Table of Contents
Early slot machines were intricate feats of engineering that took many man-hours to complete. All the mechanisms that were used to create each spin and the drums that housed all the slot symbols were constructed by hand. When factory machinery became more sophisticated, special factories were opened that made these gambling machines and this process speeded things up considerably.
During the 1960s the first electric-operated slots were introduced and by the 1970s and 1980s, modified television screens were incorporated in slots, and this was where all the slots action was played out on when punters spun these early versions of the best Microgaming slots.
Universal Rules
Even with modern slots, they still follow certain universal rules that have been followed for many years, and these include that all slots must have reels with symbols on them, all games must come with a play button and all slots must have active pay lines to be able to function successfully as slot games
Random Number Generators
Early slots did not contain Random Number Generators, these RNGs are a product of the computer age. Their inclusion in modern slot machines means that they are in charge of every spin result whether it is good, bad, or ugly.
Random Number Generators are computer microchips that are placed into slot machines with the sole purpose of constantly creating number sequences, hence the name. The purpose of doing this is that each number is related to a symbol on the reels, and the generator influences the combination of symbols that land on the slot reel platform after a spin is generated. So, win, lose or draw, your luck is in the hands of this tiny microchip.
Other Slot Machine Elements
What has been described so far are the mechanics of slots, but other elements are needed too. These consist of computer graphic designers and animators and their job is to create a complete gaming experience by designing captivating visuals, that make slots more than just spinning reels. Digital artists bring the symbols to life whilst sound engineers create the sound effects that help enhance gameplay. These elements are of particular importance in online slot gaming, and this is because players only see the graphics and hear the sound effects, as they are not presented with a physical slot machine.
Online Slots
Since slots went online in the mid-1990s, this has changed how slots are developed. Virtual video slots require far more artwork, and this is completed by an army of digital artists. Blockbusting online slot games with premium computer graphics and animated characters and sequences can take up to a year to be completed. A creative team that is needed for such a project can mean bringing together 20 or more people and a production of this size often needs project managers and regular production meetings.
The production usually commences once all the market research has been completed along with nailing the themes, concepts, and target audience of the game. Then it is down to the creative teams to design the characters, symbols, and all the other visuals. Once this has been completed, computer programmers and software engineers make sure the mechanics of the slot are in working order, before the game can be tested and finally released.
