Need your input: Most disappointing slot-related news of 2024?

[dunover]

Hi,

The multitude of new games may be overwhelming but interested in what aspects have disappointed you this year!

The plethora of cluster-pay grid games?

Every second slot seeming to have a tedious 3-lives hold-and-respin mechanic?

Did DHV2 meet expectations?

Too many Big Bass versions?

Megaways getting stale?

RTP hidden from players?

For me, I just cannot bear any more 3-lives mechanics.

Once we get an idea of the main good and bad we can have a poll.

 

[L&L-Jan]

Games Global who equips 90% of their portfolio with a power combo/fixed jackpot engine or link & win.

 

[dunover]

Ah yes, the 'static jackpots' bollocks. Spin hold-and-win mechanic for 0.1x bet tokens with the occasional mini jackpot of 25x and never the mega of 1,000x and RTP stored in the progressives sometimes.

 

[conker]

Every other slot release coming with a Hold & Win bonus round.

Either serious lack of imagination or developers too frightened to move away from 'tried and tested'.

 

[dunover]

Yes, there was a brief craze for Raging Rhino/Buffalo type games but not too many of them. We had similar for the expanding scatter Book of Ra style mechanics when there was a spate of those like Book of Oz etc. I get that each major developer should offer one or two of the 'classic' slot mechanics but for example with Pragmatic there are tens of games that are based on either the 5+ adjacent symbol pays OR the 8+ scattered symbols.

The more complex games where bonus rounds could have various combinations of modifier/enhancements such as Secret of the Stones or say Wild Heist at Peacock Manor seem to have been quietly abandoned. Instead we are stuck with infantile graphics or fucking jelly sweets.

 

[1366613]

I agree 100% with ¨For me, I just cannot bear any more 3-lives mechanics. ¨ plus Big Bass versions.....
I want the Osbourne Slot back lol....

 

[goatwack]

It's all gone to the dogs. Slot design's hit an impasse, whereby developers can't tell their arse from their elbow, let alone what the latest 'trend' ought to be, thrashing around wildly in their own filth and creative bankruptcy.

Fact is, slotters don't care as much as they perceive them to, and once past the artificial 'High-variance' fad that still seems to be developers' go-to blueprint, most players would and could conceivably play the same titles for years.

Netent nailed that back in t'day, as did Microgaining, never to be bettered, all titles of sufficient graphical pedigree, gameplay and entertainment, from which 1000-2000xs would flow freely, and players were more than content.

In its current guise, you could throw a hat on any creative output in 2024, as it's all throwaway, making 243-ways seem as though humanity's discovered fire. Alas, a simple thing done well will always be preferable to overwrought, anti-fun Ponzi games that not only insult the players, but look as though created by gibbons with a crayon kink.

Once this 'era' is finally over, developers will have to go back to the drawing board, it's an inevitability, and find a happy medium. Which just so happens to be a thing called Medium Variance!

People assume things end up one particular trajectory, but it's just swings and roundabouts ultimately. Why would this industry be any different

 

[conker]

It's the production line of smaller game studios, with possibly less understanding of what gamblers really want out of their slots, pumping new titles through the giant aggregators - the equivalent of a mega farm.

Mass production leads to lower quality products.

There are a few gems every now and then. I personally really like what Print Studios did with Dreadworks, released last month before Halloween. Some of the stuff Elk Studios and Thunderkick make is still very entertaining IMO. However, these feel like they are in the minority these days sadly.

 

[dunover]

Even NLC use variants of the same model for most of their slots nowadays.

 

[StupidButLucky]

it sucks that novomatic did not display the RTP in their games. If a provider hide rtp from a player thats always a bad sign

 

[L&L-Jan]

it sucks that novomatic did not display the RTP in their games. If a provider hide rtp from a player thats always a bad sign

old games: 95
new games, since start this year: 94
german games: 88

 

[justdoit]

not many Big Bass games we need lot more

you have another 50 big bass copy past on diffrent names

 

[justdoit]

it sucks that novomatic did not display the RTP in their games. If a provider hide rtp from a player thats always a bad sign

you can check RTP on any game

 

[conker]

you can check RTP on any game

This video is for Play'n GO slots, are you suggesting this method works for any online slot?

