Sean Liu, TaDa Gaming: “Fishing-shooting games help our clients to stand out in a competitive environment”

Sean Liu, director of product development at TaDa Gaming, shares how the company’s games are delivering a new form of entertainment.

Exclusive interview.- Sean Liu, director of product development at TaDa Gaming, explains how the TaDa games are delivering a new form of entertainment for the players with a deep dive exploration into fishing-shooting. He also explains their core mechanics and what makes them engaging for players.

What are fishing-shooting games?

They are a superb new way to play! Fishing-shooting games are a further development of traditional “shooting” games and are instantly recognisable as RNG casino content. However, they resemble video games rather than slots, and players shoot fish or creatures for wins in a stunning 3d cinematic adventure.

The basic concept is that each shot fired places a bet, so players can get strategic about what they shoot and when. Traditionally, there is an underwater/aquatic theme – but this is changing – and each character has a unique value or triggers a specific bonus, so players have challenges as to how they approach the gameplay.

Each game also has specific features or mechanics that drive the narrative and develop the gameplay: the more players understand how these features interact, the better the playing experience.

So, are fishing-shooting games easy to play?

They are very easy to pick up as the rules are straightforward: basically, players choose a target, aim, and fire. TaDa games offer more detailed rules, free demo play options, tutorials and on-screen tips to ensure players enjoy the most immersive and successful experience possible.

What makes them so engaging is that each game offers different themes, features, bonuses, including jackpots, and win potential. Plus, the more people play, the better they get at developing strategies, understanding how certain features trigger, and how to maximise the gameplay for superb rewards.

As fishing-shooting games are RNG casino content, are they like slots?

The biggest difference is that they have no reels or paylines. The whole screen is the game, just like a video game, and players need quick reflexes and eyes everywhere.

Instead of fixed symbols, you have moving fish or creatures, and you have to hit the target to score a win, so fishing-shooting games offer dynamic and skill-influenced play rather than spinning the reels.

Players can also choose the individual volatility. There are usually three options or “rooms” which offer different styles of play and risk depending on how experienced the player is or how they wish to approach the game. The same game can play out differently, making each experience unique.

Fishing-shooting games offer single or multiplayer – usually up to four – capacity. So the opportunity for singular or competitive and social experiences within the same game simultaneously provides a real-time experience to which players are responding positively.

Where they are similar to slots is in the betting process. With slots, one spin places a bet. With fishing-shooting, each shot fired places the bet. This means that players instantly recognise the wagering concept and so are more confident to try these new games.

What makes fishing-shooting games engaging for players?

Combining casino and shooting games provides a new dynamic in igaming innovation to deliver the variety in gameplay that players tell us they want. Fishing-shooting games give progressive play so players can learn tips and tricks for improving their playing performance, enhancing the overall experience, and increasing the win potential.

Currently, we offer 20+ fishing shooting games with diverse themes and designs, allowing us to connect with a wide range of players worldwide. Additionally, extensive player data from global markets and deep research enables us to constantly update and tailor games to suit player preferences and keep long-term engagement as a high priority. Operators who integrate our fishing-shooting games see engagement levels and Daily Active Users up by 10 per cent+, with session length extended by 55 per cent.

Finding the right balance between local and global appeal is essential. We adopt a “Global Core Mechanics, Localised Content” strategy to ensure our games adapt to different market needs while maintaining widespread player appeal. From gameplay speed, on-screen information and tips, character design, to win details and Room choice for volatility and bet exposure, many highly significant factors have been tailored into our games to keep players engaged.

“Finding the right balance between local and global appeal is essential.”

Sean Liu, director of product development at TaDa Gaming.

What are the core mechanics of fishing-shooting games, and how do players master them?

Targeting and shooting: Players aim and shoot from a central point or turret with cannons or nets throwers at their targeted creature. A successful hit will create a win. The challenge is that targets move at varying speeds, appear randomly, follow or change direction rapidly. We always recommend starting in demo mode and following the tutorials before playing for real money.

However, all TaDa games offer autoplay and aim functions to enable players to decide on an easy way to begin play. With the Auto Shoot function, your cannon will automatically fire at the targets within range. This allows players to focus on aiming shots without the need for manual firing/clicking.

Aim is another super feature. Locking on to the target, players will only hit the targeted fish regardless of other obstacles in the way, saving on ammo and maximising the win potential.

Strategic choices and decisions: Fish species may have unique movements, such as swimming in shoals or having specifically located target areas. Larger fish, such as Immortal Bosses and Immortal Kings, alongside Special Fish, often offer significant rewards or bonuses. The key is recognising their effect on gameplay and win potential, the ammo requirement, and any specific target areas, and responding strategically.

Each shot uses ammo, so players need a strategy as to which targets to hit, as high-value ones may require more powerful shooting. Most games offer Energy Bars that charge with each shot, creating a “free ammo” source.

Knowing when to use it and against which targets for maximum effect gives players better decision-making skills in choosing whether to target large-value fish in high-risk play or smaller-value fish for more frequent but smaller wins.

Special feature power-ups: Specific creatures to each game, such as “Bomb Crabs”, can detonate, causing an explosion in a surrounding area, which takes out all the fish in the vicinity and significantly adding to the win potential. “Awakening” effects can include whirlpools, which capture all the creatures within the radius, enabling multiple multipliers to be applied to wins.

Player reflex/reaction to these events and understanding of how the features play out and timing implications encourages skill-influenced gameplay for even more exciting experiences.

What do fishing-shooting games bring to operators?

Apart from a significant uplift in new player sign-ups, one of the key deliveries is differentiation. igaming is regularly described as “saturated”, but we think it is more a crowded market with players being offered too much of the same. Fishing-shooting games help our clients to stand out in a competitive environment and offer their players a new entertainment vertical in addition to slots.

From an operator’s perspective, the technical hurdle with fishing shooting games was synchronising the high-speed bullet-firing mechanism with the transaction system. Initially, our system processed transactions every 30 seconds, but today we have refined our technology to achieve 3-second settlements, providing precise tracking of each individual bullet. This entire process is handled on our end, requiring no adjustments from operators and ensuring seamless integration, enhancing both operational efficiency and player experience.

So fishing-shooting games deliver an innovative vertical that attracts a new player demographic with an average uplift of 10 per cent+ DAUs; enhances loyalty and retention through progressive and competitive play; delivers an average engagement uplift of over 10 per cent; offers a mobile first alternative to existing casino content to extend screen time; creates differentiation and visibility in a crowded market; and offers the potential for innovative monetisation strategies. We think that’s a win/win for everyone.