Cities have been around since the bronze age. Still, the distinctive look of cities we know today, with towering skyscrapers and crowds bustling back and forth at all times, is reserved for 21st-century metropolises.
Pokies set in big cities do their best to capture their magnificence and unique look. Few city-themed games take the time to add a crowd to their backdrops. Instead, they’ll show off the skyline or be set in the city’s centre, where the tallest buildings are. We prefer the former, as it looks more scenic. However, the latter can also look great if the art team takes their time to make it presentable.
Recently, many software providers have shifted gears, designing futuristic cities. These games usually prefer street-level views and use plenty of neon signs to make things look cutting-edge. It’s a style we’re smitten with, and we’ll be quite disappointed if it never catches on in New Zealand. Although given how things tend to turn to custard in cyberpunk stories, maybe it’s for the best these next-generation cities remain fiction.