So, I guess it’s about time to ask the loaded question – what’s the most important part of a slot? Keep in mind that I’m talking about both online slots and physical ones, but when I say “physical ones” I mean video slots and not fruit machines. I just want to make sure we’re all on the same page here, because I’m about to get into some pretty complicated territory, the kind where I’m using big, complicated words such as “aesthetics” and “usability”. Sadly, there’s no easier way to examine this subject, as we really need to go deep under the hood of the slots we all love in order to check just what it is that makes us want to go back to them.
The obvious answer to this is “Well, they bring money, duh!” Yeah, I guess that’s a good response, but lots of things bring money. Your job brings money, but most people don’t really do that for fun. Lotto tickets bring money, but the amount of people who buy them religiously is less than the amount of people who play slots regularly. Hell, other casino games, such as Blackjack and Roulette, have better odds and can bring you more money, and slots are STILL the number 1 game in online casinos by a landslide! And then there’s all these slot apps online and on the Play Store and App Store which remain immensely popular despite not involving real cash at all! So money is obviously not the correct answer – maybe it’s the reason why we play casino in general, but certainly not the underlying cause of the slots’ popularity.
Want to know what I think? I believe the secret lies in the aesthetics.
Aesthetics (in other words, the visuals – graphics, animations, etc.) are one of the most important aspects of ANY visual media – websites, movies, videogames, and yes, slots. Numerous studies have been conducted on the importance of aesthetics, and they all say the same thing – we regard things more positively if they look good. Now, keep in mind that this isn’t universally true for everyone – if you’re a long-term slot player who’s played dozens of slots, then you probably care more about playability than looks, but most people are very attracted to a slot which just looks good. It’s a remnant of our hunter-gatherer instincts, and also the same reason why ads hire beautiful models to be their products’ faces, or why film directors hire cinematographers, or why most of us refuse to eat food that doesn’t look good. Humans, as a species, love things which look good. Now look at the most popular slot you can find. See all those shiny coins, pretty visuals and fun-looking characters jumping around? Suffice to say, there’s a very good reason why they’re there.