The Word 9/The Word 9 (Disk 2 of 2).adf/Files_2/11-FruitMachines.txt/11-FruitMachines.txt

Text File | 1996-01-17 | 9KB | 174 lines

|1-Fruit Machines.



                              By SparHawk


This little article deals with the subject of fruit machines (as you may
have  guessed...).   I`m  only  talking  about  small ones here, no £100
jackpots.

Since  the  Lottery  fruit  machines are said to have been loosing money
along  with  other  forms of betting.  Don`t believe it.  The amounts of
cash  I`ve  taken  from them prove this.  Fruit machines are everywhere,
from  arcades  to  the  corner  shop.  People put lots of money in them.
Someone has to take it back.  Why not you?

The  first  thing  to  remember  with  fruit machines is that they pay a
certain  percent  (usually  70-ish) of what goes in, but you must decide
when to play it so it pays.  The easiest way is to go on one after loads
of people have put in loads of cash and not won anything.  This way it`s
full  of  cash.   Most fruit machines pay in tokens over £3 or £6, so if
you  want cash it`s worth remembering this.  There are also increasingly
£8  jackpots as well, but these still pay tokens over £6.  Some machines
have a small light to say when they'll pay tokens.  Note that if a large
win is made up of a number of smaller wins it is all payed in cash!  Say
you win £3+£3+£3+£2+£1 then this is £12 in cash.

Nearly  all  new  Fruit  Machines are the ones with the `trails` on top,
reminiscent  of  a board game.  After winning the special feature on the
reels  you  can go to the trail to win cash in one of many games.  Older
fruit  machines  only have reels, nudges, holds etc.  Fruit machines are
usually  5p, 10p or 20p per go.  The more it costs the more you can win.
It`s  easier  to win on 20p ones.  It`s not worth putting in less than a
quid  usually.  You`ll also win more the more it costs per go.  It`s not
uncommon  to  find  an identical machine costing less and with less cash
prizes.  The main features found on machines are listed later on.

There are some tips on fruit machines which work on most new ones. Here
are some of my favourites:
1. Never hold after a nudge. Let them spin and the reels will spin a
   prize or more usually a feature. Example: If there are the following
   on the reels, Cherry-Seven-Melon, and you nudge the middle reel so it
   is now Cherry-Cherry-Melon, don't hold the two cherrys in the hope of
   a third, leave the holds and the three cherrys should spin in. You need
   two identical reels for this to work.
2. If you hold two reels three times the third reel will come in on the
   third spin to make a win. Example: If you the first two reels are
   Melon and Melon, you hold them three times in succession and the third
   spin the third Melon will come in.
3. It`s usually worth taking the `Exchange` option if it is offered, unless
   you`ve won the Jackpot. Some machines put the prize you would have won
   into a 'bank' so you can collect when you wish.
4. On trails keep an eye on nudges so you don`t miss a big win. Some
   machines will say 'best win £xxx' or flash the best win in the
   information section.
5. On Hi/Lo features don`t gamble on a middle figure. Some Hi/Lo's are dice,
   up to 6, some are two dice, up to 12, some are up to 10, some are cards,
   so are 13. Find out the range of numbers first.
6. Don`t bother trying to time ANY gamble (eg Double/Nothing) as the machine
   pays out what it wants when it wants to. Don`t stand like an idiot trying
   to hit double all the time. The only timing you can do is on Skill
   features. Just tap like mad.
7. On number features - hold all the reels if the numbers you require are
   there. Example: If the numbers have held on 8 and you need 16 to win
   hold the 4-2-2 on the reels for them to come in. It's risky leaving
   a reel to spin in as a lower prize could spin in.
8. On nudges nudge the first and third reels first in case you nudge a
   two-reel win, usually a very small amount.

Fruit Machine types and features.

There  are  three  main  types.   The  ones  with trails.  The ones with
sub-games  or  features and the ones with no features, just plain nudges
and holds.

There's  loads of features.  The main ones are nudges and holds.  Theres
also  a  type where you collect numbers to light letters to get a choice
of sub game.  Theres ones where you get three special symbols on the win
line  to  get  to the trail feature.  There's ones where...  you get the
idea.  The best way to find out how to win is to watch.  It's also worth
noting  here that some machines have more than three reels but these are
comparitvely rare.

