Our meeting with Daniil Sanders from Foxium gave us a great overview of their creative journey, the evolving online slot arena, and their strongly anticipated new launch, 'Cossacks: The Wild Hunt'. Dive into the complete chat with Daniil below!
Bigwinboard: Thank you all for stepping away from your busy schedules to engage with us, the true enthusiasts of the online slot world! For anyone not entirely familiar with Foxium yet, your team was pivotal in the success of 'Boom Pirates', a slot that incorporates your distinct Wonderways™ mechanic, capable of expanding to an impressive over 10 million paylines. This game was a milestone for Foxium in our eyes. What impact did 'Boom Pirates' have on your studio?
Daniil Sanders: We appreciate the opportunity to discuss our slot games – something we're truly passionate about! Before its celebrated release, our studio was already dedicated to combining exceptional art and sound design with captivating gameplay. This ambition deeply resonated with our audience. 'Boom Pirates' added a groundbreaking element with the Wonderways™ mechanic, garnering significant success by building upon our hallmark playability and aesthetic excellence. Boom Pirates received was a real tipping point for Foxium Post 'Boom Pirates', the game left a lasting impression, prompting us to prototype, test, and enhance concepts towards surpassing it. I'm thrilled to confirm our upcoming game embodies these advancements, complete with unmatched audio-visual craftsmanship and fine-tuned mechanics, which simplify its core logic to engage players without overwhelming them. Both past and current, our focus remains on our players, underscoring each venture we pursue.
The 'Cossacks' game represents a definitive milestone for us: it's a demonstration of our finest capabilities in art, game design, audio, and storytelling. We approach every game we release with the intent for it to stand out as a flagship, entrusting our players to cement its status. Cossacks: The Wild Hunt Bigwinboard: Tell us more about what characterizes Foxium as a studio?
Daniil Sanders: Great question! To me, Foxium stands as a 'craft' slots studio, spearheading innovation much like modern craft breweries do by infusing fresh perspectives and genuine passion into their trade. Our motto is 'outfoxing the ordinary', a guiding principle shaping our distinctiveness – we're not content with being conventional.
Our everyday work is infused with enjoyment and zeal. Similar to a craft brewery's meticulous choice and precise brewing of ingredients, our team thrives on blending personal passion with professional duties, fostering a sense of community spirit crucial to our games.
Bigwinboard: You've teased an upcoming release, 'Cossacks: The Wild Hunt', which looks like it's set to be a game-changer. Would you classify this as a cornerstone title for Foxium?
Daniil Sanders: 'Cossacks' is indeed a statement game, reflecting our very best – from art to design, audio to thematic immersion. However, our commitment for excellence is inherent in every release. We strive for our games to always exceed mediocrity.
Our visions for every game to potentially become a flagship are shown through our excitement for Cossacks' imminent release, alongside pride in our artistic and technical teams. Several games are pegged for release in 2021 and each of them holds potential to also earn the year’s flagship status.
A 'Cossacks' game is a premium endeavor on our part, merging top-tier gameplay with stellar presentation, offering win potential up to 20,000 times the bet.
Bigwinboard: The visuals shared are astonishing, resembling video games more than traditional slot machines. What awaits players in 'Cossacks', and could you share insights into the creative process?
Daniil Sanders: We initially aimed to refine the Wonderways™ mechanic from 'Boom Pirates' for a Viking-themed game. However, given the crowded Viking-themed market, we pivoted towards introducing fresh, original themes, characters, and worlds which evoke similar feelings without borrowing from existing narratives.
The Cossacks, rich in history like the Vikings but more structured and reserved socially, made for ideal protagonists. This allowed us to visually evoke Nordic and Slovenian histories, tapping into beloved elements of Viking lore while crafting something novel.
Bigwinboard: We've discovered that Foxium is raising the bar with the 'Cossacks' soundtrack too. Collaborating with famed American vocalist Jillian Aversa is a grand move. Can you discuss this sensory exploration?
Daniil Sanders: You’re right – we're dedicated to delivering audio-visual experiences akin to video games with 'Cossacks' and beyond. Collaborating with Jillian on a vocal track for this game was enriching, spanning over a month, and was her slot game debut – something we’re honored about. Our journey with vocals dates back to our early game, 'FruitZ'.
