Rival Gaming (aka Rival Powered) is a software developer that entered the online scene in 2006 and paved its way to the very top of online gambling industry by forming partnerships with numerous casinos and providing iGaming solutions which can easily be called revolutionary. After launching one of their tools, the Casino Controller, the bar of functionality and proficiency has been raised, enabling quick and easy database communication and providing a safe environment with integrated fraud detection system.
From the player’s point of view, Rival is one of those developers you are always excited about and whose games you can’t wait to try. At the moment, the developer offers a number of instant play, downloadable and mobile designed games, divided into several categories: 3-Reels, 5-Reels, Progressives, Table games, Video Poker, Specialty and groundbreaking i-Slots.
What Are i-Slots and How They Are Different From Their Standard Counterparts?
With i-Slots, the developer applies a storyline structure into the standard slot, creating a dramatic and exciting journey for the user. By playing the game, you progress through various stages of the story that has a soap opera concept; as you go further into it, the settings and reels change, making the entire experience much more dynamic than the one you would get out of the standard slot.
Comparing them to classic video slots, i-Slots provide the unique interactive element which makes the player feel more emerged in the game. The only possible drawback of this concept is that you may need reality checks more often, as it is less likely that the gameplay will become monotonous.
The Most Popular i-Slots
As the Reels Turn EP.1, 2 & 3 – just like in a TV show, the slots start with an intro introducing the main characters and the plot. In the episode one, “With Friends Like You”, the story takes place in the El Paradiso Casino, with the main character’s narrative about an insurance policy and a mysterious offer – to find out what this is all about, the player needs to start the game and progress to the next scene which will be triggered when at least 3 Scatter icons land onto the reels.
Apart from the Scatter that will reveal the rest of the story, the slot features 3 more specific Scatter icons, each unlocking a different feature. Tommy W. for example, activates the Tommy Wong Feature Act bonus (standard Picking game, where the player has to guess which Tommy character will be most appealing to the audience), while the combination of 3 Ivan the Piranha icons initiates Free Spins with a 3x multiplier. Finally, the Bonus symbols unlock the Counterfeit Chips round, which adds the value of the selected chips to the player’s total payout. Two of the highest value symbols are the El Paradiso icon and the Stack of Cash&Chips, both of which pay up to 1,000 coins.
In episode 2, “The Gamble”, the story continues where it was left off, reuniting us once again with the same characters and introducing a few new ones. The structure is pretty much the same as in the prequel, with one crucial difference – instead of Tommy W. Bonus, Danny Scatters will trigger Find Danny Bonus Rounds.
Episode 3, “Blinded by Love” brings us to the As the Reels Turn story finale. This time, as the player is progressing through the new scenes, Danny “costumes” Bonus will be featured. Ivan the Piranha will also get some unwanted company – Pampers Kitty character can land on the reels during Free Spins, transforming into an Expanding Wild and multiplying the winning by 3x or 4x.
Cosmic Quest 1 & 2 – another popular release that has earned a sequel is Cosmic Quest, a space themed video slot with 5 reels and 20 adjustable paylines.
In Cosmic Quest Mission Control, the player is taken on a galactic journey packed with Bonuses and Free Spins. With the landing of 3 Pink Pilot Bonus icons, players will activate the Asteroid Blasteroid feature which will test your survival skills – after you initiate the Bonus, you need to follow the instructions until the bonus is completed and the main game screen is resumed.
The combination of 3 Scatter Monkeys awards 10 Free Spins and triggers the expanding Wild icon. Once activated, the Free Spins transform the Red Rocket in an additional Expanding Wild; the same symbol will however act as a standard icon in the base game.
Cosmic Quest 2, Mystery Planets slot features the Jackpot Jetpack – 3, 4 or 5 of these icons will trigger sessions of 10, 25 or 50 free spins with 2x multiplier. Bonus round will be activated with a Scatterstronaut symbol and if you are lucky enough to land the Yellow Rocket, the symbol will expand across the reels and all the winnings will be multiplied.
Baby Boomers – Cash Cruise – the world’s most exotic destinations are within your reach with Rival’s i-Slot Cash Cruise, where the player spins the wheel of fortune to get a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska, Greece or Caribbean Islands. The actual Bonus game is triggered when 3 Cruiser icons land on the reels and the player then spins the Destination Wheel.
Wild symbol is the Bus, which, in addition to being one of the highest paying icons, can also replace other symbols and contribute to forming the highest grossing winning combinations. Other symbols include the Map, Compass, Globe, Passport and a few more accessories no world traveller would even dream starting a journey without.
Japan-O-Rama – the slot employs all the popular cultural stereotypes of modern Japan and combines them with a few traditional elements. Godzilla icon takes on the role of the Expanding Wild, appearing only on reels 1 – 3. With the Sumo Wrestler symbol the Bonus rounds will be activated, while in order to win Free Spins sessions with 3x multiplier, the player will have to land a minimum of 3 Geisha icons. Katana symbol also belongs to the special icons category, cashing out 1000 coins for the combination of 5.
The rest of the icons are associated with Japan of today, representing Japanese anime characters, the Robot, Mobile phone etc. They are all payable from left to right (except for the both-ways pay Sumo Wrestler Scatter).
