Opening thoughts
The slots industry is one of the most intriguing elements of the casino world. Games such as poker, roulette and blackjack are popular and attract bettors from dozens of countries. However, their main weakness is that they’re bound to a specific set of rules. Therefore, there’s not much flexibility for them to implement considerable changes without altering the whole concept of the game. Slot machine gaming, on the other hand, can be incredibly flexible and twist the game’s entire premise without losing the original foundation.
Ultimately, casino slot games only have to have a volatility setting, a theme and an interface that allows people to spin the lines. Everything else within that is open to interpretation and design, resulting in a colossal range of genres. The most popular slot themes tend to work on a global scale. There isn’t any evidence to suggest that one type of slot game is more popular in any particular part of the world.
Still, one commonality appears to be slot gamers seeking out new inventive games that stretch the boundaries of what slot gaming is about. Because of the enormous success of video gaming, which has run parallel with the success of the casino industry, there has been an interesting crossover between the two.
#1 – Batman
The dynasty of Batman transcends several entertainment mediums. It’s not just licensed casino slots or video games – the generational success of The Dark Knight truly put the superhero franchise on the global map. Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker is still highly acclaimed, despite the sad passing of the Australian actor, and the film went on to become the highest-grossing film of 2008 in several countries.
It is in the top 15 highest-grossing films in the US and Canada. With this success on North American shores comes multiple companies looking to cash in on its popularity, and Canadian and American bettors who enjoy slot machine gaming can seek out the licensed version of Batman slots, which features all the main characters and symbols, complete with a Gotham backdrop. For many, the best online slots Canada gamers can explore are those like Batman that blend a popular, proven idea and connect an already existing, vast audience with the intriguing and well-crafted designs many slot game designers now use.
#2 – Tomb Raider
Like Batman, Lara Croft’s character was immortalized across film, television and video gaming. Again, much like Batman, the video game became an enormous hit, generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue. But unlike Batman, Tomb Raider actually started as a video game.
Because of its incredible success, it became a feature film starring Angelina Jolie in 2001, and more recently, Alicia Vikander. The licensed slot game based on the character covers the adventures and tribulations Lara experiences in the video game and the film. The action-packed adventure film has captured the essence of what made the video game so enormously popular back in the 1990s, and it has turned the character from being a hit among video gamers into a recognizable name worldwide.
#3 – The Legend of Zelda
Zelda is one of the titans of Nintendo’s video gaming empire. It is a giant of a name among gamers, and much like the other two games we have already discussed, it has led to a hugely successful slot game. Although Zelda is still predominantly a Nintendo-exclusive title, it has shifted hundreds of millions of units.
The licensed slot game might not garner the same levels of adulation. However, it warrants a mention in today’s piece purely because of the scope of Zelda and how it has successfully branched into so many entertainment platforms. Nintendo will be eyeing the monumental success of the Super Mario film and will likely aim to do something for a franchise like Zelda, with similar astronomical popularity and respect among gamers.
Suppose there’s a Zelda film that is even half as successful as the recent Super Mario film – in such a case, it will inevitably lead to plenty of associated media and could spawn a brand-new, licensed slot game.
Conclusion
Given that there are thousands of slot games, with dozens based on successful TV and film series, we’ve only explored the tip of the iceberg. As money piles into the sector, slot game companies consistently strive to identify unique ways to siphon off the incredible potential profit in the industry. A growing number of slot games will continue to be licensed by highly successful video games and film franchises as both industries continue flourishing in this golden age of casino gaming.
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