IGT's 100 Line Video Reels

[The Shamus]

Recently ... several of the 100 Line IGT video reels have been installed in one of my local slot parlors ... they include, "Bombay", "Frog Princess" and the older "Filthy Rich". The volitility of these these games is just incredible. In the end, I'm not sure if IGT is helping their own cause. In the short term, these machines are vacuming dollar bills out of patrons pockets with their "low denomination" action. These ones are 2-cents ... but playing all 100 lines is a $2 investment each spin.

On Bombay, you receive 5 free spins for each line played which contains the 3 Bonus symbols. In the BONUS round, the values are doubled. There is a secondary bonus, where you pick a jewel box for a multiplyer --- and the other 2 boxes values are multiplied by this amount.

In "Frog Princess" ... this is a followup to the popular "Frog Prince" game (also from IGT). Having the "Frog Fairy" on the two outside reels triggers the bonus round (like IGT's "Enchanted Unicorn" trigger). The Bonus Round plays similar to IGT's "Turkey Shoot" -- where 3 symbols give you a pick of a "Prince" -- which usually increases the mulitplyer, but sometimes adds an additional 10 or 20 spins (respectively).

Are the games good --- well ... they are fun enough ... and these games are still worthwhile playing 25 or 50 lines (50 cents to a dollar). However, as a 9-line game, I'm not sure it would be a lot of fun. The volitivity of these games is high ... and one night, I quickly earned $750 on "Frog Princess" --- on other occassions, I have been able to make $20 last for a whole 2 minutes.

The graphics and innovation are fun enough ... but I wonder if there is a broader message about the appeal, when bums are often not in the seats of these games ... considering they are new. The same denomination Aristiocrat machines are less sophisticated, but much busier.

/\/\/\/\ The Shamus /\/\/\/\