Slots: Information from Answers.com

Release Date: 2000 01
Genre: Traditional
Style: Gambling
Similar Games: Hoyle Casino (IBM PC Compatible), Casino Master (IBM PC Compatible), Hoyle Casino [1999] (Hybrid PC/Mac), Hoyle Slots and Video Poker (Hybrid PC/Mac), Avery Cardoza's Casino 2000 (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

Masque's Slots is a game that replicates actual slot machines from IGT, the world leader in design, development, and manufacture of slot machines. "Diamond Bar" symbols spin up and down to the pay line and there are different pay-off levels, including multiples of five and ten. The slot machines are realistic in appearance and react in the same manner as in real life.

There is a wide selection of slot machines from which to choose, including Balloon Bars, Blackjack, Candy Bars, Cartoon Wild Cherry, Casino Night, Cats 'n' Dogs, Fourth of July, Moolah!, and Spin Til You Win, among many others. Thirty-six of the machines are more than two coin games and 14 are one or two coin games, with one being a five-dollar coin bet. You can choose quarter, one dollar, or five dollar stakes as well.

Slots includes one instruction sheet that basically explains how to install, start, and play the game, depending on whether you are using the Windows or Macintosh version. The game also includes a list of the machines available and how many coins are required for each. Additionally, there is a brief explanation of such things as total bankroll, coins in machine (maximum of 500), the bottom panel, the hotlist (create a list of your favorite slots), and technical support and help features.

~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

Masque Slots features replications of 50 different actual casino slot machines from IGT. Included are 42 1-line machines, four 3-line machines, three 5-line machines and one 9-line machine.

~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

If you love slots but don't want the risk of winning or losing real money, Masque Publishing's Masque Slots may just be the game for you. The game designers claim the slots are modeled after real ones, made by IGT, world leaders in design, development and manufacture of the one-armed bandits. This version of Masque Slots is probably best for those who are already familiar with the game since there is no instruction manual, just a basic sheet explaining installation, how to get started and a few other items.

Masque Slots offers a wide selection of machines and games from which to choose (over two dozen), ranging from Balloon Bars to Wild Cherries. One of my favorites is the Candy Bars slot machine where you have to match items pertaining to candy. You can choose to bet one coin or double and some games offer multiple payoffs. You may also create a list of your favorite slots and the game will establish the slots on your "hotlist" as a menu; you can also select from a full list of all slot machines in the game.

The graphics are fairly realistic and give you a feeling of playing real slots. However, the sound effects are very disappointing. There is no continuous music and when you win change, the machines make a very annoying noise, supposedly representative of that event. But, unfortunately, this sound is not the pleasant sound of a whole lot of change pouring out of a real slot machine. It just doesn't accurately replicate the real life happy occurrence of a payout. In fact, it's bad enough for others in the room to ask "What is that noise?" or "What are you doing to that game?"

While the wide selection of slots, coupled with the nature of slots never being the same game twice, is very satisfying and gives the game replay value, the sound effects detract from the enjoyment. Also, the real life risk of winning or losing cash is missing, thus the game can't capture the thrills or disappointments associated with the actual experience of playing slots.