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From Vision to Execution. Inside Game Creation: Interview with Will and Ray at DreamPlay
In recent years, the iGaming industry has been evolving at an exceptional pace, driven by technological advancements, innovative mechanics, and a deeper understanding of player psychology. Behind every successful slot or casual title stands a team of specialists who transform concepts into polished, engaging experiences enjoyed by players worldwide.
To shed light on how this creative and highly technical process unfolds within DreamPlay, we spoke with Game Producer Ray and Game Designer Will. They shared their insights into modern game development, the principles that guide their decisions, and the factors that shape the creation of new titles in a rapidly changing market.
Q1. Core Elements of Player Perception
Which elements of game design — from mathematical logic to gameplay pace — most often have a decisive influence on a player’s perception of the game?
Will:
It’s all important. The rhythm and potential in the Math balance, the way mechanics are designed and interact with each other, symbols looking and animating in an appealing way, to both avoiding there being repetitive sounds that annoy Players and sounds that celebrate their highs. They all contribute to the overall Player experience.
As a Game Designer, the biggest priority I have is the Player experience, and to achieve that we make sure everyone who contributes to the game is working toward the same goal and supporting every element regardless of the department; for example, ensuring the sound design hypes up the big moments in the Math model or making sure the art and animation properly communicate how the mechanics function.
Q2. Differentiating Similar Slots
In your experience, what makes the difference in production dynamics between slots with similar mechanics? Which development parameters are most critical for the final result?
Ray:
Even when two slots share similar features or math models, the theme, the way the gameplay is presented, and the pacing make a huge difference in how the final product feels. Players can sense a well-balanced math model without needing to understand the technical details — they just feel rewarded for playing, and they understand what the game is trying to offer them.
For us, creating a great player experience is the real differentiator. It’s what separates our games from competitors, even when the mechanics look similar on paper.
Q3. Emotional Triggers in Game Design
In your experience, what design choices have the strongest impact on players’ emotional responses, and how do you approach creating them?
Will:
Some of the strongest emotional responses come from when the Player makes an assumption about the way a feature works, then gets that confirmed with a big win or progression towards something big — the whole potential of the game opens up to them. That’s when the imagination takes over with questions like “What if this mechanic works with that one? That could be huge.” It cements that desire to fully explore the game and everything it has to offer.
Q4. Late-Stage Adjustments in Development
When you have to tweak a game in the later stages of development, what factors usually cause the changes?
Will:
Usually, it’s a complex UI element for an equally complex mechanic; elements like that often need many iterations to make sure we’re communicating to the Player in a way that makes sense to them. One of the biggest barriers preventing Players from enjoying the game is their understanding of it, so effective communication is incredibly important.
It’s never a waste of time to break down that barrier as much as possible so the games can be experienced in their full form.
Q5. Underrated Stages of Slot Development
In your opinion, which stage of slot creation is most often underestimated, even though it affects the integrity of the final product?
Ray:
I think the most underestimated stage is actually the final stretch — the polish and QA phase. This is where we identify small improvements that make the game feel tight, consistent, and enjoyable, and it’s also where we make sure everything meets our quality standards and jurisdictional requirements.
It’s easy to overlook how important this stage is, but it’s often what determines whether the final product feels truly finished.
Q6. A Benchmark Project for the Team
Which project in your practice has become a benchmark for you in production, and what has it taught the team in terms of development efficiency and quality?
Ray:
DreamPlay is still a new company, and we’re all learning how to work together and build our own production rhythm. One project that really stands out for us is Moon Joker. It came together in a way that showed what we’re capable of when every department is aligned.
We had a strong concept; we kept things simple and classic, but we still found room to innovate. Art, design, math, audio, and engineering all pushed in the same direction, and you’ll be able to see that in the final product. It’s a great example of what our team can achieve when everything clicks.
Discover more from DreamPlay:
PokerStars’ popular Winter Series has once again delivered record-breaking results across Southern Europe, awarding more than €11.5 million in total prize pools to players in Spain, France, and Portugal.
Originally guaranteed at €10 million, the three-week online poker festival surpassed expectations by generating €11,592,062, exceeding the advertised guarantee by more than €1.5 million.
Running across 297 events, the Winter Series attracted an impressive 428,734 total entries, highlighting the continued strength of online poker in regulated European markets. Buy-ins ranged from €10 to €250, ensuring accessibility for recreational players while still offering substantial value for experienced grinders.
