Namesake slot for electronic music legend, Deadmau5, to be release in 2020

Is there no end to what Microgaming will do in an effort to come up with the best and brightest video slots? Apparently not, as evidenced by a recent announcement that they have teamed up with Eurostar Studios and legendary electronic music producer Deadmau5 to create what could be the most graphically intense video slot game ever.

We don't know the details yet, but any project with Deadmau5's name on it is bound to be a feast for the eyes. If you don't know why, you've probably never seen a Deadmau5 show. Needless to say that it is a feast for both the eyes and ears. It is going to be interesting to see what a video slot bearing his name looks like.

A great year for Microgaming

We learned of the upcoming Deadmau5 video slot at ICE London 2020. During the multi-day event, Microgaming slowly released tidbits of news on a whole slew of games planned for this year - there will be more than 100 of them. The Deadmau5 game is just one of many to be released very soon.

Based on what we have seen, this looks like it is going to be a momentous year for Microgaming. The Isle of Man-based casino platform developer has been an industry innovator since the late 1990s. In fact, they were the first company to introduce an online gaming platform. They have not looked back since.

Reaching a deal with Deadmau5 is just the latest in a series of moves to link Microgaming video slots with pop culture. Microgaming management obviously understands the appeal of pop-culture icons in everyday life. They long ago figured out that they could incorporate pop culture with online gambling to reach a much wider audience.

More about Deadmau5

A new video slot based on the life and career of Deadmau5 may not mean anything to you if you are not into electronic music. Perhaps knowing a little bit more about the man himself would help. To that end, let us talk about Joel Thomas Zimmerman - a.k.a., Deadmau5.

Zimmerman is a Canadian music producer, DJ, and musician originally hailing from Niagara Falls, Ontario. He was born in 1981 to a visual artist mother and autoworker father. He began dabbling in music at a rather early age, receiving his first keyboard as a Christmas present in his teens. His actual career in music began in the late 1990s.

Since his debut album in 2005, Zimmerman has been a clear innovator in electronic music. His signature is actually not in the music itself. It is in the computer-generated visuals that accompany the drum loops and instrumentals. Zimmerman combines the best aspects of electronic music with hard-core computer programming that would make any video game designer envious. Perhaps this is why the partnership between Microgaming and Deadmau5 is so intriguing.

The Cube v3 Tour

Microgaming and Eurostar Studios could have approached a Deadmau5-themed video slot from an endless number of angles. Curiously though, they chose to base of the game on Deadmau5's latest Cube v3 tour. The tour, which got underway in autumn 2019, has been interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the shows scheduled over the next several months have been moved to 2021.

The tour's temporary interruption has not stopped Microgaming and Eurostar from getting their game ready for release this year. From all we've heard, playing it might be the next best thing to being at a Deadmau5 show.

According to a Billboard article written last September, Zimmerman spent some eight months writing the code for his Cube v3 tour. What kind of code, you ask? Well, the namesake of the tour is a giant spinning cube inside which Zimmerman performs. The cube displays stunning graphics and videos throughout the show.

Billboard says that it took Zimmerman and his team thousands of hours to put everything together. And make no mistake, Zimmerman does a lot of the computer coding himself. He is a trained programmer who knows his way around a keyboard. Indeed, listen to him talk about that portion of his show and you might not even know he's a musician.

The Cube v3 show is intended to be more than just an audio-visual feast. It is designed to stuff you so full that you have no choice but to sit back, loosen your belt, and take a nap. The music and computer-generated graphics are enhanced by a ton of special effects that leave fans desperate for more.

Will the Deadmau5 video slot meet the same standard? We hope so. Actually, there is no reason to believe it will not. Microgaming has a proven track record of pulling out all the stops when necessary and now is one of those times. If they are going to roll out a video slot with Deadmau5's name out, it has to be up to the Deadmau5 standard.

Expect to be amazed

Again, we do not have any details about what the Deadmau5 video slot will actually look like so all we can do is speculate. Yet if we had to offer our readers a word of advice, it would be this: expect to be amazed. Expect the same kind of commitment to excellence that the Cube v3 has already demonstrated.

It might be helpful to know that Zimmerman is collaborating with Microgaming and Eurostar Studios on the game's production. And his collaboration goes much further than simply lending his name and likeness. Zimmerman has actually created both music and graphics for the game. That says a lot.

Expect that when you play the Deadmau5 slot you will also be taking in a classic Zimmerman performance as well. All of the elements will be there: electronic music, computer-generated graphics, sleek animations, and special effects. The only thing missing will be a live version of the artist himself.

Microgaming's commitment to branding

There will undoubtedly be a lot of excitement surrounding the Deadmau5 slot upon its release. Behind the scenes, Microgaming continues to do the hard work required to consistently offer new branded content. If anything, the Deadmau5 deal is a clear demonstration of just how strong Microgaming's commitment to branded content is.

In a press release discussing the impending launch of the Deadmau5 game, Microgaming Chief Commercial Officer Jean-Luc Ferriere said:

"The addition of Deadmau5 to our sizable branded content offering, which already includes some of the biggest names in entertainment, highlights our commitment to diversifying and innovating across our range. We look forward to launching this unique online slot to operators later this year."

Indeed, Microgaming's range of branded content is quite impressive. Some of the best-known brands include the Terminator and Jurassic Park franchises along with Playboy, Sherlock Holmes, Tomb Raider, Game of Thrones, and more.

Branding is a way to branch out from traditional slot machine play into other areas of the culture. It gives companies like Microgaming an opportunity to reach a wider audience by appealing to what interests them. Knowing that, reaching a deal with Deadmau5 is a stroke of genius.

The next generation of customers

To whom does electronic music appeal? Who are Deadmau5's biggest fans? The answer to both questions is young people. The decision-makers over at Microgaming are no fools. They know they have to reach out to the next generation of customers in order to keep their business model afloat. They cannot rely on yesterday's audience; they have to keep reaching toward tomorrow.

Branding does just that. Microgaming looks for the most appealing brands capable of reaching younger audiences. Then they seek to work out deals with those brands to incorporate them into casino gaming titles. Finally, they partner with up-and-coming studios that know how to make games that younger players will love.

It is a winning formula that Microgaming has employed since the 1990s. It is a formula that not only keeps them at the cutting edge as an online casino platform, but also continues to foster an interest in, and enjoyment of, online gambling.

Online gambling is, first and foremost, an entertainment opportunity. People play video slots and table games because they find them entertaining. Microgaming understands that it is possible to combine multiple forms of entertainment in a single venue and enjoy breakout success. Doing so is accomplished through the right partnerships and technologies.

Coming to a casino near you

Microgaming made it clear at ICE London 2020 that it was full steam ahead for the next 10 to 12 months. The company has a slew of new titles on the horizon, including their new game based on Deadmau5's Cube v3 tour. So get ready - Deadmau5 is coming to an online casino near you.

Expect some online casinos to jump on the game as soon as it is released. Expect others to lag a bit. It will take some time before every Microgaming-licensed casino offers the title. Be patient. If past history is any indication, it will be worth the wait.

For you Deadmau5 fans, the new video slot could change the way you look at online gambling forever. This game is designed just for you. There may be no better way for you to combine your appreciation for online video slots with your love for Deadmau5 and his music.

You will be able to play the Deadmau5 slot at any of the Mega Moolah casinos.