 

[justdoit]

This video is for Play'n GO slots, are you suggesting this method works for any online slot?

it works any slots

 

[mulven]

it works any slots

it works for most slots but some providers have different ways of delivering the slot information

 

[dunover]

Never mind 'Big Bass' more like 'Double Bass' the way most of them bend you over and fiddle with ya.

Can we not have a different theme?

Titanic Trout?
Proud Pilchard?
Stonking Sturgeon?
Huge Haddock?

 

[L&L-Jan]

Ow I have one individual slot that really disappoints me in terms of performance, as there was 0.0 performance: Squid Game by LNW.

 

[armster]

not many Big Bass games we need lot more
View attachment 203279View attachment 203280View attachment 203281View attachment 203282
you have another 50 big bass copy past on diffrent names

Too many for sure! But when one is hot for me, they all somehow seem to be at the same time. That's fun. Same for when they are cold. Not so fun but easy to quickly abandon.

 

[snorky510238]

Never mind 'Big Bass' more like 'Double Bass' the way most of them bend you over and fiddle with ya.

Can we not have a different theme?

Titanic Trout?
Proud Pilchard?
Stonking Sturgeon?
Huge Haddock?

Or, What a load of Pollocks. Would be very apt for this Industry.

 

[YouTubeSlots]

Lets be honest, Was there any positive slot news this year

Of the top of my head i cant think of any day this year, that i logged on the Casinomiester forum and read anything accept negative news, Especially regarding the U.K market.

In terms of slot releases being exciting and producing good games that you will still be playing years from now,

that ship sailed years ago in my opinion. I haven't been excited for a slot release in years, as you know what's coming these days.

Disappointment!!!! and Buckets of it....

Danger High Voltage 2! Which we had all waited years for, excited only to be let down again.
Bonanza falls Made Sweet love to Danger High Voltage, Out came DHV2. Simple as that!

Can it produce huge wins? Of course, But with a base game as bad as it is. Its no wear near as fun as the original. Totally different league, and graphically it looks worse then the original.


These days the quality of the games is awful, its either its the 700th fish game, or big bass bonanzas 80'th pissing variant, or a crappy jackpot slot. Or cluster slot. Too predictable now.

The quality of the games checked out years ago imo. Although there are a few studios that still maintain high quality on there games there isn't many anymore. No Limit City's games are all very detailed and interesting which makes them feel like block buster games that have had a lot of effort put in to them to make them feel premium.

Unlike how in Hollywood the big movie company's have ran out of original ideas and are just re booting anything they can.

Instead in the slot world most the game designer studio's just copy each others ideas/themes/everything. They just rip each other off and call the game something different.

which then floods the casinos with shit games that are all clones of each other.

All this actually does imo is bury the good games further and further on page 1000. The casinos must love this, as it has all there new shitty rtp games on the home page.

Meaning most players will just play the reduced shitty rtp games. They know exactly what there doing!

Also what the hell happened to dead or alive megaways? I remember seeing screenshots of the game 4 bloody years ago. And its still not out?

 

[incrediblestuff]

Hi,

The multitude of new games may be overwhelming but interested in what aspects have disappointed you this year!

The plethora of cluster-pay grid games?

Every second slot seeming to have a tedious 3-lives hold-and-respin mechanic?

Did DHV2 meet expectations?

Too many Big Bass versions?

Megaways getting stale?

RTP hidden from players?

For me, I just cannot bear any more 3-lives mechanics.

Once we get an idea of the main good and bad we can have a poll.

Games Global who equips 90% of their portfolio with a power combo/fixed jackpot engine or link & win.

I agree 100% with ¨For me, I just cannot bear any more 3-lives mechanics. ¨ plus Big Bass versions.....
I want the Osbourne Slot back lol....

