Online Fruit Machines – A Nostalgic Slice of Gaming History
Traditionally found bleeping and flashing away in arcades, Chinese take-out restaurants, pubs, clubs and other venues, fruit machines are a nostalgic slice of gaming history. Originally designed to give players a chance to win prizes by lining up combinations of symbols on a reel, they can also feature extra paylines, bonus games and other features.
Online versions of traditional slot machines are now available for everyone to play, with a range of different themes and pay lines. However, when it comes to choosing an online fruit machine, there are a few things you should bear in mind before you make your final decision.
A fruit machine, or an AWP (Amusement with Prizes) in the UK, is a gambling device that uses a coin or paper ticket to activate one or more rotating reels with different coloured and shaped fruit pictures printed around them. When a winning combination appears on the reels, the machine pays out from its cup or trough. Alternatively, a sub-game may start where players can win extra incentives or cash prizes by correctly guessing a series of questions.
Online fruit machine games are similar to their physical counterparts, with the exception that players can access them from any internet-enabled device. They typically feature a standard RTP, and follow a low variance maths model that will appeal to players who prefer to amble along rather than spin up huge wins.
There are a number of different types of fruit slots, with the most popular offering a combination of simple gameplay with an element of player interaction. This usually takes the form of a ‘Hi or Lo’ gamble button, which is played after every spin. This requires the player to predict whether a card will be red or black, and can double the value of the current winning spin.
Many online fruit machine games also incorporate extra reels or reel combinations, which add to the fun and increase the potential for big prizes. They also often have a wild symbol or scatter symbol which can trigger bonus rounds and other special features. Some even have a progressive jackpot which can be won by landing certain combinations of symbols on the reels.
If you’re looking for an online fruit machine with a twist, look no further than this galactic outing from NetEnt. With its interstellar theme and solid design, this slot is an instant classic.
Taking the classic 3 reels and 1 pay line layout to a whole new level, Microgaming’s Couch Potato is sure to get your wheels spinning with its quirky take on the genre. The game’s logo – a lazy potato on a sofa – is a playful nod to the term ‘couch potato’, with the TV set playing the role of Wild and multiplying winnings when it forms part of a combination.