In a highly competitive iGaming landscape, launching a new studio is a bold move — and building a fully functional slot game from scratch in just a few months is even bolder.
At SpinLab, our debut game Rust and Riches was more than a creative project — it was the foundation of our entire production model. Through this first release, we proved our ability to handle every aspect of slot game development in-house, from math modeling to visual effects, game engine optimization, and creative design.
This article breaks down how Rust and Riches shaped the way SpinLab will continue to deliver top-tier online slots for the global iGaming market.
The Challenge: Building a Slot Studio from Zero
When we created SpinLab, we didn’t come with legacy content or recycled mechanics. We came with a mission: to become a next-generation slot provider focused on quality, originality, and technical performance.
With no existing game engine or asset base, our team had to build everything from the ground up. From the first day, we made a commitment:
Every element of our games would be fully built in-house, with zero outsourcing.
That meant designing and implementing our own:
- Math engines
- Animation systems
- UI/UX frameworks
- Audio pipeline
- Asset pipeline and tooling
Rust and Riches was our first major test of this vision.
Creative Concept: From Idea to Game Loop
We started with a strong creative direction: a world where rusted machines and forgotten gold collide in a lawless, decaying frontier.
Rather than chasing existing slot formats, we designed the core game loop of Rust and Riches around what we believed would engage players the most: risk/reward tension, organic pacing, and visual progression.
The creative team focused on:
- A gritty, industrial aesthetic with high-contrast colors
- A soundtrack designed to evolve as players progress
- Smooth, cinematic transitions and UI polish
- Wild symbols that feel truly chaotic and powerful
Engineering the Math Behind the Experience
Slot game math is more than just numbers — it’s the foundation of player trust, retention, and excitement.
Our mathematicians and developers collaborated closely to craft:
- A volatility profile that creates frequent micro-wins but big-payout potential
- A custom RTP engine adaptable to regulated markets
- Modular code that allows easy tuning and iteration across builds
Thanks to our internal tooling, we iterated fast. What used to take weeks for balancing and simulation took us just days.
Full In-House Production: Art, Code, Audio
Rust and Riches marked our success in operating as a fully vertical slot game studio. Every department — from concept art to final integration — worked together under one roof.
Key milestones achieved:
- Designed and animated 100% of assets internally (no stock elements)
- Built a multi-platform rendering pipeline from scratch (WebGL / native ready)
- Created a flexible event system for game states and bonuses
- Produced adaptive music and SFX, rendered dynamically at runtime
This allowed us to maintain full control over quality, iterate quickly, and ensure each element served a clear design purpose.
From Prototype to Playable Slot in Months
Within just a few months, Rust and Riches moved from prototype to release-ready, playable on both desktop and mobile.
Timeline snapshot:
- Month 1–2: Engine and framework development
- Month 3: Core mechanic + math model finalized
- Month 4: Art, animation, audio synced and polished
- Month 5–6: Testing, certification prep, and QA
All of this was done with a small, focused team — proving that creativity and expertise beat bloated production pipelines.
SpinLab’s Slot Production Process Going Forward
With Rust and Riches, we didn’t just build a game — we built a repeatable production pipeline.
Every future SpinLab slot will benefit from:
- A mature, modular engine
- An in-house animation and audio toolchain
- Cross-team creative synergy
- Mobile-first performance and scalability
- Compliance-ready design for regulated markets
We’re not here to flood the market with slots — we’re here to raise the bar.
Explore Rust and Riches and the SpinLab Vision
Play Rust and Riches and experience the foundation of the SpinLab process:
https://spinlab.games
Read more stories and development insights on our blog:
https://spinlab.games/blog