The Alter Ego

{
  "game_overview": {
    "name": "The Alter Ego",
    "provider": "Pragmatic Play",
    "game_symbol": "vswaysalterego",
    "game_category": "video_slot",
    "source_frames": 18,
    "demo_bet": "$2.00",
    "currency": "USD",
    "multiplier_basis": "dollar amount shown in paytable divided by $2.00 demo bet"
  },

  "theme_and_visual_style": {
    "theme_summary": "Victorian London double-identity horror: a gentleman detective whose monstrous alter ego (Hyde-like villain) emerges during Free Spins. Dual aesthetic — base game is night-time gaslit London street (blue moonlit tones); FS switches to a crimson laboratory interior.",
    "theme_candidates_for_TL": ["Victorian", "Horror", "Mystery", "Detective"],
    "base_game_background": {
      "setting": "Victorian London street at night",
      "sky": "deep blue-black night sky with large full moon, cream-white and slightly yellow halo",
      "foreground": "stone arch in deep shadow (dark grey/charcoal), cobblestones beneath",
      "background_elements": [
        "large clocktower silhouette similar to Big Ben — dark grey against moon-lit sky",
        "Victorian-era brick buildings flanking the street, illuminated yellow-amber windows",
        "single gas street lamp on far left, warm amber flame"
      ],
      "atmosphere": "cool blue moonlight, gothic/atmospheric, slightly foggy"
    },
    "free_spins_background": {
      "setting": "Victorian laboratory or private study, interior",
      "walls": "dark crimson-burgundy with wood paneling and bookshelves lined with leather-bound books",
      "props": [
        "large glass beaker on right side filled with red liquid (blood or potion), approximately two-thirds full",
        "smaller glass bottles and chemistry flasks on tables, amber and green",
        "old wooden desk with scrolled papers and manuscripts",
        "hourglass near left side",
        "dark door frame with arch in background"
      ],
      "lighting": "deep red-ambient, oppressive, dim candle or lamp glow",
      "atmosphere": "sinister, claustrophobic, alchemical horror"
    },
    "character_duo": {
      "hero_detective": {
        "position": "standing to the right of the reels in base game, full body render",
        "appearance": "tall athletic man, broad-brim brown fedora hat with rust-orange band, long dark brown Victorian duster overcoat, warm golden-brown waistcoat with visible buttons, dark tie/cravat at collar, dark charcoal trousers, holding a dark wooden walking cane in right hand",
        "face": "sharp angular face, clean-shaven, confident stern expression, medium-fair skin",
        "colorblind_note": "identifiable by walking cane shape and fedora silhouette independent of color"
      },
      "villain_alter_ego": {
        "position": "standing to the left of the reels during Free Spins mode, full body render",
        "appearance": "same build but disheveled and monstrous — dark coat (black, torn/damaged, same long style as hero's), partially open chest, brown tattered vest, black belt, dark trousers ripped",
        "face": "grey-blue skin tone, wild dark brown-black hair, pale glowing eyes (yellowish/grey), menacing grin with bared teeth, scarred and distorted",
        "colorblind_note": "identifiable by unkempt silhouette and open-chest posture vs. hero's cane-and-hat silhouette"
      }
    },
    "title_logo_position": "top-right corner of screen, ornate gothic serif lettering 'The Alter Ego' in teal-green over dark red/maroon plaque with decorative frame",
    "ways_counter_position": "top-left corner, gold text on dark brown rectangular panel with ornate gold border",
    "buy_button_position": "left side of reels, gold 'BUY' text on dark brown panel with gold border"
  },

  "grid_and_mechanics": {
    "reels": 5,
    "rows_per_reel_base": [3, 4, 4, 4, 3],
    "rows_note": "pyramid/trapezoid shape — outer reels (1 and 5) are shorter (3 rows) than inner reels (2-3-4, 4 rows each). Grid visually wider in middle.",
    "bet_mechanic": "ways",
    "payline_direction": "ltr",
    "ways_base": 576,
    "ways_fs_max_theoretical": 100000,
    "ways_fs_max_source": "paytable page 2/7 explicit text: 'The maximum possible number of symbols on a reel is 10, for a maximum number of 100,000 ways to win'",
    "ways_fs_session_observed": 15120,
    "ways_fs_session_note": "15120 ways achieved in captured session after multiple retriggers (3 SCATTER buy → 20 FS with reel expansions); not the ceiling",
    "pay_rule": "all symbols pay left to right on adjacent reels starting from leftmost reel; highest win paid per pay way; all ways wins summed",
    "no_ante": true
  },

