Independent social and mobile game studio Large Animal Games, in collaboration with WMS Gaming Inc., has graduated Lucky Cruise from beta into the big wide world, where the social casino game is being distributed on Facebook by 6Waves/LOLApps.
This is WMS’s first foray into social gaming. Even in beta, AppData reports that the game has 660,000 monthly active users.
The Lucky Cruise social casino incorporates content from WMS’ popular casino games, and adds a social element that enables players to get help from friends. Players must collect “luck” in order for the ship of the title to continue its journey around the world. Also, at each exotic port of call there are bonus games that reward success with lucky charms; these charms add a strategic dimension, since their effect on the gameplay depends on how the player uses them. In addition, players can unlock new charms and destinations, improve game outcomes and customize their casino.
WMS Gaming is a subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc. (formerly Williams-Midway), a company known for pinball, arcade and home video games and casino industry games like reel-spinning gaming machines and video lottery terminals, and in other legal gaming operations.
Orrin J. Edidin, president of WMS, said, “By working with Large Animal Games, a world-class social games company, to develop Lucky Cruise social casino, we are introducing entirely new audiences to the casino gaming experience, thereby demonstrating our ability to adapt our proven slot content to the social gaming space, which we believe will be an important driver in further engaging our land-based customers’ current players and in attracting new players to their facilities.”
Edidin added that Lucky Cruise will grow and evolve based on player analytics and feedback, which also will be used to glean insights about the social game space that can fuel future innovation.
Wade Tinney, CEO of Large Animal Games, said the social and strategy aspects of Lucky Cruise mean it appeals to social game audiences who are not necessarily slot players. “Our play mechanics go far beyond the one-dimensional nature of other Facebook slot content, transforming passive and solitary play into an active, strategic and social experience involving a suite of games,” he said. “Lucky Cruise has already garnered tremendous early success, as evidenced by the number of monthly and daily active users. We’re very excited about the relationship with WMS and the initial success of this social casino for both companies.”
Related links:
http://www.facebook.com/luckycruise
