I decided to explore the opposites of fortune and misfortune through a digital slot machine. I was inspired by animator Wong Ping’s work aesthetically, while the concept of a slot machine resonated with me at first glance after given the assignment prompt.
Variables
For movement, I defined spinning states and lever angles to create the mechanical feel. I linked the spinning duration to a 2-second timer, so the reels would spin before revealing their outcomes. The lever animation used lerp() for smooth rotation back to its resting position.
Emoji Decisions
I began with text outcomes like "FAMOUS" and "ALONE", but wanted to push it further. I switched to emojis for a more universal, playful feel: 🍀, ⭐, 💎, 👑, 🔥, etc. This gave the slot machine a modern, mystical vibe. The sketch reminded me of old arcade games, but with a fortune-telling twist.
With each lever pull, the three reels spin for 2 seconds before revealing emoji combinations. The system checks for special pairs that trigger fortune messages - good combinations like 🍀+⭐ show green "LUCKY STARS ALIGN" messages, while bad combinations like 💀+👻 display red warnings. The effect is stark. Instead of spelling out the theme, the animation shows "fortune" and "misfortune" through visual symbols and color-coded results.
Challenges I Faced
I struggled with making the outcomes more favorable. Initially, all emojis had equal probability, which meant getting bad fortune combinations was just as likely as good ones. I didn't know how to weight the random selection to make positive outcomes more common. After some research, I learned about weighted arrays - duplicating favorable emojis in the outcomes array or creating a custom weighted random function. This was a key learning moment about probability manipulation in code.
Reflections
The whole process, deciding on a concept, stripping it to the basics, and then adding emoji symbols changed the mood of the sketch more than I expected. Moving from text to emojis wasn't just about aesthetics; it helped the animation feel more engaging and universal, almost like a modern digital oracle.
The slot machine also became an interesting exploration of choice and consequence. While the lever pull appears to be a meaningful choice, the outcomes are actually predetermined by random chance - a perfect example of a "false choice." The real choice is the meta-decision: do you pull the lever again? This mirrors how life choices often have unpredictable outcomes, and we often think we have more control than we actually do.
What's Next?
I'm interested in making the probability system more sophisticated, maybe using different weight distributions or adding progressive jackpots. I'd like to experiment with sound effects and particle systems when special combinations hit. Adding more complex fortune-telling mechanics and visual effects also comes to mind.