With gambling as a form of entertainment, sometimes we as players get a kick out of things above and beyond the actual action of placing wagers and winning (or not).
Sometimes, it’s the allure of a game with really impressive or beautiful graphics, Other times, a really catchy tune during the bonus can enhance our enjoyment of the game.
Sound design in general is aimed to make a game feel welcoming and fun to play. Many newer slot machine cabinets leverage surround sound elements to ensure the audio experience is fully engaging.
The more ambitious of slots will include things like seats that offer haptic feedback – vibrations and other elements that immerse players in the experience.
Then there’s the times the game designers leave a little something extra in the machine for those willing to find it. This isn’t anything that will enhance the payouts of the slot – just give us something a little fun and extra. Like in video games, these are known as Easter Eggs.
Like the traditional Easter Eggs you look for during the holiday, these are hidden elements that offer a fun surprise when you find them.
Brian Christopher’s original slot, Brian Christoper’s Pop’N Pays More, had an Easter Egg that when you touched his face he would say his classic saying “Rude.” In fact, many games on the casino floor have elements when you touch objects on the screen, often animals, where they react to being touched, or make various animal noises.
Some of the pot games feature fun animations when you tap the various pots, offering some additional fun, but sadly still not offering any indication of when a bonus will occur.
IGT’s recently launched Wolf Run Wild Moon features Easter Eggs when you touch the wolves repeatedly. Their Triple Fortune Dragon series hides elements when you touch the dragons as well.
Many of Light & Wonder’s games have this, especially going back to their Bally division’s days, where various animal elements would react to touch. This includes some Ultimate Fire Link games as well as Jinse Bao.
With more screen real estate on modern cabinets, slot designers have been able to work more elements onto the screen, and with that open the door to these Easter Eggs. So the next time you play a slot, tapping elements on the screen could yield a fun surprise!
