Page 19 - August 2006 • Southern California Gaming Guide

August 2006 Media Picks
Reel Deal Slots Bonus Mania & Reel Deal Vegas Experience PReviewed by Bill Burton
hantom EFX is the leader in casino games for home computers, and Reel Deal Slots Bonus Mania is the number one slot/casino personal computer game in 2006! All Phantom EFX games feature great graphics and sound and are all sold at an amazingly a ordable price. In
2005 Phantom EFX introduced Reel Deal Vegas Casino Experience and Reel Deal Slots Bonus Mania.
Next month, Phantom is releasing two more new games, Reel Deal High Roller and Reel Deal Mystic Forest. Look for Media Picks in the September issue for a review of those new games. In the meantime, here’s a brief review of both Reel Deal Vegas Casino Experience and Reel Deal Slots Bonus Mania.
e graphics in this game deliver a very realistic casino experience. Reel Deal Vegas has 25 table games, along with 10 slot games, 5 video poker games and live poker. Reel Deal Slots Bonus Mania is 100 percent slots with no table games. Both of these games can be played o ine as a single player or online for an interactive experience with other players around the world.
If you choose the single player mode, each of these programs play as separate games, however if you decide to play online and become a subscriber, you can join the two games together for a complete casino experience.
Interactive Experience
You can play online for free, and if you want full access to all the features in the program you can subscribe and pay a monthly fee. As a subscriber you will receive 10 new slot games a month, have access to your own
personal suite, and earn VIP points that can be used in the “mall” to buy items for your suite. You will also be able to participate in online tournaments for prizes. Most importantly when you are a subscriber your character grows the more you play.
Player Experience
When you create your character, you will be Level 1, the most inexperienced person in the game. But every time you “accomplish” something, your character will gain experience. When you have enough experience to reach Level 2, you will be promoted. You get experience with each spin of the slot machine or each hand you play at the table games. e more you bet, the more your character gains experience.
As you gain recognition you will be approached by a casinohost.Youwillbeinvitedtotournaments,contests, special events, and quests. You will be o ered a suite that you can stock with items you purchase from the mall.
You can even hold private games in your hotel suite. Just like in the real world, the more you play, the more “comps” you will get. ese include bigger and larger suites each time you earn your way up to a new level.
The Cost
e monthly subscription price varies depending upon the payment option you choose. (All levels are around $8 to $10 a month, with di erent payment options.) When you purchase the program you receive the rst month free to try it out.
The Bottom Line
ese are unique, full casino experience computer games that will bring hours of fun. I was impressed with the number of games o ered in each program. Each new Phantom EFX game seems to be better than the previous one. e program is very a ordable (at around $20) and well worth it even if you only use the o ine single player mode.
August 2006
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Page 19
Gaming Guide Media Picks