In the movie industry, movie sequels rarely equal the original work. In the slot machine world, things are not as "cut and dry".

While there is no "storyline" which needs to be followed. While there are characters we like, it's usually the game rules we fall in love with (eg. A bonus round with 15 free spins, all spins worth 3 times their normal value) -- maybe a soundtrack to generate a little heart pounding excitement.

Let's look at some examples of game sequels. IGT spun a sequel out of the popular "Texas Tea" game called "Texas Tina". The original had two bonus rounds -- one triggered by a scatter (where Ted writes a cheque) and one triggered by at least 3 oil derricks on a pay line. While I can't speak for why this game was so successful, I assume part of it was do to the frequent "hit" rate -- approximately 1 of 3 spins wins something. Having just two of many of the symbols pays back something (although it is often less than what you bet). The game also did not pay out many large sums in the bonus round. However, you could increase your bet, and you would be able to play for longer than you would on most of the newer style machines. Fast forward to Texas Tina. If you have played the IGT game, "Money Storm" then you have essentially played Texas Tina. The bonus round triggers "free spins", with the potential to re-initialize. The second bonus round requires 3 symbols vertically across on lines 1 or 2 or 3. Why both to make "Texas Tina" if they were just going to draw some new graphics and paste them over "Money Storm".

There are pleny of examples ... one of IGT's most popular multi-lines, "Little Green Men" came back in a sequel as "Little Green Men: Family Edition" -- which was better known as, "Enchanted Unicorn".

Not all sequels are destined to be re-treads. WMS Gaming came out with "Super Jackpot Party". They addressed the issue that people hated the abruptness generated by hitting a "POOPER" on your first pick in the bonus round. You are least have a change of "saving" your party. They spiced up some of the gifts with multiplyers, and some bonus rounds within a bonus round "The Dacing Bonus" or "Whack-A-Pooper". True, there are substantial changes to the pay table ... but the core of the game is the same for people who liked the original. The better graphics and sound all add to the experience.

It's not like IGT hasn't learned something. "Lucky Larry's Lobstermania" is a long time favourite with casino goers. In the sequel, "Super Sally's Shrimpmania" ... the dynamics are very similar ... but the onus round has lots of comedic surprises.

Slot companies have to learn not to "PIMP OUT" their best brands -- there are so many "Wheel of Fortune" games ... it feels so milked ... and I can't imagine that brand is not being driven into the ground. The Double Diamond brand from IGT has mostly become a subset of real graphics around a larger game.

Let's hope we get let "Texas Tina's" -- and more Shrimpmanias.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\


I hope we get more

There was a time that Casino giant, "Bally" was a "big dog" on the casino slot floor. IGT was always the "biggest" ... but not really the "innovator" --- in fact, "Bally was responsible for many of the technologies" on the modern slot floor ... the electromechanical slot and their dominant slot management package are great examples of this.

Unforunately, Ball fell behind the technology on the casino floor. Although their flagship "Blazing 7's" remain popular, their foray into Video Slots has been less successful. The graphics are inferior, the animation is inferior ... and the overall satisfaction is inferior. There is very little innovation which goes into their slots -- most are copies of other manufacturers. In fact, it has taken a long time for casinos to figure out that BALLY is "out of the game" when it comes to catching up.

Most importantly, casinos have to stop buying their lousy products -- so they get the message and make improvements. For example, I see their "HOT PROGRESSIVES" mostly sitting empty. Although these machines are just making their way on the floors of Canadian casinos, the dates on the cabinets show the technology is already many many years old.

Note to Casinos: Please stop replacing old machines with inferior Bally product, until they can show something interesting.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

If you were to graph out the payouts from a machine which has greater volitility, the wins would be bigger, and the losses would be lower. The multi-line machines are great examples of this ... but many of the new machines are more volitile. Why?

In short, the average time you sit a the machine will, on average, be shorter, the more volitility you add. Think of all the time you spin and win back the same or less than your original bet. If these type of payouts were reduced in favour of paying them out as part of a larger "hit" -- the frequency would be less, but the machine would pay out the same amount.

For the casino owner, it frees up their machines more. Many players tend to remember all of the good wins, and not the bad dry spells ... and this plays right into that.

I have no doubt, the average volitility will increase until slot plays resort back to the machines with more "hits" more often.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

I played the Konami game, "Billionaires", which I think it is very simple, and appealing game for the "low roller". The game was frequenty available -- and there was a good reason. The game had arrived at the casino configured for line bets of 1,5,10,20 or 25 coins (with a total of 9 paylines).

