Merkur scores hat trick with release of three new tropical-themed slots
Merkur Gaming, a subsidiary of the German-based Gauselmann Group, is warming us up a bit this fall season with not one but three new sun-drenched games that are all part of the international sales and development brand’s continuing reel game offering expansion heading into 2020.
After starting the year off with a bang with its outstanding showing at ICE London, providing attendees with more than 140 games to sample, the leading software provider has further strengthened its interactive roster courtesy of its continuing effort to take the best aspects of the brick and mortar experience and translate them into the digital sector.
“We wanted a game which takes players to the wilderness, the pure nature and the beauty of Africa.”
Commenting on the triple threat release, Business Development Manager – Online for Merkur Gaming, Maja Cvetkovic, said…
“Our newest releases, African Mask, Dreaming Island and Tribe Of The Sun, all deliver on our usual strong passion for details of classic casino games with an online twist and will for sure match players’ expectations as they combine unique mathematics and in-game features in fun and exciting ways.”
African Mask:
The first of the three-game release is African Mask. The 5-reel, 2-3-4-3-2 row, all-pays game delivers an impressive visual experience for players by combining Africa’s majesty with a few of its more dangerous creatures.
“We wanted a game which takes players to the wilderness, the pure nature and the beauty of Africa. After fighting wild animals and finding the right way through the jungle, the legendary African Mask releases its mysterious powers,” explained Cvetkovic.
Players will find some exciting features in the African-inspired title including scatters, wilds and the chance to earn 15 extra games when a trio of symbols land at just the right moment during one of the rituals in the game.
Commenting on the dynamic graphics adopted in the design of African Mask, Cvetkovic, said…
“The king of the mask is also the king of the jungle. The African Mask opens up a world full of yellow lions, orange leopards, blue kudus, green antelopes and purple hippos. The neon coloring with its sparkling and shining effects is combined with the bright light of the African sun. Take the chance to go on a safari and study the magic of the African tribes!”
Dreaming Island:
Game number two, Dreaming Island, takes players to the lush haven where tropical treasures inclduing ancient artifacts and precious gold coins are offered. The 5-reel game presents players with the excitement of being alone and stranded on a beautiful deserted island at the end of the world.
“Dreaming Island offers 720 ways to win, in addition to the thrill of having a wild joker and multiple scatter symbols,” said Cvetkovic. “For players it is important to pay attention to the silver goblin, as it is scatter and pays on any position on screen. But there is also the tropical bird as another scatter symbol. While flying around the Dreaming Island the bird triggers eight free games when five birds fly on the reels. During the free games the king of the sky multiplies the number of free games by the number of birds flying on the reels, starting even when only one bird appears. That means all the island’s secrets can be revealed and the player is awarded with up to incredible 96 free games! Dreaming Island is a dream you will not forget!”
Tribe of the Sun:
Last but not least, the 5-reel, 30 fixed payline, Tribe of the Sun, from Merkur is a nod to storytelling, which is a popular theme in land-based reels, delivering to the broader opportunities characteristic of the iGaming sector. The intriguing title combines unique in-game features and state-of-the-art mathematics with the tale of a medicine man who is a member of the Tribe of the Sun and who prophesizes about how his tribe will have future success.
“In Tribe of the Sun five reels meet 30 fixed pay lines to make the first part of the prediction come true,” Cvetkovic said.
“Each win is accompanied by a loud drum roll with which the tribe shows its appreciation to the player. The flames of the ritual fire also shows the tribe’s spiritual animals to the medicine man: The wild horse, the wailing wolf, the majestic eagle and the strong buffalo. Those provide their energy to help the tribe rise as well. The medicine man himself is wild and functions as the connecting link between the dimensions by replacing every symbol except the great chief.”
Cvetkovic concluded…
“Tribe Of The Sun’s in-game features set it apart from standard reels and bonuses by interspersing everything around the wider narrative. Whether it’s incorporating the tribe’s Flame Lines to give multiple ‘Burning Wins’ or using the Chief’s quest to perform a ritual fire dance as the scatter symbol which can unlock up to 30 free games or trigger a random multiplier of x5, x7 or x10.”
Valkenburg opening:
In related news, the Gauselmann Group, via its Merkur Casino International subsidiary, recently opened its sixth branch in the Netherlands, in the municipality of Valkenburg some three decades-plus after opening its own first arcade in Amsterdam. The October 11, 2019 opening of Merkur Valkenburg in Muntstraat 8, which the gaming group took over in July from the previous owner, features nearly 70 gaming positions spread over an area of just over 2,680 square feet.