Slots have come a long way since their early days - from literal slot machines based around actual reels to software that can run in any browser. The evolution of slots is tied to advancements in technology, be it the gears and components of the early slots, the CRT displays behind the first video slots, and the evolution of internet browsers. Keep all of this in mind as you join us on a trip across time as we tell all about the evolution of the graphics of the online slots UK players enjoy!
The Early Days: When Slots Were Mechanical Marvels
In the beginning, slot machines were exactly that, machines. However that does not mean they were simple! The very first slot, the Sittman and Pitt machine from 1891, featured 5 drums and 50 playing cards. Players then pulled the lever and tried to form poker hands, making this something of a proto-video poker machine. The first “true” slot machine, 1894’s Liberty Bell, was a simplification of this design, if one that remains recognisable to this day. Three reels, three rows, one payline, recognisable symbols - we still play this style of slot!
Slots remained more or less the same until the 1970s, which is when the video slot first appeared in Las Vegas. Created by the company Fortune Coin, this machine replaced the mechanical reels with a Sony CRT display and, following approval by the Nevada State Gambling Commission, proved to be a massive hit. The switch to video broadened the possibilities of the slot format, such as more reels, more paylines, and more exciting visuals, influencing the style and format of the online slots we play today.
The Online Days: Welcome to the 1990s!
The 1990s brought the world many new technologies, and one of these is, of course, the internet. The first online casino actually made an appearance in 1994 through a partnership between Microgaming (now Games Global) and CryptoLogic. Microgaming provided the games, while CryptoLogic took care of security. Many were skeptical about the online casino, but the gambling sites grew rapidly - from 15 in 1996 to over 200 in 1997, proving the format had legs.
The first online slots were, if one was feeling unkind, crude. But this is to be expected, after all. The clunky desktop PCs of the time were hardly the powerhouses one finds today, while the internet browsers used to visit the online casinos couldn’t handle sophisticated graphics. But the games quickly evolved in sophistication, thanks to rapid advancements in both the visual capabilities of internet browsers and the random number generators (RNGs) powering the games.
New Technologies Mean Further Graphics Evolution
As the 1990s made way to the 2000s the internet exploded in the mainstream, and with it came further evolution of slots and their graphics. One of the chief technologies used at the time was Macromedia’s Flash. This software allowed developers to easily create slots with flash visuals complete with animated symbols, immersive backgrounds, and even introduction movies. Slots were transforming from mere penny guzzlers to true games you can truly enjoy!
The 2010s only meant further evolution for slots of a form. Take Megaways, the game engine created by Australian provider Big Time Gaming in 2016. Here’s a type of slot that could never have been possible in the mechanical days - big games featuring 6 reels, each with a number of rows that changes on each spin! Megaways slots are immediately eye-catching as the format allows for even spectacular effects through cascades and tumbling symbols. In turn Megaways inspired other developers to create their own unique slot formats, leading to something of a slot graphics arms race. Who’s the winner? We can’t tell, but in a way we’re all winners as we get more beautiful slots on a regular basis!
The Smartphone Revolution: Small Screens, Big Graphics
Another revolution while all of the above was taking place - the mobile revolution. Nowadays we all carry a smartphone, a pocket computer that allows us to do just about everything we do on a regular PC, including the playing of games. However this wasn’t possible just a few years ago - although people still tried! 2005 saw the release of Pub Fruity, the first mobile gambling game. Powered by Java, this game recreated the classic fruit machine on the then small mobile display, colourful symbols and all.
Mobile gaming really took a turn in 2007, which is when Apple introduced the iPhone to the world. Now the mobile phone had a big display and powerful internals allowing for a true evolution of online gambling as a whole. This evolution was not painless, mind - websites needed to be adapted to fit the smaller proportions of the smartphone, while games had to be rewritten in order to run on these devices.
The constraints of smartphones - specifically smaller displays and more limited processing power - forced developers to truly optimise their games. Interestingly, the result was even better looking slots! Visuals need to be bright and sharp to be readable on small displays, while the smartphone format allows for some interesting twists with the way one can use these devices either vertically or horizontally. This leads us straight today, where we can simply pick our phones and spin a few great looking reels while waiting for a drink or the bus!
Looking Ahead: VR, AR, and Beyond
As good as 2D slots look, many of us still wonder - when will the evolution to 3D hit these games? The answer is that 3D slots are already here! In fact, providers started combining 3D software with slots as early as the 2000s, if in admittedly limited capacity. Most modern slots now use 3D technology in some manner, be it for fluid animations, dynamic lighting, or immersive effects. Some games even go a step further to fully model the game cabinet - recreating the pub fruit machine experience - while others add videogame-style 3D symbols into the mix for an experience that’s more akin to a games console, bringing about a 2D vs 3D slot graphics rivalry.
Looking ahead into the evolution of slots graphics we cannot ignore the arrival of Virtual Reality (VR) to the online gaming space. These are admittedly still early days, but you can already find sites that give you a chance to fully immerse yourself in a casino experience by wearing a VR headset. This is where slots with 3D graphics truly shine, as you’ll be able to all but touch these incredible-looking games!
Another future idea with great potential is Augmented Reality (AR). In case you are not familiar, AR combines the real with the virtual to bring a different kind of immersive experience. Imagine a smartphone that can project an online slot on your coffee table, or pair real objects with your game experience. The possibilities are truly limitless, and as technology marches ever worfward you can expect to find more of these experiences until they truly become the mainstream.
What to Expect in the Future of Slot Graphics Evolution
Slots have truly come a long way - from mechanical devices to games beamed right in your eyeballs via VR headsets! However the appeal of these games has remained consistent throughout the years, thanks to the simple randomness of spinning the reels in the hopes of landing the right winning combination. As such, while the graphics will continue to evolve further, we’ll ultimately always know how to play slots. Speaking of playing slots, always remember to play responsibly - slots are meant to be a relaxing activity, and certainly not a way to make money. With that in mind, keep on enjoying slots and do let us know which ones you believe are the most spectacular looking!
