As an industry currently worth around $60 billion, online casinos have come a long way. While having only just celebrated their 25th birthday, the previously niche form of online entertainment officially entered the mainstream consciousness years ago. Direct worth alone gives some indication of how far the online casino market has come, but illustrations of evolution can also be found in the games themselves. Nowhere is this more obvious than with slot games.
Originally, slot games were particularly successful due to the ease of adapting them into the online space. Early online multimedia platforms like Flash made this pursuit simple, though limited by internet speed and computational power. Over time, slots would prove to be more than a standard offering, however, becoming the backbone of the modern online casino experience. Yet, as far as slots have come, it’s the retro variety that often proves the most popular. It’s an interesting dichotomy and one which we thought worthy of investigation.
An Evolution of Slots
The very first versions of what would eventually be called slot games arrived at the end of the 19th century. Originally termed one-armed bandits, these early machines were developed in New York by a company called Sittman and Pitt. Working from a series of five drums emblazoned with playing cards, this 1891 device became a hit in local bars. Not capable of paying out directly, winners on these machines would need to turn to the bartender for prizes. As these operated before cash payouts were possible, prizes usually consisted of cigars and drinks, which was enough to keep them popular.
Taking the idea of the one-armed bandit further was Charles Fey in the later 1890s. Reducing the number of reels from five to three meant that the device was vastly simplified, which allowed Fey to include the first automatic payout system. Most famously illustrated by the Liberty Bell machine, this early slot game would go on to achieve international attention, driving it overseas to places like the UK.
“Fruit Machine” (CC BY 2.0) by garryknight
Over the next decade, slot machines would continue to grow and evolve. Developments here included turning to fruit symbols alongside cards and the BAR symbol which is still famous to this day. In essence, this generation demonstrated a trajectory that slots would follow for generations, right up until their involvement with larger establishments like those in Las Vegas. With expanded themes, greater flash, and more advanced technological backings, hardware machines would be key until the end of the 20th century.
Around this point, the arrival of the digital age drove slots into the online space. As with the original one-armed bandits, these first online slots were simple, though they quickly outgrew their early bonds. Soon, better computer technology would allow for vast slot experiences, with features like bonus games far beyond what hardware alone could manage. Eventually, this growth was reflected in the adaption to mobile slot games, when smartphones became ubiquitous around 2010. Their continued popularity means that increasingly varied slots are always being produced to keep up with the growing demand.
The Reliance on Range
The market for modern slots is something that needs to be seen to be believed. Major offerings like 888 slots number in their hundreds and cover every theme and concept imaginable. This includes licensed properties like Mad Max 2 and Deal or No Deal to original IPs like Fortune Coin, games inspired by mythology like Hades, music titles such as Jimi Hendrix, and much more. Essentially, the idea has been to slowly cultivate a library of games with something for everyone, and this goal has easily been met.
Yet, even with this broad range on offer, one overarching addition is instrumental in tying so many slots together. Simply put, this is the influence of retro components. No matter how modern a game is, even if stepping into the VR space with titles like Starburst, there is always a part that relates modern slot games to their ancestors.
The central reason this is so often the case is because of slot game’s reliance on skeuomorphism, in how parts of new online slots relate to older physical games even when not strictly necessary. The use of coins and fruit symbols, for example, could be avoided in online slots to streamline the experience, but are common inclusions anyway. In a nutshell, this central aspect reflects an incredibly important part of what makes retro slots popular
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