We often showcase shots that have an element Brian Christopher calls a “Shaky Shaky,” which is effectively an announcement a big win or bonus is coming. Aside from that, is there any significance?
Is it better/pays more to play slot machines that have a ‘shaky shaky’ (random bonus) or slot machines with just free games?
Pauline H.
There’s no difference, so take your pick.
The Shaky Shaky element is mere window dressing – it has nothing to do with how a game is designed or the payouts it’s going to deliver. It’s just part of the entertainment part of the slots, like the pots/bags/fish and the teasing you with two bonus symbols 100 times an hour.
When these elements were more infrequent, some players absolutely loved them, while others hated that they were giving away the fact that something big was going to happen.
But the reality is that slots have been doing this a very long time. We were once playing a Triple Diamond machine that was easily 20 years old when the reels one spin were coming to a stop much more slowly than normal. Even in their own way, mechanical reel slots have found ways to build up the suspense as well.
Of course, with computer screens on video slots offering much more real estate and computing power to work with, the animations on the Shaky Shaky elements (called in the industry a “precog”) can be quite cool and add an additional dimension to the game. Players have come around it seems to this, and fin them more enjoyable nowadays.
But since they’re more presentational than anything, they don’t actually relate to the payouts, just are programmed to sometimes appear ahead of something special. So you don’t need to worry about picking out a slot that has one – it’s a neutral addition overall from a payout perspective, but it may make the game more fun to play, which could count for something!
Have a question? Submit yours here!
