with Microgaming’s Quickfire platform provides Foxium with the chance to produce better games and reach more operators. With the extensive distribution network available through Quickfire, we believe we are in the best position to capitalise on the growing online casino market. We’re excited that our epic thriller Vampire: The Masquerade – Las Vegas, is the first game to go live following this deal. We will look to utilise the value adds Quickfire offers, such as their impressive Achievements module and gamification tools.” Åke André, CEO of Foxium

Vampire: The Masquerade – Las Vegas, is a branded game based on a license between Foxium and White Wolf Entertainment, established in 1991 as a developer of numerous roleplaying games about Vampires, Werewolves and other monsters set in the World of Darkness universe.

About Foxium
Foxium is a Tallinn based creative game production studio founded in 2015. Thanks to an incredible mixture of creativity and experience Foxium keeps pushing the bar what can be expected from the studio. Most slot games are built around storytelling in order to give the end consumer a better game experience. Together with innovative game play, gamification, unique and modern game graphics it’s very easy to recognise a Foxium game.

https://www.microgaming.co.uk/our-news/2017/10/foxium-chooses-quickfire

Microgaming’s Millionaire Maker Mega Moolah Strikes Again

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MicrogamingISLE OF MAN – Another Mega Moolah jackpot has been won, just six days after the progressive was hit for the second largest payout of the year!

The jackpot was hit on a mobile device on Sunday 1 October 2017 by a UK player on Betway, this time awarding a £1,448,116.31 pay day. As with all wins on Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network, the winner will receive the prize as a lump sum.

This win marks another Betway player to become an instant millionaire on the progressive slot, one of the most notable being in 2015 when Microgaming was awarded a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the ‘Largest jackpot payout in an online slot machine game’ after a record-breaking £13,213,838.68 (€17,879,645.12) prize was won on Betway’s website.

“Almost two years to the day that we were celebrating our ‘World Record’ Mega Moolah winner, another Betway customer has joined the millionaire’s club. We send our warmest congratulations to him!” Anthony Werkman, Marketing and Operations Director at Betway

“Two hits and another instant millionaire made by Mega Moolah in less than a week! Congratulations to Betway and their player on this mega win.” David Reynolds, Games Publisher at Microgaming

https://www.microgaming.co.uk/our-news/2017/10/microgaming-millionaire-maker-mega-moolah-strikes-again

Jewel Quest Riches Added to Microgaming’s Quickfire platform

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MicrogamingThe popular Jewel Quest franchise of iWin has now been added to Microgaming’s Quickfire platform thanks to Old Skool Studios. The software developer has created a new branded slot title, Jewel Quest Riches, that is now on offer via Quickfire, extending the reach of the Match-3 casual franchise of iWin.

The new game is quite immersive and will appeal to a range of players who enjoy puzzle games. The game features prizes and achievements, along with the ability to progress further in gameplay, with a little mystery in the mix.

Jewel Quest Riches is a 5×5 reel game with cascading jewels. Players will find they are offered increasing multipliers with up to 12x multipliers provided on each spin. Jewel Quest Bonus is a skill-based feature of the game that allows players to venture into eight exotic worlds that are replayable, offering 3-star achievements.

During the game’s bonus levels, there will be varying Match-3 puzzles on offer. Stunning graphics and unique music are included to help you feel truly immersed in gameplay. Players are awarded up to 12 bonus moves and will need to use their skill in puzzle solving in order to complete puzzles and earn a prize or prizes. Big matches will reveal hidden relics that will be collected and used in a final mini-game which will provide a player with a Mystery Multiplier.

Quickfire has offered the new Jewel Quest Riches game since August 23rd of this year at top online casinos. The game was first released on August 2nd via Casumo as an early release. According to Old Skool Studios Executive Producer Mike McGraw, the new game is third to be released on Quickfire and the company’s first branded title.

