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Interview with Marina Kalinina, CMO of Gamzix
By Shane Addinall Sep 19, 2022 InterviewsWe had the pleasure of speaking with Marina Kalinina at Gamzix about their successful new slot releases, the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on their team, and what we can expect from this exciting new developer in the near future.With a slew of new slot releases and their drive to expand into new markets, Gamzix is making waves in the online slot development arena. We were fortunate enough to convince their Chief Marketing Officer, Marina Kalinina, to sit down with us and give us some insights into what makes Gamzix the success that it is.
GamblersPick (GP): Founded in 2020, Gamzix has found fantastic success in a short space of time. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers a little more about how the company got started.
Marina Kalinina: Hi, my name is Marina Kalinina, the Gamzix chief marketing officer. I'm responsible for all the marketing processes of the company. I love my job and am happy to be a part of the Gamzix team!
Gamzix is a slot development studio founded in 2020 in Estonia. Today we also have operational branches in Cyprus and Ukraine. Thanks to our team, we started our path with the creation of high-level games, leading us to cooperate with many world-famous partners. The game engine was launched and tested after only five months of work. Thanks to our young and talented team, we have already produced 29 games. Gamzix portfolio, represented exclusively by slot machines, can boast colourful high-quality graphics, sounds and a wide choice of promo tools.
GP: Since 2020, you have created an attractive iGaming platform for brands with customisable jackpots and released over 25 games. What made this possible in such a short time?
Kalinina: That wouldn't be possible without people working with us. Every person who has joined the Gamzix team is a professional with a strong and flexible mind. As a company, we give all the opportunities we can to develop their skills. Also, we share the same goals and values, making us better and stronger. We leverage all modern tools in our game development and brand promotions. Persistence, motivation, and hard work allow us to do our best in a short period of time.
GP: While Gamzix was initially founded in Estonia, it already has an impressive global footprint. Tell us more about your international offices and the impact the conflict in Ukraine has had on the company.
Kalinina: Opening International offices was a natural extension of the company. New markets, new opportunities, new specialists, and partners are the driving force behind our success.
As a big part of our team is based in Ukraine, we couldn't stay away from the war. It changed a lot, but we knew two things: If we can continue to work, we'll do it. And if we are working, we must use our revenue to support Ukraine. One of the first steps we took in this regard was to relocate our Ukrainian colleagues and their families to safer countries. And for now, Gamzix donated more than €40,000 to various charities in the region.
While it has slowed down the growth of the company, what matters most is the safety and well-being of our team. We look forward to a future where everything is resolved, and we can all get back to living peaceful lives.
GP: What part do you believe regulation and localisation plays in your ability to attract players to your products?
Kalinina: No doubt that localisation plays a massive role in popularising our games. It is an excellent opportunity to reach new markets and new audiences. More languages mean a more comfortable and personal experience for our players.
I believe that partnerships with global casinos and other industry providers are also very important. These international relationships provide all parties with access to new markets, which means more opportunities for growth and success.
We wholly support the regulation of the online gambling industry. We don’t see regulations as restrictive, rather they allow more players to safely and legally experience the entertainment provided by the Online Slots we develop.
GP: Are there any plans to develop a special feature or bonus game unique to Gamzix games? Perhaps even one that can be licensed?
Kalinina: I'd like to mention our Run on Reels trademarked feature. This popular feature activates the random spin from 1 to 4 reels. The number of reels is arbitrary, as well as which exact reel will respin. The mechanics themselves also triggers randomly and does not depend on the size of the bet.
Gamzix also has a significant portfolio of promo tools: Bonus Deduction and Achievement Bonus, API free rounds and progressive jackpots, and Local and Network tournaments.
As for new features, that is something we want to keep to ourselves for the time being. What I can say is that you can be guaranteed that Gamzix will be releasing new features for our fans to enjoy when the time is right.
GP: We love Gamzix games' incredible variety of themes and features, such as Player Battles, Run-On Reels, and so much more. What drives the design and feature development process for your new casino games?
Kalinina: If you want to know what drives us? We are motivated to reach new heights by overcoming industry challenges while creating games our players love. We achieve this by following a simple two-step process.
First, we need market research: learning about the target audience, their needs, and desires. We don’t have a goal to make a game just for the portfolio. It’s always about what players want, and we can deliver it at the highest level of excellence.
The second step is to then decide on a creative direction for the new slot. Here our team members share their ideas, which we superimpose onto the data we received from marketing research. This combination of data and creative input keeps our games fresh and unique.
GP: Which video slot gives you a tremendous sense of pride? Let our readers know which game to play to get the best possible Gamzix experience, in your opinion!
Kalinina: Deciding on which games offer the best entertainment is a very personal matter. However, for me, there are two slots that I absolutely love, even though they offer very different experiences: 3x3 Hold the Spin and Rich Granny.
When I am in the mood for a classic fruit slot, nothing beats 3x3 Hold the Spin. It is the perfect combination of classic slot simplicity with the bonus of surprising features, which shoots it to the top of my must-play list.
Rich Granny is a game that always surprises new players. Bank robbing grannies is a crazy theme, then add to that the potential to win up to 40,000 times your bet, and it is an instant winner!
No Gamzix game list would be complete without mentioning our entertaining new Buffalo Coin: Hold the Spin video slot. The slot offers exceptional graphics, smooth animations and a new type of bonus game that will surprise even the most experienced slot fan.
GP: Finally, what can your fans look forward to as we head from 2022 into the early parts of 2023? Do you have any new games or special announcements you would like to tease?
Kalinina: We are proud of our promo tools and plan to increase their number soon. At Gamzix, we focus our time and resources on promotions that appeal to players and enhance the casino's retention offering. Which is a win-win for everyone concerned. We believe that these are the two key drivers of our sustainability and growth. To achieve success, they must work in tandem.
In 2023 we will expand into several new markets, finalise our MGA license application, and launch a series of new online and mobile slots with enticing new mechanics. You do not want to miss out on what we have in store for the new year!
In closing:
We have been incredibly impressed both by the casino games we have seen Gamzix develop and from what we heard from Marina about their plans for the future. They are definitely a studio we will continue to watch and cheer on in the years to come! If you liked what you read here, be sure to check out the Gamzix slots listed below.
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