  "symbols": {
    "demo_bet": "$2.00",
    "multiplier_note": "all multipliers = $value ÷ $2.00; all payouts verified by direct visual reading of paytable page 1/7",
    "high_symbols": [
      {
        "name": "Hero (Detective)",
        "rank": 1,
        "description": "portrait of the gentleman detective — brown wide-brim fedora hat, sharp angular face, cool-toned blue circular background frame with gold ornate border",
        "in_fs": "replaced by the Villain (Alter Ego) symbol which becomes the new highest payer during the FS round",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$12.00", "multiplier": "6x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$4.00", "multiplier": "2x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$2.00", "multiplier": "1x"}
      },
      {
        "name": "Revolver",
        "rank": 2,
        "description": "silver-steel double-action revolver with light brown/wood-tone handle, lying on brown wood surface with scattered bullet casings around it, gold ornate border frame",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$6.00", "multiplier": "3x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$2.00", "multiplier": "1x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$1.00", "multiplier": "0.5x"}
      },
      {
        "name": "Pocket Watch",
        "rank": 3,
        "description": "open gold pocket watch, lid hinged back revealing cream-white clock face with black Roman numeral hour markers (I through XII), gold hands, chain hanging from top, dark teal/green background, gold ornate border frame",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$5.00", "multiplier": "2.5x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$1.80", "multiplier": "0.9x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$0.80", "multiplier": "0.4x"}
      },
      {
        "name": "Hat",
        "rank": 4,
        "description": "brown/copper-toned fedora-style hat (same style as the detective's), angled presentation, set against a deep purple-violet oval background with gold ornate border frame",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$4.00", "multiplier": "2x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$1.50", "multiplier": "0.75x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$0.60", "multiplier": "0.3x"}
      }
    ],
    "royal_symbols": [
      {
        "name": "A",
        "description": "ornate Victorian serif 'A' in aged gold/brass tone with filigree detailing, dark brown background, gold border frame",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$3.50", "multiplier": "1.75x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$1.20", "multiplier": "0.6x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$0.50", "multiplier": "0.25x"}
      },
      {
        "name": "K",
        "description": "ornate Victorian serif 'K' in aged gold/brass, same frame style as A",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$3.50", "multiplier": "1.75x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$1.20", "multiplier": "0.6x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$0.50", "multiplier": "0.25x"}
      },
      {
        "name": "Q",
        "description": "ornate Victorian serif 'Q' in aged gold/brass, same frame style",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$3.50", "multiplier": "1.75x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$1.20", "multiplier": "0.6x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$0.50", "multiplier": "0.25x"}
      },
      {
        "name": "J",
        "description": "ornate Victorian serif 'J' in aged gold/brass, slightly lower value tier, same frame style",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$3.00", "multiplier": "1.5x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$1.00", "multiplier": "0.5x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$0.40", "multiplier": "0.2x"}
      },
      {
        "name": "10",
        "description": "ornate Victorian serif '10' in aged gold/brass, same frame style as J",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$3.00", "multiplier": "1.5x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$1.00", "multiplier": "0.5x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$0.40", "multiplier": "0.2x"}
      },
      {
        "name": "9",
        "description": "ornate Victorian serif '9' in aged gold/brass, lowest value tier, same frame style",
        "payouts_5oak": {"usd": "$3.00", "multiplier": "1.5x"},
        "payouts_4oak": {"usd": "$1.00", "multiplier": "0.5x"},
        "payouts_3oak": {"usd": "$0.40", "multiplier": "0.2x"}
      }
    ],
    "special_symbols": [
      {
        "name": "WILD",
        "visual": "The Alter Ego game wordmark — ornate gothic/western serif text 'The ALTER EGO' on a dark red/maroon plaque background with decorative gold frame; same as the title logo in corner",
        "reels": [2, 3, 4],
        "function": "substitutes for all symbols EXCEPT SCATTER and MYSTERY symbol",
        "own_payout": null,
        "note": "does NOT appear on reels 1 and 5"
      },
      {
        "name": "SCATTER",
        "visual_base": "dark green glass bottle/potion bottle with cork stopper, glowing faintly green, gold ornate frame on dark circular background",
        "visual_fs": "same bottle shape but RED/crimson glass, replaces the green scatter during the Free Spins round",
        "reels": "all 5 reels",
        "function_base": "triggers Free Spins with 3 or more on any reels",
        "function_fs": "each SCATTER that lands during FS resets the free spins counter back to 3 AND permanently increases the height of the reel it landed on by 1 symbol for the remainder of the round",
        "own_payout": null
      },
      {
        "name": "MYSTERY",
        "visual": "question mark symbol '??' rendered in stone/silver engraved style on a dark circular stone background with gold ornate frame",
        "reels": "all 5 reels",
        "function": "after spin settles, ALL MYSTERY symbols on screen simultaneously transform into the same randomly chosen paying symbol (the same symbol for all of them in that spin); cannot transform into WILD",
        "appears_in_fs": true,
        "own_payout": null
      }
    ],
    "total_symbol_types": 13
  },

