The Development Of Online Slots In The Wake Of Technological Evolution
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Slot games have been around for over a century and, as the internet and technological innovations rose to prominence, these games began to venture online. But, how much have online slot games developed over the years? What technology do they use? And what technological developments might we see in the future? Let’s dive in.
How online slots have developed
Since the first online slot game was released in 1996, the complexity of these games has skyrocketed beyond expectations. What at first began with three reels, three rows, and one payline where players simply matched three icons in a row became a game with numerous different reel sizes, wild and scatter symbols galore and hundreds of paylines, boasting a wide range of different game mechanics.
Modern online slot games are also inspired by a wide range of themes, as opposed to just the classic fruit, playing cards, bells, and BAR symbol. For example, when browsing slot games on Paddy Power at https://games.paddypower.com/c/slots, players can choose from games inspired by TV shows, Greek mythology, ancient Egypt, and more. For players who want something more nostalgic, games such as Fruitinator boast the classic symbols and old-school gameplay, for an authentic slot experience.
These games can be roughly divided into two categories – video slots and classic slots. Put simply, classic slots are based on the retro games that inspired them, sometimes still featuring little quirks like a virtual handle to spin the reels. On the other hand, video slots build upon this foundation with additional multimedia and more complex graphic design, oftentimes featuring additional elements such as bonus rounds, animation, and roaming scatter symbols.
One thing they all have in common, though, is the technology that they utilise – but what exactly is behind these complex games?
Technological innovations being leveraged
Arguably the most important technology behind online slot games is a random number generator (RNG). This piece of code ensures fairness by making the game totally random and based on luck, just as it would be by pulling a handle and seeing where the wheels stopped. For more detailed information on how RNGs work, visit https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition. However, put simply, these generators essentially produce a random result based on certain criteria, rules, and boundaries, and so cannot be predicted.
Another innovation leveraged by online slot games is mobile technology and the development of complex smartphone applications. Thanks to the consistent development in what smartphones can do, and how we can programme them, this has allowed online slot games to be accessible through apps without compromising on the quality or complexity of the gameplay and design.
Though this is by no means an exhaustive list of the technologies used, these examples highlight just how much the development in technology has opened up new avenues for online slot games to develop in kind. So, with this in mind, what might the future have in store?
The future of online slots
Perhaps the key buzzword of online gaming at the moment is virtual reality, or VR (which you can learn more about at https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality). Already being used in the entertainment industry, VR has the potential to make online slot games even more immersive by transporting players into realistic virtual environments. Although this is merely a twinkle in an inventor’s eye at the moment, it is widely expected to be an exciting future development, taking online slot games to the next level.
