There's been a quiet revolution going on in the world of online slots over the past few months. Whether or not you have come across it depends on how often you play slots, but if you are a regular reel-spinner, then you will undoubtedly at least heard of, if not played multi-player "community" slots and games.
So what are these new types of game and why are they proving to be a huge draw for slots players online? Let's take a look back through recent history to learn about multi-player games in the casino and then how they were developed a few years later for the digital-online generation.
The origin of Multi-Player Community Slots
If you are an online slot player then it is tempting to think of slots being a very solitary pursuit. Certainly, the initial slots were one-player games. Even when the casinos in Las Vegas realised how popular slots were and put many of them together, players still tended to play in their own little bubble, unaware of how their playing partners were doing.
The first change towards a more community spirit started with the development of the first progressive jackpot games. Here multiple machines were linked together for the first time with each wager taken contributing towards a small jackpot. Players could now play the same game, but essentially, they were competing against each other for the win.
Progressive slots proved hugely popular due to the size of the jackpots they offered but it strictly wasn't community slots play. Players didn't share in another players fortune and essentially they were competitors vying for the big jackpot prize.
Then another bright spark hit upon the idea of community games. Slots that were linked together and played by groups of players in the casino. However these slots would be different. As players were playing the same game, they would be encouraged to talk to each other and when one player hits a bonus, all players playing the game would share in the bonus.
It is this addition of the social element which is absolutely fundamental to the success of multi-player community slots. By encouraging players to play together, communicate and share in each others successes, groups of players build up a camaraderie that cannot be found by playing alone.
In Las Vegas, multi-player community slots like The Price Is Right, have proven extremely popular and to this day attract plenty of players willing to play, cheer and win alongside each other.
Multi-Player Community slots online
While porting slots from the real world to online for single players was a relatively smooth process (and once the programming template was established, easy to personalise and replicate) there are considerably more logistical problems to deal with when it comes to multi-player slots.
As such, as programmers sought to iron out these initial issues, Multi-Player Community slots were a little late on the scene when it came to the Internet and playing via mobile.
However, companies like Microgaming (who have five outstanding multi-player slots available to play - more on that later) have succeeded in translating these popular slots from the arcades of Vegas to your laptop, smartphone or tablet.
The result has been a complete shift in how online users perceive slot machines. No longer are slot machines necessarily a solitary pursuit. Players can now join up a Microgaming casino (like many of the ones listed on this site) and start playing with team mates.
Multi-Player Community slots work online by allocating players to a 'group' of players that all play on a single machine. When you log into one of these slots, you are randomly allocated a position in one of these groups.
Once the game has loaded up, you then get to see all of the other players playing the same game as you on screen, so you can see when one player has managed to land a winning spin.
Better still, you can actively participate in the group by taking part in chats with other members. This feature, which is normally associated with online bingo games, is what really brings the community element of these games to life. You can cheer on other users as they hit a big win, commiserate with them if they lose a gamble and of course, if one of you hits a bonus round, then you all get to share in the good fortune and play the bonus round together, sharing in the winnings.
As you get to know players on the slots over time, you can then add them as friends and when you log in, you can search to see which of your friends are online and playing and join them. The chat facility also lets you chat to everybody in the room, or just in private to one person.
One final thing to remember before we look at some of the best multi-player community games available; bonus rounds are hit more often in these types of slots because you have more players playing the game at once.
That's very important to note if you are a player who wants to maximise their potential winnings by playing as many free spins rounds as possible.
Multi-Player Community slots have proven hugely popular so much so that other community-based games, such as roulette and a fantastic arcade-style game, have also been developed by the giants at Microgaming.
Microgaming's 5 top multi-player community slots and games
1. Playboy Multi-Player Slot
Join Jillian, Ashley, Sofia and Kimi (no, not Kimi Raikkonen) as your four delectable hostesses in this multi-player version of the hugely popular Playboy slot. Share in the good fortune if one of you hits a free spins bonus round which could result in a big win for all players at the table and for the rest of the time, you can chat and view how each other are performing.
2. Multi-Player Wheel of Wealth Special Edition Slot
Arguably the first true multi-player online slot game, which was the first to bring the community feel to traditional online slots. Once you are allocated to a room, you can interact with all the players in that room on a 5-reel, 25-line slot and if one player in your room triggers the bonus, all players will gain the benefit.
3. Multi-Player Avalon Slot
Multi-Player Avalon introduced a new feature in multi-player community gaming, the bonus thermometer which increases with each spin a player makes. Increase the thermometer to increase the number of free spins you can trigger when one of your playing team hits a bonus.
4. Multi-Player Roulette Diamond Edition
In addition to slots, Microgaming have now introduced a multi-player version of roulette. Play as you would in the casino and chat to other players at the table as you place your bets on the layout and watch the wheel spin before landing on one of the slots. Spin every 20, 40 or 60 seconds and view the wheel in glorious 3D in this pioneering multi-player online game.
5. Max Damage and the Alien Attack
An incredible multi-player arcade style game which pays out like a slot, but which offers a game-play experience that is vastly different. Each player has six lives and wagers as they fend off wave after wave of aliens, with bonuses and wins awarded as the player destroys the ships. This is truly one of the most innovative and original multi-player games you can play online, don't miss it!
Next Post: Is video poker a good substitute for slots?
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