Prolific Slot Developers: How Come So Many Games Are Released Now?

Prolific Slot Developers: How Come So Many Games Are Released Now?

When slot games used to be analog and involved physical machines, creating new games was a huge effort for people and involved a manufacturing process. One-armed bandits was the slang term people used to refer to these machines. Some still exist but they are usually confined to museums now as people have moved away from physical currencies and choose to play games in a different way.

People who pay close attention will have noticed that there are many different games out there. Themes vary wildly andsomething new seems to pop up weekly. 

A World of Endless Themes

When slot games shifted to software and went online in the 90s there were a few different options, but eventually, this would grow and people introduced new ideas in the form of different themes. And in the modern age, there is an incredible variety of themes. Ideas like ancient myths and futuristic sci-fi, slots explore every corner of the developers’ imaginations. Players will notice there may be different features in slot games too. 

People who play online slots at Joe Fortune will have noticed that along with classic Pokies games, there are other themes of slot games available and multiple options relating to gameplay functions and design. This diversity plays a big part in why so many different games can be played. There’s no limit to the ideas developers can draw from and we even see quirky games based on things like food and drink!

Themed slots appeal to different tastes. Into fishing? There may be a fishing-themed slot out there. People have different interests which helps in creating a constant stream of new titles. Developers can take one concept and turn it into multiple variations by shifting the visuals, sounds, and overall style. How hard is this to do, though?

Peeking behind the curtain at some of the ways that slot games are made it is fair to say that they are not as complex in code requirements as some games like AAA console titles. Some of these can spend years in development. Slot game developers may not have the same level of time spent on their games but this is due to the simpler gameplay and interface that these games involve. 

Frameworks and Reusable Code

We don’t want to get too technical but this brings us to a little secret of game production – the use of frameworks and reusable code. Slot developers often rely on a set of core mechanics that work well, and they build upon them again and again. Think of these mechanics like a skeleton. The basic structure remains the same, but new layers and especially designs may be added to them. Slots don’t have the variation of say PC games or console games so the task of making (or tweaking) a slot is not as difficult. Some slot companies are able to reuse code and have a simple and straightforward way of making the game work. Code reuse is not something to be frowned upon or something unusual as long as it is done in the right way, and code reuse has become a big part of the coding world.

Games are often built on existing frameworks that have been fine-tuned and made over the years. Instead of reinventing the wheel with every new game, developers use these tried and tested frameworks, which makes the development process much faster. By adjusting specific elements or graphics there can be a whole new game. Mini-games also vary and can be another way for developers to tweak the gameplay. This enables a more prolific release schedule and new games every month.

New Tools and Tech

Developers can work more quickly in general thanks to new tools. Developers now use engines and software that allow them to build, test, and refine games at a much speedier rate, and in some examples, the code has become more modular, which means parts can be swapped in and out with less effort.

Pre-built libraries and plug-ins have also revolutionized development. These are chunks of code that handle specific tasks, like generating random numbers or managing animations. RGNs are an important part of the way some slot games and other games operate but don’t have to be programmed from scratch every time, and they also play a part in security. 

Conclusion

Generally, there are more games than ever before. People who play console games know this – even huge games that spend months and years putting out games are more prolific. As an industry, gaming is worth a fortune and has a huge amount of people working in the industry. This extra power of having more employees and development companies also helps with releasing more games than ever before, with some estimating there are thousands of different games released every single year.