All of this, agreed -personal pet peeve of mine, on top of all the useless mechanics or rather, their tedious unskippable animations. 100.000 scatter/coin/w/e nonsense symbol you need for the unwanted and paltry return features, incorporated to 'prolong playtime' and immerse the player with so many cliffhangers that it no longer qualifies as a cliffhanger because it does it every spin ^.^

Mixed with unoriginal graphics and themes we seen repeated to death, cheap-ass music and lousy and hidden RTP's, definitely not the best time for slotters! Luckily some providers do produce some decent releases every now and then, but the bulk is just dross..

The real sad news that is not specifically slot related of course is any update from the KSA (or your local RG and tax imposing body) and the following restrictive mail from all the casinos that wish to comply...

I wonder how long i can still hold out before switching to the crypto method - which i really don't want to, t.b.h., as i never really felt it was a good idea to go VPN and whatnot... Still don't - but what can ya do?

 

[mcgameboy]

Never mind 'Big Bass' more like 'Double Bass' the way most of them bend you over and fiddle with ya.

Can we not have a different theme?

Titanic Trout?
Proud Pilchard?
Stonking Sturgeon?
Huge Haddock?

You forgot the Molesting Monkfish and the Sodomising Sardine mate.

There was one for Carp as well, but I can't use that word on the forum *

* Well...not very often

 

[dunover]

yes, DHV 2 does seem to be the most disappointing smashing of anticipation we have seen in ages.

 

[mcgameboy]

On a serious note to answer Mr. D's question......

DHV2 - Massive disappointment. Not a patch on the original.

I continue to be frustrated by the fact that I can only play the Wowpot version of Finer Reels of Life.

The Big Bass thing? I mean, WTAF? This is behaviour akin to Blueprint Smegawaying the life out of things when it came to releasing new slots once BTG let competitors use their MW mechanic (genius stroke on BTG's part).

Megaways is just such a tired and boring mechanic now. I prefer the 243 and 4096 ways stuff much more.
And even NLC will see some of my money. But again, more likely to be the older stuff like East Coast v West Coast, Das Boot, Book of Shadows, Infectious 5 etc.

I think the state of slot releases has been so poor lately that it is has actually steered me on a bit of nostalgia trip. Hell, I even played the original Space Wars a week or so ago. And....wait for it.....

STARBURST. Yeah, I said it! I fucking actually spent real money on Starburst *

Take THAT bombshell with two spoonfuls of sugar, motherf*ckers!!

There is more I could rant about, but that will do for now.

* No alcohol or Class A drugs were consumed immediately prior to making this monumentally unforgiveable and downright mockworthily fuckwitted own goal of a decision...a truly George Dubya moment

 

[Siohmy]

The abundance of hold ‘n spins is slightly over the top but, as others have said, developers rarely let the opportunity of quick cheap rip offs pass. The only positive to a point is that they are a bunch of slots which largely lean towards medium, and whisper it, low volatility so you may actually get a bit of play for your money and they can hit 2-3 features in close succession. Many are boring as hell though but are huge in Vegas which is what the latest trend is online (why can’t they import the Buffalo games, especially Gold and Revolution)?

My most hateful variants are the ones which have collect symbols on first and last reels. Gotta love a belly full of those landing with no values in between almost as much as the numerous teases on big values which you know will never land the last reel collect. Proper wind up material which I shall not be returning to. Well done whoever thought that was a good idea.

Pretty much on board with everyone that the mind numbing repetition of slot releases are really switching me off. So much so that I’ve been taking advantage of Bet365’s wonderful retention of some, although not enough, WMS classics. Bruce Lee, Amazon Queen, Raging Rhino, Montezuma, all get regular runouts, even if they are not as polished as they used to be.

Netent also get some good playtime but how I wish they’d bring back some more of the classics. Convinced they’d get a ton of play if pushed by the casinos.

Of course that leads us into the other sh1t thing of 2024. Even on Bet365, the RTP is slowly creeping below the 95% on many new releases which, of course, they are going to be pushing most.

