If there’s one thing you can say about slots, it’s that they are not stuck in their ways. If developers realise that a certain aspect of the games is getting old and players don’t like it anymore, they happily change it. In terms of evolution and progression, slots could be compared to consoles. The offerings that came thirty years ago are barely recognisable when looking at the current titles. Slots have by no means finished evolving either, and there are more upgrades that can be done. One feature which could become common in the years ahead is the inclusion of detailed storylines.
More Slots are Being Based on TV
The fact that so many modern slots are based on TV programmes and films shows that online casinos are attracting players who enjoy consuming this form of entertainment. At sites like LeoVegas, TV-inspired slots like Deadwood and Vikings Go Berzerk are displayed on the front page. This highlights that they are among the most popular games.
When players spin the reels on Deadwood, they will see some cartoon versions of characters from the hit HBO series, along with sheriff badges, guns, and gold. The game can evoke nostalgia for the series which ran for three seasons between 2004 and 2006, but it doesn’t capture any of the exciting storylines from David Milch’s western.
This is something which could be addressed on games of the future. Some players may want to relive some of the most memorable storylines when playing a slot game. This would be hard to recreate during the normal reel-spinning mode but could be included in a side game.
VR Slots May Require Storytelling
It seems as though slots may be moving towards incorporating more virtual reality elements in the years ahead. The technology is expected to boom with projected revenues of $44.7 billion by 2024. For this rapid growth to take place, the gambling industry will need to get on board.
NetEnt has already showcased a couple of the VR slots it has been working on, and these transport the player into fantasy worlds. There, they see the giant reels in front of them. The two games that the Swedish company has shown so far are Gonzo’s Quest VR and Jack’s World VR.
Both games seem like novel and unique ideas, but they will require some storytelling to make them more believable and add to the immersion. Gonzo’s Quest already has some backstory, as Gonzo is a Spanish explorer in search of gold. NetEnt could add more detail to this in the VR game. Jack’s World is based on the famous fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk. NetEnt could, therefore, choose to let players actually climb the virtual beanstalk within the VR world before reaching the slot game.
In the Netflix era, people have access to great storytelling in abundance. With more slots now being based on TV series, there is a clear crossover between the two mediums. It only seems like a matter of time before slots start featuring more engaging storylines.