Comparing Classic Slots with Video Slots
In online casinos, a wide variety of online slots titles with different characteristics can be found. For example, two popular types, classic slots and video slots, actually have several differences when it comes to gameplay and features and in the world of live casino the prospects for casino gamers can be almost endless.
Classic slots online are those that started it all and feed players’ desire for nostalgic gameplay. Players know these titles for their easily recognizable design and themes like fruit symbols and bells, lucky number 7s, and gold bars which are displayed across three reels and one pay line. When it comes to classic slots, players usually have a more niche number of betting choices and conservative payouts.
What is the difference? They may both appear to be spinning reels with symbols at first glance, but they differ in a few pretty big ways.
Classic Slots – The Iconic Casino Staple
Three reels, one to five paylines, and of course, those recognisable symbols like bells and cherries are all common in classic slots. Classic slots have grown in popularity in online casinos since the rise of internet gambling, appealing to players who enjoy the freedom of playing games online but still prefer more traditional games.
Gameplay and Bonus Features
For players who want to enjoy a good slot machine without all the extras, classic slots are perfect. On the other hand, video slots typically have more intricate features and a faster pace to keep players interested.
For example, they usually have bonus rounds with interactive features, mini-games, free spins and plenty more. Classic slots have bonus rounds too, but they do tend to be simpler, often offering free spins or pick-to-win features.
How Payouts Work for Both Classic and Video Slots
Before the online casinos came along, classic slots used to be totally mechanical, with parts that determined the outcomes by physically spinning the reels. Just like any machine, after years of use, they would eventually wear down and throw out unfair results. Nowadays, online slots and video slots use RNGs (Random Number Generators) to make sure the results stay completely random and fair.
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Video Slots – The Modern Way to Spin
Video slots are the flashier upgrade of the classics, modernised with more mechanics that turn the excitement up. They often offer more reels, hundreds of paylines and sleek graphics. Plus, video slots often come with plenty of bonus features like free spins, wilds, bonus rounds, and even full-on storylines, like in the Pirots series.
Themes That Modernise Slots
One of the biggest differences is the themes. Classic slots typically keep it simple with three reels and basic fruit or number symbols. Video slots, on the other hand, go all out with their themes, graphics, and pretty impressive animations.
Take Book of Dead, for example, which is a fan favourite that whisks players away to ancient Egypt to spin the reels with Rich Wilde, PokerStars’ very own Indiana Jones. It uses a simple five-reel layout but replaces traditional symbols with more that are on theme, like golden scarabs and pharaohs, plus a free spins bonus that keeps the sense of exploration going.
Or there’s Victory, a naval warfare-themed slot starting at 5×3 reels but expanding to a huge 9×7 grid when the bombs start flying. The action unfolds against a backdrop of roaring seas and battleships, and has an orchestral soundtrack that makes players feel like they’re a 17th-century commander while spinning the reels.
Classic Dings and Cinematic Soundtracks
Sound-wise, classic online slots are all about the nostalgia, a virtual tribute to the machines that helped build the industry. They have mechanical click sounds, reel spins, and the iconic ding of a win. When it comes to some video slots, the music now rivals that of a movie score. Take Gods of Rock, which takes players into a full-on rock concert with catchy guitar riffs.
The Rise of Branded Video Slots
Another reason video slots have gained popularity over the last couple of decades is the rise of branded slot titles. These are games based on everything from movies to TV series to rock bands and even video games.
Slots like Rick and Morty or Deal or No Deal, hosted by PokerStars, attract fan bases and add a little extra entertainment to online casino games. They often have cinematic intros, fun cut-scenes, and gameplay that takes inspiration from the show or movie. It’s not only about spinning in the hopes of a win, it’s also about playing in a world familiar to the player.
How Nostalgia Plays a Role
It’s not just popular franchises that players enjoy incorporated into their online slot games; there’s also something strangely comforting about spinning with the old school symbols, like a cherry or the iconic golden bell. Classic slots tap into that nostalgia and can take players back to the arcades or smoky pub corners of their youth.
Even though these days a lot of people choose to play on their smartphones or laptops to fit games around a busy lifestyle, the aesthetic of a classic slot still gives a nostalgia hit. It’s part of why developers try to modernise classic games without straying too far from the original format.
The Evolution of Slot Mechanics
Classic slots follow a pretty straightforward format, but video slots have given way to all sorts of slot variants and new gameplay mechanics. From cascading reels and expanding wilds to megaways systems and a huge increase in the number of paylines with every spin, the gameplay can change drastically from one game to another. Due to this evolution, diving into different online slots can make players feel like they’re playing different genres, keeping sessions interesting.
PokerStars Modern Slots
While the classic slot machine format will always hold a special place in many people’s hearts, modern slots, like those seen on PokerStars, take things up a notch with better graphics, animations and storylines. Two prime examples of this can be seen in titles like Robin in the Hood and Heist Guys.
Robin in the Hood, developed by Trigger Studios, puts a playful spin on the famous outlaw of Sherwood Forest. It’s not just a themed backdrop, however, it’s a fully animated world where arrows fly across the reels, Wilds multiply, and players are thrown into tongue-in-cheek mini-games like the Bounty Picker, where portraits of cartoon sheriffs hide free spins and multipliers.
Then there’s Heist Guys, from ELK Studios, which takes players to a neon-lit city packed with plenty of cartoon crime. Cluster pays, cascading wins, and roaming Wild multipliers all reflect the chaotic capers of the title characters. Once the bonus game starts, things get even crazier, with a grid-based vault raid where players have to dodge guards, collect tools, and try to crack open safes without getting caught.
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