Video to slots

12 February 2017

By John Grochowski

When it comes to non-wagering video gaming, I’ll admit to being a throwback. The old-school games are the ones I know best, and classic games such as Pong and Breakout from Bally Technologies and Centipede from International Game Technology have been right in my sweet spot.

Another is on its way from Konami Gaming. Frogger, based on the megahit that started to appear in arcades and then home gaming systems, now is navigating the busy highway of slot machine play.

Through its Konami Holdings parent company, Konami Gaming has access to a great catalog of popular arcade games. We started to see them adapted for casino play a couple of years ago with the debut of Neo Contra, based on Contra.

With Frogger, Konami takes one of the most popular arcade games of all time and brings it to casinos in retro style, though with high-grade graphics, animation and resolution.

On the slots, there are two Frogger themes: Great City Wilds and Woodland Wilds. Both have four-level progressive jackpots, but the bonus gamers will anticipate most eagerly is the Frogger bonus.

Those who have played Frogger in arcades and on home gaming systems will remember the object of the games. You had to guide the frogs to their lily pad homes, dodging obstacles along the way. The frogs had to cross a busy highway, then had to navigate a stream while being careful to avoid alligator jaws.

With a strong tie to the arcade game, the Frogger bonus will be instant nostalgia for longtime players and fun for everyone. It launches randomly with a mystery trigger, and it takes you to the classic Frogger course, crossing roads and rivers – watch out for cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles, and for goodness sake, don’t get squashed by a bulldozer.

You get three lives at the start of the bonus as you collect credits and get a chance at the progressive jackpots.

It’s a splendid time for anyone who loves creative video slot bonuses, but it’s extra fun for those with fond Frogger memories.

Also new from Konami is Phoenix Princess, which uses a double-screen approach to give you extra wikl symbols in the topo box that then drop onto your main reels for some regal payoffs.

A five-reel video slot, Phoenix Princess is available to casinos in 20-, 30- and 40-line versions. Each have Action Stacked Symbols on all reels, and when the stacks match, you’re credit meter will soar.

During regular play, wild symbols can appear on the second through fifth reels, while in free-spin mode the wilds appear on the second, third or fourth reels. However, it’s during the free spins that extra wild can appear up top and drop into random positions on the man screen. With up to 20 free spins possible, that can mean a wild ride.

EVERI’S DREAMSCAPE: Gamemakers roll out new slots all year long, and one of the latet from Everi is Dreamscape. The big attractions are Mystery Wilds and up to 97 free spins.
This is a full sensory experience with an interactive sound chair with Earthquake Shakers and 6.2 surround sound.

Scattering five-to-10 bonus symbols across the five video reels triggers free spins. You can relaunch the bonus during free spins, adding a trigger payoff on each relaunch and making possible up to 97 freebies.

Mystery Symbol Upgrades and Mystery Symbol Bursts occur randomly to up your winnings. For max bettors, progressive jackpots are triggered when six or more jackpot symbols land on the reels. With 13 or more symbols, you win the top progressive tier.


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