Essential Elements of Slot Game Design: A Comprehensive Guide
November 26, 2024
In this post, we will consider one variant of the project structure for a slot game. The name of the genre is so called because the first slot machines all had a coin slot. It is important to understand that many elements can be changed, removed or added depending on the gameplay. The basis of the gameplay in games of this genre is a mathematical formula that creates a pattern of certain symbols. In the following, we will refer to it as math. When using different maths, additional buttons, banners, or a larger number of symbols may be required. There are also cases when the same math is used for two or more visually very different slots. This allows you to use the same gameplay for more potential users.
From the visual point of view, it is necessary to ensure that all elements on each screen of the game have a clear hierarchy, which will help the user not to get lost and quickly find and react to the most important elements. If the hierarchy of elements is broken, if there is no main and secondary elements, it will visually put pressure on the player and he will not feel comfortable spending a long time in the game. We can highlight elements by size, bright or rare color, visual effects (glow, scores, etc.), and tone. An experienced artist or designer will be able to use visual techniques correctly to create beautiful, colorful, and easy-to-use graphics.
Immersion in the game world often begins with the loading screen. On it, we can see elements such as the game logo and the progress bar, which displays the percentage of download in percent. The progress bar is a scale that visually shows how far the process of preparing the game for launch is over. Often, after downloading, this bar is replaced by the play button and is located at the bottom center of the screen. There is also an option to show hints that might be needed for the game or show the odds of winning for a particular symbol. This screen, like all the others, should coincide with the game stylistically and in mood, reflecting its theme.
The next screen is the main game, where players will spend the most time. In the center of the screen is the playing field - it is called a slot machine. It seems to be divided into cells, each of which has a symbol. Machines can be of different sizes. For example, 3X5 cells is the most common option, but you can also find 3X3, 3X4, or 4X5. The number of possible winning combinations depends on the number of these cells. There is also a conditional division into vertical stripes, in the picture below there are 5 of them, they are called “reels”.
We can also see many elements of the user interface. The most important of them, and the most noticeable, is the “spin” button, which starts the rotation of the reels (vertical stripes on the slot machine). You can also see buttons with a hint, settings, changing the bet, or activating the bet increase for different game modes. A bet is a price for one attempt to spin the reels. When designing this screen, it is important to make the background and the slot machine so that they do not distract attention from the main elements - symbols and jackpots.
Jackpots are small frames that are located on top and contain information about the biggest prizes that can be won in this game. They often have their own name, depending on the size of the prize, such as “Minor”, “Mini”, and also differ in color. Background is a picture that is behind the slot machine and fills the empty space on the screen. In the picture below, it is an image of a cave, sand, and treasures on it.
Images of letters and objects on the playing field are called symbols. Game symbols also differ in value. The symbol that does not give any winnings is the inscription “BAR”, in its meaning it is equal to an empty, skipped cell, but visually it looks more beautiful. The least winning symbols are the letters A, J, K, Q, 10, 9. They should be visually pleasing, but not attract too much attention. Usually, such symbols are letters with a common design but different colors.
The following symbols are medium-sized, showing objects or sometimes animals and characters. They are meant to look more luxurious and attractive, and have a more complex design. In the picture above, these are the symbols with a skull, a ship, a chest, and a parrot.
The most expensive symbols should be the most noticeable, often depicting the main characters of the slot. In the picture above, these are the captain and the pirate girl. The characters depicted on these symbols should be bright and memorable.
In some projects, you can see such a game as free spins. In it, players have the opportunity to spin the reel a certain number of times without placing a bet; this type of game is a bonus or a gift. Often, the background changes, or it is night. Visually, it should be rarer and more festive to be associated with something pleasant. In some games, it is possible to buy spins in this mode, so work on it can be directly related to the monetization of the game and requires attention.
Win windows are also usually developed. They can be called “Big win”, “Mega win” depending on the amount of the win, or more uniquely for this particular slot, such as “Super!”. This screen should look very festive and attractive, as it congratulates the player and accompanies them to a happy moment. If the game has not one but two or three winning options, the hierarchy of values should be noticeable. To create a festive design, additional decorative elements in the theme of the game are often used, as well as coins, crystals, or something beautiful and valuable. Vfx can be used to create a more upbeat mood. When using all these decorations, it is important not to lose the main thing - the congratulatory message and the amount of winnings.
The game may also contain additional windows, such as the paytable and the window of problems with the Internet connection. The paytable can usually be called up even in the middle of the game by clicking the information button. It shows symbols with captions of the amount of winnings for the appearance of one or more of them on the field, and can also show rules and lines (variants of winning combinations depending on the location on the field). When designing this window, it is worth remembering that it is not decorative but informational and should remain convenient for finding the necessary information.
Working on prioritizing and valuing elements in the game can be difficult, but it is necessary. If all elements of the game are properly combined and developed from the design point of view, you will get a beautiful and functional slot that will delight players and benefit the business for a long time.