Added: August 25, 2016
Fruit machines are a special kind of classic online pokie. A few of them are available at Australian online casinos powered by Microgaming and Playtech. Fruit machines incorporate a number of unusual features not found in regular online pokies and therefore they are definitely worth trying. This article explains these features.
Historically, fruit machines were found in English pubs. Cash payouts were not allowed then and so the machines dispensed fruit flavoured chewing gum to the winners. Nudge and Hold are the most common features in online fruit machines. These may get randomly enabled after any spin and can be executed through buttons below the reels. By clicking on a Nudge button, the reel moves one position down. Depending on the symbols displayed on the reels, the Nudge feature can lead to a winning combination. After some spins, two or all three Nudge buttons may become active, making it easier to get a winning combination. In the Hold feature, you can keep fixed the reels marked on Hold and respin the remaining ones. There is no extra cost to be paid for these features.
The bottom rung of the Cash Ladder gets highlighted after any win. Simultaneously a number is displayed on the screen. You then play a Hi Lo gamble game, predicting whether the next number will be higher or lower. If you guess correctly you climb one step up the Cash Ladder and secure a larger win. If you guess incorrectly you lose the amount staked. You can continue playing the Hi Lo game till you lose or reach the top of the ladder for the jackpot prize. At any time you can collect your winnings and start a fresh slots spin.
The most complex feature in fruit machines is the Feature Board. This is triggered by special designated symbols appearing on the reels. The game play then moves from the reels to the Feature Board. The Feature Board has squares along its perimeter and you move along the squares based on the number randomly generated. The process is very similar to the movement on a Monopoly board controlled by the roll of dice. Each square on the Feature Board generates an action. You may be moved up the Cash Ladder. The jackpot amount being held in the Cash Pot of the Cash Ladder may be enhanced. A feature game may be activated after which you are returned to the reels. In the worst case you may be removed from the Feature Board directly.
