Modern online slots are mind-blowing visual experiences. These games offer incredible 2D and 3D visuals in a variety of styles, from cartoons to photo-realistic artwork. Read on to learn more about the history of graphics in online slots and traditional slot machines and how they evolved over the years.
The Visuals of Mechanical Slots
According to the paper “Design and Analysis of Slot Machine Games and RTP Optimization using Variable Neighbourhood Search (VNS)” by Pantelis-Arsenios Kamanas, the first slot was believed to have been developed by Charles August Fey, a Bavarian immigrant living in the United States. His machine was developed sometime between 1887 and 1895, but soon other inventors began developing his invention.
The first slots were mechanical marvels at the time. But despite the wizardry that went into making them work, they were relatively simple machines from a visual perspective. The games typically featured a three- or five-reel format with only one row of three eye-catching symbols visible to the player.
Because of this, much effort went into the design of the box surrounding the parts of a slot machine, with some slot machine exteriors featuring ornate designs and splashes of colour to help them catch the attention of a potential player passing by. Even when later designs made it possible to show nine symbols to the player, much of the work still went into the elements surrounding the reels.
Slot Machines Go Electronic But Visual Design Stays (Mostly) the Same
Things started to change when electronic components began making their way into slot machines. Again, according to the work of Pantelis-Arsenios Kamanas, the first machine to include electronic components within a mechanical system was the Money Honey slot machine by Bally. It was considered groundbreaking in terms of how it worked, but still didn’t have much more to offer visually compared to mechanical slots.
However, it was the stepping stone to the Fortune Coin slot, a slot machine released in 1976 by Fortune Coin Co. that would incorporate a small television screen. Electronic boards, not mechanical components, handled all the machine’s functions. This machine didn’t step outside the established slot machine design formula, but including a screen inside of mechanical reels would be one of the keys to unlocking the visual potential of slots.
The Digital Transformation of Slots Holds the Key to Amazing Visuals
While the inclusion of a screen meant there were no physical limitations holding slot machine designers back, the other key component to the evolution of slot machines would be the inclusion of advanced computer processors to handle specific slot machine functions, such as counting the coins or acting as a random number generator (RNG) to simulate chance in a digital space. As time passed, more of the functionality of a slot was handed over to computer systems.
The digital transformation of slot machines, combined with their use of larger, better, and more screens, allowed for the creation and display of almost anything for the player to engage with. This could mean more reels with more symbols, more extravagant symbols with more appealing designs, bonus games that played completely differently from the slot machine itself, or even video elements that allowed slots to create engaging stories.
However, even though the digital transformation of slots created the potential for incredible graphics, the processing power necessary to produce mind-blowing visuals didn’t exist. At least, not yet.
From Simple to Awe-Inspiring Slot Graphics
Digital casino games started with relatively simple graphics. This was because the first computer components used to power these machines were incredibly basic by today’s standards. They could only create a limited number of pixels and had very limited colours for artists and designers to work with. Online casinos and casino game developers had the added limitation of internet bandwidth, which meant that visuals were designed around what could work on the slow internet connections of the time.
This meant that although casino game creators embraced this new virtual space for some games of chance, such as video poker, slot manufacturers wouldn’t be so quick to switch to this new technology for online slot design. They waited until the technology matured enough for them to produce games that matched the experiences they could produce with more established technologies.
By the early 2000s, computer graphics and internet technology had evolved to the point where casino developers could create visually engaging experiences that matched or surpassed traditional video and mechanical slot experiences. It wasn’t just faster hardware that played a role, but also software like Flash and HTML5 that allowed artists and other creatives to start exploring new visual possibilities. The advancements in graphics, internet hardware, and software meant that games no longer had to mimic classic slots but could use 2D and 3D graphics to create new virtual worlds for players to experience.
For example, you could take on the role of an intrepid Spanish conquistador searching through South American ruins for riches, including treasures hidden behind secret moving walls. Or you could become a detective in 1980s Miami trying to catch a bank robber. You could also slap on your space suit and fly through the galaxy, exploring new worlds and uncovering their incredible treasures (if you can defeat the dangerous alien creatures trying to stop you).
The Future of Slot Graphics
Today, the power exists to create a slot machine with exciting graphical experiences based on whatever your heart desires. But people can still only interact with these experiences via a two-dimensional screen. That could change, however, if virtual reality (VR) becomes more accessible.
While many VR headsets have been marketed to regular consumers, virtual reality is still considered a relatively niche experience. However, in the same way that the transition to digital slots unlocked new awesome visuals and new ways to enjoy spinning slot reels, VR has the potential to take slot visuals and design to the next level.
Imagine completely immersing yourself in the game of your choice. You could enjoy an experience as simple as sitting at a virtual slot machine in a virtual casino, or you could become a daredevil stunt person putting your (virtual) life on the line in a 3D world with cheering crowds, fireworks, and, of course, awe-inspiring slot reels with the potential for great prizes. All of this, and you wouldn’t even have to step outside your home.
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