The Technology Behind Slot Machines
The first modern slot machine was built in San Francisco in 1895 by the Bavarian immigrant Charles August Fey. Known as the Liberty Bell, whose name refers to the Liberty Bell (one of the great symbols of the American Revolutionary War), it had three spinning reels and five different symbols available: hearts, diamonds, swords, horseshoes and a liberty bell. Players pulled a lever, and when symbols lined up on the payline, they won a 50-cent cash prize. The machine was a hit in San Francisco, and the German mechanic opened his own slot machine factory, the Charles Fey and Company. Despite this, he was unable to keep up with production, and demand exceeded his means.
In 1907, Herbert Mills, a Chicago manufacturer, produced the so-called Operator Bell, with its famous fruit symbols. A year later, every bar in America had their own versions of Charles August Fey’s famous slot machines. Mechanical slots not only spread throughout the country, but also gained ground in many other parts of the world. Mechanical slots worked well, but companies were always looking for ways to create more innovative and effective slot machines to capture the attention of gambling fans. In 1963, the first electromechanical slot machine appeared, known as Money Honey, which became the forerunner of the technologically advanced slot machines we know today .
With the advancement of computing in the 1970s, the first video slot machines appeared, featuring built-in color displays that replaced spinning reels. Despite this, these slots had the same limitations as the mechanical reels, as the potential maximum payouts depended on the number of possible outcomes of the mechanical reels. Everything changed in the 1980s, when a Norwegian-born engineer, Inge Telnaes, invented Random Number Generator (RNG) software , which decided which symbols appeared and at which positions the reels stopped on the machine. slot machine. Telnaes patented the virtual reel in 1984, and it was purchased by International Game Technology in 1989.
The physical limitations of slot machines were completely overcome with the emergence of the first online casinos in the 1990s. In a relatively short period of time, technology has propelled slots , which have evolved rapidly over the years. years and now they provide a truly unique gaming experience to gambling fans. Today, behind online slot machines are large software and technology companies, such as Microgaming, Playtech or NetEnt. Gaming software development companies that are responsible for creating the images and developing the gaming experience , as well as implementing the algorithms and random number generators that feed the slots.
Random Number Generator (RNG)
Today, randomness rules is the new gaming experience of online casino like the australia online casino site. Random Number Generators (RNG) are algorithms that use unpredictability to create a constant set of numbers that are only related by the randomness of the pattern in the algorithm. In this way, the RNG makes each spin of the slot machine completely unique , as it provides the final position of the symbols randomly. The last spin does not know the results of the last spins, nor does it know what will happen when the player presses the button. The results are randomized and independent, thus lacking any predictable bias, cycle in the results, or other patterns.
Return to Player (RTP)
The RNG is responsible for regulating the return to player (RTP), one of the main functions of slot machines. The RTP is the percentage of expected winnings of a slot machine for each unit wagered by the players over time. A distinction can be made between a high RPT (easier to get prizes from the game, but low amounts) and low (less frequency of prizes, but higher jackpots). In any case, the average RPT is over 96% . RPT is one of the most important factors in slots.
The design and coding of online slots
In the old days, slot machines used numbers or symbols like fruits for images. Today, these symbols have been replaced by superior icons that adapt to the needs of each game. Tools like Photoshop or Autodesk Maya, even JavaScript coding, are the most used to design this type of graphics. Beyond images, sound has become a fundamental element in slots. For this reason, sound engineers work to create different unique listening experiences. These aspects make up the design of slots online. A design that is influenced by the user experience, since the game operators analyze the behavior statistics of the players to make designs more attractive to the users.
The future of slot machines
Slot machine technology, like other online casino gambling, is constantly evolving . Currently, there are new technologies that are improving slots, offering a more realistic and safe gaming experience. Cryptocurrency payments as the primary encryption tool, or live games, with live streaming technology called Optical Character Recognition (OCR), are changing the type of applications used in development. of slot machines. But this is not all, in the immediate future, slot developers will bet on AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality), a technology that will take the gaming experience to another level.
