New licensing agreement means second Tarzan slot game for Microgaming

Microgaming is a company that has never been known to rest on the successes of the past. They seem to be always moving forward with new ideas.

So it should be no surprise that the Isle of Man-based company recently announced a renewed licensing deal with the owners of the Tarzan® brand, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. The new deal allows Microgaming to move forward with a brand-new Tarzan game.

The two companies first established a working relationship with a licensing deal signed in 2016. From that licensing deal came the original Tarzan video slot from Microgaming, a 40-payline slot produced in partnership with Quickfire. It was well-received from the outset thanks to its stunning 3D graphics and entertaining game-play.

Microgaming says their second Tarzan game is not just a follow-up to the original. It is an entirely new adventure being designed from the ground up. Microgaming wants it to be unique in both look and feel. However, expect it to be just as visually exciting as its predecessor. The company promises "high-energy, captivating animations, thrilling features and distinctive sounds," according to an official company press release.

Keeping Tarzan alive

Tarzan is both a fictional character and a cultural icon. It would be curious to know how many people are familiar with the Tarzan name without realizing just how old the brand is. Tarzan first came to life in the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel Tarzan of the Apes, published in 1914. The same story was published two years earlier in a magazine.

In the decades following, the Tarzan story was followed with 25 sequels and numerous authorized and unauthorized books by other authors. Tarzan has also been the subject of countless films, television shows, video console games and, of course, casino games.

The question is, why do people love Tarzan the way they do? There is no definitive answer. Perhaps we all have a hidden desire to escape the world and go live in the jungle with the animals. Maybe we are intrigued by Tarzan's honor, ethics, and tendency to fight for the little guy. Regardless, the Tarzan brand has proven itself valuable to countless business enterprises over the last 100+ years. Microgaming has certainly benefited from its licensing agreement with Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

Tarzan is a good character for video slots for the simple fact that his story is wide open. Some characters are a bit limited in how you can weave their stories into video slot play. In comparison, Tarzan is a lot easier than some others. After all, the law of the jungle is encapsulated by Tarzan's wild and free nature. Wild and free leaves you plenty of room to tell some very interesting stories.

Microgaming promises that Tarzan will be part of an entirely new adventure when the new game arrives. Few details have been released, but we expect the game to be just as visually stunning as the first. We are expecting 3D graphics, incredible animations, and the types of bonus features Microgaming is known for.

Tarzan the progressive jackpot?

One of the things we are most intrigued about is whether or not the new Tarzan game will be part of Microgaming's progressive jackpot network. If so, it would probably be less than fitting to link the game to any jackpot other than the Mega Moolah jackpot.

If you are not familiar with the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot network, it is the biggest such network of its kind. It still holds the title for the largest jackpot payout ever offered by an online slot. To date, the jackpot has paid out in excess of €1 billion ($1.13 billion).

Mega Moolah's jackpot is a fan favorite mainly due to its size. But there's more. It is actually four jackpots in one. It offers Mini, Minor, Major and Mega jackpots, with each one growing until it is eventually won.

Another reason that fans love this particular progressive jackpot is that you do not have to land certain symbols on certain reels to win. The Mega Moolah jackpot is somewhat unique in that players are randomly awarded opportunities to play for it during standard play. And if given that opportunity, the player will win at least one of the jackpot amounts.

A randomly awarded chance to play presents the player with a wheel to spin. On the wheel are multiple slots designated by different colors relating to the jackpot level they are associated with. There are more slots for the Mini jackpot given that it is worth the least. The number of slots is fewer for each subsequent level. There is only a single slot for the Mega jackpot, and for good reason: it is often worth hundreds of thousands or more.

It would be great to see the new Tarzan game link to the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot. Giving players a shot at the Mega Jackpot would surely put this game over the top. But even if Microgaming decides not to go that route, its second iteration of Tarzan is likely to be even more entertaining than the first.

More about the original Tarzan slot

Even though we don't know what the new Tarzan game has in store, we can whet our appetites by reviewing the original. Microgaming's first Tarzan game was certainly well worth playing, and it continues to be a fan favorite today.

Tarzan is obviously the main character of the first game. He is accompanied by Jane and her father, a leopard, Tarzan's famous monkey friend, and a parrot. Game designers dispensed with playing card symbols and replaced them with fruits including watermelon, and orange, and an apple.

Will the new game feature the same symbols? Probably not. But it is quite likely that the Tarzan symbol will act as either the wild or scatter. We will have to wait and see how it all shakes out. In the meantime, let's get back to the original.

Tarzan 1.0 offered 40 fixed pay lines and a 5x4 reel configuration. The extra row makes for more intriguing symbol combinations and a more visually engaging play experience. The reels are bordered by a wooden frame and set against a jungle background with our hero standing to the left.

The entire jungle background is animated to some degree. During standard play, Tarzan reacts to whatever was going on with the reels. He might move his head and smile or break out in his famous jungle scream. Trigger bonus play and he might turn and run into the jungle.

As far as bonus play is concerned, the original game offers a bonus wheel with three options. Land three scatter symbols anywhere on the reels during standard play and you trigger the bonus game. You get to spin the wheel and be awarded one of the following:

• A cash prize
• 12 free spins with rolling reels
• A picking game featuring a bloat of hippopotami.

The original game is not tied to a jackpot of any kind. Still, three options for bonus play keep the entertainment level fairly high. You never know when those three scatters will appear and introduce you to the bonus wheel.

Another win for Microgaming

The original Tarzan has only been around for about four years. And yet it is still one of the more appreciated Microgaming games featuring 3D graphics. Securing rights to the Tarzan brand was a big win for them back in 2016; renewing the license in 2020 represents yet another win.

Here's hoping that Tarzan 2.0 will be just as big a hit as its predecessor. The Tarzan story deserves to be kept alive for another hundred years. It deserves an opportunity to capture the imaginations of children and adults alike through more stories, films, books, and games.

Online gamblers will have an opportunity to experience an all-new Tarzan when the game is released later this year. Microgaming is working with Fortune Factory Studios, an independent studio that produces content exclusively for them.

For the record, Fortune Factory has already produced a number of great Microgaming titles. They are the creative force behind Tiki Mania, Showdown Saloon, Romanov Riches, and several other Microgaming games. The people behind the studio are committed to the idea of iteration, which is to say they believe every game they produce should represent an improvement on what came before.

We sure hope that holds true for the new Tarzan game. Its predecessor was pretty fantastic in its own right. If Fortune Factory Studios can improve on it, we are in for a potential showstopper.

Coming later this year

Get ready Tarzan fans. Microgaming's new branded video slot is coming out later this year. We don't know exactly when, but each passing day represents one day closer to its release. Hopefully, it will be ready to go sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, Microgaming has more than 100 new slots on tap for 2020. Between in-house development, their work with independent studios, and the additional third-party games being added to their curated content platform, there is a lot of new stuff coming to an online casino near you. Be sure to play at casinos licensed to carry Microgaming products. You will eventually have access to the new Tarzan game along with hundreds of additional titles.