Slot Machine Games: The Importance Of Sounds
The Importance of Sounds In Slot Machine Games
First things first: slot machine games are very noisy. Go into any casino and take a walk around the gaming floor. It’ll be jam-packed with jackpot slots machines and their players. Apart from all the flashing lights and animation, the real stand out will be the sound…or rather the noise. Bells, whistles, clicks, and every electronic sound under the sun will fill your ears. Many people assume that all this noise is part and parcel of the entertainment experience. But there’s actually more to it than that. The sounds you hear are designed to attract players to play the slot. These noises are there to both draw you in and keep you playing. The idea behind being to encourage you to play for longer than you might have planned.
What Research Reveals About Slot Machine Sounds
Over the years there have been plenty of studies about the environmental effects of casinos on player behavior. One of the most comprehensive was done by a psychology professor from the University of Waterloo, Mike Dixon. He looked in great detail at the effects of game sounds on the participating gambler. He found that these noises produced by slots machines were not just random in either sound or frequency. On the contrary, they have been produced in order to trick the brain into thinking you’ve actually won money…and even more money than you think. A good example would be you betting $1 and winning back 0.30. Yet the machine would burst into a noisy celebration leading you to imagine that you’re truly a winner.
Slot Machine Games: Specifics of the Study
The experiments by Dixon involved 96 participants. Each one was to gamble for two separate sessions on a slot machine simulator. Their responses to various stimuli were measured. Essentially, the researchers were looking at psychological responses to the various slot machine outcomes. Their outcomes were losses win, and losses disguised as wins (LDWs). These were measured with the sound turned on and then with the sounds turned off. The palms of their hands were rigged so as to measure their conductivity as they became sweaty with excitement. Likewise, their heart rate was also measured.
For the first session, LDWs and wins were reinforced by celebratory sounds. In the second session, the music was turned off. After competing in both sessions, the participants were asked which round was more fun. They were also asked about how they thought they had performed in terms of wins or losses. It was found that during the sessions with sounds, their heart rates were faster and that they felt they had won more money than in reality. In fact, the players severely overestimated their winnings. In the first round, estimates on winnings were 24% over and in the second round, 15%. But in reality, the winnings were the same for each round.
The study’s conclusion was, “Although sounds may have contributed to players’ enjoyment of the game, sound may also lead to an overestimation of winning.” They added, “Both of these effects may contribute to gambling problems, such as misbeliefs about the true chances of winning, and persistence that some players experience when playing slot machines.”
Should You Be Bothered by the Addictive Nature of Slots Sounds?
So, just as we thought, the study shows that the designers of the best jackpot slot machines games really do think of everything when it comes to separating a customer from his money. There’s no trick missed and that includes the sound design. They purposely add certain sounds to try and convince players that they have won more than they really have. And, as we can see from this study, these methods really do work. Now you know about this, then there’s less reason to continue playing once your bankroll is done. Just keep in mind when you’re playing on a slot machine, that the whole playing experience has been designed with just one thing in mind. And that’s to get as much cash out of you as possible.
Other Factors That Can Attract You to Slot Machine Games
Of course, you only have to stand in front of a modern slots machine for two minutes to realize that the sounds are only a small part of what makes these slot machine games so addictive. Here are some other factors to keep your eye on…
Flashing Lights
Once again, in the same manner, that celebratory sounds are used when you haven’t really won anything, so it’s the same story with the slot machines lights. They will flash to the accompaniment of these sounds, all the while reinforcing the idea that you’re a winner. We suggest that you try and keep in mind that these lights, just like the sounds, will go bonkers with even the smallest “win”. Just try to ignore them altogether.
Themes
There’s probably a theme for every different type of player. So, you’ll find fantasy, holidays, sports and wild animals. Over the last few years, the games manufacturers have been producing games themed on movies and TV shows. A good example would be Playtech’s slot machine, Gladiator, which is based on the Ridley Scott movie of the same name.
Bonuses and VIP Rewards
The casino is a business. So don’t go believing that all those comps are from the kindness and generosity of the casino itself. Nope. You’re paying for everything with your losses. Casinos have done a fantastic job of convincing punters that these casino comps are worth more than they really are. You might be surprised as to the number of players who will happily extend their gaming sessions in the hope of upgrading to better comps. But it’s important to sometimes step back and realize that these comps are not worth they pretend to value. For example, most VIP rewards are only worth around $0.50 in theoretical losses.
Remember that you only get the comp because you could, in theory, lose up to 50x that amount by playing with it. And those losses would be your money, not the casinos. So keep in mind that comps will not necessarily increase your jackpot winning chances.
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Jackpots
Nearly all slot machine games feature jackpots of some sort. And these prizes can go up to seven or eight-figure sums. A good example would be Mega Moolah from Microgaming. It has already paid out millions of dollars. In 2029 it paid out a staggering $21 million on a progressive slots machine win. Whatever the amount, you can be sure that the promise of these huge prizes drives many people towards these machines.
Psychological Factors
Slot machine games don’t just rely on the sounds and lights to attract and keep customers playing. The jackpot games themselves are actually programmed to take advantage of using various psychological factors. The most common is using LDWs to convince players that they are winning more than they actually are. So even when in reality you’re losing, the machine will be trying to trick your brain into believing you’re actually winning.
Another factor to watch for with all the sounds, lights, and animations, is that they put you in a “trace” like state by design. It actually has a name, “slot trance”. This occurs when you sat in front of a slot machine, endlessly putting in coins. You’ll be spinning those reels and not realize how much time has passed. After all, there’s a reason why there are no clocks of any sort in a casino. That’s why we suggest the wearing of a wristwatch and stepping outside for a walk once in a while.
Conclusion: The Importance of Sounds In Slot Machine Games
The studies performed by Dixon prove that casino slots are in fact programmed to trick the gambler in every way. Be that the sounds, the lights, or the psychology of the game-play. Worst of all is if you fall into a zombie-like state, mindlessly shoving in one coin after another. Then these sounds and lights will keep you in a sort of suspended animation, with the lights on but no one home. No matter what your jackpot winning strategies are, a lot of the fun in gambling comes down to simple discipline. That’s why it’s important to know why certain things are happening. But most importantly of all, being aware of these factors should help stop you from playing for longer than you should.
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