The gameplay has got so bad I’ve started to resort to playing the Lightning Storm live game show game. They can be a proper wind up but, damn, they can be entertaining. Don’t mention the suspicious way it often places the multipliers though, ok?

 

[justdoit]

yes, DHV 2 does seem to be the most disappointing smashing of anticipation we have seen in ages.

one more disappointing game from BTG is coming soon lol

 

[Avernite]

one more disappointing game from BTG is coming soon lol
View attachment 203313

86.20%!?!?

 

[justdoit]

86.20%!?!?

Germany market is 86% RTP

 

[dunover]

Germany market is 86% RTP

Not a bad game actually, just gonna put a video up and make a thread.

 

[mulven]

Not a bad game actually, just gonna put a video up and make a thread.

guessings its effectively donuts 2?

 

[mcgameboy]

one more disappointing game from BTG is coming soon lol
View attachment 203313

Yep. We'll probably find out that the burgers are made with Quorn or cockroaches....

 

[dunover]

Yep. We'll probably find out that the burgers are made with Quorn or cockroaches....

The former being a crime against culinary standards.

 

[L&L-Jan]

Ran in to:

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Game of the Year​

BGaming – Snoop Dogg Dollars
Buzz Bingo – Live Bingo
CreedRoomz – Richie Wheel
Entain – Clucky Golden Eggs
Gamomat – Vegas Joker
IGT – Magic Treasures
Just For The Win – Darker Waters Power Combo
Light & Wonder – Squid Game: One Lucky Day
Pragmatic Play – Sweet Bonanza 1000
Relax Gaming – Ancient Tumble
Spribe – Aviator
Stormcraft Studios – Immortal Romance 2

--

Quality list if you ask me. Not sure about other markets, but looking at the retention percentage and avg number spins per player: King Kong Cash Even Bigger Bananas, should have been listed as that game is smashing it.

 

[conker]

I don't think I would have picked these for my hits this year, some glaring omissions. However, when it comes to awards there are always many more factors involved that generally include money.

 

[mulven]

BGaming – Snoop Dogg Dollars

I guess they picked this one due to the re-skin having more flair (and being linked to a big brand like dr snoop liondog) or possibly the theres a cutoff as Aztec Clusters (the og) was released in February.

 

[dunover]

Ran in to:

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Game of the Year​

BGaming – Snoop Dogg Dollars
Buzz Bingo – Live Bingo
CreedRoomz – Richie Wheel
Entain – Clucky Golden Eggs
Gamomat – Vegas Joker
IGT – Magic Treasures
Just For The Win – Darker Waters Power Combo
Light & Wonder – Squid Game: One Lucky Day
Pragmatic Play – Sweet Bonanza 1000
Relax Gaming – Ancient Tumble
Spribe – Aviator
Stormcraft Studios – Immortal Romance 2

--

Quality list if you ask me. Not sure about other markets, but looking at the retention percentage and avg number spins per player: King Kong Cash Even Bigger Bananas, should have been listed as that game is smashing it.

Must be dodgy if an IGT one is listed, they haven't made a decent game since Cleopatra Plus.

 

[armster]

Aztec Clusters is a decent game in that it can pay very nicely. I've had 2000x + wins on it. Even in the base game when that Aztec symbol drops and removes the low paying symbols I've hit 500 to 600x hits. But as with all these new games, the bonus rounds feel scripted.

 

[mulven]

Aztec Clusters is a decent game in that it can pay very nicely. I've had 2000x + wins on it. Even in the base game when that Aztec symbol drops and removes the low paying symbols I've hit 500 to 600x hits. But as with all these new games, the bonus rounds feel scripted.

It's almost definitely a similar story to how jammin' jars works. The spins will be likely be generated from a limited pool of results. Like a scratchcard, rather than proper mathematical models like with slots that use actual reels.

There is quite an explosive thread about the jammin jars' incident as two streamers got the same exact game round within the first two weeks of it release so they had to explain that there were only 1,300,000 possible game rounds.

