RTG isn't renowned for officially registered slots, but for many other developers showing signs of improvement with them, that was only a question of how long until they jumped on board, literally and metaphorically. The Big Bopper slot is a vintage 1950s rock & roll-themed homage slot to JP Richardson Jr, the musician best remembered for Chantilly Lace and who had been horribly killed in the crash with Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly at the beginnings of his career. It was this disaster that Don Maclean immortalized in the song American pie, referring to it as "the day the music died."
While the subject may appear solemn, trust us when we say that the game is anything but; it's a celebration of all the Big Bopper stood for: vintage 1950s rock and roll culture. The game features original black-and-white video footage as well as Bopper tunes. The playability hasn't really been overlooked either; this new slot has an immediate win bonus as well as two free rotates sessions to keep your toes pounding and the reels spinning!
Theme
In neon lights, the 1950s theme blasts out from the reels! The looping backdrop is an old black and white theater with blackout curtains framing the reels, as well as popular icons from the era, including a fonz-like jean jacket, crystal cola containers, electric guitars, and aviator sunglasses. We won't go into too much detail about the music because, given the theme, it's evident that it's heavy on recordings by the late talented painter himself.
In particular, with respect to the piled icon of the Big Bopper himself, which is enthralled and bursts into the video while on a win line, the jackpot emblems are music based on the classic to the timeframe, harmonic overtones skillfully replace A-10 playing card symbols as low-value figures, and there is a Wurlitzer jukebox, an old CMOS technology radio, and printed 12" vinyl records in regards to the imaginative and burst into the clip when on a scoreline.
Features & Gameplay
It is an all-pay casino; the minimum and maximum bets are yet to be published, but we anticipate a wide range. RTG has decided not to include a payout in the game, but they have compensated with a special feature made up of two spins. When three Bopper emblems emerge on the reels, each of these games will be activated randomly.
With the Big Bopper quick win function, the player wins as soon as the Bopper sings! We're not certain what RTG means by this, but based on the pre-release material, we're guessing it'll be a progressive multiplier that rises to a maximum of 250x the boundary bet again until Bopper finishes singing Chantilly Lace to the cheering throng.
This concept of the singer singing continues in the Chantilly Lace spins round, where more spins are introduced until he stops singing; the maximum number of spins available is 45, with an x10 win factor; this may be a very high-paying slot.
Last but not least, there are the White Lightning spins, which continue as long as the music does. In this round, a clustered symbol is capable of adding some huge potential prizes.
Summary
The Big Bopper appears to be a good complement to RTG's video slot lineup; the departure from their usual fare might be a refreshing change of pace if the slot's aesthetics, soundtrack, and features signal the beginning of a new line of business for them. Overall, even if you're a supporter or not, this sport has a lot of replay value.