Yggdrasil chief commercial officer José Kadala gives the lowdown on the supplier’s new 3 Piggies of Bank game, featuring a new Lock’em & Load’em mechanic
3 Piggies of Bank is Yggdrasil’s first game built around the universally recognised Three Little Pigs story. How do you take an IP that players immediately understand and turn it into something that feels distinctly Yggdrasil?
For us, it was about taking a story that everyone immediately recognises and giving it a very Yggdrasil twist. The Three Little Pigs gives us a familiar world, but we didn’t want to simply rely on the strength of the IP; the characters, visual identity, humour and, most importantly, the gameplay have all been designed to feel distinctly Yggdrasil.
The aim was to create something players instantly understand, but then give them a fresh and unexpected experience once they start playing.
The game also introduces Lock’em & Load’em, a brand-new Yggdrasil Game Engagement Mechanic (GEM). What does this mechanic bring to the player experience, and why was 3 Piggies of Bank the right title to introduce it?
Same as the question before, we want to give something to the players that they know and understand – that’s why we came with Lock’em & Load’em, which is inspired by the Hold N’ Win mechanic. Its admittedly very popular among players since it adds a special layer of anticipation and excitement to the gameplay – creating those moments where players can see the potential building and feel that something bigger could happen.
3 Piggies of Bank was a natural fit for introducing the mechanic because the theme lends itself perfectly to the idea of collecting, building and taking risks.
Beyond the core Lock’em & Load’em experience, 3 Piggies of Bank has several layers of features and rewards. How important is that sense of variety when creating a game designed to sustain player engagement?
It is extremely important, particularly in today’s market where players have an incredible amount of choice. A successful game needs to offer different moments throughout the session – anticipation, progression, rewards and the possibility of something unexpected happening – without making the experience complicated.
With 3 Piggies of Bank, we have tried to create that balance: something that is easy to understand from the first spin, but with enough variety and depth to keep the experience interesting.
As chief commercial officer, you’ve seen what separates a good game from a commercial hit. What does 3 Piggies of Bank have that can help it stand out from the crowd and win that all-important visibility in the casino lobby?
Ultimately, it comes down to having a strong concept, great gameplay and a clear reason for the player to choose your game over everything else in the lobby. 3 Piggies of Bank has the advantage of being immediately recognisable, which helps create that first connection with the player, but recognition alone isn’t enough.
The game also needs to be clear and intuitive, so players quickly understand what is happening, what they can achieve and what keeps them coming back for another spin. I believe the math and mechanic of this game will do just that.
The game combines a globally recognisable theme with a familiar style of gameplay. Which player profiles and markets do you see as the strongest fit for 3 Piggies of Bank?
The beauty of the concept is that it has broad appeal. The Three Little Pigs is recognised across many markets and generations, while the gameplay is familiar enough that players can understand it immediately.
I see strong potential across mature casino markets where players are already comfortable with the slot format, as well as markets where recognisable themes and strong visual storytelling can help a game stand out. I also wouldn’t put the game into too narrow a box, one of its strengths is that it can appeal to experienced slot players while also attracting a wider audience through the theme.
What has the reaction from operators been so far, and are there particular elements of the game that have generated the most excitement?
The reaction has been very positive, particularly around the combination of the recognisable theme and the new Lock’em & Load’em mechanic. Operators are always looking for games that create an immediate connection with players, but also give them a reason to promote and position the title, and we believe this game offers both.
What has been particularly encouraging is that the conversation hasn’t just been about the theme, operators are also engaging strongly with the gameplay and the commercial potential of the new mechanic, which is exactly what we wanted to achieve!
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