Fruit Machine Simulator


by David Whittaker, Mark Baldock
Code Masters Ltd
1987
Crash Issue 47, Dec 1987   page(s) 126

Producer: Code Masters
Retail Price: £1.99
Author: Mark Baldock

Now's your chance to be a gambling man, ripping the monetary guts out of a fruit machine with all the panache of The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo.

And it's just like Monte Carlo at Joe Scarface's One Arm Bandit Emporium in Fruit Machine' Simulator, where you're faced with the traditional fruit-machine layout: three rotating reels marked with fruit and bell symbols.

Electronic money pays for your plays, and when you get a winning combination, only electronic cash is awarded, adding to a running total at the top of the screen.

Hold and nudge options are available, just like in the real coin-eaters - but only between 40p and £ 1.40 can be gambled during each turn, so dig deep into the pockets of your 501s, crack open your plumped-up piggy bank and let gambling commence. It may be immoral, but then maybe it's better than shooting things.

COMMENTS

Joysticks: none
Graphics: cluttered display
Sound: dull spot effects
Options: multiplayer option for one to four players


I've walked past fruit machines in chip shops much more elaborate, complicated and fun than this. If you're into gambling, stick to spinning wheels in the real world.
BYM [25%]


Just try to imagine the most boring, monotonous and badly-presented machine you've ever seen. Then fill the money slot with chewing gum and imagine the fun you'll get out of it. Then you've experienced Fruit Machine Simulator…
PAUL [19%]


I've never seen the appeal of fruit-machine simulators on computers - without the thrill of losing or winning real money the game seems pointless. The graphics and sound in Fruit Machine Simulator are unimpressive, and the fruit machine idea just isn't playable. Maybe a few more subgames would have helped; but without the Incentive of winning money this won't have much appeal.
ROBIN [46%]

Presentation: 34%
Graphics: 39%
Playability: 34%
Addictive Qualities: 25%
Overall: 30%

Summary: General Rating: A simple game on a simple subject, with few incentives to make you play again.

Transcript by Chris Bourne

Your Sinclair Issue 25, Jan 1988   page(s) 46

There are mounds of cheapies on the racks this Chrimble, some good, some indifferent and some terminally pitiful. We asked the Joystick Jugglers for their thoughts (the printable ones, at least) on some of the more recent offerings...

Code Masters
£1.99
Reviewer: Rick Robson

With more lights than Southend pier, every one-armed bandits star points have been squeezed into this game's single-screen format. You can nudge, hold, gamble or collect, and also enjoy features like mega-hold, skill climb and winning streak which tests reflexes as well as luck. Faithful but necessarily limited.


Overall: 6/10

Transcript by Chris Bourne

Sinclair User Issue 70, Jan 1988   page(s) 109

Label: Codemasters
Author: Mark Baldock
Price: £1.99
Memory: 48K/128K
Joystick: various
Reviewer: Graham Taylor

In the olden days when Spectrum games all had little graphics made of squares fruit machine simulations were all the rage.

Magazines even printed listings for them - it went along with Battleships and Pontoon as one of the first things you ever do with your Spectrum.

Those days were, I thought, gone forever. How mistaken.

Codemasters has brought them back with Fruit Machine Simulator but, cripes, it's pretty brill.

The point is Fruit Machine Simulator, unlike the tedious old things you used to get, is as authentic and complete as any computer fruit machine could ever be - you just don't actually lose or win any money.

It isn't just the actual fruit which trundles around and bounces to a stop - this game has bonuses gambles, special payouts, 'light up the word' games, nudges, meganudges and more.

You can really 'play' the game accumulating money, deciding when to take risks and working out the odds.

Graphically it's great. The fruit all looks authentic (I do hate inauthentic fruit don't you) and it's chock full of lighting lights, flashing numbers and scrolling messages. Combined with a jolly soundtrack that is infexious or irritating depending on your point of view.

The whole game is idiotically addictive. The money I lost...


Overall: 8/10

Summary: It sounds daft but this is easily the best fruit machine simulation ever and the whole thing is idiotically addictive.

Transcript by Chris Bourne

ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) Issue 3, Dec 1987   page(s) 82

Can Code Masters hold your plums?

They're all there, the familiar features that are loved by the fans of this sort of coin-op - the Cash Box, the Nudge features, the Feature Holds etc.

It's very well put together, with the spinning reels being very well animated and colourful. For up to four players, Fruit Machine Simulator could provide you with a lot of entertainment if you're a real fruit machine freak - just think, you don't have to put any money in! Of course, you never win any money either so you would have to be a real.

Reviewer: Andy Smith

RELEASE BOX
C64/128, £1.99cs, Nov 87
Spec, £1.99cs, Reviewed
Ams, £1.99, Nov 87

Predicted Interest Curve

1 min: 60/100
1 hour: 50/100
1 day: 30/100
1 week: 10/100
1 month: 0/100
1 year: 0/100


Visual Effects: 5/7
Audio: 2/7
IQ Factor: 1/7
Fun Factor: 5/7
Ace Rating: 283/1000

Summary: Avoid unless you're a fruity addict.

Transcript by Chris Bourne

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