Holds: These simply stop a reel from spinning.
Nudge: You get a number of these to shift the reels. Some nudges are
       one way only, some give a choice, some nuddge both ways. Usually
       there are a maxium of 3,4 or 10 nudges. Some have 'Unlimited'
       nudges so you can win the Jackpot easily.
Skill: This is usually a word in which the letters are lit in order
       from left to right. They vary in speed, some increase in speed
       towards the end, some oscillate from start to end. This really
       is Skill and timing and reflexes are important.
Chance:This may be a '?' on one of the reels or a feature offered at
       random. Usually letters are lit randomly for you to catch.
Shuffle: Usually as the word shuffle on a reel. Basically it's a free
         go but the advantage is you can roll in some new numbers while
         keeping the old.
Numbers: These light up letters, for example CASH-LUCK (invented name).
         There are 9 letters here and numbers 1,2,3 will light these. If
         you get 3,3 and 3 on the reels all letters will be lit giving
         you one of many 'games'.
Trails:  These are like board games. Some you get to the end where the
         jackpot is, some you can travel round and round collecting
         cash until you leave or lose and some have 'opponents' chasing
         you round the trail until you get caught (or win). These are
         currently the best type around and there are even prize machines
         which let you win jewellry, watches etc.
WinSpin: Subgame. Spins in random wins and tots up the totals.
NearestWin: Subgame. Nudges the nearest win.
SkillCash: Subgame. Uses some skill method to tot up cash. There are
           many, many versions of this. They are usually either as the
           Skill feature above or a 'ready..steady..go!' type reflex test.
Random: Usually on 'trail' games. Offer some kind of chance to die or go
        on. EG in Las Vegas theres 'Mugged, Bodyguard, Fly home, Taxi,
        Chance.' Mugged (unless you have a bodyguard) kills you and Fly
        home does the same. Most trail games have 2 forms of losing!
Repeat: Either on cash, features or trails. Usually of a Yes/No type or
        sometimes a feature/spin type.
Gamble: The main feature. Either Double or Nothing (which I hate...) or
        some kind of gamble, say, between £1/£1.80 then £1.80/£2.40 etc.
        This is better as if you mis a gamble you still win something.
        Gamhle can be on cash and sometimes on nudges.

And  here  is  the  first top 10 of fruit machines!  There are literarly
hundreds around but these are the favourite ones I`ve seen.

1. Las Vegas.
   A simple fruit machine where you go on a tour around casinos to win
   cash. If you go round the trail be carefull of being `mugged`, unless
   you get the Bodyguard. Get `Cashino` at the end of the trail to play
   all four casinos at once and win lots on repeat, up to about £20.
2. Mayhem.
   No trail on this but lots of sub games. `Mayhem` feature gives you
   repeats to play subgames. The easiest to win on is Button Catch, but
   some may find this hard.
3. Eastenders.
   Along with Coronation Street and others this is one of many TV tie-in
   fruit machines. You win lots of cash in the Queen Vic. I got £23 once.
4. Smokey and the Bandits.
   The easiest way to win is on Repeat. Sometimes you get £6 a lot with
   the win spin feature. This is one fruit machine where an oponent chases
   you.
5. Jail Break (I think...)
   It`s easy to `die` on this trail but don`t be greedy, take whatever
   comes. If the jackpot is say £6, and you`ve got £5.80, then take it!
6. Indiana Jones.
   Another one of many film tie-ins, along with James Bond. This one is
   also one with an opponent chasing you. Good music too. Watch out
   for russian roulette. James bond, which is similar, has an interesting
   `escape the opponent` feature called `You only live twice!`.
7. Bonanza.
   Another trail type game, based on a Tv show, with good music etc. The
   good idea to this one is that allthough an opponent chases you you have
   a button to shoot him and get some reprieve!
8. Popeye.
   Theres at least two versions of this. The best one is the one
   with the oasis etc. Get the spinach to escape Bluto. The oasis cash
   sometimes builds up to a tidy amount.
9. The Pink Panther.
   One of my favourites. It`s easy to win by getting `Eiffel Tower` straight
   away to the Jackpot!
10. Double Nudge/Eachway Nudger.
   Or whatever. An older machine with no trail. Some versions give Nudge
   Up and Nudge Down buttons, some give a reverse-nudge feature. It`s got
   the horrible double/nothing gamble...

Others:   Only  fools  and horses, Gladiators, Viz, Andy Capp, Dr.  Who,
Road  Hog,  Snakes  and Ladders, Labyrinth, Grand National, Crystal Maze
and  practically  any TV quiz show/soap opera/Popular film you can think
of!

End