Sounds and Sights: New Casinos Games Are About Much More than Money
If you have ever walked through the elegant floral displays at the entrance of the Wynn Las Vegas, or smelled the scents of “Japanese Spring” display at the Bellagio, you will appreciate that casinos understand the experience of the player goes well beyond winning money. The resorts are designed to be feasts for the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. There is science behind it, of course, as giving such pleasures encourages people to stay and to spend their money.
There is a more fundamental focus on this at online casinos, especially at the development level, with a focus on creating games that look and sound pleasing. Such aesthetics are important, and you can see they are starting to replace the cacophonous sounds and sights that used to be associated with casino games.
Of course, it’s not all aiming for a zen-like experience. The raft of new rock music-themed games – Motorhead, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Kiss, Jimi Hendrix and many others – all use licensed music to offer a dual experience to players. But, by and large, that ‘alarm bell’ sound to greet a big win has largely disappeared. In short, developers are creating sounds – or borrowing them – that players like, and by eschewing those that unsettle them.
Games now like mini artworks
From the perspective of visuals, things are changing too. Gone are the bells, bars and cherries, to be replaced with games with incredible artwork and design. For instance, if you play the majestic White King online slot for real money with a bonus now, you will appreciate its stunning artwork and soundtrack. The game is based upon a pride of white lions, and it is a world away from the idea of fruit machines in terms of its design and conception. Other games like Wolf Legend and Dragon’s Fire have gone down a similar route, creating mini artworks on screen.
Although the aesthetics have largely changed, it’s important to note that the gameplay of most casino games has also evolved significantly. Players demand more than spinning and matching a few symbols, and they expect to be entertained by more than just a roulette wheel or card table. The gameplay has become much more sophisticated, with slots offering different levels and the unlocking of special features in the same manner as video games.
Resorts are becoming local beauty spots
Back at the casino resorts, there is a feeling that operators must do more to get players to stay and play the games. It has become the stuff of Las Vegas legend that casinos were designed to ‘trap’ and confuse people – no windows or clocks, the haphazard design, the buzzing alarm bell sounds – but then new science took over and dismissed the old psychological tricks.
This branch of psychology suggests that you are more likely to spend money when you are surrounded by attractive sights and sounds, partly due to the fact you might want to attain such things for yourself. But, above all, the new way of thinking deduced that you are more likely to spend money when you are calm. That’s why natural light now floods into many casino floors, and beautiful sounds can be heard. Casinos are still using psychological tricks, but it is in the opposite fashion. If you are a keen casino player you should be aware of it, but you should also welcome it.
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.