Cocktails And Online Entertainment: How Favorite Drinks Are Inspiring The Gaming Industry

The Shirley Templar is a popular drink these days. No, that’s not a mistake. It’s an example of a growing trend in gaming recently. That’s because everyone loves cocktails, and images of Vegas and other big gambling spots invariably evoke images of waitresses bringing customers sumptuous cocktails to enjoy while they play.

In fact, the drink theme is gaining popularity in gaming more and more all the time, inspiring all manner of games and slots. In the sections below, we will explain exactly why and how this is happening.

Cocktails in pop culture: from bars to the virtual world

Not only are cocktails something that is associated with Vegas. They have featured prominently in all sorts of pop culture, from movies to TV and beyond. It’s no wonder they were a perfect fit for gaming.

When a person thinks of a vodka martini, they surely develop a picture of James Bond.The drink and the character are practically synonymous with one another. The same is true of the Singapore sling and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. Cocktails are everywhere in the world of entertainment. And they made an easy transition into the world of gaming, as well.

You even see subtle aspects of cocktail culture creeping into the entertainment sphere. Lemon-slice backdrops, olives on a stick, salt-rimmed glasses…all these things are pieces of cocktail culture that emphasize the important role that these drinks have played across societies for many years. And the influence is getting greater still. In many societies, drinking cocktails wasn’t part of mainstream culture until recently. The drinking culture in many parts of the world was limited to beer or shots for years. But because of the media influence through movies, it has now become universal.

Themed slot machines and cocktails

Slot machines in particular have taken the cocktail theme to another level. Fruit Cocktail is popular, for example. Playing it will provide you with a whole range of cocktail slots to keep you delighted throughout the course of playing. You might even be eligible for a lemon casino bonus if you’re lucky! Indeed, the whole cocktail theme not only evokes the tastes of popular drinks, but aesthetically they make for perfect icons. Whereas the traditional image of the cherry or fruit slice was the original favorite icon for slots, the transition to cocktail pictures is a natural one. When you can have a whole cocktail, it is much better than simply getting a cherry slice. 

Pisswasser is another one. Sounds horrible, yes. But in reality this is the name of a game with the theme of Grand Theft Auto. The game takes its name from the popular German beer, and it has itself gained similar levels of popularity. It now has numerous iterations, including Pisswasser Ice, Pisswasser Nein, and others. Each represents a level of Grand Theft Auto that is catching the attention of more and more players globally all the time.

You can also try your hand at “Strawberry Cocktail,” “Bloody Mary,” and many, many others. In fact, slots creators have been coming up with more and more creative options all the time recently. Check out Citeulike.org to explore the larger possibilities, as well as for detailed reviews of casinos and betting sites.

Mixology and game design: how drinks influence the gaming experience

Not only are drink-themed games a big thing recently, but drinks have influenced every aspect of gaming. Mixology is a complex art, after all, and it has influenced the gaming industry in ways both obvious and subtle.

Soulstorm Brew is a perfect example of this. The beverage is the inspiration for a world created on the ground-up bones and tears of the evil Mudokons. When you play the game, you have the opportunity to torture the Mudokons into surrender with what is to them a highly toxic brew. For you, however, it gives you the power to cure illness; your task is to use it to your advantage.

You can see the influence of wine-themed colors in games such as Shadowbanish Brewery. In this game, the fictional drink has the ability to cause defects in players, including loss of intelligence and agility. Its characteristics pervade the game on every level, so you need to be careful. The dark regions of the netherworld reflect the evil tones of the wine.

Cocktail ideas for game night

Given the influence that cocktails have had on entertainment, and consequently gaming, throughout the years, the theme naturally makes a great choice for game nights. The trick is to decide which ones are best.

You can always do a Bond-themed party. Whip up a bunch of vodka martinis and set up your house in a retro-casino style. Grab yourself a bunch of card decks and set up tables for craps, blackjack, and all the classics. Even ask your guests to dress the part.

Or you can simply set up a classic casino night and let the drinks roll in various forms. Ask female guests to emulate classic cocktail waitresses, delivering players with their favorite concoctions as they continue to play. Maybe assign other guests to be cigarette girls. Or have drinks match the games that your guests are playing. Maybe have individual drinks match individual playing areas. You can even do them up differently, according to mixture. Have different colors for each table.

Why the cocktail theme continues to inspire the games industry

It is obvious why the cocktail theme continues to inspire the gaming industry. Cocktails by their very nature make life more interesting. Beyond just being something to help us relax and enjoy life more, cocktails have a deeper meaning. Alcohol by itself is consumed universally, but cocktails represent art.

Every cocktail is representative of someone’s imagination. Some represent whole regions and their cultures. Others represent historical battles, triumphs, or romances. And this is why they have had such a profound influence on the entertainment sphere over the years. So the next time you play a game that is associated with a cocktail, remember that you are taking part in something significant. Be it historical, cultural, or some other fundamental aspect of life, cocktails represent it all.