The first slot games to emerge offered a five-reel (or drum) design and often generated the kind of results that you'd expect to see in a deck of cards, but it didn't take long for more complex slot machines to arrive on the scene. One such breakthrough slot machine was invented by Charles Fey in 1895 and became known as the Liberty Bell.
He switched things up a little bit with his three-reel design, consisting of symbols such as horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts, and the Liberty Bell, after which he named his mechanical device. With the Liberty Bell being an emblem of America's independence, it's still very common to see these appear on modern-day slot machines as well.
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The demand for more variety in slot machines
As slot machines began to grow in popularity, manufacturers wanted to find new ways of bringing their slots to life. So they started experimenting with different graphics and symbols, which ultimately led to the development of a number of themed machines.
Fruit machines soon became a familiar sight everywhere from casinos to pubs and bars, with cherries being the most frequently used symbol. But, at the same time, it wasn’t uncommon to see other favourite fruits being added, from bananas and oranges to apples.
Fruit symbols remained popular as time went on and different kinds of ‘hardware' came and went, and they are still a popular theme amongst online slot games and operators today. The traditional fruit machine has something of a nostalgic, retro feel to it.
Since then, we’ve seen the creation of horror, adventure, and even animal games, like the Fluffy Favourites slot, a perennial hit.
Games such as these tend to feature a number of different elements, including whimsical graphics, funfair themes, and animals ranging from fantastical beasts like dragons to actual creatures such as lions and elephants.
Other games explore a variety of different themes. Among these are
Each one offers a unique playing experience and gives slot players something to get excited about.
Slot games through a historical lens
Slot games are also well known for exploring different periods in history. A couple of examples of these themes include Ancient Greece (Champions of Olympus, Age of the Gods) and the wonders of Ancient Egypt (Book of Ra is possibly the best example of an Ancient Egyptian-themed game and was an early video slot).
Such games also sometimes focus on different famous historical characters, including Cleopatra. Others venture more down the mythical god route, with slots themed on Zeus (the sky and thunder god in Greek mythology) and other legendary beings.
Of course, as time goes on, more and more slot games are coming onto the market, featuring increasingly stunning graphics.
In some cases, popular games have sequels, providing popular games with equally popular follow-ups, keeping slots fresh. The great thing about these slots is that they showcase different periods throughout history, and so offer history fans something they can engage with.
Arguably, there is also an educational element, and these games may encourage youngsters in particular to learn more about a particular era from the past.
👨💻 Developers have a lot of fun creating slots based on different themes, and it’s not just the graphics that are unique. You can also look forward to unique sounds, animations, symbols, and bonus rounds.
This allows players to enjoy a whole new level of creativity, and it also ensures that there is a steady stream of new content hitting the market, which helps to fuel the sector more widely. We're a long way now from the days of the Liberty Bell slot machine!
The role of technology in shaping slot themes
Technology has obviously changed everything in many aspects of life, but certainly in the world of iGaming, be it casino,
Expect to see more movie, music, and TV-themed slots, as well as reboots of them. As graphics get more sophisticated, and animations and sound effects improve as well, we can only expect online slots to get better and more exciting.
Factor in slot variations like MEGAWAYS, offering literally tens of thousands of ways to win from a single spin, and you can see how the jackpots get so high. We are now starting to see slots turned into
live dealer game shows, merged into an experience where thousands of players can effectively join a game, ramp up the jackpot, and come away with life-changing sums of money.
Virtual reality and augmented reality, combined with artificial intelligence, are going to literally supercharge this industry, so watch this space, enjoy it as it evolves, and always gamble responsibly.
