Dice are a huge part of tabletop gambling. As games usually require players to roll several dice at once, calculations can quickly become complicated, which can slow down the pace. To combat this, smart, physical hybrid dice are being released.
All-in-One Multi-Dice
One advancement we are seeing is all-in-one multi-dice. These compress a 7-piece polyhedral set into one die. The die has built-in LEDs that change the displayed face. It can switch instantly between D4, D6, D8, D10, D12 and D20.
Other releases sync to an app, with scores recorded instantly and displayed on the screen. Connected dice work with inertial sensors. They record the face that’s been landed on physically, and turn the result into a digital character sheet. They simplify the complex math associated with rolling multiple dice. Online campaigns that involve remote play also allow everyone to see the same result, at the same time.
Digital dice save valuable table space and eliminate the problem of runaway dice. They generate numbers algorithmically from a seed, a hardly new concept.
Software engineers often use random seeds to make software testing more predictable and reproducible. Fixed seeds, on the other hand, allow developers to recreate a sequence of events, so that flagged issues can be fixed.
In encryption, complex and unpredictable seeds are gathered from hardware noise to create random, secure cryptographic keys. In casino games, the seed acts as the starting point for random number generators (RNGs).
RNGs create sequences of numbers whenever someone presses the spin button, which helps to ensure that the outcome is always random. Those who sign up to a casino with a free bonus promotion will be awarded free spins, which can be used on titles like Eye of Horus. These free spins work in the same way as normal spins: they use the same RNG and seed value, ensuring the playing experience is always fair.
Smart Dice Advancements
Smart, physical dice match tactile rolling with microelectronics. Bluetooth connectivity combined with real-time app integration ensures that weight bias is eliminated. Battery life is also being improved, as are applications.
Utilising advanced low-power microcontrollers that have embedded sensors allows Bluetooth functionality to fit within a standard dice, without ruining the weight distribution. Another advancement would be epoxy potting. Commercial iterations using epoxy or resin are being used to equalise the density while ensuring durability. LiPo batteries and wireless charging coils are also used to preserve random tumbling.
Virtual dice roll apps are becoming more common due to the growth in online gaming. Now, there are hundreds of virtual dice apps available to download. Computers use pseudo-random number generators that work within a formula.
The formula picks a number so every face has an equal chance of landing. Animations are used to simulate a dice rolling before the final output is displayed. Some virtual games use dice animations to add to immersion. This gives the dice weight, speed, and bounce. Software dictates whether the dice hits a wall or keeps rolling, rather than stopping on a final face.
Randomness like this provides variation during gameplay, and it also facilitates unique outcomes. Smart physical dice look to take things one step further by providing the tactile feel of a die, but without the complex math and cumbersome rolls involved with multiple D20 dice.