Visuals in Online Casino Games: Designed for Engagement
Online casino gaming has gone from strength to strength since it exploded onto the internet. Whereas traditional casino offerings are limited by the amount of physical space the casino occupies, online ones are restricted in their offering only by the casino’s technological capabilities, which they can upgrade. They also have access to vast markets, creating the chance to make massive amounts of money.
Online casino users, for their part, enjoy immense flexibility and variety. Another reason for their popularity is the array and quality of visual elements, which make them highly engaging to play. Below is a look at how online casinos work and how they design their games, with special attention to the visuals.
Running an outfit that people want to use
Some amazing tech wizardry goes into operating a casino. The visuals and user experience might mesmerize you, when you don’t know how an online casino works (and not many do), but online casinos go about their business in a relatively simple way. All players need are internet access, a desktop or mobile device, an account, some money and playing skills (operators often provide demo versions for you to develop these).
Trusted online casino operators ensure they are in line with various rules and regulations to help you play safely. Trust and fairness are major considerations, so a lot of games have random numbers generators (RNGs) incorporated into them so no one can interfere with the outcome of games. As they provide the services, the operators, like any other business, will also conduct marketing efforts to attract new players.
Creating games
Often, online casinos and software development companies work together. The developers will create the games and then license them to the online casino operator, who places them on their website for players to enjoy. A lot of these games feature RNGs to keep the games not only fair, but also entertaining for the players.
The power of animation
Visuals are a huge part of the online casino experience and lend a lot to the engagement with the game. Developers and designers harness the power of visuals to create a more immersive experience for players. In the slots world, for instance, the creators can implement colours and dynamic features to vary backgrounds, making the game more unpredictable and, as a result, more engaging.
The animation also enhances the features of some games. Not only do players get a dopamine hit that helps them to enjoy the game, but the animations, especially if they’re visual, add extra levels of engagement. If an animation is dynamic and a player likes it, they may try to trigger the feature as often as they can.
Trends that are taking off in online casino visuals
Online casino games use some pretty slick visual features. Here are some that have really caught on in the igaming industry:
3D graphics
Slots are possibly the casino game type where the benefit of visuals has been the most obvious. Slots have gone from basic designs to much more complex ones that immerse players more. One feature that has contributed to this has been the use of 3D graphics. These add realism to games.
High definition
Along with realistic animations, high definition (HD) has been another game changer for encouraging engagement. HD has enabled developers to include more details in games, which makes them more impressive and realistic. In the earlier days of online casino gaming, table games felt flat and two-dimensional. Now, thanks to HD, they feel livelier.
Virtual reality (VR)
VR is one of the biggest developments to have hit the online gaming industry and is taking players to a new level of gaming experience. At VR casinos, players can put on a headset and feel as if they’re physically at the casino. This type of technology is still in its infancy in the online casino gaming world, but players can expect to see a lot more of it as operators respond to their demands for more immersive experiences.
Developing a visual
A lot more goes into visuals than you might think. First, an artist sketches the visuals. They’ll create outlines and storyboards that serve as blueprint for the final artwork.
Having established the visuals, they’ll then begin adding colour. This stage will also see the artist create symbols, backgrounds, characters and other visual elements that bring the game to life. They use both traditional and digital techniques in this stage.
The game developers will then get involved and, using software and digital tools, help to transform this work into digital assets that platforms can handle.
Visuals play a major role in driving engagement with an online casino game. Slots especially have benefited from improved visuals and reward players with a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Next time you’re at an online casino, observe the visuals and see just how impressive they are.