Since the advent of digital technology, games have found fresh ways to innovate and deliver twists on the experience that people are already used to. Slots games are no exception to this.
From the days of the mechanical levers and clunky reels, Slots have evolved to adapt to their new online homes. Thanks to a mix of technological advances and innovative leaps the slot machines of today look – and even play – very different.
Between entirely fresh mechanics – such as the Megaways format – and greater theming – like that of Blitz slots – there’s a lot of ways the game has changed.
If you’re curious about all the ways that Slots have innovated in the digital age then read on.
Multi-line Slots
Once you’ve already added more reels to the game, where do you go from there? The answer is adding more paylines.
Unlike a traditional slot machine, which only counts the centre line of symbols when considering a win, a multi-line game offers far more options.
Players are able to choose how many potential paylines they want to stake on, with the number available depending on how many reels are in play. On a three-reel game there are nine to fifteen possibilities, while a five-reel game will have twenty or more to choose from.
This gives the player higher odds of hitting a winning combination, beyond what they’d have on a classic single payline machine.
The Megaways format
An incredibly popular online format was created in 2015 that put even more of a spin on the traditional Slots game. Megaways games feature six reels as standard, although sometimes a horizontal seventh reel is added to vary things up even more.
The main feature of the Megaways format comes from the random nature of how many symbols will appear on each reel on a given spin. Rather than sticking to a set number, the game will randomly select between the possibility of two to seven symbols appearing.
This creates a much greater sense of random chance, as the player never knows how many symbols will be in play.
And, rather than using traditional paylines to determine winning combinations, a Megaways game only takes into account whether three or more matching symbols have appeared on adjacent reels.
Increased theming
Even before they made the move online, slot machines were utilising video and graphics technology to make themselves stand out from the crowd.
But, compared to the strength of modern computers and screens, slot games can go even further with their effects in the digital space.
Incorporating even more video assets, visual effects and bespoke soundtracks, online Slots offer a degree of theming they couldn’t replicate in a more traditional land-based machine.
Plus, with even more competition than ever before, games need to set themselves apart with distinct themes that will draw in players. From popular TV shows and films to ancient mythology and animals, there are a whole lot of different Slots themes on offer out there.
—
Progress never really stops. So, like all things, Slots look set to develop and change further in the future.
Where will the next spin of the reels take this casino classic? Only time will tell where Slots might go next.