My biggest hit was in the basegame (1952x) and was the 2nd best symbol maxed out with a some small multipliers and a 20x wild. The scratchcard nature of the way the game works does make the feeling of bonus rounds play out in quite an artificial way, similar to most scratchcard-esque games, just not as satisfying as games that use proper models.

 

[justdoit]

Dog Pound game of the year

and new Wild North Max Win Probability: less than 1 in 1 billion

 

[snorky510238]

Dog Pound game of the year
View attachment 203328

and new Wild North Max Win Probability: less than 1 in 1 billion
View attachment 203329

Well, one stat stands out! The max win is more likely than when playing Bonanza.

 

[degerardo]

If I may jump in with my thoughts, these are:
BTG Danger II. I think its a biggest letdown high anticipated title. I was expecting enhancing the original, visually, mechanics wise as well and perhaps playing with idea of adding 3rd type of a bonus. Maybe special one with mix of 1 and 2 in some way? Anyway, I think its the biggest letdown to me of a decade! Especially music and sound. Totally terrible and I cannot imagine playing it with sound/music on for longer than 2mins.
Then NLC, I think they have failed on each title again, live up onto original's hype quality, sequels are basically for streamers with max win buys - where the chase and excitement is gone, boring, max wins everywhere from max win buys, quick bonuses which are basically replacemet of base game wins (0-25x bet 99% of a time) which again, kills the purposes and excitement of getting bonus games. Games released with bugs, and so forth.
I think a good performance did Print, Pragmatic and Thunderkick.
Push gaming and Relax have gone into void of any title I could even point out. I dont remember really any names of theor games in 2024 on top of my head. And thats speaks for it.

 

[dunover]

If I may jump in with my thoughts, these are:
BTG Danger II. I think its a biggest letdown high anticipated title. I was expecting enhancing the original, visually, mechanics wise as well and perhaps playing with idea of adding 3rd type of a bonus. Maybe special one with mix of 1 and 2 in some way? Anyway, I think its the biggest letdown to me of a decade! Especially music and sound. Totally terrible and I cannot imagine playing it with sound/music on for longer than 2mins.
Then NLC, I think they have failed on each title again, live up onto original's hype quality, sequels are basically for streamers with max win buys - where the chase and excitement is gone, boring, max wins everywhere from max win buys, quick bonuses which are basically replacemet of base game wins (0-25x bet 99% of a time) which again, kills the purposes and excitement of getting bonus games. Games released with bugs, and so forth.
I think a good performance did Print, Pragmatic and Thunderkick.
Push gaming and Relax have gone into void of any title I could even point out. I dont remember really any names of theor games in 2024 on top of my head. And thats speaks for it.

Yes, DHV 2 while the mechanic is quite inventive was a mistake abandoning 4096-ways.

 

[Siohmy]

Yes, DHV 2 while the mechanic is quite inventive was a mistake abandoning 4096-ways.

For all its faults Lil devil is DHV2 in all but name. Don’t know why they didn’t release as DHV2. Completely agree with a big mistake resorting to the megways mechanic yet again.
The pusher mechanic “could” be good but as with all recent slot devices just seems to be there to completely wind the player up more often than not.

 

[nisosbar]

Hi,

The multitude of new games may be overwhelming but interested in what aspects have disappointed you this year!

The plethora of cluster-pay grid games?

Every second slot seeming to have a tedious 3-lives hold-and-respin mechanic?

Did DHV2 meet expectations?

Too many Big Bass versions?

Megaways getting stale?

RTP hidden from players?

For me, I just cannot bear any more 3-lives mechanics.

Once we get an idea of the main good and bad we can have a poll.

Curacao cracking down on crypto licensees, demanding implementation of invasive KYC policies.

 

[incrediblestuff]

yes, DHV 2 does seem to be the most disappointing smashing of anticipation we have seen in ages.

On a serious note to answer Mr. D's question......

DHV2 - Massive disappointment. Not a patch on the original.

I continue to be frustrated by the fact that I can only play the Wowpot version of Finer Reels of Life.

