Source: Pixabay
A lot of young people aren’t even aware, but there was a time when the PC interface looked a lot different. That was a time when we did not rely on Windows OS at all, and all of the user-friendly designs we see today were non-existent. In fact, navigating the older PC was really hard for those who did not understand English, and even native speakers had a hard time figuring out what is what. The first massive change that revolutionized the tech world was Windows 95, and a lot of future updates actually stuck close to that version of OS. However, video games were available even before Windows, and it was on a system called MS-DOS.
Some game franchises like Prince of Persia and Monkey Island started back in the MS-DOS era, and they also played a role in the future of casino games. Here we will go over a brief history of casino games, or more specifically examine the impact of DOS games on modern slots.
First Slot Machines
The first slot machines, also called one-armed bandits, were completely mechanical and did not rely on any software. The same goes for the roulette, and as for other games, they only required a regular deck of cards. These were the very beginnings of the massive gambling industry, and clearly, the games and their availability had a huge role to play. As you can imagine, mass-producing these contraptions was not as easy as it is today. Moreover, having a program you can just install is way more convenient and easier to distribute.
Casino games in DOS
Even before the internet and online gambling sites, casino games were available on PC, and they were developed in DOS. This meant that the games have very low system requirements which makes them more accessible than lots of other games. There was even an AI designed at that time that you could play poker against and people loved it. Of course, there were also slot games, but playing on the PC just meant you can’t really get any rewards. This set a basis for the development of slots in land-based casinos, and it revealed something important.
If people are playing these games without rewards, imagine the demand when they could actually win real money. This was ideal as casinos already allocated more of their space for slot machines, almost 80%. Since these games became available on floppy disks or compact disks, distribution was significantly easier.
First Online Casinos
Believe it or not, the first online casino was established back in 1994 and the company behind it was Microgaming. That’s right it’s the same company that is well known among UK players, and their games are available in almost all trusted casinos. In fact, a lot of verified offers and casino bonuses in the UK, are available for slots developed by Microgaming. Yet the games developed back then were drastically different in terms of graphics. Moreover, the number of people who had access to the internet was far cry from the one today. As a result, the casino was not as nearly as popular as it could be.
Given the fact how the company was a lot smaller at that time, and what were the tools available we have to give them credit. This was the first fully functioning casino, and as mentioned the windows 95 came out in 1995, so the available OS was DOS. Basically, all the games you like today date back to this era and they laid the foundation for the entertainment that is available today.
Older Players still Love the Original Design
Source: Pixabay
The great majority of casino goers actually lived through the era of DOS games, and they find the old design endearing. As a result, a lot of the games try to stick to the old arcade design in order to capture that feeling of nostalgia when all of this looked so groundbreaking. In a way, those DOS games are affecting the new releases up to this day.
Conclusion
As you can see our past still has a hold over us and pretty much defines what we like and dislike. All of the popular online casino games date back to the time of DOS, and even the modern PC we use today that runs on Windows still has a Command Prompt app that functions just like it did in DOS.
