Slot Machine Mechanics
The operation of any slot is based on one key process - the spinning of the reels. They make several turns, and after they stop, the further game situation is determined: the user receives or does not receive payments, the reels spin again, the bonus starts - there are many options.
Providers are experimenting with this scheme, making it more advanced and exciting. The online casino has slots with classic spins, cascading spins, original patented engines (Megaways, Hold and Win and others). We have compiled a guide on the mechanics of video slots and the specifics of each of them.
What is slot mechanics?
This is the principle by which repeating game events occur in the slot machine. The classic reel spinning was used in the very first one-armed bandit and is the basis of the gameplay of most modern devices. As the machines evolved, this basis acquired additional functions, and now it has changed so much that in new developments it is easy not to recognize not only the spins, but also the reels themselves.
Traditional spins
In slots with classic mechanics, a standard round includes the following steps:
- The player starts a spin.
- The reels begin to move vertically.
- The reels stop.
- The program analyzes how the symbols are arranged on the screen.
If there is no prize combination on the playing field, the round ends and the user needs to start a new spin. When a paid combination of symbols falls out, the account is replenished by the corresponding amount. If the machine has a doubling round, you can try your luck and try to multiply your winnings.
One of the most popular examples of such devices is the 2008 "Book of Ra Deluxe" by Novomatic. In it, on 5 reels with 10 lines, prize combinations of 2, 3, 4 and 5 identical symbols can fall out. There are special symbols, a risk game and free spins with a special picture.
Additional functions
During the round, combinations may appear that activate additional options. They can also run randomly. The most common bonus is free spins. This is a series of rounds during which funds are not withdrawn from the game account. When the feature is in effect, an additional multiplier is often activated. Respins work on a similar principle. These are free re-spins.
As a result of the spin in some slots a combo that opens access to the bonus round may drop. This is a themed game on a separate screen. Its mechanics is based on the thematic of the slot. The user is prompted to select items, interact with characters, and so on. For this, payouts with different coefficients are due.
New slots sometimes have a cumulative feature. The user collects conditional points for repeating one or another game event. Then a special option is activated. These can be free spins, rounds on a separate screen and other bonuses. Providers are increasingly introducing the option to purchase a prize feature in their developments. The player activates it instantly by placing an additional bet. The most impressive payouts are promised in progressive jackpot slots. In them, the prize fund accumulates gradually from the money wagered by all players in the online casino.
The machines have not only ordinary symbols, but also symbols with additional functions:
- Wild. A symbol that replaces missing elements in winning combinations.
- Scatter. Three symbols start Free spins game.
- Expanding. The picture increases in size in certain game situations.
This is not the whole list. In slots, there are mystical symbols that turn into others, giant symbols of 2x2, 3x3 format and others.
Cascading spins
Cascading spins, or avalanches, first appeared in NetEnt's Gonzo's Quest slot. Development with revolutionary mechanics was released in 2011. In it, the symbols that make up the winning combinations disappear from the reels. The vacated places are filled with neighboring symbols. This creates a chance to collect a new paid sequence. With each avalanche, the value of the additional multiplier increases. Respins in the form of cascading spins attracted the audience with their novelty and the opportunity to claim big wins. This technology began to be actively used by other providers, and now it is in hundreds of slot machines.
Megaways mechanics
The Megaways engine was invented by Big Time Gaming. The new mechanic was presented in 2016 in the Dragon Born slot. It uses six reels, each of which can drop a different number of symbols. This principle influenced the number of winning options.
In slots with such mechanics, the number of winning lines can be in the tens and hundreds of thousands.
The number of cells on the reel depends on the game situation. Symbols can drop out in a single and stacked form, fork and clone. Most slots based on Megaways have additional options: respins, free spins, cumulative and random payouts.
The technology has become one of the most sought after. Under the BTG license, the Megaways engine is being introduced into their developments by leading providers and young studios. New items based on this mechanic appear in online casinos every month. It is also added to the old slots.
Hold and Win mechanics
The Hold and Win option is a series of respins with an alternative set of symbols. During such re-spins, the same images appear on the reels with different multiplier values, jackpot indicators. Some have the function of extending the series of respins.
Often it is in this round that the user can win the jackpot. An example is the Buffalo Power Hold and Win by Playson. During the option, only fireballs appear on the reels. They can form combinations that allow you to win the Mini, Minor or Major jackpot. If during the re-spins all positions on the reels are filled with special symbols, the user is rewarded with the main prize.
Other varieties
It is difficult to surprise a sophisticated online casino visitor, but the providers succeed. Most often, experiments with mechanics relate to the scheme of moving cells around the playing field. There are machines in which the symbols during the spinning do not move vertically, but horizontally. And in one of the space-themed slots, the reels are round, and the icons move in a spiral.
The operation of any slot is based on one key process – the spinning of the reels. They make several turns, and after they stop, the further game situation is determined: the user receives or does not receive payments, the reels spin again, the bonus starts – there are many options.