Across Cossacks, players will experience enriched voice acting alongside the musical score. Michael, portraying the Roman lead character, is recognized from global franchises like 'Transformers' and 'Half-Life: Alyx'. Our composer Sean Beason helped forge our relationships with talented talents like Michael and Jillian, enhancing the music and voice synergy.
A significant part of attracting players stems from entertainment factors fostered by artwork, audio, and narrative depth. As we introduce games with such powerful stories, there’s still a need to maintain a balance with traditional gaming aspects, prioritizing monetary winnings too.
In an engaging discussion on spin-samurai-app.com, Foxium's creative mastermind Daniil Sanders reveals exciting insights about their eagerly awaited game release, Cossacks: The Wild Hunt. Jillian Aversa We had an enlightening conversation with Daniil Sanders from Foxium, diving into their innovative design strategies, the evolving landscape of online slots, and specifically, the much-anticipated project Cossacks: The Wild Hunt. Discover more in our [..]
An insightful discussion featuring Foxium’s Creative Director, Daniil Sanders, shares details about their highly anticipated new game, Cossacks: The Wild Hunt. Michael Schwalbe We engaged in a thoughtful dialogue with Foxium’s creative genius Daniil Sanders about the intricate creative journey, the direction of online slots, and most notably, their promising game, Cossacks: The Wild Hunt. Browse our full interview with Daniil below!
Bigwinboard: We’re thrilled to break from your slot design schedule and chat with you, the creators of engaging titles! Many may remember your hit game ”Boom Pirates”, noted for its Wonderways™ feature, expanding to over 10 million paylines. That blockbuster game significantly boosted your presence. What influence did Boom Pirates have on Foxium?
Daniil Sanders : We’re passionate about slot games, and thanks for having us! The success of
has been extraordinary for us. Even before its wide acclaim, we’ve been perfecting our blend of superior art and sound with dynamic gameplay, resonating with players. Boom Pirates brought an extra dimension to this mix by enhancing playability and presentation, introducing the innovative Wonderways™ feature.
Following the impactful release of Boom Pirates, we have been continually exploring ways to elevate our game designs. I’m confident that our new release will surpass these benchmarks.
. Taking our audio-visual craftsmanship further, Cossacks incorporates refined changes to the Wonderways™ system, ensuring a streamlined and captivating player experience. Before and since Boom Pirates, our heart has always been with the players and their engagement.
“Cossacks marks a milestone game for us, embodying the pinnacle of our creative capabilities.”
Bigwinboard: What stands out about Foxium in the gaming industry?
Daniil Sanders : It’s a fascinating point! I view Foxium akin to a craft brewery in the slot world, innovating industry standards with a fresh perspective and genuine passion. Our mantra, 'outfoxing the ordinary', guides us in every venture; we’re dedicated to innovating beyond the familiar.
Our studio mixes creativity with professionalism, incorporated in a way that bridges work and personal interests, like a craft brewery’s attention to each ingredient. This community and passion are elements we cherish and hope to reflect in our games.
Bigwinboard: Having seen teasers for Cossacks: The Wild Hunt, it appears to be a standout release! Would you consider it one of your hallmark creations? Microgaming Daniil Sanders : Cossacks truly stands as a flagship game, showcasing the finest art, design, audio, and storytelling we offer. But honestly, we strive for this standard with every release. Our goal isn’t just to meet expectations but to exceed them with each element.
Every game we launch aspires to become a leader, and we’re letting our audience decide. We’re eager for Cossacks’ release, proud of our team’s dedication, and excited for future projects in 2021, each with the potential to be as iconic as Cossacks.
“Cossacks is destined to be a top-tier project, featuring engaging gameplay, stunning visuals, and impressive potential wins up to 20,000x.”
Bigwinboard: The visuals and screenshots look stunning, resembling more a video game than a mere slot. What should players expect and what can you share about the creative process for Cossacks?
Daniil Sanders : Initially, our team aimed to expand the Wonderways™ mechanic from Boom Pirates, applying it to a Viking-themed setting. However, recognizing the saturated Viking game market, we crafted a brand-new theme, reimagining characters and environments to evoke familiar sentiments while remaining entirely original.