Bonus Slots Update - Raining Diamonds, Flip For It, Most Wanted

16 April 2002

By Gayle Mitchell

There is no disputing that Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but now the guys can join in the fun for it's 'Raining Diamonds' in Slotland. Also, in this update, we will flip a coin that leads to the Wild West to include a sheriff, bad guys plus a bonus jug of whiskey. Just enough time for Cheers! and a gulp before we begin the hunt.

1) Raining Diamonds: Ahh yes, I can visualize the day when a guy sits down at the 'Home Depot' slot, lines up three bags of Philips head screws on the payline and a Black & Decker 10" skill-saw drops down the chute. Somewhat exaggerated? Perhaps, but who knows what the future holds now that slots are able to dispense merchandise along with coins. Actually, a slot attendant opens the machine's vault and awards the player with his or her diamond prize on the spot. The Raining Diamonds slot is very elegant in appearance as expected, with five diamond prizes displayed above the video screen. Three or more bonus symbols on an active payline trigger the second-screen bonus event where you are prompted to catch raining diamonds--each with a hidden bonus reward. If more than one diamond is caught during a selection, the player moves to the next level accumulating amounts to a possible ninth level. OK, now about the 'Ice'. There are three different bonus jewelry categories--Silver, Gold or the most valued, Platinum that are won by lining up five of the same symbols with maximum coin in play. A winning voucher is printed and the player now has a few options. They can select a Platinum prize from the vault displayed on the slot machine or choose from a Prize Exchange kiosk located near the bank of each carousel. You can also 'trade-up'--e.g., two silver tickets can be exchanged for one Gold level prize or a Gold and Silver voucher can be redeemed for a Platinum prize. Now you are prepared to 'rein' in those 'raining' diamonds?

2) Flip For It: A bonus slot with a high hit frequency plus a hit payout of at least 3 to 1--music to my ears! This game features basic bar symbols, a wild symbol, jackpot symbols and flaming '7's'. Three 'Jackpot' symbols reward the player with 2,250 coins times the line bet, while the 'Wild' symbol helps maintain the high hit frequency. Regardless of how many coins are wagered, if the three words 'Flip For It' line up in any position on the reels, the player is sent to the top-box bonus round. During this phase, you are prompted to select either heads or tails on the coin appearing on the screen. If heads is your winning selection, your bonus is multiplied, at which time you can decline and continue the bonus round for more. You may also receive a 'Free Flip' when a coin toss is missed. Two coin toss misses will end the bonus round. 'I'll flip you for it' takes on a whole new meaning with this fun game.

3) Most Wanted: There is a mixture of bonus fun and the Wild West with this slot that sports a 'Wild Horse' symbol. Also, if the 'Jail' symbol lands, that symbol stays in position on the reel and the player continues, trying to land one of three 'Bad Guys' behind the Jail for a rewarding bonus. Two second screen bonus events are a 'Shoot Out Bonus' when two or more 'Sheriffs' land on the first, third or fifth reels at which time every 'Bad Guy' nailed with one shot reveals a bonus amount. The second bonus event is the 'Saloon Bonus' which is activated if the 'Whiskey Jug' symbols land in any position on the last three reels. The player then has four shots at various items in the saloon including the bartender. Although the bartender pays out the most, he also has the ability to move, duck and/or dodge the bullet thus wasting a bonus shot. Wild West excitement is the name of this game.

Time to ride off into the sunset now until we meet again....reel soon.