The Dark Knight Falls – But Branded Pokies Rise
This week sees the end of an era as Microgaming pulls the Dark Knight and its sequel from our screens. We look at the importance of branded games.
When it comes to online gaming, and the pokies specifically, many of the news column inches are taken up by the launch of brand new games. There are plenty of major players in the industry and they are backed up by smaller names that still manage to turn a profit on the basis of releasing quality titles intermittently. If players want to play them then the online casinos most definitely want to offer them and those licence fees are generally plunged back into the business, allowing for even more innovation and creativity to ensure that players and developers alike are currently at the cutting edge of what is possible.
As any businessperson is well aware, sometimes the easiest way to make money is to spend money, and while this is generally an area for the biggest and best-known developers, it has led to a rise in the popularity of branded games. This is technically nothing new – as anyone that has enjoyed fruit machines in the pub over the years will know, they generally have a tie-in with something current on television or pop culture, with original action actually being somewhat few and far between. That said, many developers make their names on original creations, building up a player base and a network of online casinos that lead to greater revenues. These revenues are then invested back in to licences and in the gaming industry, it is fair to say that familiarity often leads to success.
As noted, one of the key metrics for any successful poker machine is simply the number of players that get on the reels and enjoy the action. It is good for the developers in a number of ways, not least because it builds their brand with the players themselves, who will often actively seek out other titles whether they are branded or otherwise. Casinos, meanwhile, want to offer the games that players keep on coming back to and any developer that can forge a reputation for delivering will be high on the list of priorities for any new or expanding casino brand.
Where branded games enter the equation is through the fact that, as mentioned, there is much to be said for a level of familiarity. The scenario generally goes something along the lines of a player logs into their online casino account with every intention of playing one of their favourite games. They notice that there is another game on offer that is tied in to their favourite television show or movie and that familiarity instantly makes it a must play. It is of course then up to the developers to deliver a quality gaming experience too, but it is generally a given that if you’re going to shell out for an official licence, you may as well go all out to make the game as good as possible and leave a memorable experience with players, who are almost certain to be back for more.
Licensed poker machines are a great part of the gaming industry but they are certainly not without their complexities. In fairness, the concept of licensing itself is one of the most difficult to deal with for any business, as they must address what the licence covers, how long it lasts and a myriad of other factors before entering into any agreement. Essentially, there is more to acquiring a gaming licence than simply paying a fee and going on your merry way and rarely does that all become more apparent than this week, which is our final opportunity to enjoy The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises from Microgaming for the time being.
Microgaming has often been at the pinnacle of branded gaming among the online exclusive developers, with titles dating back as far as the likes of Hellboy and Tomb Raider proving to be shining lights among the various gaming selections on offer. Nowadays, they have really taken things to the next level utilising all sorts of different brands to promote their games. Aside from Batman himself, players that immerse themselves in the gaming selection at any Microgaming casino can expect quick and easy access to games based on everything from Jurassic Park and Terminator 2 – Judgement Day to Bridesmaids and even Playboy.
The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises – What We’re Losing
It is fair to say that we are losing some quality games when The Dark Knight and its sequel leave our screens. Somewhat ironically, the first Dark Knight poker machine was actually released when the licence for The Lord of the Rings expired, with Microgaming opting to take the core game and replace anything to do with Mordor with iconic imagery from Gotham City. Mechanically, it was the same game – only the name had changed.
The first Dark Knight game was one of the earliest 243 ways to win branded games among the Microgaming selection, beaten out by only a handful of titles, including of course The Lord of the Rings. In what became a preview of what was to come, the game combined iconic Microgaming action such as free spins with branded extras like the Batman and Joker awards, all wrapped up with photorealistic visuals that were a real treat. The title also quickly established itself as one of the very best jackpot games around, even rivalling the likes of Mega Moolah, with players able to randomly trigger a wheel of fortune bonus round before taking a shot at one of the Mini, Minor, Major and Mega Jackpots. With the top prize being seeded at a million, it was more than enough to grab the attention of jackpot fans whether they were into the Caped Crusader or not.
As with many sequels, The Dark Knight Rises maintained much of the magic of the original while throwing in tweaks and changes to cater to a similar but potentially somewhat different audience. The 243 ways to win movement was in full effect at the time, so the return of the betting configuration on this game was practically a given. The Joker was no longer the focus, with Bane being the big bad villain, and this is played into with a Free Spins Accumulator based on both Bane and Batman himself. This all ties into the main bonus round which, in true Microgaming fashion, was delivered in the form of free spins. Like any good sequel, the bonus features were increased in general, with expanding wilds, symbol scrambles and more entering the fray, making the removal of the progressive jackpots much less palatable.
In answering our question of what is being lost when the Dark Knight series leaves our screens, we must address the fact that these are two incredibly solid games regardless of the branding. The licence does of course ensure that regular Batman fans will be drawn in to play, but they, along with any other player, will quickly find that these are two games that are truly outstanding and, in our opinion, will be sadly missed when they disappear into the night this week.
Why are They Going?
Microgaming has not released an official statement on why the Dark Knight games are disappearing, with the only official communication stating that the Dark Knight was retiring. Any speculation as to the reasoning is just that although our take is that the licence has expired. If it was down to us, the licence would have been acquired in perpetuity, but with a property as hot as this one, it is likely that the rights holders had plenty of bargaining power and Microgaming simply would not want to miss out on the opportunity to be the name behind such games.