Main Event and Sunday Million Steal the Spotlight
One of the major highlights of the series was the €400,000 guaranteed PKO Main Event, which drew 1,896 entries and built a final prize pool of €440,820. The tournament was won by “LUCKYMEZ”, who delivered a composed final-table performance to secure €51,991, including €24,903 in bounty rewards, along with the coveted Main Event trophy.
Another marquee moment came in the $1 million guaranteed Sunday Million, where French player “jokeezy06” emerged victorious from a field of 4,002 entries. The win earned €73,982.36, making it the largest individual payout of the Winter Series.
Added Value Through Power Path Blizzard Boost
Beyond the tournament schedule, PokerStars enhanced player value through its Power Path Blizzard Boost, distributing €250,000 in additional rewards. Players who completed daily challenges gained access to Power Path tickets, Sunday Million entries, and sought-after Silver Passes, further increasing engagement throughout the series.
PokerStars Reinforces Its Southern European Presence
Commenting on the success of the Winter Series, Sandro Forleo, Head of Poker Operations for Southern Europe and Italy at PokerStars, highlighted the ongoing momentum in the region’s online poker ecosystem.
He noted that the Winter Series once again brought together players of all skill levels for weeks of competitive and festive online poker, underlining the strong enthusiasm for the game across Southern Europe. PokerStars confirmed that while the Winter Series has concluded, players can expect more innovative tournament formats and major events in the months ahead.
Further details about the Winter Series are available via PokerStars’ official platforms.
The post PokerStars Winter Series Awards Over €11.5M Across Spain, France and Portugal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Leading French esports organization Team Vitality has announced the signing of Neia, one of the most promising young talents in Tekken 8, as part of its Fighting Games division.
Following a breakthrough 2025 season and a standout showing at EVO Nice, the 16-year-old phenom has committed to representing Team Vitality for the next two competitive seasons.
Neia now joins an elite lineup within Team Vitality, training alongside renowned Tekken players Jeondding and KingReyJr, as well as the H-DOPE and K-TOPE duo CientifiKOF in Fatal Fury. The signing underlines Team Vitality’s continued ambition to nurture emerging talent while strengthening its presence across the fighting game ecosystem.
A breakout year for a rising Tekken star
Despite her young age, Neia has rapidly established herself as one of France’s most exciting Tekken prospects. Known for her mastery of Lili, she stands out for her aggressive playstyle, creative decision-making, and strong technical execution.
Her rise began on June 8, 2025, during a Kayane Session hosted at V.Hive, Team Vitality’s Paris headquarters. Spotted by French champion and content creator Kayane, Neia impressed immediately by defeating several high-level players, including a professional competitor — a performance that sparked widespread attention within the community.
Strong results on the international stage
Neia’s momentum continued throughout 2025:
- 13th place at Ultimate Fighting Arena (UFA) Paris in September
- 17th place at EVO Nice in October while representing French club BMS, eliminating top international players such as Tibetano
- 4th place at Galaxian Explosion in December, defeating Jodd in the top eight — her best result to date
These performances confirmed her status as a breakout Tekken 8 talent with significant international potential.
The next chapter in yellow and black
For the 2026 season, Neia has chosen to continue her competitive journey with Team Vitality, benefitting from world-class coaching, infrastructure, and performance support. Her next major milestones include Tekken World Tour Sweden (January 2026) and EVO Japan (May 2026).
Team Vitality’s commitment to talent development
As a major force in European esports, Team Vitality places player development at the heart of its strategy. By joining the organization, Neia will train in a high-performance environment alongside seasoned professionals, accelerating her growth on the international fighting game circuit.
Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and Co-Founder of Team Vitality, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Neia to Team Vitality. Her potential, seriousness, and determination fully reflect the club’s mindset. Alongside her mentor Kayane, we are proud to support her in this new phase and confident she will find the ideal conditions to thrive with our fighting game players.”
With Neia’s arrival, Team Vitality strengthens its Fighting Games roster while reinforcing its role in shaping the next generation of esports champions.
The post Team Vitality Signs 16-Year-Old Tekken 8 Prodigy Neia to Fighting Games Roster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Boomerang Partners
Boomerang Partners highlights from iGB Affiliate Barcelona 2026: The Sports Marketing & Betting Calendar 2026 presentation, sports activations and the ‘Best Live Event Marketing Campaign’ award
From 20th to 21st January, Boomerang Partners participated in the iGB Affiliate Barcelona 2026. This event once again brought together key players of the global affiliate marketing industry, serving as a platform for strategic discussions, partnerships, and knowledge exchange. Boomerang met with current and new affiliate partners, presented its latest expert product, the Sports Marketing and Betting Calendar 2026, and reaffirmed sports as its core strategic segment. Also, the company won the prestigious ‘Best Live Event Marketing Campaign’ award at the European iGaming Awards.
