The number of new slots coming out each year globally is staggering, and while there are no hard numbers, it is easily somewhere in the hundreds. Some of these slots come and go quite quickly, while some more famous series stick around and occasionally become famous among players. We’re looking here at the secret ingredients that go into a hit slot game.
Theme
Every slot needs to begin with an attractive and engaging theme, and these can vary heavily. Some studios create a wide range of titles, such as Blueprint Gaming who have created everything from fishing-themed games like the popular slot Fishin Frenzy to movie tie-in titles like the Ted series. Then you have groups like NoLimit City who focus on more high-octane and extreme themes.
Just about every topic under the sun has been used at one point or another, although a few have proven to be more popular over the years. While Egyptian-themed slots are the classics, you’ll also find more than a few centered around food like chili peppers, as well as plenty around dramatic heists and robberies. The key is to have your theme be consistent throughout the slot in every part of the design.
Design
Once the theme is set, there are dozens of choices, both big and small, that need to be made about the visual design of the slot. Before a single graphic is created, designers will look at the core elements like the background, the symbols, the style of animations and many more aspects to make sure that everything fits together organically within the chosen theme.
A key part of this is the UX, or User Experience, aspect. In design terms, the UX of an app is how any given user will interact with the features, and designers will have the goal of getting users from start to finish in the smoothest possible journey. It’s an essential step not just for slots, but for every major app from Airbnb to Slack. It defines where things like spin buttons or bet controls appear on the screen.
Features
While the theme and design are crucial supporting factors, any piece of software out there is sold to users primarily on the features available. There’s a good reason that apps like WhatsApp have market dominance despite having a relatively subtle and low-key design aesthetic, and that’s because of the wide range of features on offer.
Slots are no different in this regard, and advertising for games is drawn just as much from the special features as anything else. Popular things include the Megaways system for more paylines, cash collect bonuses which pay out instantly, as well as simple things like high maximum wins or regular chances for multipliers. Even if the design is perfect, no slot hits a level of success without great core mechanics behind it.
There’s no secret sauce that goes into making a slot, and studios use years of experience to determine which formula will work. Keep in mind that sometimes there’s also no predicting which games will really take off, as you can never completely predict the audience!
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