With so many games coming and going on a casino floor at any given time, slot manufacturers do their best to make their titles the most engaging and captivating. They do this for obvious reasons: to try and win over players and claim their stake on a casino’s floor. If games don’t resonate with players, and quickly, they will be pulled off the floor to make way for the next at bat.
In attempts to capture player attention, as well as their hearts, manufacturers sometimes aim to disrupt the slot scene by introducing a completely new element, or they may go for more of a layup approach and add more of a minimal twist on an already established favorite.
If you think about it, at one time there was actually only one Buffalo theme to choose from. Over the years, Aristocrat correctly clocked how much players were liking their game and how it played. Now, if you take a trip to any given casino, you can probably find at least 5-10 different takes on the game including Buffalo Gold Revolution, Buffalo Chief, Buffalo Ascension, Buffalo Gold Cash Collection, Buffalo Link, Lightning Buffalo, and the list goes on….. And on.
Aristocrat didn’t reinvent the wheel each time they released a new take on the extremely popular mammal. Instead, they refined some aspects while introducing a new twist. Players know what to expect at a base level every time they sit down at a Buffalo title. While they might not know all the new finer details of the brand-new titles, true gamblers know to look for the three coins and get ready to scream “buffffffalooooo” anytime wilds fall into place.
This sort of keep the favorite themes, while test out something new, is a fairly common practice. Another example of this is the number of iterations that Light & Wonder has created for Ultimate Fire Link. For some players, myself included, there is just something comforting knowing what to expect and how a game plays.
While I do like to play the same type of games, every so often I like to mix it up. I like to check out the new additions to the floor, give them at least two or three spins, to see what might become a favorite or is an obvious dud. With that being said, there are a few factors that come into play, otherwise I will skip the game altogether.
For starters, I always like to take a look at the available bets. Lately, you’ve probably noticed that even minimal bets seem to be creeping up to more “high roller esque” levels. Because I like to play dollars, I have to be very careful to make sure the minimum bet sits closer to $5 a spin than $10. There have been a few times where I’ve accidentally fired off a very large bet instead of my customary $5. If the minimum bet is more than five, I am out and onto my next target!
Once it’s been determined if the title is within budget, I’ll next take a look at the bonus options. I like to play slots that have at least two bonus features available. I think this keeps the game play interesting and although not completely true, I feel like I have a better chance of landing something. These games typically offer something like Free Games if you land three matching symbols or a Hold & Spin feature if you land a certain number or balls (or orbs or coins). If a game is lacking in the features department, my attention will wane.
Also speaking to bonus action, I really enjoy titles that include the “shakey-shakey” tell in their mechanics. While the absence of the “you’re getting a bonus” animation sequence won’t make me skip a game right off the bat, it will influence if I come back or stick around. These mechanics give a tally to the “pro” column of any new game, because when the sequence hits, the pressure is off. Instead of holding my breath, hoping for the bonus to trigger, I can sit back and relax, knowing that something good is headed my way. This is especially true for some of the harder games out there!
When it comes to graphics, I gravitate towards games that feature themes that I like. For example, if given the choice between something focused around street fighters or cute baby animals, I am heading towards the cute baby animals each and every time.
Good news for lovers of cute things, slot companies like Ainsworth Gaming Technologies embrace the cute. They have released new titles like Mariachi Mice, featuring three adorable mice with musical instruments, and Atomic Gold, a game that features dogs in space.
Next time you head to the casino and a new title catches your eye, let us know why and how you liked it!
Have a question? Submit yours here!
