When designing a slot game, market research can help determine what features players want. It can also help identify potential risks. This is especially important if your business has limited resources or is new to the industry. Conducting a risk assessment is an essential part of slot development and helps you assess the safety and security of your game.

During this stage, you’ll produce sketches, wireframes, and mockups for your slot game. Your team will then use these to develop a prototype, or minimum viable product (MVP). A MVP is an early version of your slot game that includes some game mechanics and basic UI. This allows your team to evaluate the game and make changes before committing to a full project.

In addition to identifying game features, you should also understand the costs associated with developing your slot game. For example, you’ll need to consider the cost of the platform you plan to use to release your game. Also, you may need to invest in additional development tools and support for different platforms.

Another consideration is the size of your player base. Your budget should reflect this, and you should aim to reach the widest audience possible. This may require using multiple marketing channels, such as YouTube, Facebook, and Google ads. In addition, you should plan for regular updates to keep your game fresh. These updates can be in the form of new reels, paylines, and bonus prizes.