Play Space Invaders Evolution For Real Money With Bonus
Space Invaders Evolution Slot Machine
This review is one I’ve been eagerly anticipating writing. I had to wait quite a while for the game to become available, but today I finally had the opportunity to play the new skill-based casino slot from WMS, inspired by the iconic arcade game, Space Invaders.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock in the 80s and 90s, have zero gaming experience, or are completely out of touch with pop culture, chances are you’re familiar with classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Space Invaders. Many of us have spent countless hours playing these beloved games, which are now easily accessible for free online. Old-school gamers like myself often have a couple of these games bookmarked for moments of downtime (writer’s block is a real struggle!).
For their first foray into skill-based slot gaming, WMS wisely selected a masterpiece to build upon, ensuring that players of all ages would recognize the layout and gameplay. Securing approval for skill-based slots was a challenging process, as creating a game engine that suits gambling rather than just entertainment proved to be even more difficult. Finally, we have a partially completed game to test out and see how WMS has approached what many view as the next big revolution in slot gaming, both for traditional casino slots and new online slot games.
The Legend
In February 1978, the landscape of video gaming changed forever with the creation of a legendary spaceship shoot-em-up game by programmer Toshihiro Nishikado. Originally intended to feature soldiers as attackers, the game’s theme shifted to an alien invasion due to political sensitivities in Japan at the time.
Shortly after, Taito introduced the first Space Invaders coin-operated arcade cabinet. The game became massively popular in Japan, causing a shortage of the 100-Yen coins required to play, leading to a quadrupling of production. Arcades had to install multiple Space Invaders machines to handle the demand, and the game became ubiquitous in various establishments such as hotels, cafes, bars, and even dry cleaners.
In 1980, Midway acquired the game license for the United States, where it also enjoyed immense success. The game was later adapted for the Atari 2600 console, driving significant sales of Atari consoles as players wanted to enjoy the game at home. However, the game also drew criticism for causing repetitive motion injuries and seizure risks, prompting calls for its prohibition.
Over half a million physical machines were sold globally during the game’s initial arcade production run, with billions of dollars spent on gameplay, making it one of the most profitable and successful games of all time. Subsequently, it was adapted for various platforms including mobile phones, captivating audiences across different generations.
The Slot
The game is still a work in progress; the 6×4 any ways win base game round may or may not make it to the final version. Currently, it serves as a mechanism to trigger the bonus skill round, which is the main highlight of the game. The symbols are expected to remain, featuring all four types of space invaders, 8-bit A-10 playing card symbols, and a wild symbol in the form of the Space Invaders logo. Keep an eye out for the key icon, a visual representation of the old arcade cabinet, which serves as the scatter trigger for free spins.
The number of scatters received determines the shots available in the bonus game. Opting for standard slot mode grants free spins based on the scatter count. Players have only one life, so a mistake could end the game immediately. A skill-based game introduces a higher level of game variance compared to traditional casino slots.
In the bonus round, players essentially play the classic Space Invaders slot game for real cash rewards. Each alien craft carries a credit value, while the alien mothership offers an instant payout of a local area progressive jackpot. The number of shots is limited by the scatters on the reels, adding time pressure as the alien craft accelerate and descend down the screen, mimicking the original arcade game’s dynamics.
Summary
I immensely enjoyed playing this game. Its potential profitability remains unknown as further refinements are needed in the game mechanics. However, as a skill-based slot experience, it exceeded our expectations. The theme seamlessly integrates with skill-based gameplay, making it a natural fit for the casino floor. It seems inevitable that a free-to-play or real-money version will eventually find its way into online casinos as well.