Most conventional machines offer line bet buttons of 1,2,3,4,5 or 1,2,3,5,10 and the ability to select another amount using the screen. On a Konami game, using the buttons in the only way. Therefore you could bet 1 nickel on each line (9x5cents=45 cents) -- or the next level was 5 nickels on each line for a total of $2.25.

It is, in my opinion, irresponsible of the manufacturer to not allow a bet between 45 cents and $2.25 (technically, you could reduce the number of lines are you are playing). It is also irresponsible of the casino to not notice this machine was configured in this way. People were staying away because they didn't like the bet options --- it had nothing to do with the game. After about 6 months, the game was converted to something else ... and I assume the casino never knew why this game was never popular with guests.

What if the manufacturers had a system similar to the older single line mechanical reels -- each push of the button raises the bet per line, until the person presses spin.

Better yet --- what if the person could set different bets on each line ... perhaps covering every line with a single bet, but betting 5 credits on line 7 (the person's lucky line).

Slot machines should have more options, not less.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

Kudos to WMS Gaming. On some of their recent games like their multi-lines 3-reeler, Three Alarm Fire or their video game, "Ah Carumba!" -- you can actually select 3-levels of volume (none, medium, high).

Perhaps someone has been reading this message thread. The player should have the ability to adjust the volume to their liking!

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

Mohawk Slots in Milton Ontario (about 20 miles west of Toronto) recently installed Wheel of Fortune: Big Wheel. The concept is excellent ... nine seats, extra wide (to accomodate a friend) ... a huge wheel in the middle which can draw a crowd.

Mohawk even made the game 2 cents to have mass appeal to the low demonination players. Unfortunately, at 2 cents, you still have to bet 80 coins (or $1.60) just to have a crack at a maximum of 10000x your line bet. So, it is $1.60 to have a crack at $200. Does this sound appealling?

This game is a total dud --- and it only took a few weeks before the Big Wheel was a giant dud. With 40-lines, it is surprising how many spins yield absolutely nothing.

Another example of using "splashy cabinetry" and a good name to market a lousy product. IGT should take note --- you are slipping.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

Here is a new one to me. A friend of mine and I pooled our money together to double our chances of winning. We both used our respective COMP cards while we played. The amount we played over about 8 hours of playing was approximately the same.

I went for a meal comp and got $20 to use at the cafeteria. My friend did not qualify for a meal comp.

The next day, we did the same thing (as we were quite successful the first day).

This time, I was able to get a $30 meal comp, my friend did not have anything. Finally ... we started to push and asked what was going on. They said my friend was "over comp'd" in March 2008. How is this possible? I thought that if you have not earned a comp, they do not give it to you -- end of story.

Has anyone heard of this practice before? After playing all day on the slots, should the casino at least cover a meal?

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

hello Shamus,

yes the wheel o fortune bigwheel sucks.

I think compcards are more hassle than they are worth, at least at local indian casinos. more of a gimmick to track my habits, like grocery cards. anyway, In vegas I've had people workin the floor personally come up and offer comps...that is the way it should be done. doesn't seem to be much 'thank you come again' customer service these days.

__________________
cheers!
blitzed
http://crazynuts.hollosite.com/pick_lottery_numbers/

The way casino's comp is a strange mystery ... which the casinos seem to have no intention of changing. At my local slot-holes, the OLGC slots (racetrack and commericial casinos in Ontario, Canada), they have cashback, and meal comps. The amounts are kept separate, but only the cash back amounts are known. Aside from meal comps, I have also had tickets to some concerts ... also, I have been comped tickets at the Niagara Fallsview Casino many times for very good -- top-tier types of acts. Best of all -- I have received comp invites for for limited all-you-can-eat buffets where there are numerous free draws for boths hundreds, and thousands of dollars.

The thing is --- I have also been turned down for comp ticket, comp hotel rooms, comp meals -- and invited to those great all-you-can-eat dinners, and told it was "filled" -- even though I called immediately.

How can I be courted and rejected so much by the same place? Why is the computer programming kept such a secret. Heavens knows I spend enough money in the place ...

Put down the "lack of transperency" for how comps are accumulated as another "bad trend" in slots.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

re: My November 2007 post --- Mohawk Slots in Milton Ontario (about 20 miles west of Toronto) recently installed Wheel of Fortune: Big Wheel. The concept is excellent ... nine seats, extra wide (to accomodate a friend) ... a huge wheel in the middle which can draw a crowd ....

As of May 2008, "Wheel of Fortune: Big Wheel" was removed. For an Ontario casino, 6-months is the shortest amount of time I can ever recall a game being installed. It has been replaced by multi-level Fort Knox IGT progressives (old titles).

This title must be proving to be a major disappointment for IGT -- who is struggling to keep up with the flood of innovative games from WMS Gaming and Aristocrat.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\