Learn the Bullshark Games Ways to Succeed

Would you ever believe that exhaustion could grant someone such an inspiring outcome? You are on the verge of exploring the highs and lows of transitioning from pro player to industry innovator and how today’s poker players can use technology to their advantage—the Bullshark Games way! This interview with none other than Andre Villandberg will also reveal some exclusive insights regarding future plans but will also offer you a glimpse of how everything unfolded for the creation of Bullshark Games.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your journey in the iGaming industry?

I started playing poker when I was 15. A girl I knew taught us, took our lunch money, and after that, I was hooked. I spent all my waking hours learning about the game—watching videos, studying strategies, and playing as much as possible. I played throughout high school and during my bachelor’s. After that, I turned pro for a couple of years, but playing 12 hours a day, day in and day out, eventually burned me out. I lost my love for the game at that point and knew I had to get a ‘real’ job. That led me to help sell software designed for professional poker players.

Ironically, while I was playing professionally, I also made some extra money by grinding casino bonuses. If you understand the math behind them, there’s plenty of money to be made. That’s also when I started developing an interest in how slot games really work.

After that, I joined Derivco, which at the time had a poker integrity team managing Microgaming’s poker network (which has since shut down). From there, I moved on to Relax Gaming, where I helped test their games and gained even more knowledge about slots. Later, I received an offer to become a casino manager at Yolo Group, where I helped build the casino for their leading sports betting brand, Sportsbet.io.

After three years, I was ready for a change, so I had a chat with Tim Heath, the founder of Yolo Group, and landed at OneTouch, a slot studio, as their Head of Games. That’s where I really got into the mechanics of slot development and realized that I wanted to start my own studio.

I’ve always known I wanted to work for myself, so that’s how I got here. I knew I couldn’t build a studio while working at Yolo, so I left and took a role at Duelbits as Head of Casino. On the side, I started working on my first game… And that’s how we arrived here.

Bullshark Games has made “From Players To Players” its mantra. What does this philosophy mean to you, and how does it shape the way you design your games?

Because I truly enjoy playing slots and understanding their mechanics, every time we start thinking about a new slot game, our priority is to offer something fresh. We will never just copy someone else’s game without adding our own twist, and I genuinely have to enjoy the game I’m building.

On average, I spin at least 10,000 to 20,000 times before a game is released, and then a few thousand more afterward. This is because what you test in a development environment can sometimes feel very different from what happens in live production.

There have been multiple times when we felt really confident before a game’s release, but after testing it with real money, something just didn’t feel right. Usually, we manage to identify the issue, and that process helps us build even better games in the future.

For every game we release, my first question is always: Would I play this as a player? The answer should always be yes.

How has your experience since founding Bullshark Games influenced your approach to game development?

I naturally got into gambling since I was exposed to it from a young age. I’ve kind of liked gambling ever since I was a kid. I remember wasting my money on scratchers when I was around seven years old—what a time to grow up! No one cared if a little kid spent his money on gambling.

I also had a mini roulette wheel at the same age. Who the hell makes a roulette game for kids and thinks that’s a good idea?

To be fair, I’ve always known that I never wanted to build reskins of other games. But now that I’ve been in the industry for a while, this feeling has only gotten stronger.

In your view, what makes a great slot game in today’s market?

A great slot game is a combination of pleasing visuals, engaging audio, and captivating mechanics. I don’t want to go into too much detail—you know, eyes are everywhere.

How do you balance innovation with player expectations when designing your games? Can you give an example from one of your titles?

When we design games, we always strive to introduce a new twist. We want players to look forward to trying our new releases—even if a particular game isn’t their favorite, there’s always something fresh to explore.

Balancing innovation with player expectations can be challenging. We know that certain features consistently attract more likes and plays, but we don’t want to be one of those studios that repeatedly reuse the same mechanics with just a new theme. That’s why we’re willing to take risks.

For example, with Piggy Cluster Hunt, we experimented with a growing random multiplier per spin. However, it didn’t turn out quite the way we wanted—but we live and learn.

With titles like Mafia Clash and Coop Clash, you’ve introduced innovative mechanics such as the Shootout feature, Bonus Buy options, and cluster pays. How do these features enhance the thrill and overall engagement for players?

With our games, we always aim to give players the chance to win big on any single spin. This goal is always at the forefront of our minds when designing new features, ensuring that every spin feels exciting and full of potential.

What drives your team to continuously innovate and ensure that players always have something fresh to experience?

We’re essentially creating games for ourselves because we love gambling too, so it only makes sense to keep trying something new. I’ve actually hit a max win on my own games a couple of times in production, which should give you an idea of just how much we play!

How important is player feedback in your development process, and can you share an example of how it has influenced a game feature or design decision?

We are really grateful for big slot review sites, as they help us stay informed about the latest releases. We make a point to play almost every new game that comes out to truly understand what’s being built in the market—what works, what doesn’t, and how we can introduce something new and exciting, or even create something entirely fresh.

We also pay close attention to player comments, as they provide the most honest feedback. This is especially valuable for our own games, as it helps us consider different perspectives when developing new titles.

For players who love bonus rounds and engaging mechanics, what exclusive experiences do Bullshark Games aim to deliver through your titles?

When playing our games, we want players to always feel the anticipation of a big win that could come from anywhere. What makes our games exciting is that you can never be certain whether a bonus round will be a dud or a massive payout.

There have been plenty of times when a player lands a huge win on the very last spin, and that’s exactly the kind of thrill we love about gambling.

Since launching in 2023 Bullshark Games has quickly made its mark in the online slots arena. What have been some of the most exciting milestones or challenges you’ve encountered along the way?

As a small studio, our biggest challenge is visibility. However, we’ve already seen that once players discover us, they tend to stay loyal, trying out all of our new games.

We’ve also achieved some exciting milestones. Recently, we won a silver medal in the Rising Star Development Award, securing nearly 20% of the player votes. This kind of recognition means a lot to us because it’s the most genuine feedback you can get—you can’t buy these votes, and we truly appreciate the support.

Additionally, in 2024, we were ranked among the Top 10 Studios on one of the leading slot review sites. Considering the size of our studio, this achievement reinforces that we’re on the right path and that players genuinely enjoy our releases.

Looking ahead, what can players expect from Bullshark Games in terms of future releases and innovative features? Are there any teasers or hints you can share about what’s coming next?

The next few months will bring some very exciting releases. I know every game studio says that, but with us, it’s truly the case. Every new game will be unique, featuring different mechanics and fresh experiences for players to enjoy.

We’re experimenting with innovative features, and there’s definitely a lot to look forward to. In fact, we believe we might have a Game of the Year contender in the mix—but let’s see how it goes!

Finally, how do you see the future of online slots evolving, and what role do you envision Bullshark Games playing in that evolution?

More game developers are focusing on capturing the attention of Gen Z, which means we’ll see a lot of experimentation in the industry. Keywords like skill-based gameplay and multiplayer experiences will play a role in shaping the future of online slots. At Bullshark Games, we’re not afraid to try new things, so you can definitely expect some unique and innovative concepts from us as well.

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