Build your own Virtual Casino- Casino RPG Interview
Goldfire Studio's newest game, Casino RPG, has a special offer for URComped members. URComped CEO, interviews Goldfire Studios CEO and founder, James Simpson to learn all about this NEW virtual casino experience.
Click HERE to try out Casino RPG and receive URComped Items
What is Casino RPG?
(0:43-2:27) Casino RPG is not your average online casino game. It's very community heavy and even provides events! The most common explanation you get from the game's users is, "if you combined “The Sims”, “SimCity”, and casino games, then you have Casino RPG." So It's like a big Vegas-style City and all of the casinos in the city are owned, designed, and managed by users. You can explore the city, visit the casinos, and play the casino games.
There are Slots, Poker, Solitaire, Blackjack, Roulette, Bingo, Lottery games, and MORE! Casino RPG is currently working on craps. You can play it in your browser, iPhone, your iPad, or your Android device.
And if you are unable to physically go to a casino for some reason, you can have that “in-casino experience” virtually with the social aspect.
How did Casino RPG get started?
(2:40- 4:37) James Simpson began creating games when he was in middle school, as a hobby. He learned how to program, create websites, and do web design which he exercised all throughout high school. He created a game called Poker RPG while in high school which was a text-based game focussed on poker. After realizing he wanted to take this development further, by bringing in other casino games and allowing players to customize their own casino, the idea of Casino RPG was born.
They began development Summer of 2012. Simpson and one other part-time person slowly built up the game and launched in the Spring of 2013. The community of Casino RPG has been evolving since with new update releases every couple of weeks.
Goldfire Studios has created other games, but Casino RPG is their largest game to-date and their main focus.
What types of updates are on Casino RPG?
(4:50- 6:29) In order to stay fresh, Casino RPG puts out new updates routinely. Other than bug fixes sprinkled here and there, Casino RPG continues to add new ways to engage users and make the game more fun. One example was their big Hotels Expansion update. Besides just designing a casino, users can now create and design hotels. New slot machines, casino items, furniture, clothing, and other items are the most frequent additions.
(Casino RPG is extremely engaging and fun. The URComped staff has first-hand experience playing it.)
How does Casino RPG come up with new ideas?
(6:31- 8:55) Casino RPG's focus is on getting things into the game that the community wants to see in the game. A huge chunk of the update ideas comes from a collaborative effort with the users. They have a feedback form where people can submit ideas to be voted on by other users. Then the staff can see what the people want the most. Some people will even send art submissions, sketched-up ideas, for new items. Goldfire will then send the art forms to their artist to put into Casino RPG's style and add to the game.
One suggestion came from URComped to have cruise themed items for users to decorate their casino as a cruise ship.
What did Casino RPG design for the URComped family?
(8:55-10:26) There's currently no ocean in the Casino RPG world, so Simpson and his team enabled players to turn their land-based casino into a virtual-cruise casino. They created a broad set of items that would make the casino look like a cruise ship. From porthole windows with ocean animations, tropical-themed items, anchors, and more. URComped has a promo link that gives users access to these items when they sign up. Click here to sign up and receive items. Let us know what you think!
Did Casino RPG work with and casinos?
(10:34- 12:00) All of Casino RPG's slot games are original, and they don't have anyone on the team with a casino background, although they are based in Oklahoma City. Goldfire consulted with two of the different tribal casinos in Oklahoma to learn more about the management aspect, the different rules, and processes involved in running a casino. Casino RPG has even been thinking about licensing Vegas Slot Games, so users may even see that in the future!
How has engagement on Casino RPG been affected by the quarantine?
(12:00- 13:30)Casino RPG has seen an increased range of about 25% in time spent. Casino RPG has been running events, as well as allowing people to create their own social events. Most players have organized a lot of "Quarantine-Killer" events on their own. Users can group up with their friends to partake in a monthly "crew war" and compete in six different casino games with the hopes of having the highest score over a 3-day period. They've had their own World Series of Poker and Slot League events as well.
