Back in mid-2022, we were introduced to ELK Studios' creation, Phoenix Graveyard. Combining a unique mix of characters, including the Phoenix and the Grim Reaper, this slot delivers an exciting experience with dynamic wilds, immersive design, and impressive features that enhance gameplay and provide the potential for significant wins. Since then, ELK Studios has released a bunch of excellent titles, such as Pirots, Tropicool 3, and Nitropolis 5, which have somewhat overshadowed Phoenix Graveyard. However, the game provider is now set to revive it as a rising phoenix with its upcoming title, Phoenix Graveyard 2.
Exciting news indeed! What makes this even more fun is that our former writer and CasinoDaddy streamer, Sebbe, is the game's product owner. Sebbe's passion and knowledge of the slots world are truly impressive, and he's contributed significant expertise to the creation of our game Immortal 5. We thought it was the perfect opportunity to catch up with him about the development of the sequel and what players can expect to experience. Without further ado, let's dive into the Q&A with Sebastian ”Sebbe” Lindström, Product Owner at ELK Studios.
Hi, thanks for participating in a Q&A for your upcoming release, Phoenix Graveyard 2! We'll kick off the interview with a few quick questions:
Q: What is your favorite ELK Studios slot?
A: I’d be lying if I said anything other than the Pirots series. In terms of entertainment value, I don’t think any other slot game comes very close to that. But I have to give a shoutout to a more recent release as well; Nightmaker. The explosivity and volatility in that game is something else.
Q: What is your favorite slot from another game provider?
A: I tried to make a list of my 5 favorite slot games a while back, and even that was near impossible, so boiling it down to a single game is rough. The Goonies from Blueprint is the first game that I fell in love with, and Golden Fish Tank from Yggdrasil is certainly up there as well. However, Royal Potato 2 is probably the most well-made game in my opinion, it’s just so damn enjoyable (excluding all ELK games of course, in case my boss is reading this).
Q: What is your favorite old-school slot?
A: At this point, Golden Fish Tank and Goonies are both probably considered old-school, but if we’re going even further back, Immortal Romance is such a great game. I think it’s the math specifically that they really nailed. It feels like you can get a 200x out of nowhere, all the time.
Q: How would you describe Phoenix Graveyard 2 in just three words?
A: Epic, Explosive, Bird
Q: As your first project as Product Owner, what has been the most rewarding part of working on Phoenix Graveyard 2?
A: Comparing screenshots from the first week of the project and the final product was super cool, and I am super proud of what the team created. It’s epic to see what was once just a thought in your head now be an actual, playable game.
Q: I can imagine you’ve had many creative ideas during the game's development. Has it been challenging to balance which features to include and which to leave out?
A: I think this differs a lot from project to project. Mechanically, it’s still pretty much the same game that I made a powerpoint of half a year ago, while in other projects, you realize as the game comes to life that a certain mechanic should be added or removed.
Q: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Phoenix Graveyard 2?
A: Well, obviously Phoenix Graveyard 1 had to exist for us to make Phoenix Graveyard 2, but other than that, I wouldn’t say there’s any specific game that has inspired it. However, it’s probably some sort of amalgamation of mechanics that I have enjoyed through the years. I've played so many slot games, so when I am making a new concept, I just try to think of what mechanics I enjoy, and try to make something new and innovative out of that.
Q: What unique experiences can players look forward to in Phoenix Graveyard 2 that set it apart from the original?
A: Except for increasing the grid size, the biggest change is the feature row. Feature rows are not a new thing per se, but the different directions of our splitting symbols are a new take on it. What I didn’t love with Phoenix Graveyard 1 is that the sudden death mechanic felt very random and wasn’t tied to a specific feature, and the Reaper was required to be on the grid to do his splitting. Therefore, the Phoenix itself wasn’t worth nearly as much as the Reaper. So, in this sequel, we’ve given the Phoenix the ability to unlock the feature row and award a re-spin when it lands.
Q: What excites you most about this upcoming title?
A: To see if people like it or think it sucks. I think we’ve created a game that looks great visually. The immersive environment in the bonus with the weather effects etc is, in my opinion, the best I’ve seen in a slot game. I can sadly take no credit there as my art skills are...questionable. Our artists and animators did an outstanding job.
Q: Looking back at the development journey of Phoenix Graveyard 2, what are some of the most memorable moments or highlights for the team?
A: Probably what I mentioned before. Seeing screenshots of the game from week 1 and then heading into the client and playing the final product is beautiful. The team would probably answer “When we agreed the game was done, so Sebbe stopped being annoying about minor things”.
Thank you so much for participating in this interview and answering questions about the upcoming game, Phoenix Graveyard 2. I wish you and the team the best of luck with this release!
Thanks for having me!
