Here is my contribution and good luck to all!
Specifics of my biggest win:
- Played on LeoVegas. Date: 1 May 2020
- Base game normal bonus trigger, Gunslinger chosen and one spin connected all three wilds and I think one premium all the way.
- Payout: 2744X
Some background, I have played Deadwood a lot, thousands of spins, 20-30 normal bonus buys (stakes 0,2eur-1eur, about 50%/50% hunter and gunslinger) and at least double the amount of bonuses via basegame. So far, I have missed the superbonus thrice. This was my second 1kX+ win; with a 2eur stake I hit a 1,1kX win by selecting Hunter-spins. From normal bonus buys only 4 (~10%) have delivered over the buy-in. Biggest win from bonus buys was 228x. Therefore, I had to stop buying bonuses to limit the more than expected quick loss of money, headaches and further aggravation (see footnote 1).
For feedback, below some pros and cons of the game subjectively from an experienced average player.
Pros:
- An entertaining base game that is visually appealing with fluid graphics.
- A suitable and well-made spin-off for Tombstone with more variation to the high volatility (Hunter-spins that also can deliver 1kX+).
- Humoristic and straightforward game for a fast consumption - made for the hardcore players or heavy users that enjoy games with highest volatility available.
- The base game offers three options to win big, basegame with the sheriff's stars including multiplier wilds connecting, bonuses and bonus buys. The potential is there and achievable. A good choice to adopt the idea of the feature to show other players' big wins.
Cons:
- For some reason, I cannot mute the sounds (music) completely once the sounds have been allowed in the entry screen (with Firefox).
- To me (an experienced player), a visually teasing game mostly with the delayed multiplier wild -dives and sheriff stars, attempting to lock the player in (obviously programmed so).
- In short, too volatile versus the low expected max win (check CG's review). I would expect a much higher max win with this level of volatility (e.g. BTG's, Push Gaming's, DOA2 etc. games that have delivered). I expect somewhere this summer someone getting a 10kX+ hit, but if anybody looks at this forum thread (I am writing this May 7, 2:36am, publishing it later) there are not that many other massive hits during one week of hundreds of people running spins and buying perhaps hundreds of bonus buys.
- To a smart average player, this is a hit-run game, similar to Jammin' Jars: run max 100 spins (or with a 100x budget), if the game delivers, get out. Otherwise, from experience, it will eat your money and soul with endless deposits 90% of sessions.
- Bonus buy lacks entertainment value due to its quick pace: I buy a normal bonus for tens of euros and get a some tens of seconds of entertainment before the most of the money is gone (50%+ of my small sample size).
With normal bonus buys, expect an average of 10-20x, around 50% of my bonus buys (of 20-30 buys) have returned 10x, some even returned 0,25x (paid 0,1-0,5 eur of a bonus buy costing me tens of euros, see footnote 2).
The normal bonus buy option is basically just an Extra Chilli -wheel with one shot at it: you either lose your money straight (mostly), get some back, win somewhat or once-twice in a lifetime win massive. The normal bonus feature basically runs for one-spin-big-hit, all my big wins or the ones I have seen, have delivered only on one spin. Frankly, for the sake of other players, I do not approve of slots with such high volatility of normal bonus buys -features, that run with a fast pace going up to really high stakes.
Furthermore, Deadwood is considerably too volatile for my liking: it is a very dangerous game, similar (but better) than Barbarian Fury by the same provider. With danger, I mean danger to a small percentage of players thinking that the normal bonus buy would be worth it, or further buys could even cover losses. Due to this, I feel to take action in writing a bit longer feedback, even though I know, the business world never cares of ethical issues versus generation of shareholder value.
It is okay if the creator (provider) would cover the consequences instead of reflecting an obvious greed and just a "caveat emptor" (buyer beware). For me, along with Barbarian Fury & Harlequin, the creations of the provider do not appear healthy nor ethical at all anymore. I preferred Dragon Tribe -type games that are entertaining and can deliver a much more better run for the money. And yes, bad excuses, BTG and Blueprint have done the same (e.g. Extra Chilli, Vikings unleashed), yet
the creations reflect the intentions of their creator at a certain time, always.
For the provider's information, for me (who has seen a lot), there is no paid marketing talk nor fancy brand manager -speech that can cover for the reality of greed that is communicated directly to the world. For an "ad hominem" (that idiots usually only weigh before using their limited brain capacity to assess is there any truth or facts), I am not a fan of any provider, and cannot be, plus cannot hype any product of a proven destructive and exploitative business: just a critical and concerned observer when it comes to that. Moreover, providers along with casinos are only capitalistic entities, whose single purpose is to extract the maximum amount of money continuously to their shareholders, nothing more. Imho, this trend of ultra-volatility will produce casualties, I am afraid many in the long-run. But, who cares of ethical or moral issues, as long as the digital communication platforms hype and boost the products for more returns benefiting those, who are usually already affluent and mostly worried of ROI.
Final feedback, Deadwood is a good game not denying that. It is suitable for a customer-segment that accepts high volatility along with accepting losing money quickly. I.e. it is for a small segment, and I expect the life-span of this game to be limited due to my understanding that this segment changes favourite games often and rarely become returning customers. My main problem is with the highly volatile bonus buy-option that is allowed with very high stakes. I am up on the base game, of which I am surprised, but my concern is for other players, especially those who think of fast results. I know personally several players to whom this game will cost tens of thousands of euros in the long-run or even short-one, in case they ever open the game. With an over 90% probability it is just a simple and fast transfer of money between parties (from customer to provider with one party benefiting in the process). From a distance, it looks like small slot providers that are in a stage of elevated growth, publish these types of games, the path of BTG and Nolimit appear similar. The reason why these types of games are made is very simple: successful business products in a competed landscape are mostly based on a proven record of results / profits. Otherwise, they would not have been made to waste resources or inputs of a commercial growing enterprise possibly with the intent of getting listed.
Footnotes:
1. I am thousands of X up on the game. Reason for me to play it a lot after its release is that according to mine and some other players' "fact-based" superstition: some providers' games are hot at their release and will get nerfed somewhat after the release. Therefore, tried to "strike some gold", successfully (this time).
2. I have posted a big win before in the forum, you can see it from the link below (with a reply from
@Nolimit City Official, of which I was positively surprised, yet the reply is expected normal business talk). In that discussion, the provider says that bonus buys are of lower volatility. For me, it has been exactly the opposite. They know better with real data and I accept that, but I cannot trust anymore that the bonus buys would deliver anything.
https://casinogrounds.com/forum/topic/33182-deadwood-nolimit-city-win