Sports as a strategic focus
For Boomerang Partners, sports is a long-term strategic vertical. The company aspires to become the world’s leading sports-focused affiliate program, backed by extensive experience and deep expertise. iGB Affiliate Barcelona provided an excellent opportunity to meet with affiliate partners and discuss collaboration for the current year, which can rightfully be called the Year of Sports, thanks to the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, and numerous other tournaments across various sports.
Strategy sessions and analytics at the core
Boomerang Partners traditionally attends major industry events together with representatives of its in-house analytics team. During iGB Affiliate Barcelona, the company held a series of strategic sessions with affiliate partners, focusing on traffic planning, seasonality, and campaign efficiency.
This approach allows affiliate teams to meet not only Boomerang’s affiliate managers, but also the analysts behind the company’s strategies. As a result, exhibitions like iGB Affiliate Barcelona become effective spaces for in-depth discussions and long-term planning rather than surface-level networking.
A must-have tool for sports-focused affiliates
One of the key highlights of Boomerang Partners’ participation was the presentation of the Sports Marketing & Betting Calendar 2026. This exclusive guide was introduced as both a practical analytics product and a value-driven gift for affiliate partners.
The Calendar consolidates sports schedules, traffic peak predictions, GEO insights, industry trends summary, and expert recommendations into a single framework, helping affiliate teams plan campaigns throughout the year. It can provide practical value to experienced sports-focused affiliates in shaping their strategies. Newcomers starting in the vertical will gain valuable insights into many nuances of working with sports traffic, such as the importance of tailoring campaigns to specific tournament phases (pre-event, during the competition, or post-event).
Booth concept and sports-focused activations
Boomerang Partners’ booth reflected the company’s sports-first positioning. All on-booth activities were built around sports engagement – from interactive mechanics to branded giveaways. All of this reinforced the message that Boomerang speaks the language of sports affiliates and understands their needs.
So, among all those who downloaded the Sports Marketing & Betting Calendar 2026 via QR code at the booth during the exhibition, a fully-funded trip and accommodation in Milan was raffled, including tickets to a home match of the Club at the iconic San Siro Stadium.
Looking ahead
Boomerang Partners encourages affiliate teams to stay up to date on upcoming updates and to actively use analytical tools when planning sports campaigns. Tools like the Sports Marketing & Betting Calendar 2026 are designed to help partners anticipate traffic peaks, optimize strategies, and drive sustainable growth in the sports vertical.
Darina Sharban, Affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners, commented:
“iGB Affiliate Barcelona is always about quality conversations. This year, we saw strong interest from partners who already work with sports traffic and want deeper analytics to scale their campaigns. Such opportunities are provided to them by our Sports Marketing & Betting Calendar 2026.”
Kristina Shkredova, Affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners, said:
“What stood out was how many discussions went beyond campaign planning. Partners were focused on seasonality, long-term planning, and how to prepare for major sports events in advance.”
Liliia Sudachenko, Affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners, added:
“Events like this allow us to align expectations. When affiliate partners see our analytics approach and tools like the Sports Marketing & Betting Calendar, conversations become much more strategic.
Well-deserved recognition
During iGB Affiliate Barcelona, the winners of the European iGaming Awards were announced. Boomerang Partners won in the category ‘Best Live Event Marketing Campaign’. In doing so, the jury rightfully acknowledged the company for its outstanding execution of the Golden Boomerang Awards ceremony at the legendary San Siro Stadium in Milan in May 2025. The event was combined with an exclusive networking and a charity auction. The participation of AC Milan Legend Andrea Pirlo, who presented awards in 11 categories, gave the ceremony a special status.
With iGB Affiliate Barcelona 2026 behind them, Boomerang Partners continues to focus on analytics, expertise, and long-term partnerships – keeping sports at the center of its affiliate strategy. Download the Sports Marketing & Betting Calendar 2026 on the company’s official website and plan your sports traffic campaigns effectively.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
The agency’s client portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
The post Boomerang Partners highlights from iGB Affiliate Barcelona 2026: The Sports Marketing & Betting Calendar 2026 presentation, sports activations and the ‘Best Live Event Marketing Campaign’ award appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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