Just how an online casino game looks has changed so much in the past few decades. It’s not uncommon for players to simply have their breath taken away when seeing the incredibly high standard of visuals that now exist. We really have a lot to thank artists for in their incredible achievements.
First looks are so important and that’s definitely true with online casino games. It’s a highly competitive industry with a wealth of games being released month in month out. Therefore, how a game looks is of great importance.
A game having eye-catching visuals is one of the main targets. Players have so much choice when scrolling through a portfolio. Which one they choose to play isn’t all down to the size of the top prize.
After all, the chances of them winning the jackpot are slim, though they are won. How a game looks is so important, you don’t want to be spending hours looking at a game that you can’t stand the sight of.
Online casino games haven’t always looked as they do now. Just like the early computer games, the initial ones had a rather basic look to them. Fruit symbols dominated slot games with a few 7’s, bells and bars included too. Only one payline was available but they were still popular to play.
They were basic but eye-catching thanks to the bright colours of the symbols. Even now online casinos include in their portfolio some of these retro games. They are often ideal for those who are new to playing as they aren’t so complex as others.
When technological improvements arrived, games began to become more complex. It wasn’t just the fact that there were many more paylines available but the visuals of a game went through the roof.
It became clear to slot designers that the new technologies were enabling them to create a far more complex product. Not just in the gameplay but the visuals of their games.
Slot games that can be played at sites such as Powerplay use a wide variety of themes. Gone are the days when creating a slot was restricted to just the symbols we’ve already mentioned.
Now games had themes, there was a seemingly limitless supply of visuals that could be used. The games can be based on fairytales, horror stories, Christmas and animals galore. The kind of visuals that need to be created can enhance the theme of a game.
Often they can be of a cartoonish nature. They allow them to be extremely colourful and therefore visually striking. Not every player enjoys these but appreciating how a game looks is all down to personal taste.
Playing online casino games can be a bit like a history or geography lesson. Designers love to produce real money slots games with an Ancient Egyptian or Roman theme. There are plenty of games that feature Aztec temples or resemble a sightseeing tour of London or other capitals around the globe.
This aids the visuals of the games because they can include temples, pyramids, ancient ruins and Big Ben or the Houses of Parliament. All very eye-catching indeed and the standard of the visuals is stunning.
The themes that are used for games can also see players transported to other worlds. Sci-fi themed games are popular and allow artists to create new alien races and planets.
All of this new technology means that the art production process has become so much more important. It’s now fully recognised that getting the look of a game right can be the factor that decides whether it will be a hit or a flop.
Project managers have a key role as do animators and the 2D/3D artists. Creating a unique selling point is also important because that can make the game stand out from all the others released that month.
The theme of the game will be decided and then which visuals to use to enhance it. Although there is a lot of innovation in the visuals of online casino games, it is noticeable that it’s more a case of how they look rather than introducing new ones.
Playing card symbols are still those that pay the smallest wins but adapting them to fit in with the theme is a good touch.
If the game is a spin-off from a movie or television show, then the visuals become even more important. Being able to get a licence to produce a game can mean the symbols and other visuals can be designed to closely resemble the main characters from the initial product. That always goes down well with the fans.
They’ll also be rather disappointed if the visuals don’t greatly resemble the characters they already love, so it’s an important part of the design process.
With the theme agreed, it’s time to use the many tools that are available to create the look of the game. The tools available to use by artists now ensure that the end product can be stunning.
What colours should be used in the game? We’ve mentioned the use of bright eye-catching cartoonish symbols but you can’t use those for every game. If there’s a horror theme for example, a much darker and gothic looking design can be employed. That’s not to say that horror themed games have to look like that. Just like the movies, there can be a great deal of humour included too. It’s not uncommon therefore for horror-themed games to also have a cartoonish set of symbols.
Even more technological advancements are now being made. Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D games help create a more immersive experience for players. Putting on a VR headset can see players transported into a famous casino or even another world.
That being the case, the visuals of games are going to become even more important and groundbreaking in the future and it promises to be an exciting one.
