Spin Fever

I've been working on a new page for Spin Fever.

As usual, please preview this new page. I welcome all comments, corrections, and questions.

" Any Spin Fever game would have a very unusual strategy. If the player uses conventional video poker strategy, then errors due to the altered Spin Fever strategy will cost about 7% of money bet. "

I would prefer to see this in bold at the top, rather than at the bottom, where it might easily be overlooked.

Quote: buzzpaff

I would prefer to see this in bold at the top, rather than at the bottom, where it might easily be overlooked.

I like to force the reader to read the whole thing to get to the point >:-).

Quote: Wizard

I like to force the reader to read the whole thing to get to the point >:-).

But at what price? I can easily see readers not factoring this in. Just a thought.

Quote: buzzpaff

But at what price? I can easily see readers not factoring this in. Just a thought.

I think every Internet user knows about the trick of scrolling to the bottom. I also have a standard practice of going through all the math first, and addressing strategy last.

Quote: Wizard

I think every Internet user knows about the trick of scrolling to the bottom. I also have a standard practice of going through all the math first, and addressing strategy last.

Like I said, just a thought. I bow to the voice of experience.

"From the game at VideoPoker.com , my webmaster JB was able to determine the weighting of each stop on the wheel, as follows." [emphasis added].

I have played the game a lot online, but I did not see the exact weighting of the wheel stops anywhere at VideoPoker.com. The averages are only given to one decimal place. So, how was this set of weights "determined," considering there are many, many other sets of integers that would result in the averages given, within rounding?

If this "determination" was inferred from a sample, I would suggest that the word "estimate" be used instead of the word "determine." How many observations were there and would you mind including that information and the breakdown here or in the entry on your website?

(1) Based on the total returns listed, you appear to be using the rounded versions of the bonus: 79.6 for flush, 103.8 for full house, and 138.6 for quads or better, rather than the averages determined by JB. Is this purposeful, perhaps because you think the averages are more credible or just an oversight?

(2) On Triple Double Bonus, aces with a kicker is listed as 400 (2000/5). This may be accurate for the versions that pay 3 for trips though I have never seen such a version (perhaps this was at Red Rock?). The version at VideoPoker.com is more usual, paying 2 for trips and paying 800 (4000/5) for aces with a kicker.

Ok I am lost. The returns listed for the basic 5 coin play seems to be exactly as on the game without the spin bet. But if I have to adjust that strategy to take full advantage of Spin Fever, won't my return on JB be lower ??

Not criticism, but as I read it I had the feeling I had already read a review of that same game. I hadn't, but it is very similar to "Build a Wheel" VP.

BTW is VP getting too gimmicky? I admit I enjoy playing, for free, some gimmicky versions like Quick Quads, Dream Card, etc. But I'm not sure I'd put money in them (too many free losing sessions, and the virtual credits flow quickly). However, I don't regard 3-5-10-50-100 play as gimmicky. although for real I've never played more than 10 lines. You should play at a level that fits your bankroll, right?

Quote: Wizard

I think every Internet user knows about the trick of scrolling to the bottom. I also have a standard practice of going through all the math first, and addressing strategy last.

In this case, a mention in the introduction really makes sense. It will also stimulate potential players to do read the rest of the page.
It's not quite addressing the strategy.

Quote: Wizard

I like to force the reader to read the whole thing to get to the point >:-).

You can lead a reader to the point, but you can't make her read. ;)

Actually, one thing I like about your game reviews is that I know how to get to the house edge quickly. Sometimes that's all I'm after.

Quote: drrock

I have played the game a lot online, but I did not see the exact weighting of the wheel stops anywhere at VideoPoker.com. The averages are only given to one decimal place. So, how was this set of weights "determined," considering there are many, many other sets of integers that would result in the averages given, within rounding?

JB looked at the code of the game to get the wheel weights.

Quote: drrock

(1) Based on the total returns listed, you appear to be using the rounded versions of the bonus: 79.6 for flush, 103.8 for full house, and 138.6 for quads or better, rather than the averages determined by JB. Is this purposeful, perhaps because you think the averages are more credible or just an oversight?

Good point. The returns were based on the rounded averages. I'll redo the tables to reflect the real averages, although I doubt it will make much of a difference. For what it is worth I did the return tables before JB told me the wheel weights, and just never updated the spreadsheet with the exact averages.

Quote: drrock

(2) On Triple Double Bonus, aces with a kicker is listed as 400 (2000/5). This may be accurate for the versions that pay 3 for trips though I have never seen such a version (perhaps this was at Red Rock?). The version at VideoPoker.com is more usual, paying 2 for trips and paying 800 (4000/5) for aces with a kicker.

Another good catch. Now I'm not sure why I thought it was 400. My notes from the casino don't specifically indicate that win. However, it we increase it to 800 then the 8-5-4 pay table goes well over 100%, which I doubt IGT nor the Red Rock would enable. I'll try to go there tomorrow to verify those pay tables.

Quote: buzzpaff

Ok I am lost. The returns listed for the basic 5 coin play seems to be exactly as on the game without the spin bet. But if I have to adjust that strategy to take full advantage of Spin Fever, won't my return on JB be lower ??

In both cases the returns assuming optimal strategy. If you choose to not pay the Spin Fever fee then you should use conventional video poker strategy.

Quote: Nareed

Not criticism, but as I read it I had the feeling I had already read a review of that same game. I hadn't, but it is very similar to "Build a Wheel" VP.

Build a wheel wins are based on the deal. However, they both have the prize wheel feature. Personally, I think Build a Wheel is the better game. The Spin Fever strategy is very difficult and the recreational player will get killed. If they had consulted me for advice I would have had the multipliers based on the deal, so the strategy would be the same as conventional video poker.

Quote: Nareed

BTW is VP getting too gimmicky? I admit I enjoy playing, for free, some gimmicky versions like Quick Quads, Dream Card, etc. But I'm not sure I'd put money in them (too many free losing sessions, and the virtual credits flow quickly). However, I don't regard 3-5-10-50-100 play as gimmicky. although for real I've never played more than 10 lines. You should play at a level that fits your bankroll, right?

I'll let the market decide that. However, I could picture people saying around the IGT conference table that slot players love bonuses, so let's add them to video poker as well. I would have been a voice of dissent in that meeting, saying that a slot player is different from a video poker player, and that most video poker players just want to play cards and not be bothered with bonus features.

Wizard, Thanks for the quick and insightful answers. I actually like Spin Fever much better than Build-a-Wheel. It takes way too long between spins on Build-a-Wheel and there is really nothing to control since you simply need to hope for the correct dealt hands.

With Spin Fever you can upgrade your partial flush holds and your pair holds while downgrading your straight holds and have an effect on getting more wheel spins.

I agree that you probably speak for most video poker players in wanting to use the same older strategies on some of the new games, but I am one who likes games like this and Quick Quads which require some fresh thinking and new strategies.

Thanks again for the great work and bringing information to us. Good luck on your quest to get wheel stop frequencies on Build a Wheel. I don't really understand IGT's reticence in providing this. I agree with you that video poker players would rather play games where they have information, and it makes little sense to keep them in the dark.

You're welcome. I just made some more updates to the page, especially the Triple Double Bonus return tables.

I also decided to remove the details on the wheel weights for Spin Fever. Although the information can be attained with some technical proficiency at VideoPoker.com, I thought it was going too far.

I'm of the opinion the player should have the right to know the odds of anything he is playing, so I think the player should have the right to know the weightings for a reel in any game, including slots. However, I don't make the rules.