It is a casual game that took Old Skool Studios months to plan, design and develop and they could not be more pleased with the partnership with iWin regarding the game’s creation. Old Skool Studios had a goal of honoring the classic franchise and they are pleased to have seen such an incredible response from players on the new game.

https://news.worldcasinodirectory.com/jewel-quest-riches-added-to-microgamings-quickfire-platform-50474

Lightning Box strikes with Microgaming’s Quickfire

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MicrogamingAustralian video slots specialist Lightning Box has signed an agreement to distribute its popular games on Microgaming’s Quickfire platform.

The three-year deal will give online casinos using the platform access to the Sydney-based studio’s portfolio of titles. The first game, Silver Lioness 4x, will go live on the network in February next year, with other new titles to follow soon afterwards.

Peter Causley, chief executive of Lightning Box, said: “We’re very pleased to have signed a deal for Quickfire because it’s great to have another route to get even more of our unique Aussie content into the market.

“The Quickfire platform is a very strong distribution channel, with over 200 operators integrated, and will open up a host of new opportunities for us with new customers in markets around the world.”

Lightning Box was founded in 2004 by former Aristocrat and IGT designers Peter Causley and David Little.

Andrew Clucas, director of Quickfire at Microgaming, said: “Lightning Box is a fantastic addition to our development partner portfolio; their games are enjoyed by land-based, social and online players around the world. It is great to have them on board.”

http://www.igamingbusiness.com/news/lightning-box-strikes-microgaming-s-quickfire

Simon Jones is Crowned the Greatest Poker Player in the Universe

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MicrogamingISLE OF MAN – The 2017 edition of the MPN’s Universal Championship of Poker has come to a close. €750,000 was guaranteed across 59 events in September, a €250,000 increase on the previous year’s guarantees. In total, over €810,000 in prize pools were generated making it the biggest UCOP to date.

A €10,000 leaderboard tracked player progress throughout the series to determine who the Greatest Poker Player in the Universe was. Professional poker player/sports psychology lecturer, Simon Jones, took the crown with a €5,000 cash bonus and trophy to prove it.

“I hadn’t actually planned on playing the whole UCOP series but I’d been doing really well on the MPN the previous couple of months. Plus the size of the fields in the network tournaments mean you have a realistic chance of getting close to the money a decent chunk of the time, so I decided to see how the first few days went before committing myself. I had a couple of third place finishes and other deep runs to put me in the top five. Then a €5.4K win in Event #32 catapulted me to the top spot. I really wanted that trophy and I’m chuffed to actually win.”  Simon Jones, Greatest Poker Player in the Universe 2017

“The poker industry’s most thrilling tournament series comes to a close once more, with another huge increase in prize pools compared to the previous year. Congratulations to Simon on becoming the Greatest Poker Player in the Universe… for now!” Alex Scott, Head of Product (Network Games) at Microgaming

This was the third annual Universal Championship of Poker on the MPN. More details regarding the promotion can be found here.

Microgaming Adds Moby Dick Online Slot™

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MicrogamingSet sail on the adventure of a lifetime to hunt the legendary great white whale with the Moby Dick online slot™, a five-reel, 25 fixed payline video slot created by Rabcat, exclusive to Microgaming and Quickfire. Players can now join Captain Ahab in this exciting online slot where vibrant artwork meets an atmospheric aquatic soundtrack to immerse players into an epic voyage to thrilling rewards.

The slot includes a Win Freezing feature where players can receive a bonus spin for every winning spin. During bonus spins all winning symbols will be held and all other symbols will spin again giving players the chance to collect higher rewards.

Up to 20 free spins can be won by getting four or more scatter symbols, and the Gamble Game feature gives players the opportunity to double their gold. Players have up to five chances to choose between the copper and the silver cup in the Gamble Game, and if a tea bag emerges from the chosen cup, player winnings are doubled!

Moby Dick online slot™ goes live with Microgaming and Quickfire operators on Wednesday 18 October.

“Rabcat’s Moby Dick online slot™ is graphically rich with highly detailed artwork. The game’s features with both free spins and the Win Freezing element make for a highly entertaining slot.” David Reynolds, Games Publisher at Microgaming

https://www.microgaming.co.uk/our-news/2017/10/microgaming-adds-two-new-treats-this-october

Another Millionaire Made on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah; 5th Largest Microgaming Payout

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MicrogamingISLE OF MAN – Microgaming’s progressive online slot Mega Moolah has made another millionaire!

