Microgaming and Triple Edge Studios doing some great things

The online gambling industry has been paying close attention to Microgaming for the last couple of months. And it is not just because we are bored and need something to do. We are paying attention because the company, in conjunction with independent studios and partners, is set to release dozens of new titles this year.

Many of us in the industry are especially intrigued by the work coming from Triple Engine Studios. Triple Edge is one of the latest independent studios to join the Microgaming family. They already have five great games under their belt, one of which is Mega Moolah Absolootly Mad. This particular game is aimed squarely at fans of the original Mega Moolah progressive slot that has taken the world by storm since its release all those years ago.

Microgaming and Triple Edge Studios are doing some really great things right now. We can't wait to see everything they have planned for the next year. We predict it is going to be a very good year for online gamblers who are especially fond of Microgaming titles and Mega Moolah!

Mega Moolah Absolootly Mad

We are going to talk about all five Triple Edge games in this post; let us start with Mega Moolah Absolootly Mad. Take the traditional Mega Moolah game, tweak its theme to reflect the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland series, and then add a couple of new and unique features. The end result is... Absolootly Mad!

Everything you love about Mega Moolah exists in Absolootly Mad. You get a colourful presentation, visually interesting game-play, a free spins bonus and, of course, the four jackpots that make up the game's progressive jackpot package. So what is it about Absolootly Mad that makes it so much better?

To begin with, the Alice theme really hits the nail on the head. This particular version of Mega Moolah is intended to be more fast-paced and action-packed. It offers a full menu of animations that leave very little dead space on the screen. As such, Triple Edge needed a new theme that matched the edgy style of play. The Alice theme - with the Mad Hatter as the star - delivers in a big way.

Absolootly Mad special features

What makes Absolootly Mad so intriguing is its two extra features. The first is something that Microgaming refers to as 'Rolling Reels'. The feature is very similar to what other games call 'cascading' or 'tumbling' reels. The premise is fairly simple.

On any base play spin that produces at least one winning combination, all symbols involved are evaluated and paid as normal. Then they disappear from the screen. Remaining symbols drop down (as if by gravity) to fill the voids left by the disappearing symbols. Finally, new symbols fall from the top of the screen to fill in the empty spaces.

All of this is done without any additional wager required on the gambler's part. Once the play area has been repopulated, symbols are evaluated for new winning combinations. Then the entire process repeats itself. This continues until no more winning combinations are found.

The other special feature in Absolootly Mad is the Multiplier Trail. This feature adds multipliers to your winnings whenever Rolling Reels or the free spins bonus game are active. Multipliers can be as high as 5X during Rolling Reels and 15X during the free spins bonus game.

You can read more about the Rolling Reels and Multiplier Trail in our article: Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah Rolling Reels & Multiplier Trail feature review.

Between a great new theme, two new bonus features, 243 winning ways, and the ever-popular progressive jackpot, Mega Moolah Absolootly Mad is destined to be one of the most popular new titles this year.

Attack on Retro

Imagine living in 2187 but looking back on the 1980s as a pivotal time in cultural history. It is like us in the 21^st century looking back to the 1800s. That's the idea behind Attack on Retro, a Triple Edge title themed around the Retro City under attack by alien robots.

As far as theming goes, Attack on Retro combines visions of a future we know nothing about with glimpses of a past that quite a few online gamblers are probably too young to remember. It is actually kind of ironic. But Triple Edge has done a good job here. Attack on Retro offers an excellent graphical presentation built around fast-paced animations and non-stop action. If you like your video slot play fast and wild, you are going to appreciate this one.

Attack on Retro starts with the basic 5 x 3-reel set-up and 10 pay lines. You get a scatter symbol that pays out when you land three or more on a single spin. The scatter also triggers a fairly routine free spins bonus game. However, the bonus game does offer multipliers of up to 3X and the opportunity to win an unlimited number of additional free spins by continuing to land scatter symbols in groups of three.

The game really comes alive with its extra features. These include:

• Hyper Spins - At the end of any spin in base play, you have the opportunity to re-spin one reel for an additional wager. This could help you complete a winning combination. By the way, you can continue re-spin in that reel as many times as you like.

• Random Wilds - Any symbols in base or bonus play can be transformed into wild symbols by randomly roaming robots. Any such wilds can then be used to complete winning combinations.

• Wild Reels - When this feature is active, reels 1 and 5 are filled exclusively with wild symbols. The symbols randomly change between the game's two main characters, Billy and Jesse.

Attack on Retro is by no means a game that reinvents video slot play. It offers pretty standard fare. What makes it so special is its presentation. The graphics and animations are tremendous. The speed and pace are a lot faster than most other video slots as well. In the end, Attack on Retro feels a lot like an action-packed video game combined with slot play.

African Quest

This next Triple Edge title plays on the popular African safari theme. It also relies on a 3D graphical presentation with plenty of colour and extremely smooth action. You get 1024 winning ways along with scatters, wilds, and Triple Edge Studios' Hyperspins feature.

Hyperspins is a feature that allows you to re-spin one of the reels - as many times as you like - at the conclusion of a base spin. The idea is to either complete a winning combination or trigger bonus play. Just know that every re-spin comes at the cost of an additional wager.

The free spins bonus game awards free spins and multipliers based on the number of scatter symbols that trigger bonus play. Better yet, you get to choose one of three feature sets when bonus play is triggered. There are an additional three feature sets available when you land scatter symbols during bonus play.

African Quest is really about the free spins bonus game. If free spins are your thing, this is going to be the best new Triple Edge title for you.

Book of Oz - Lock'n Spin

Fans of the Wizard of Oz stories are sure to love Book of Oz Lock'n Spin. Its main draw is the locking reels feature, a re-spin feature that lets you pay to lock up to four reels in place and spin the remaining reels to either complete winning combinations or trigger bonus play. This feature is offered in conjunction with Triple Edge Studios' standard Hyperspins feature.

Book of Oz Lock'n Spin gives you 10 pay lines, prizes of up to 5,000X, a free spins game with up to 25 spins per round, and a Second Chance feature that allows you to pick a second expanding symbol if the first one chosen by the game doesn't work out well. Everything is wrapped up nicely in a beautiful, well animated presentation that will have you dreaming of the Emerald City.

Lara Croft Temples and Tombs

The fifth Triple Edge title produced in conjunction with Microgaming is based on the popular Tomb Raiders franchise starring Lara Croft. This game takes the intrepid Croft deep into the bowels of unexplored Egyptian pyramids in search of riches. It offers a 5 x 3-reel set-up and 243 winning ways.

The graphics in this particular game are not as stunning as the other four, but they are still up to Microgaming standards. Lara Croft Temples and Tombs features plenty of animations and well-designed symbols that play very well with the Tomb Raiders theme.

Rolling Reels are the big feature here. They are combined with progressive multipliers that award higher prices with each successive turn of the Rolling Reels. Wild symbols are also enhanced here. Instead of just contributing to winning combinations, they also give players a shot at winning a 5,000X jackpot.

We could write a separate post about each of these great titles. The fact is that Microgaming and Triple Edge Studios have teamed up to do some really great things. Each of these new video slots has something different to offer, so make sure you try all of them. The one thing they have in common is the pace of play. After seeing previews, it is clear that Triple Edge prefers faster, edgier game play with non-stop visual action.