The Dark Knight from IGT
This land-based slot machine from IGT is built to accommodate
five people, and each player gets an individual screen and also
shares a single 100-inch display. As you might expect, the game
focuses on the battle between Batman and Joker for Gotham City,
and the player must choose a side before beginning play. While
the pay tables are the same for both characters, it does affect
the icons displayed on the reels.
The penny denomination machine is most popular, although
others can be found. In this version, the maximum wager is 250
credits.
There are three bonus rounds in the game. Each of these can
be triggered by getting bonus symbols on the middle three reels,
and they can also be activated from within the other bonus
rounds. They include the following:
Agents of Chaos
In this bonus, 12 Joker masks are displayed on the screen. As
you touch the masks, they’ll turn around to reveal a hidden cash
value. You can continue to make selections until you reveal the
one that reads “Party’s Over.” At this point, the bonus round
ends and the value of the others masks is added up and applied
to your total.
Sleight of Hand Bonus
Twenty playing cards are displayed, and it’s up to the player
to swipe their hand across the screen and flip over multiple
cards. Rewards associated with the cards can include credits,
additional bonus games, or community coins that are shared with
other players sitting next to you (who are also playing The
Dark Knight).
Sonar Vision Bonus
This bonus takes you deep into the Batcave, where the Dark
Knight stands in front of a massive bank of monitors. Your goal
is to choose from 12 different monitors, with each one revealing
a hidden prize. When you uncover matching symbols, the round
ends.
In addition to the bonus rounds available to individual
players, The Dark Knight also includes a community
bonus.
Battle for Gotham
In order to play this bonus, you’ll need to collect coins
during the base game. These coins can be redeemed immediately,
or you can choose to save them and initiate the bonus game
later. For each coin you collect, your bonus multiplier in the
community round is increased. The bonus involves a white-knuckle
race between Batman and the Joker. As they burn rubber through
Gotham City, they’ll collect credits and jackpots by driving
over coins and being the first to reach select checkpoints.
The Dark Knight from Microgaming
While the IGT version is available at land-based casinos,
Microgaming created their Batman slot for online play. It’s
similar to the competing game in many ways, although a number of
important differences remain.
Since it’s a licensed product, The Dark Knight has
numerous audio and video clips from the Christopher Nolan film.
All the reel symbols have some relationship to the movie, and
you’ll be hard-pressed to find a slot that places greater
emphasis on the source material.
There are four progressive jackpots available in the game,
and each can be randomly triggered. When this occurs, the player
is required to choose either Batman or the Joker prior to
spinning a wheel of fortune. With a little luck, you’ll walk
away with one of the following:
- Mini Jackpot
- Micro Jackpot
- Major Jackpot
- Mega Jackpot
All of these jackpots are tied into Microgaming’s Mega-Moolah
progressive network, meaning a life-changing payday could be
just around the corner.
In addition to the progressives, the base game of this slot
includes 243 different ways to win. Each winning combination
results in a scene from the movie being played, which should be
welcome news for fans of Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Aaron
Eckhart.
Some of the more notable features of the game include the
following:
- Scatter Symbols – The Joker is the scatter symbol, which
is only appropriate considering his chaotic nature. If three
or more appear on the reels at the same time, then the Free
Spin feature is triggered.
- Free Spins – This feature allows the player to spin 15
times for free, with all winnings being doubled. The Joker
and Batman may also appear at random, awarding additional
spins or multipliers.
- Wild Symbols – Batman serves as the wild symbol in the
game, and he substitutes for all other icons except the
scatter symbol. The Joker also acts in the same capacity on
occasion, unexpectedly blowing up a symbol and replacing it
with a wild.
Did You Know? The Dark Knight Trivia
Since the film was a major hit with fans and critics, it
continues to be discussed and debated by everyone from comic
book geeks to members of the general public. If you want to
stand out during one of these geeky discussions, try sprinkling
in a few of the following pieces of trivia:
- In order to prepare for the role of the Joker, Heath Ledger
lived alone in a hotel room for a month and kept an in-character
diary.
- Before Aaron Eckhart was cast, Hugh Jackman and Mark Ruffalo
were considered for the role of Harvey Dent.
- Italian crime boss Sal Maroni is played by Eric Roberts, but
Bob Hoskins and James Gandolfini also auditioned for the role.
- While The Dark Knight was filming in Chicago, the
city added several thousand new jobs and received $45 million
for the local economy.
- During the scene where the Joker is dressed as a nurse, the
nametag on his uniform reads “Matilda.” This was a nod to the
actor’s real-life daughter, Matilda Ledger.
- In 2011, The Dark Knight became the first film to be
released on a social networking site when it was made available
via digital distribution on Facebook.
- Heath Ledger designed the Joker’s makeup himself, using a
combination of drugstore cosmetics and white clown makeup.
- When filming was underway in Chicago, the project was given
the fake name Rory’s First Kiss to cut down on
potential onlookers.
- Ledger’s Best Supporting Actor Oscar marks the first time a
comic book movie has received an Academy Award in a major
category.
- Musician/actor Dwight Yoakam was approached on two occasions
about a small role in the film. He declined both, opting instead
to work on a Buck Owens tribute album.
Quotes from The Dark Knight
If you’re fond of working movie quotes into your
conversations, then I suggest memorizing the following. Fans of
the film are bound to recognize them, while everyone else may
wind up thinking you’re crazy. Either way, you’re sure to have a
good time.
- “Why so serious?” (Joker)
- “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see
yourself become the villain.” (Harvey Dent/Two-Face)
- “Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what
I am? I’m a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do
with one if I caught it!” (Joker)
- “Gotham needs a hero with a face.” (Bruce Wayne/Batman)
- “The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I
promise you, the dawn is coming.” (Harvey Dent/Two-Face)
- “Wanna know how I got these scars?” (Joker)
- “Well, I grew up in Gotham, and I turned out all right.”
(Bruce Wayne/Batman)
Dark Knight Slots: A Summary
The Dark Knight has become one of the biggest
box-office hits in history, so it should come as no surprise
that the slot machine version has been embraced by gamblers
around the world. Both IGT and Microgaming adapted the Batman
movie into slot machines, and the two games wound up being
similar in many regards. No matter which one you choose to play,
prepare yourself for big payouts and lots of clips from the
source material.
