The casino industry was quick to notice that the type of entertainment they are housing doesn’t appeal to younger generations. Undoubtedly, the appearance of online casinos and casino apps has had an incredible impact on the player base, but it was not enough. The generation that grew up playing video games and seeking a more engaging or engrossing form of entertainment isn’t too keen on casino games.
To make casino games more appealing to the young, they decided to innovate with arcade games. This resulted in arcade slot machines, which offer skill-based games rather than games of chance. However, young gamers are always on the lookout for fresh new titles, or at least game updates, as playing the same thing over and over gets old pretty fast. Which begs the question – how long will these arcade slots games last? So, let’s discuss in detail whether cash arcade slots will remain relevant within a few years.
Arcade Machines Just Gained an Extra Life
As the gaming market is dominated by PCs and consoles, it’s safe to say that arcades have seen better days. They are still made, and we can see them in restaurants like Dave & Busters, or in the basement of collectors. Despite the efforts of developers to make them more relevant, by relying on replicas that have better controls, the new-gen consoles are just a better choice.
Basically, they are mostly viewed as a decoration for a man-cave rather than a gaming system. Yet with slot machine arcade games the industry has received a lifeline that could make it relevant once again. Moreover, with a player base hungry for new releases, it could mean they will have to come up with a new arcade slot machine regularly. But the question is whether this trend will continue?
Arcade Games in Ireland Used for Bonding Experience
Even if games are more immersive and complex nowadays, playing on arcade machines still feels unique. The button-mashing is just not the same, and you typically stand to play, so you get to hop in one place during a thrilling action sequence.
A single dad from Dublin, Ireland, called Aidan actually crafted a retro arcade machine in order to bond with his son. Aidan now sells those machines to celebrities and enthusiasts, which also indicates the older audience is interested in arcades. However, these are not the same arcades that are in Irish real money casino platforms or institutions. So, let’s see how an arcade game slot machine in a casino is different from what we expect.
The Big Misconception
If you hear the term arcade slot machine game, you probably expect a casino game that pays based on your high score. In other words, the better you are at this arcade slot the more money you will get. That’s where you are wrong, as these are not entirely skill-based slots, in fact, the skill plays only a minor, but not entirely insignificant, role in overall winnings.
Typically these machines are more or less like regular slots, and the bonus round is different. Whenever you enter a bonus round, you get to choose if you are going to receive a random reward or if you wish to use skills to earn rewards. This is when your arcade gaming skills come into play, as you can secure better bonus rewards for yourself. Luckily, the bonuses are not rare, they occur regularly, but the reward calculation of slot games remains the same at the core.
This should not be too surprising though. After all, these slots or pokies for real money, are a business for profit, like any other. If anyone who is good at the game gets paid, it wouldn’t take long for casinos to start losing money. Moreover, this is without a doubt an improvement on overall slots experience, as players do have some agency, even if it only affects minor rewards. It also does not change the standard slots games, as players can simply opt-in to take bonuses based on luck. All things considered, it’s an upgrade for a regular slot machine and there is no reason for casinos not to invest in more of these.
Arcades Are Not Down for the Count Yet
Technology continues to evolve and the future of arcades also lies in innovation. Currently, the industry is experimenting with VR technology in order to revitalize this product, so this may become a trend once again. This also means that arcade slot machines can become more popular.
The problem is that VR is supposed to be this revolutionizing immersive experience, but the young audience isn’t exactly losing their minds over it. Millennials are more focused on online multiplayer games or shared experience, which means MOBA games, or battle royales. Luckily, nobody said that all of this won’t be available in VR at one point, so it’s just a matter of being patient.
Conclusion
With all this in mind let’s answer the question posed at the very start. What is the fate that awaits arcades and slot machine arcade games? The industry is clearly trying to innovate and luckily there is a good chance that modern tech arcades will be restored to their former glory, or simply stay relevant. As mentioned this is still a unique gaming experience, and it would be a shame to just give up on it.
When it comes to the pokies arcade game or arcade slots, there is really no reason for casinos to give up on these. As stated, this is an upgraded version of a regular slots machine, and both new and old players can benefit from it. Even those who don’t like skill-based games can play them and not notice a difference.
