Bonus Slots Update: Scrabble, Big Tippers, Chickendales

20 March 2002

By Gayle Mitchell

Let's explore Scrabble, Big Tippers and Chickendales bonus slot versions in this latest update.

Remember the many hours wiled away competing and sometimes even making up words at the Scrabble board game? Well, yearn no more for those happy times because Williams brings you their slot version to once again challenge your mind. By the way, xillphontz is still not a word. Nice try, though. Big tippers and male strippers--every women's fantasy, right? Well maybe not these dancing Chickendales, but they are surely the most hilarious characters for everyone, thanks to IGT. Let's explore these bonus slot versions.

1) Scrabble: the familiar wooden tiles are depicted as dancing characters and their job is to place the player in several bonus sequences. Game reels display the Scrabble board, brainy characters, tiles and a wild 'star' scatter pay symbol. Three or more scattered tile symbols propel you to the bonus second screen event called 'Tile Picking' where the player selects three face down tiles noting bonus amounts. The main bonus event occurs when three or more scattered Scrabble board symbols appear on an active payline, then the fun begins. There are a number of themes to entertain you, including football, Broadway and 'Space Invasion' with accompanying themed characters and music. The player is prompted to select dancing tiles revealing both a letter and a bonus amount. The letter may be part of a word and if so, then proceeds to take its place on a tile holder bench. Three incorrect picks or 'X' symbols ends this bonus round and all correct words are moved up to the top-box Scrabble board awaiting increased credits by landing on 'double letter' or 'double word' spaces. During bonus play, you may get an opportunity to extend the round if a 'save' tile is revealed to cancel one of the 'X's. If you are up for the 'carl ebbs' challenge, this slots for you.

2) Big Tippers: Players can transform themselves into a cocktail server in search of big tips. Three or more cocktail waitress symbols trigger the bonus round where you select items from a bartender such as cigarettes and/or drinks from behind the bar. After loading your tray, it's onto the casino floor where patrons are selected for your chosen items. Tips are accumulated from each of your slot playing characters until your tray is empty. Some customers will tip a multiplier number instead of a bonus amount that in turn increases your total tips for the tray of goodies. You also have a chance to serve drinks in the high-stakes lounge where everyone is the biggest of tippers. This slot version can 'serve up' to 25,000 coins--certainly not 'chump change'.

3)Chickendales: Teasing male strippers in the slot world? Guess again. This time it's flabby chickens in G-stings competing for a chance to entertain you with a private Chippendales performance. An egg symbol appearing on the second and fourth reels is wild. One symbol in a winning combination doubles the jackpot and two eggs multiplies the jackpot by four. Three or more Chickendales symbols trigger a 'Chickendales Competition' where our overweight 'boids' compete on a spotlighted stage. The player selects a member of the audience to critique one of the stripper's goofy 'bumps and grinds'. That audience member displays a scorecard indicating a bonus amount, a rose, a 'collect' or a 'private dance' symbol. Three roses or 'private dance' takes the player to a second bonus screen, an 'Egg-citing Private Dance' where you select one of four eggs that increases or decreases the bonus gathered during the first round. I tried this slot simply to watch the hilarious chickens dance. It's worth the price.

Now, it's time for me to dance on outta here, until next time we boogie in cyperspace.