this is your brain on slot machines

Texas Tea is a classic. I wouldn't be surprised if that is the most popular video slot of all time.

Quote: teddys

Texas Tea is a classic. I wouldn't be surprised if that is the most popular video slot of all time.

I guess I like it because its the only machine I remember ever winning on...even though I'm under no illusion that this would continue.

Does anyone else find a large amount of the newer machines just too damn complicated? Besides texas tea, the only machines I will play are the real reels, max 3 payout lines.

I don't like a slot that continually pays less than your bet. I hate the thought of I won, but I lost. Another thing I like is when a machine gives good intermediate wins. Double bucks or Lion fish is a good example. You can get a lot of winners in the $25 to $150 range on a $2.25 bet.

Quote: rxwine

Speaking of near misses, a lot of slot machine bonuses are also programmed to delay the concluding bonus symbol by several seconds sometimes -- I assume to enhance the effect. If it's 3 to start the bonus, 2 will hit but the 3rd will be late. Even if you're not playing but sitting nearby, it's hard not to start noticing the rhythm and whether it's picking up the final hit. It's like expecting the last note of a familiar song, and it's sometimes played or not, but it's still hard not to have the expectation in your head that it should be played.

There was a machine I played a bunch at Aria in April - Airplane! - that did exactly what was described to me. When I gamble on slot machines, I sit down at the machine, determine the amount of money I want to run through that machine, then cash out whatever I have left. I tend to skip around between machines pretty often, partly because of my ADD. ;)

When I went to check out ARIA (cool atmosphere, btw), I saw the Airplane! slot and sat down at it as I'm a big fan of the movie. Stick in $20, deciding I was just going to play a little bit, and leave after I either lose my $20 or hit a bonus round. Well, I hit the bonus round, then hit it again, and was having fun (plus I had doubled my $20). Stick in two more $20s, and each time double it. Nice little win there.

We decided we wanted to gamble at Aria some more since we liked the vibe, and went back the next day. This machine requires 3 bonus symbols to activate the bonus round. When you get two, the last reel takes a few seconds longer, does an animation, and plays a special sound.

Most of the time, when I'm on a slot, I don't really believe in the concept of a "near miss" (I know such a thing isn't true). I'm generally just hoping for some positive variation, while expecting some losses. However, with my previous day's luck, I was conditioned to be excited and expect to hit the bonus round. This was definitely *way* more exciting than a normal slot machine, and even though the odds were nearly the same of any slot machine I had played, I stayed at that one machine a lot longer than any other. I ended up losing all the money I had made on the machine the previous day and then some, pretty quick, chasing bonus rounds - and had to take it pretty easily gambling-wise the rest of the day. It was a lot of fun, too, which is why I didn't stick to my normal routing of just playing slots a bit, managing my wins/losses, then finding something else to do for a while.

If it affected me like that (I'm usually pretty conservative with my bankroll - if I lose a little bit pretty quick, I generally leave pretty quick and take a break), I can't imagine what it would do to someone who isn't normally as conservative.

Seems like a great way to get people to play more and spend more money. I also wonder when the lines start blurring between attempting to provide better entertainment value, and purposefully using psychology to create addicts.

Quote:

I don't like a slot that continually pays less than your bet.

Hah. Don't we all!

Probably should put that on the casino feedback forms or a T-shirt (with a frowning 'Happy Face' symbol).

I know what you mean of course, but it sounds pretty funny in isolation.

Quote: McGrath

If anyone has any insight into the psychology behind why players choose certain slots or video slots over others, then your feedback would be most welcomed.

Well, I can tell you what I've liked and disliked about particular games. (these are all in-house casino games) And some or many reasons may not seem particularly rational.

Millionizer

Like: plays like an ordinary game, but then almost magically the front graphics get a overlay that sits above the game when you hit the bonus.

Like: well, you could theoretically, though remotely hit a million dollars

Dislike: that you never know the results of the bonus symbols you didn't pick. I dislike that about all games that do that though.

Dislike: never played one that wasn't a big money eater, but that seems to be true of most of the big progressive jackpot games, so it's usually a given

Wolf Run, Coyote etc. or all those variations (chickens goats, whatever else they come up with)

Like: Screens full of wild symbols. Yay.

Like: I do like the wolf howls. Maybe it's just seeing dogs. Who knows maybe this is for dog lovers.

That reminds me.

Forgeting the name of this one: has Hoodoo the cat.

Likes: It's blatently filled with evil symbols (forbidden) instead of dainty things and flowers.

The ladder bonus and the breaking mirrors is fun. Pretend breakage may just be fun (forbidden)

Various games with preset delivery of jackpots at certain levels

I may not even like these games, but if I'm lucky enough to find one about to pay off as it's very near its bonus payout, I'll play it. I like the ones that only allow single player. It's too easy to get burned playing with others for a soon to pay jackpot and it is very unenjoyable (unless you are the winner of course)

Lobster Mania and Texas Tea

Likes: Perhaps it's the real life visualization of acquiring something in the bonus rounds. (lobster catches and oil) rather than a meaningless nor-representational bonus. I'm guessing though.

Additional comment: Want to make a player really hate a game. Well, super tight is number one, I'd say. No matter how enjoyable a game is, it's no fun to feel like you're getting no play for your dollar.

To a lesser extent: dislikes= Don't put in volume controls. Don't put in speed controls.

Now that I think about the real life comment: I have to say, I do enjoy it when the Lobster fisherman actually pulls a giant lobster out of his trap (as big as he is sometimes) is probably as worthwhile or more than seeing the larger number.

Quote: rxwine

Forgeting the name of this one: has Hoodoo the cat.

Hexbreaker. My favorite slot machine is Lucky Lemmings. Actually, most of the Williams games are good. I also really like Slotski and Jade Elephant. I absolutely cannot bear the three-reel quarter slots, but I do enjoy playing the old Slingo Bonus sometimes.