Tuesday, 16 April 2024

Slots or “sad” slots, do you play them?

It would be absurd for anyone to say that all slots are attractive, well made and “insanely” successful with players. There are also plenty of hilarious titles, with many mismatched elements and symbols, with difficult game mechanics, with many parts that can cause you, at best, an indulgent smile. Of course, there is variety and diversity in slots too and player preferences are influenced by many factors. However, with some games, manufacturers seem to be testing the limits of patience.

Slots, by their very nature, are meant for fun. Leaving aside other discussions about the meaning of slots, they are (video) games of chance designed to attract, to provoke, to arouse interest, to awaken the imagination. Even so, I’ve encountered quite a few titles that have given me less than pleasant impressions. Because the graphics, the game dynamics, the graphic symbols or even the sound part gave me (perhaps preconceived) ideas and created visual sensations that I would have liked to avoid.

About sad slots and the dopamine challenge

Dopamine is part of the “happiness hormones” group. It makes you feel better because you’ve achieved something. Even the anticipation of future satisfaction can increase dopamine activity in the brain. And when you play the slot machine, dopamine is at full effect. It’s what makes you look forward to wins, imagine and dream of hitting fabulous jackpots, basically, it interferes with the reward-based learning system.

Dopamine dramatically influences addictive behaviour. To get a higher level of dopamine you will be more and more willing to repeat a habit, an activity, an action that gives you a positive mental state even if it may have adverse physical, financial or emotional consequences.

A slot can be “sad”, the expectation of winning changes your perception – that’s how dopamine works.

As a player you come across a lot of titles. Some are more attractive, some less so, and some you simply forget about or ignore. There are games you don’t like, that don’t appeal to you. The choice is entirely up to you, but it is based on cognitive mechanisms.

Design, graphics, game dynamics, dopamine and more?

I tend to avoid slots with very high volatility. That means I avoid games where I could (hypothetically) win a lot. Why? Because I don’t have a huge gaming budget, nor do I want to spend a lot of time waiting for a potential win.

Game theme, design elements, graphics, game dynamics and mechanics, how wins are awarded, etc. are all factors by which I can label a game as unsuccessful. And I have every right to ignore it but also to share my gaming experiences with other punters.

Here are a few slots that I consider “sad”:

NFT Megaways

Simply a game I couldn’t last more than 20 seconds on. A combination from 2 actual concepts, NFT and Megaways, with a disastrous result. A game so “sad” that I was afraid it might viruse my phone.

80’s inspired pixel graphics, high volatility but I didn’t have the energy to play much in demo mode either. A game not even worth wasting virtual money on.

Diamond Strike

A copy with poor gameplay mechanics and this is noticeable from the first few spins. Where you add the loading with somewhat tiresome graphics elements. And the mix of elements is brought too close to the player, it feels stifling and not at all friendly.

Diamond Strike

Otherwise, a game with a stated RTP of 96.48%, where the diamond is wild, 3 lines, 5 reels and 15 paylines. Even though the graphic symbols are carefully crafted, the pushy mode makes me avoid this game.

Mental

The visuals are not suggestive enough for this game. You might like it, though, if you feed on horror movies and would like to see yourself a patient with serious mental illness.

Mental

Admittedly, some of the “dark” themes are gaining ground, but the gameplay experience is decisive And Mental doesn’t live up to even the lowest expectations.

Very high volatility and a reported RTP of 96.06%. A game inspired by a torture chamber set up in a seedy hotel. Humorously, the manufacturer has introduced 2 special features: Autopsy and Lobotomy.3X5 and 108 paylines this game has an unacceptable flaw:

Mental tends to present too realistic graphics.

Stack`EM

When I opened this game I thought it was a failed resurrection of an older title. The background of the game looks much more modern for Canny the Can and his sidekick Mouse, who sit next to the reels. Compared to the first Stick ‘Em slot, the graphics are much improved but the game mechanics seem unstable.

Stack`EM

A game that can’t overcome the impression of “scratch cards”, the field from which it takes so many elements.

Conclusions?

There are a lot of ducks, a lot of titles that are simply unsuccessful attempts to challenge players’ intelligence. It’s up to you to inform yourself, to test, to play the games that give you enjoyable experiences. If fun isn’t fun, then ….

 





Author: Editor

Share This Post On

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published.