The mega progressive was hit on Monday 25 September 2017 by a Unibet player, providing a life-changing €7,742,015.53 pay day! It is the second largest prize to be won on Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network this year, following the €8 million mobile jackpot hit in April. As with all wins on the network, the player will receive the prize as a lump sum.

“We are absolutely delighted to hear that one of our customers has managed to win the jackpot on our main Unibet brand. We at Kindred Group strive every day to deliver a safe and entertaining experience for our players across all our brands, and when one of them wins in this way, it of course makes the hard work worth while.” Cristiano Blanco, Head of Casino at Unibet

“This is our fifth largest jackpot win to date! Many congratulations to our Quickfire operator Unibet and their lucky player on this amazing win.” David Reynolds, Games Publisher at Microgaming

Both Microgaming and Quickfire operators have access to Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network, which is the biggest in the industry, having paid out over €783 million to date.

https://www.microgaming.co.uk/our-news/2017/10/another-millionaire-made-on-mega-moolah

Trick or Treat? Microgaming Launches Its Thrilling Halloween® Online Slot

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MicrogamingISLE OF MAN – Today, Microgaming unveils its Halloween® online slot.
Following the signing of a licensing agreement announced in July, Microgaming has developed an online slot based on the 1978 American independent slasher film. The movie was directed and scored by John Carpenter, co-written with producer Debra Hill, and starred Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis in her film debut. It centres on the character Michael Myers, who on Halloween night in 1963 at the age of six, murdered his sister. 15 years later, he returns to the fictional midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois, to continue his killing spree.
Microgaming’s Halloween online slot is a 50 line game with the reel set representing Michael’s dark and derelict house. Much like the film, Michael persistently stalks the game; players may see him lurking in the window or behind the clothesline. The game also features iconic sound bites from the movie, along with the chilling soundtrack.

Feature rich, the slot introduces Wandering Reels, a group of three reels that spin together. The Wandering Reels contain Jumbo Blocks, which are large 3×4 high symbols that span three reels. The Wandering Reels can stop in one of three positions at random in the base game, which determines the reels and lines played, adding significantly to the sense of anticipation of the game. The feature allows for big wins, especially when it sticks to the leftmost position on the reels.

Adding suspense to the game, the Trick or Treat Wheel Bonus is triggered by three bonus symbols in the base game, and offers players the opportunity to multiply their stake with cash prizes, until they enter either the Boogeyman Bonus or Free Spins.

The Boogeyman Bonus is a pick bonus that takes place inside Michael Myers’ house. With the bonus’ atmosphere representing the eerie nature of the film, players must escape Michael, as finding him ends the bonus round. Leaves reveal cash prizes which are combined with a multiplier that increases every time the player finds a cash prize, moving them closer to escaping the house. Players may find an immunity weapon, which can be used to prolong the bonus round if Michael is picked.

Free Spins are triggered on the bonus wheel if the player lands on any character (Laurie, Loomis, Annie or Lynda), except Michael. Nine free spins are awarded, during which, the triggering character will replace all other high symbols, including Jumbo Blocks. The Free Spins round takes place at night time and the Wandering Reels move to fixed positions over the nine free spins.

“Our Halloween online slot is a celebration of the classic horror film. The game studio creating this game are big fans of the movie and brand, and I think the passion they have is evident in the game. The design and storytelling is superb and it presents a range of environmental effects that add to the suspense. This is combined with a feature rich game engine that will continually thrill players. As Sheriff Brackett says, ‘It’s Halloween, everyone’s entitled to one good scare’.” David Reynolds, Games Publisher at Microgaming

Microgaming signed the agreement for Halloween through Compass International Pictures, brokered by Creative Licensing Corporation.

“The mechanics on the ‘Halloween’ game from Microgaming are truly exceptional. They developed new pay tables and new ways to win that I think fit beautifully within the game.” Stephanie Kupperman, Director of Business Development for Creative Licensing

https://www.microgaming.co.uk/our-news/2017/10/trick-or-treat