Games Computing
1st August 1984Fruit Machine (Superior)
This program has been a good seller for the BBC, displaying superbly smooth graphics which can actually deceive the eyes into believing the reels are spinning.
There are three reels, as on the original version, and the winning amounts are made up from Superior Software, Acorn and BBC logos as well as an assortment of fruit. The winning combinations are displayed at the commencement of play, and may be examined as long as required. When play itself begins, the reels are activated by the 'S' key, and, as on the real machines, the various reels stop independently and at random.
The winning line is clearly shown, but I found it was more often than not a non-winning line. I suppose one of the appeals of the one-arm-bandit is that over a period of time, it should give back a good proportion of the money fed into it, and perhaps even more. This program seemed rather stingy with its payouts, and I began to feel frustrated by that. The option to HOLD also seemed very rare, so that my actual involvement tended to consist of pressing the 'S' key over and over again. The nudge facility I found difficult to master, as the numbers displayed do not mean that you have that number of nudges available - very misleading.
If you are keen to see very smooth and slick graphics, or if this program might save you money by satisfying your basest desires (!) then go ahead and buy. Otherwise, it might be salutary to remember that it was the arrival of computer technology in the arcades that spelt the end of the real machines.