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Innovative Casino Machine Designers Thriving
Thanks to Wired for their article discussing the success of ex-arcade designers in the casino machine business. The article focuses on Larry DeMar, once the co-creator of classic arcade titles such as Robotron, Defender, and Stargate, but now producing innovative video poker games such as Multi-Strike which "..add an element of fun to machines that traditionally have been routine gambling devices." According to industry executive Joe Kaminkow, "By making a game entertaining, you can enhance the wins and soften the losses for your players. You learn to give your players good cookies - things that are fun and exciting. Good designers understand how to dole out those cookies in just the right amount." Since a top-selling game "can reap more than $1 million per month in royalties for its creator", gambling machine design is a bigger business than many might think.
They don't run rand() to see if you win.
The patterns are pre-programmed so that the ratio of win to lose (which is legally mandated - in the UK at least, presumably other countries that issue gambling licences will have similar legislation) is constant over a particular time period.
A manufacturer can tell it's customers how much money the machine will make during it's lifetime.
The BBC has a story about it
I was asked to make an internet slot machine and was given documentation on the general principlies.
There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
George "The Fat Man" Sanger and Team Fat, legends in the computer game audio biz, have been making some really great music and audio for slot machines recently.
They've done the spectacular music for Wing Commander I/II, The 7th Guest, Loom, and loads more. And their slot machine audio has been getting really great reviews too!
Fortunately for us gamers, the Fat Man is still in the game business.
The Fat Man's website
no thanks