Comparing Charles Fey’s ‘Liberty Bell Slot Machine’ of 1883 to today’s online slots may seem like a ludicrous proposition, but they have more in common than you think. The most obvious is the word ‘slot’, coined (literally) by Fey and still in use today.
There is also something interesting going on thematically too. From the outset, Fey’s machine had symbols designed to set the tone of his game.
In this instance, a diamond, heart and spade, have associations with poker, a horseshoe and a star for luck and the Liberty Bell logo was simple branding. Unfortunately for Fey, the diamond, heart, and spade motifs had connotations with monetized gaming, which was outlawed shortly after his invention went live.
To sidestep these laws, the machine was re-jigged as a gum dispenser, so new symbols were designed relating to a much more wholesome activity. Fruit was chosen to represent different flavours of gum, with a bar, to symbolize the pack of gum pretty much setting the thematic tone for the following seven decades.
Even today slot machines are known as ‘fruites’ in some quarters, and this is despite the huge advances made in the 1960s and 1970s. Now machines didn’t have to adhere to just fruit symbols or card suits, anything could be employed to catch the gaze of a passing punter.
Electromechanical and Video Slots
First came the electromechanical slot machines in the 1960s, and themes found in games like the immortal romance slot started to diversify away from the traditional themes of yore. Popular themes included wildlife and westerns, but luck/fortune-based concepts were never too far away.
Themes took a dramatic and literal turn with the advent of video slots in the 1970s. The most obvious topics for slots in these days were, of course, based around TV and Movies when Hollywood was enjoying its heyday.
The advantage of video slots is that they could be created to provide themes that were currently popular. This may explain the proliferation of sharks in slot machines at the end of the 70s.
Music was being increasingly used as well. Pop and rock stars began to crop up on machines which invited the attention of a younger audience, but the fruits and lucky symbols were never too far away.
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Branded slots
Entertainment franchises saw slots as an easy way to make a bit of money on the side of their artists/shows/movies etc. while promoting said feature. This also incorporated sports promotions for games and themes that involved hobbies like fishing or hunting to appeal to more general gamers.
However various symbols representing luck were never far away. In many respects, this is reflected in mystery and fortune-based slots with storylines revolving around fantasy and adventure.
Online Slots: Part One
Before online slots, slot machines existed in physical form. The most accessible machines would be found in bars and clubs and punters would be drawn to whatever was on offer.
Most of the time, players had little choice over the theme. This may explain why most of our earliest encounters with slots would have a theme revolving around some archaic blockbuster, Jaws (again) for example.
In an arcade or casino setting, slot machines would be, in effect, competing with each other for your attention. But the number of machines was still limited by the sheer physicality of the venue which, in turn, limited themes.
But all of these machines had one thing in common, they used lights and sound to compliment the thematic graphics to grab your attention. It’s the same story online but on a far more sophisticated scale.
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Online Slots: Part Two
Technology is now front and center of the online slot experience and it’s being used in a variety of ways to enhance the game. But first and foremost, they have to arrest your attention from the competition -just as they always have- but on a vast scale.
And these days, thanks to eye-popping graphics, 3D animations and sound technology, the eye-grabbing theme can be carried right into the game and out the other side. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can monitor interactive features to complement the mood of the player, all within the context of the theme, while gathering precious data for the casino company.
This data has allowed casino companies to offer themes that have a proven track record of whetting the juices. And while slot themes cover a range of topics and designs depending on what’s currently popular, there is a fundamental hardcore of interest that is still remarkably traditional.
Putting it another way, the most popular slot of all time is star-themed, followed closely by themes that deal with mythology or fantasy. So it would seem the most satisfactory slot themes are still based around motifs that take us out of the day-to-day and into a world of imagination.
Reward Systems
Rewards like achievement badges, VIP clubs, and loyalty programs are frequently included in slot games to entice players to keep playing and aim for prizes. By giving players a feeling of advancement and success, these reward programs entice players to play the game more frequently and for longer periods of time. By providing users with observable advantages and acknowledgment for their participation and loyalty, reward systems raise user happiness.
Conclusion
By improving the visual appeal, providing a range of themes, incorporating immersive audio effects, offering interactive features, putting reward systems in place, providing a user-friendly interface, and encouraging social interaction, slot game designs play a significant role in raising user satisfaction. Slot game developers can make captivating and entertaining experiences that entice players to return by concentrating on these design elements.