Original Release: Ted Gruber Software, 1987, PC
Other Releases: Enhanced PC Version (1991)
An early DOS casino game collection that uses a simple keyboard-based interface that recreates slots, video poker and blackjack
Las Vegas EGA Casino (PC, Ted Gruber, 1991)
Where to Buy: Abandonware (download here)
How to Emulate: MS-DOS Emulation Guide
Review by: C. M0use
These days casino apps are choc-a-bloc, some offering prizes, many not (yet wanting you to buy virtual currency anyway). Las Vegas EGA Casino is an interesting peek into the origins of that latter category, the “just for fun” games that existed to scratch a gambling itch before smartphones and even prior to the internet.
The first thing that jumps out here is confusing theming on the title screen. You got Old West poker players sittin’ around the wood stove, which is a good 50 years prior to Vegas becoming a major gambling destination … in the background is a ballroom jazzy piano rendition of “Ain’t Misbehavin,” also a good half a century off the mark for Vegas even being a thing let alone the modern casino games on tap. I do appreciate a little effort on the art and nice music front in what is otherwise a very stripped-down title, though.
Pushing through all that, we get to a simple menu leading to three simple but pretty well-implemented games (considering DOS/hardware limitations of the time and lack of a mouse GUI). The ol’ EGA Casino lets you loose on slots, video poker, or blackjack.
The slot game is a simple three-reel with the classic fruit symbols, and the only mode of play is to get 10 credits to start (though you seem to be able to run well into the red without getting kicked out). Mercifully the sound can be turned off as it gets annoying just in this one particular game.
Video poker is simple, but a solid design. It’s a basic Jacks or Better game, a bit more generous than the real life pay tables you’ll typically encounter (especially in actual Vegas these days).
Blackjack is the most initially confusing entry despite its threadbare simplicity, simply because it’s the only one that lacks on-screen button reminder prompts. But it does have a full menu of commands accessible at any time by pressing F1. It does have one feature that might be interesting to serious players, however: you can see the current deck status at any time, and change the number of decks, something that might help beginning card counters at least familiarize themselves with the basic math and memorization aspect of play.
The game is basic as it gets, but thoughtfully designed considering the keyboard-only input. Had it come out just a couple years later it probably would have benefited greatly from a mouse-based interface. The developer seemed to be planning a whole line of these basic casino game sims, but I can only find a handful that made it to market and this seems to be the biggest and most complex of the bunch.
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