Gamebeat Studio may be a fairly new software provider, but this company is already on the rise with a portfolio of beautiful and rewarding Online Slots. Join us as we learn more about how the company focuses on more than just slots that are nice to look at in our interview with the Art Lead, Vlad.

 GamblersPick (GP): Introduce yourself — What do you do at Gamebeat, and what are you responsible for?

Vlad: Hello! My name is Vlad, I'm Art Lead at Gamebeat. I am responsible for coordinating the work of artists and animators. My position includes managing the creative process, tracking progress, maintaining communication within the team, guiding the creation of concept art and animations, and interacting with other team members, such as programmers and gameplay designers.

 GP: How did you get started in game development? How did you come to be an Art Lead? Tell us about your background.

Vlad: This is my first experience in game development, but this field has always fascinated me! Before Gamebeat, I worked in the field of art and design, both solo and in a team. My experience includes management of creative processes, preparation of an exhibition for the Venice Biennale, even participation in the preparation of the first virtual exhibition in Minecraft. I started my career with packaging design, [and] later switched to 3D modeling and motion design. I do it to this present day as a hobby. In general, I like to follow the development of technology and try new tools in practice myself.

 GP: What skills are important for an Art Lead?

Vlad: Creativity and more creativity! It is also important to have managerial skills, to be able to work with a team, to motivate, distribute tasks and control their implementation. Also, technical, organisational, and analytical skills would be an advantage.

 GP: What attracted you to the gambling industry?

Vlad: The opportunity to make games! Development of AAA or mobile games takes a lot of time, and in gambling, it is possible to make several games at the same time and not burn out. The industry is developing rapidly; there is an opportunity to apply new technologies in development, work with different styles, and come up with interesting stories.

 GP: What are the stages of creating art for one game?

Vlad: Concept - sketch - render - animation – assemblage.

 GP: We have already tested your new release - Xiao's Treasures. Tell us about the creative process of art development. What challenges/difficulties did you face?

Vlad: I joined the company when the game was already being tested, but I managed to participate in the process of finalising the animation. We had a couple of days, and we had to decide how exactly the collection of coins would take place. The player might not notice the difference, but it was important for us to fix these details.

It would seem that the game can be released, but we are carefully studying the game, and something does not suit us — the shaking of sakura, the fall of a coin, some small and seemingly insignificant details, but for us, they are important. The main thing here is to stop in time. Otherwise, you can endlessly refine something.

In general, one of the main challenges in any game is to strike the right balance between art detail and game performance. We need to create art that will look beautiful and impressive on all devices but, at the same time, will not overload the systems.

 GP: What inspires you and your team in the process of work?

Vlad: Inspiration can come from a variety of sources, but most of our team's inspiration is based on art, culture, and music. We also communicate with each other and share ideas to create something unique.

We are constantly looking for new ideas and technologies that can improve our work, and we are learning new methods and tools for creating art.

 GP: What trends can you identify in the art development in gambling?

Vlad: One of the main trends is the use of more advanced technologies and tools to create realistic and interactive game characters, as well as virtual worlds and locations. We are seeing an increase in 3D animations and effects that make gameplay more visually appealing and immersive.

It is also becoming increasingly popular to use animations to show bonus rounds and other features of the game, allowing players to have a richer gaming experience.

Much attention is also paid to improving the user interface and usability of gaming applications, as well as the use of multi-platform solutions so that players can play our games on different devices.

In addition, there has been an increase in the number of gaming applications that use thematic stories and characters from movies, cartoons, and other popular media, which helps to attract new players and expand the audience.

 GP:  AI and slots — How do you think the development of neural networks will affect creative processes?

Vlad: Neural networks can help streamline development processes, such as automating the process of creating backgrounds and symbols, which can save time and improve product quality.

 GP:  Tell us about the company's plans for the next six months — What do you plan to release, and how will you please players in terms of art? Will you introduce new features?

Vlad: I can't give away all the secrets, but we have ambitious goals for this year, both in terms of the number and quality of games. I can tell you that there will be everything — new features, mechanics, and AI. We are currently working on art for several slots, two of which will be released next month.

✓ In Closing:

We love that Vlad and his team are so passionate about game design and making casino trends work for them and the games they create. Gamebeat Studio is new to the industry, but we're looking forward to watching the immersive slots they create become even more popular in the near future.