The Big Bass thing? I mean, WTAF? This is behaviour akin to Blueprint Smegawaying the life out of things when it came to releasing new slots once BTG let competitors use their MW mechanic (genius stroke on BTG's part).

Megaways is just such a tired and boring mechanic now. I prefer the 243 and 4096 ways stuff much more.
And even NLC will see some of my money. But again, more likely to be the older stuff like East Coast v West Coast, Das Boot, Book of Shadows, Infectious 5 etc.

I think the state of slot releases has been so poor lately that it is has actually steered me on a bit of nostalgia trip. Hell, I even played the original Space Wars a week or so ago. And....wait for it.....

STARBURST. Yeah, I said it! I fucking actually spent real money on Starburst *

Take THAT bombshell with two spoonfuls of sugar, motherf*ckers!!

There is more I could rant about, but that will do for now.

* No alcohol or Class A drugs were consumed immediately prior to making this monumentally unforgiveable and downright mockworthily fuckwitted own goal of a decision...a truly George Dubya moment

If I may jump in with my thoughts, these are:
BTG Danger II. I think its a biggest letdown high anticipated title. I was expecting enhancing the original, visually, mechanics wise as well and perhaps playing with idea of adding 3rd type of a bonus. Maybe special one with mix of 1 and 2 in some way? Anyway, I think its the biggest letdown to me of a decade! Especially music and sound. Totally terrible and I cannot imagine playing it with sound/music on for longer than 2mins.
Then NLC, I think they have failed on each title again, live up onto original's hype quality, sequels are basically for streamers with max win buys - where the chase and excitement is gone, boring, max wins everywhere from max win buys, quick bonuses which are basically replacemet of base game wins (0-25x bet 99% of a time) which again, kills the purposes and excitement of getting bonus games. Games released with bugs, and so forth.
I think a good performance did Print, Pragmatic and Thunderkick.
Push gaming and Relax have gone into void of any title I could even point out. I dont remember really any names of theor games in 2024 on top of my head. And thats speaks for it.

For all its faults Lil devil is DHV2 in all but name. Don’t know why they didn’t release as DHV2. Completely agree with a big mistake resorting to the megways mechanic yet again.
The pusher mechanic “could” be good but as with all recent slot devices just seems to be there to completely wind the player up more often than not.

On the DHV-note: i must admit i was expecting something completely different and also find it to have little to do with the original save for music and graphics, but i do kind of like the game after playing it

It's actually pretty decent in terms of playtime, at least on the few sessions i've played on it, and i find both bonuses quite entertaining/rewarding overall. It feels like there's kind of a bonus guarantee, if you know what i mean? To be fair, the OG was not one of my most played games, so my anticipation wasn't that 'loaded'

I'm hoping they will release some cool and 'true' successor of Spicy Meatballs.. I remember dropping Nik an idea once when i caught him in a streamchat, and he said he liked it (basically same as OG Meatballs but then with 3, up to 5 jumping wilds in the bonus) so here's hoping

 

[snorky510238]

I am not sure that many, if any mk2’s beat the originals. If a game was good to start with and the rtp was 96% and still is, then something that was good about the first one, will have to be sacrificed in order to enhance the second one.

The only way a game can be improved upon is to increase the rtp. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter how many pieces you cut the cake into, you still end up with the same amount of cake.

 

[dunover]

I am not sure that many, if any mk2’s beat the originals. If a game was good to start with and the rtp was 96% and still is, then something that was good about the first one, will have to be sacrificed in order to enhance the second one.

The only way a game can be improved upon is to increase the rtp. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter how many pieces you cut the cake into, you still end up with the same amount of cake.

Dead or Alive 2 was better than the original IMO

 

[snorky510238]

Dead or Alive 2 was better than the original IMO

Yes, I would agree with that but there aren’t many that fall into that category.

 

[dealer wins]

General lowering of RTPs, SOW bollocks, and retiring one of my all time fav slots, The Finer Reels Of Life.