An interesting development that is too closely timed to be a coincidence as far as we are concerned is the return of DC Comics heroes to the Cryptologic portfolio – in a manner of speaking. Cryptologic may not be the best known name in Australia but as many superhero poker machine players will be aware, they are generally considered to be the grandfather of the genre. Prior to the release of games based on Iron Man and other Marvel heroes by Playtech and even the Dark Knight games from Microgaming, they were the go to developer for this style. They offered a number of games based on popular heroes from both Marvel and DC but, back in 2012, the developer was acquired by Amaya, the owner of PokerStars and a gaming developer in its own right. When the acquisition was completed, the DC Comics games disappeared just like The Dark Knight and we can only assume that Amaya opted not to continue the existing licence.
The interesting part is that NextGen Gaming, coincidentally a developer based in Australia, has taken on the old Cryptologic DC games, giving them a fresh coat of paint and some general upgrades, and will be adding them to their gaming selection this month. Superman is said to be coming soon, and the initial series launch will comprise of three different titles, those being The Flash, Green Lantern and, most importantly of all in this context, Batman.
With all due respect to NextGen, we cannot imagine them having the financial clout of Microgaming to simply outbid them for the continued licence. That said, with the trilogy of movies over, Microgaming had at best one more game to make use of the licence before it was essentially a dead rubber. In acquiring the rights to online games based on Batman, NextGen has also acquired the ability to create an entire series. Sure, they could have released The Flash, Green Lantern and Superman anyway, but Batman is arguably the most iconic character in the franchise and the credibility of the entire series would be in question without him. The Batman name would probably be worth more to NextGen who could conceivably release hundreds of games based on everyone in the DC Universe. With that universe picking up pace on the back of the successful television appearances of The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl, not to mention the current iteration of the movie continuity including Suicide Squad, Justice League and Wonder Woman, it is a play for the future that could definitely pay off.
Getting Your Batman Fix in Australia
If Batman pokies are your thing, then the removal of the online games is nothing to worry about too much. NextGen games can be played online in the country, unlike titles from other popular Aussie developers such as Aristocrat and Ainsworth, so the core Batman game itself will be available soon. The online one isn’t the only official Batman gaming licence floating around either, and a visit to your local casino could well have seen the installation of the official Batman game from Aristocrat, which delves back into the vault to see Adam West brought to our gaming screens for the first time. It uses the latest Wonder Wheels technology too and, having played it, it is clearly a top notch game that will be at the top of the tree in terms of quality for a while to come yet. The existence of a land based Superman game would indicate that Aristocrat is not done with the DC licence yet either so while we may be losing a couple of cracking games, you can be sure that there will be many more quality titles to fill in their place.
What to Play Instead
The Cryptologic, or as is now the case, NextGen superhero games are for a certain style of player and if the new releases are based closely on the gameplay then some Dark Knight fans may well fancy something a little more involved to keep their interest. Fortunately, Microgaming is a master of its craft and players can be sure of finding top quality action throughout the series, and even the lack of superheroes is made up for by the similar styles of games like Terminator 2.
If heroes are your bag and you want the jackpot action of the first Dark Knight range then the Playtech range was essentially tailor made for you. It has slowed down somewhat lately in terms of new releases, but if you want to take to the reels as Spiderman, Iron Man, Thor or even all of the Avengers at the same time, their gaming range has you covered.
Finally, if you just want to play branded games for the amount of effort that goes into them then the NetEnt selection of online pokies definitely warrants a mention too. The closest that you’ll find to a superhero on those reels is Jack Hammer, and he’s an original creation, but tie-ins with some top notch elements of pop culture both past and present ensure that players will have some great action to choose from. The developer has a reputation for quality and nowhere is this better represented than in their licenced titles, and it is definitely an eclectic mix. They are partnered with Universal Pictures, giving them the right to deliver top quality games based on everything from Dracula and The Invisible Man to Aliens and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. They are also halfway through their Rock Tour of 2016, giving players the chance to experience gameplay based on Guns n’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix and soon even Motorhead.
We have often stated that there are so many online pokies out there that the chances are that you’ll find something based on just about any theme imaginable and if you’re into a certain television show or movie, that statement definitely rings true.
Where to Play
Branded pokies are the highlight of both online and offline gaming at the moment and, as you’ll have seen above, the possibilities are endless. If you’re a land based casino player then it is definitely Aristocrat that you’ll want to keep an eye on, as Batman is by no means the be all and end all of the branded action. Indeed, we consider them to be at the cutting edge of branded games, with titles based on all sorts of popular shows both past and present, including The Sopranos, Big Bang Theory, Sons of Anarchy, Game of Thrones and even two popular titles based on The Walking Dead. Throw in Britney Spears and The Rolling Stones and the available games are limited only by how many cabinets your local casino can fit on the gaming floor.
Naturally, online players are equally spoiled for choice, even though Aristocrat games cannot be enjoyed online in Australia. Microgaming and NetEnt continue to be at the forefront as noted and their games can be played around the world both for real money and even as demo versions. A number of top sits for playing free pokies exist, and Australian players also have access to some of the biggest names in online casino gaming for cracking action complete with big bonuses and hefty jackpots.
So, the Dark Knight may no longer be rising at online casinos, but branded pokies are more than just a buzzword at the moment and there is plenty more action to take its place, most of which is of the very highest quality.
