Questions for slot players.

If you went into a casino and you knew that every single slot machine was set to pay exactly the same thing, that is to say, you would have the exact same end result regardless of which machine you played, would you sit at any random machine and just start playing or would you be drawn to a certain type?

Do you prefer the machine with high-quality graphics or the one with pencil-drawn cartoon characters?

Do you find yourself playing machines that have a certain theme, such as TV shows, mythical characters, jungle animals, popular singers, Asian objects and characters, or board games? Or do you go for the machines that just have the bells, cherries, and 7s symbols?

Do you prefer bonus rounds that are simply free spins or do you prefer the bonus rounds that have a storyline to them, where you have to make selections in order to advance to the next level? Or do you prefer not to be bothered with bonus rounds at all and just want to get paid for each spin by itself?

Would you sit at the machines at the end of the row only? Do you like playing machines that are in a kiosk formation? Do you like to play right next to the front door or do you find yourself wandering to the back wall where it might not be so crowded?


I find myself being drawn to the machines at the end of a row, towards the back of the room, with high-quality graphics, very often with a gods and goddesses theme, and I like the free spin bonus rounds. I tend to avoid Asian-themed machines (but I don't know why), and I find the storyline-type bonuses to be tiresome.

Quote: tsmith

If you went into a casino and you knew that every single slot machine was set to pay exactly the same thing, that is to say, you would have the exact same end result regardless of which machine you played, would you sit at any random machine and just start playing or would you be drawn to a certain type?

Usually better graphics, but other factors are more important.
Themes, particularly game shows/TV shows/movies.
Storylines/selections. I never really hit it big with free spins it seems.
Machine position doesn't mean a lot to me.

One more question:

Are you the type to try out the newest machines as soon as they hit the gaming floor or do you stick with the tried-and-true?

I'm evenly divided on this one. I'll go first to the tried-and-true, but I also enjoy trying out new games IF I like the way they look and they offer the things I like.

I'm trying the new game if it's 30 cents or less. If its 50 cents or more, unlikely. If its 40 cents, then I am on the fence.

For many players the financial effects of the machine are not relevant. Graphics, story line, etc. are the experience. Not sensible to me, but that is the way it is. Too some people, "what do you play" means "which slot machine do you play". There is no thought whatsoever to table games, none.

This is one of the casino's slot floor advantages to have them all different, some good to draw people and many pathetic to take the wallet, so I don't think it would ever happen. If it was true, I would play a low volatility game with a hittable progressive.

Quote: tsmith

If you went into a casino and you knew that every single slot machine was set to pay exactly the same thing, that is to say, you would have the exact same end result regardless of which machine you played, would you sit at any random machine and just start playing or would you be drawn to a certain type?

I definitely would play some over others. And just because they're all set to the same payback percentage, doesn't take into account the particular volatility of certain slots over others.

Quote: tsmith

Do you prefer the machine with high-quality graphics or the one with pencil-drawn cartoon characters?

It depends. At times, I enjoy mechanical "old-school" machines, and at other times, I enjoy ones with nice graphics. That said, I think there's a line that some manufacturers are crossing and it can be a bit too much- especially with the "social" games that seem seem to come and go: like American Idol.

Quote: tsmith

Do you find yourself playing machines that have a certain theme, such as TV shows, mythical characters, jungle animals, popular singers, Asian objects
and characters, or board games? Or do you go for the machines that just have the bells, cherries, and 7s symbols?

I wouldn't say one them in particular I'm drawn to, although I do tend to enjoy the WMS games. TV Shows, not so much.

Quote: tsmith

Do you prefer bonus rounds that are simply free spins or do you prefer the bonus rounds that have a storyline to them, where you have to make selections in order to advance to the next level? Or do you prefer not to be bothered with bonus rounds at all and just want to get paid for each spin by itself?

I would say all machines I play have a bonus round. I tend to prefer ones with free-spins, that have some sort of twist to them(more wilds added, for example) or a bonus where you know you'll get a decent payout. The bonus round should last at least a non-trivial amount of time.

Quote: tsmith

Would you sit at the machines at the end of the row only? Do you like playing machines that are in a kiosk formation? Do you like to play right next to the front door or do you find yourself wandering to the back wall where it might not be so crowded?

Where it's not so crowded, ideally.


I find myself being drawn to the machines at the end of a row, towards the back of the room, with high-quality graphics, very often with a gods and goddesses theme, and I like the free spin bonus rounds. I tend to avoid Asian-themed machines (but I don't know why), and I find the storyline-type bonuses to be tiresome.

Quote: tsmith

One more question:

Are you the type to try out the newest machines as soon as they hit the gaming floor or do you stick with the tried-and-true?

I'm evenly divided on this one. I'll go first to the tried-and-true, but I also enjoy trying out new games IF I like the way they look and they offer the things I like.

I might try some new games, although I tend to like what I like. Many times, new games can be so "unbalanced" which is my biggest criticism I have on some. For example, you get a good combination and only get paid 4x your bet. Or you get the "bonus" and get next to nothing.

Also, some new games are so complex you can't even understand intuitively how you win.