Exactly Who Are Blueprint Gaming?
However, this unremarkable picture is not the whole story for this outfit, as it is far more influential within the gaming software industry than may first appear. Just a year after its formation, the company’s talented design capabilities were spotted by the major German gaming conglomerate Gauselmann, who purchased a 50 per cent controlling stake in the start-up. This arrangement was formalised in 2012, when Gauselmann bought out the remaining shareholders. Today, Blueprint Gaming is a wholly owned subsidiary of the German giants.
This arrangement certainly has worked out really well for the plucky Brits. The company have been largely left to get on with what they know best – creating superb gaming software, whilst their wealthy owners use their financial muscle to distribute Blueprint Gaming’s creations throughout the international gaming market.
In fact, Blueprint is used as one of the two major brands which Gauselmann use as their games design division. Gauselmann have substantial interests in the real world land based casino gaming industry, and are responsible for the production of thousands of cabinet and table top consoles used in casinos, bars and entertainment and amusement complexes throughout Europe and North America.
Gauselmann act as parents to both Blueprint Gaming and sister company Merkur Gaming, both of whom act as individual brands, creating software for both land based machines and online slots. From the players’ point of view, this can make it difficult to differentiate between the two strands. Not only that, but many games are produced for cabinet use only, then customised for online players later. This means that it can be difficult to be sure which of their games are even available to play online.
In practice, from the typical player’s perspective, it makes little difference whether a game appears under the Merkur or the Blueprint Gaming brand. The two are pretty much indistinguishable to the likes of us players: maybe industry insiders have the key to unlock the differences, but we have more interesting things to do than attempt to decipher the financial shenanigans going on in the opaque corporate world of the gaming industry.
Games from Blueprint Gaming
In total, Blueprint Gaming have around one hundred slots in total to their name. Some may be officially branded ‘ Merkur’, and not all are available in online form. In particular, the company produces many games which are exclusive to the UK pub and entertainment market. These are mostly themed along traditional ‘fruit machine’ lines – a niche which tends to be peculiar to the British market. Nevertheless, with a track record of well over a decade behind them, they also have a wide range of online slots in their locker, along with some other instant games, such as scratch cards.
Jo Purvis, Director of Marketing at Blueprint Gaming, has recently outlined her company’s most popular games and its future strategy in a recent interview. Surprisingly, she disclosed that the ‘standout performer’ is the company’s officially licenced version of the classic movie The Goonies. In fact, the company have a good track record of producing excellent officially licenced slots. It’s just that few pundits would have guessed the somewhat niche laughs of The Goonies to be the top favourite.
Other official slot conversions include the movies Ted and the iconic and cunningly punning British classic comedy Carry On Camping. There are also several excellent versions of animated TV series and movie characters. Top Cat is as smart as ever, while more contemporary animations such as Beavis and Butt-Head and Rick and Morty are also superbly revised from their original designs. The company’s smash hit slot version of the TV game show phenomenon Deal or no Deal is another example of this ability to transfer the charm and atmosphere of an original format to the world of online slots.
Jo describes King Kong Cash as another popular favourite, with the cuddly ape being a lot more approachable in slot form than in his original misunderstood but monstrous monochrome 1933 incarnation. Another successful pair of games have arrived via an alternative route. They have been converted from an already successful cabinet format. Both Fishin’ Frenzy and the ancient Egyptian themed Eye of Horus have been successfully digitised for the online market.
Today, the company is very much focused on upgrading its current games portfolio into updated formats. Blueprint Gaming have licenced its rival Big Time Gaming’s MegawaysTM mechanic, in order to add an extra dimension to many of its own titles. It has also reissued several of its titles in its own exclusive Jackpot King progressive format.
In Summary
At the time of writing, the company seems focused on revising and upgrading its current portfolio. More and more titles are being reissued in Megaways format, or refashioned to provide progressive jackpots. Newly created ideas seem a little thin on the ground. Maybe Gauselmann have delegated the task of providing fresh ideas to their sister company Merkur? But have no fear – all casinos on the Dragonfish platform have access to the Blueprint Gaming range of games, so look out for them at your chosen casino.