There are many online slots available, each with different themes. Developers have recently begun to find influences from the world of retro gaming. In the article below, we discuss the link between them.
The bleep of an arcade classic or the vivid graphics of a pixelated character can really kick off a hit of nostalgia. As retro gaming comes back into vogue, it is a niche that is being adopted by the developers of online slot games. So why do these classics appeal to the modern iGaming audience so much? We dive into the correlation between them in the article below.
The Growing Appeal of Retro Slot Games
The online gambling market is expected to reach $97.15bn by the end of this year. This is only set to grow as the industry ventures into new markets across the globe. Since the US states changed their legislation to South African online casinos, it is now easy to play casino titles wherever you are in the world. A large proportion of that comes from slot games. These are low-wageering, low-payout games based on the result of a random number generator. You may have played them yourself in the past and enjoyed spinning reels and watching as symbols land.
Over the past few years, these slot games have evolved from their basic concept. While at their heart they still involve spinning reels, many have added complex bonus rounds and side games. This has often brought them closer into line with retro games. As their ability to provide better graphics and animations has improved, this has allowed them to increase the capacity of these rounds.
Finally, the slot game market is extremely crowded. Developers often release the same titles with slight variations, and the themes are often repeated across games. Licensing an existing videogame gives them a distinct advantage, making a title unique and providing a familiar point of reference.
The Street Fighter Slot Game
A perfect example of this is the Street Fighter: The World Warrior slot. Any retro gamer knows the pedigree of this game. A one-on-one beat ’em up, created a whole genre that endures to this day. The game takes you firmly back to the 1991 incarnation of the series, using the same graphical style and audio.
Just like the original game, you get to choose from one of eight characters. A theme often used in retro game slots, and one employed in this title is the concept of levelling up. You have to complete a certain number of wins or matching reels to move on to the next stage, which pays out more. As you defeat the bosses, you move on until you meet the final boss: M. Bison. There is also a hidden bonus game that lets you smash up a car.
Hardcore fans of the original game will know its developer, Capcom, has already pioneered using this type of puzzle game in the past. Super Puzzle Fighter was released during the nineties and used Street Fighter characters. It was a gem drop-and-match game, much like the mobile title Candy Crush. When one stage was complete, you defeated your opponent and moved on to the next.
Street Fighter is not the only retro game that has been licensed either. The classic Space Invaders also has its own slot title. Released in 1978, few arcade games have the history of this title. It has the original sounds and symbols from the game appearing on the reels. More simplistic than Street Fighter in terms of its progression, it does have an interesting wheel feature on its bonus rounds that can amp up the excitement.
NoLimitCity Gaming
It is not just existing licenses that are being used. Some developers are pushing the boat out by creating entirely new characters and concepts based on retro themes. One of these is NoLimitCity, which has built a reputation for irreverent, groundbreaking slots.
Brute Force is one of their most recent outings, and it draws heavily from games like Contra and Streets of Rage. You choose from one of two musclebound characters who must work to save the Earth from the alien Hyper. At its base is a slot game with 5×5 reels and 21 pay lines. However, it has some very unique features taken from retro games not always found in slots. For example, the characters you choose will shape the gameplay in some way due to their unique characteristics, giving different rewards and bonuses.
Undoubtedly, the future is going to see the lines between slots and standard gaming blur. Titles like Aviator have already shown that people are looking outside of the slot genre for gambling entertainment. This is also enhanced by the number of interactive live games. They often have simplified versions of the reel spin like a wheel and transport people to the bonus round game right away. As they evolve, you can expect more games to lend their licenses to slots
