This video slot, available on Ainsworth’s A-STAR Curve XL 55-inch and A-STAR Curve 43-inch cabinets, is the second game series in the company’s group of games featuring the unique “Hold ‘N Stack” mechanic. There are two base games—Mustang Spirit (pictured) will be followed by Action Dragons.
The base game is a player-selectable multi-denom game, featuring not only low denominations but a $1 and $2 version. The number of paylines changes with the denomination—the penny and 2-cent versions feature 50 paylines; the 5-cent and 10-cent versions, 25 paylines; and the $1 and $2 versions, nine paylines.
There are three different progressive jackpot setups available—a stand-alone progressive resetting at $5,000, and linked versions starting at $10,000 and $15,000. The top two progressives remain the same, but the Minor and Mini static jackpots change according to the denomination.
The lower-level jackpots are available through an “Instant Win” mystery feature in the base game, or through the main Hold ‘N Stack feature. The Instant Win feature triggers when the cash symbol fills the fifth reel, for credit awards including all the cash-on-reels symbols on the screen—the Mini and/or Minor jackpots and credit awards up to 800 times the bet.
The central Hold ‘N Stack feature is triggered by three or more coin symbols. The symbols stay in place, and the values displayed at the top of each reel increase with every spin. Landing a stack—coins on all symbols on a reel—locks in the award at the top, and the player keeps spinning until no symbols land for the remainder of the spins, or all 15 reel spots display coins. The values underneath each coin are revealed at the end of the feature, and are added to the value on top of each stacked reel.
The feature begins with five free spins, but extra spins can be awarded throughout the bonus. When three of five reels achieve stacks, the Major jackpot appears over the remaining two. When the Major is secured, the remaining reel is topped by the Grand, awarded with all reel spots displaying coins.
There also is a free-spin bonus, during which the Hold ‘N Stack feature also can be triggered. Three bonus symbols trigger six spins, with multipliers added to the reels.
Manufacturer: Ainsworth Game Technology
Platform: A-STAR Curve
Format: Five-reel, five-, 25- or 50-line video slot
Max Bet: 250, 500
Denomination: .01, .02, .05, .10, 1.00, 2.00
Top Award: Progressive; $5,000 $10,000 or $15,000 reset
Hit Frequency: Approximately 30%
Theoretical Hold: 8%, 12%
