Avalon is one of Microgaming’s most epic and enduring titles so news of a sequel, Avalon II: The Quest For The Grail, has caused quite a stir. iNTERGAMINGi spoke to Mike Hebden, head of casino at Microgaming, to get an exclusive insight into the online slot.
IN December, Microgaming released a video teaser of a slot in the making. It was for the long-anticipated follow-up to the company’s hit Avalon and it looked very impressive.
Set to launch at the largest i-gaming show of the year, ICE Totally Gaming, Avalon II adds to Microgaming’s extensive portfolio of games. So what sets Avalon II apart? We spoke to the company’s Mike Hebden for an exclusive insight into the online slot.
iNTERGAMINGi: Avalon was released back in 2006 – why did you choose to release a sequel in 2014?
MH: “Avalon originally launched on the download casino platform in 2006, closely followed by a Flash, instant-play version. To our delight, it was an instant hit with players. With the exponential rise in mobile gaming, the obvious next step was to extend the games reach on the mobile platform and so in April 2010 a Java mobile version was released.
“In 2012 the game became HTML5 compatible – allowing it to be played on almost any mobile or tablet device. If that wasn’t enough, a multiplayer version was released in early 2013. High in demand, the slot is now available on any platform and any device - I think this really highlights how permanent the game is and still to this day it’s a favourite among online players.
“In terms of its longevity - even though the slot was launched eight years ago - it has been a top-performing game in terms of traffic, number of spins and net win since 2006. In an industry known for its fast-paced and ever-changing landscape, Avalon has stood the test of time. It has created a loyal fan base and had a huge online following – and in that sense rather than just an online slot, we see Avalon as a brand, and Avalon II provides an extension to this.
Read the full article in the February issue of iNTERGAMINGi
