10p Gamer x Booming Games – Vampires: Blood Moon Q&A

We sat down with Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, to talk about their latest release, Vampires: Blood Moon.

1. Halloween is creeping up, and Booming Games has vampires on the guest list this year; how would you introduce Vampires: Blood Moon to players seeing it for the first time?

Vampires: Blood Moon brings a traditional gothic vampire theme together with a slick, modern slot experience. The two coffins give players different features to look out for in the base game, while Free Spins is all about how the reels evolve.

Winning lower-value symbols are removed, higher-value symbols can become more valuable, and Wilds are collected for the finale. We wanted the atmosphere and mechanics to work together, building towards that final Blood Moon Spin. It's a natural fit for Halloween, but we've designed the experience with appeal beyond the spooky season.

2. Last year's Fish Tales: Halloween is still a fan favourite, despite being a seasonal game. What do you think has helped it connect with players beyond the Halloween season?

I think it comes down to combining mechanics that have already proved popular with players and a fishing theme that has strong appeal in its own right. We then gave that combination a Halloween identity, with a zombified fisherman, undead fish and an eerie wooded lake setting. The theme gives it personality, while the underlying gameplay gives players a reason to return throughout the year.

We saw that reflected in its performance: Fish Tales: Halloween stayed among our top performers for a considerable time beyond the Halloween period. That's exactly what we hope to achieve with a seasonal release.

3. From old-school gothic horror to blood-soaked vampire films, there's plenty of inspiration to draw on here; what helped your team set the mood for Vampires: Blood Moon?

There wasn't one particular film or reference that drove it. We wanted to take a more traditional route with the gothic vampire theme, drawing on that familiar atmosphere and sense of mystery. At the same time, we wanted it to feel current and deliver a slick slot experience.

Finding the balance between those two things was the key: giving players a world they immediately recognise, with presentation and gameplay that feel modern. The vampire theme also gave us a natural way to connect the coffins, symbol transformations and Blood Moon finale.

4. The Ruby and Emerald Coffins introduce two different features to the base game; can you talk players through how they work?

The coffins collect their respective symbols when those symbols haven't triggered a feature directly. Moon Cash Symbols collect towards the Ruby Coffin, and any collection can activate the Cash Collect feature, adding a special Vampire Collect symbol to the reels to collect the cash values.

The Emerald Coffin works with Scatter Bonus symbols. Those collect towards the coffin, with any collection potentially triggering the Free Spins bonus. That gives both symbol types an additional role in the base game, with each collection offering a chance to activate its associated feature.

5. During Free Spins, winning lower-value symbols are removed while higher-value symbols receive upgrades; how does this change the experience as the bonus unfolds?

It gives the bonus a real sense of progression because wins can change the reels for the spins that follow. When lower-value symbols form a win, they're removed from the reels, progressively narrowing the symbol mix and improving the chances of higher-value combinations. Winning higher-value symbols are upgraded to golden versions, which pay twice their original value. So there are two things developing together: fewer lower-value symbols and more valuable premium symbols. We wanted players to feel the bonus evolving as they play, with each change adding anticipation for the remaining spins.

6. The Blood Moon Spin brings collected Wilds back together for a final spin; what inspired you to give the bonus this particular finale?

We wanted to give the bonus a clear crescendo, with something players build towards throughout Free Spins. Wilds are collected during the round, and on the final spin, the Blood Moon Spin activates and those collected Wilds are added back onto the reels. It brings that collection element together in one final moment with substantial win potential.

From a design perspective, it gives the bonus a satisfying structure: the reels develop as the feature unfolds, while the collected Wilds create anticipation for how it will finish.

7. You've given fish a Halloween makeover and now invited vampires onto the reels; what other creatures or horror themes are on your creative wish list?

As a horror fan, there's plenty I'd love to explore. The challenge is finding ideas that work across different markets, because some horror themes can be quite niche. We also want seasonal games to have a life beyond the event itself, and Fish Tales: Halloween showed us that's achievable by remaining a top performer well beyond the spooky season.

That balance between creative appeal and long-term player interest is always on my mind. I do have a few future plans, but I'm keeping those close to my chest for now. Watch this space!