  "free_spins": {
    "trigger": "3 or more SCATTER symbols (green bottle) on any reels in a single base game spin",
    "initial_spins_awarded": 3,
    "retrigger_mechanism": "any SCATTER landing during the FS round resets the free spins counter back to 3 (not additive — resets TO 3 each time); round continues until counter reaches 0",
    "retrigger_note": "session example: started with 3 FS from buy, reached 20 total spins played through repeated SCATTER retriggers",
    "symbol_substitutions_in_fs": {
      "highest_paying_symbol": "Hero (Detective) is replaced by the Villain (Alter Ego) character — same mechanical role as rank-1 high symbol, new sinister visual",
      "villain_visual": "dark grey-blue skinned man with wild dark hair, pale/glowing eyes, menacing grin, wearing torn dark coat — stands to the left of reels throughout FS round",
      "scatter": "green bottle SCATTER replaced by red/crimson bottle; retrigger and reel-expansion function identical"
    },
    "reel_expansion_mechanism": {
      "on_trigger": "each reel that showed a SCATTER during the triggering spin immediately grows 1 symbol taller at the start of the FS round",
      "during_round": "each time any SCATTER lands during FS, that reel grows 1 symbol taller permanently for the remainder of the round",
      "max_symbols_per_reel": 10,
      "max_ways_theoretical": 100000,
      "source": "paytable page 2/7 explicit: 'The maximum possible number of symbols on a reel is 10, for a maximum number of 100,000 ways to win'",
      "expansion_visual": "reels form a staircase/pyramid profile as middle reels grow taller than outer reels; WAYS counter updates live in top-left during FS"
    },
    "mystery_in_fs": true,
    "special_reels_active": true,
    "special_reels_note": "paytable states 'Special reels are in play during the feature' — implies FS reel strips have different symbol frequencies than base game",
    "session_observed": {
      "buy": "3 SCATTER option at $200 (100x $2 bet)",
      "spins_played": 20,
      "max_ways_reached": 15120,
      "total_win": "$150.40 (75.2x bet)",
      "mid_round_big_win": "$96.00 (48x) on a single spin at WAYS 5040 — labeled 'SUPERB!'"
    },
    "ui_during_fs": {
      "background_change": "full background transition from blue night street to crimson laboratory interior",
      "ways_counter": "live WAYS update in top-left gold panel as reels expand",
      "free_spins_counter": "secondary gold panel below WAYS showing remaining FS count",
      "spin_button": "replaced by red square STOP button during active spin",
      "villain_animation": "villain character stands and animates on left side throughout FS"
    }
  },

  "bonus_buy": {
    "available": true,
    "button_location": "gold 'BUY' panel on the left side of the reels in base game",
    "options": [
      {
        "label": "3 SCATTERS",
        "cost_multiplier": "100x",
        "cost_usd_at_2_bet": "$200.00",
        "guaranteed": "3 SCATTER symbols on triggering spin",
        "rtp": "96.05%"
      },
      {
        "label": "4 SCATTERS",
        "cost_multiplier": "150x",
        "cost_usd_at_2_bet": "$300.00",
        "guaranteed": "4 SCATTER symbols on triggering spin",
        "rtp": "96.01%"
      },
      {
        "label": "5 SCATTERS",
        "cost_multiplier": "200x",
        "cost_usd_at_2_bet": "$400.00",
        "guaranteed": "5 SCATTER symbols on triggering spin",
        "rtp": "96.01%"
      }
    ],
    "dialog_visual": "three ornate dark red panels arranged side-by-side, each showing the SCATTER count in large cream/ivory serif numerals, price in orange-gold text, and a blue checkmark button. Red X close button top-right. TOTAL BET shown at bottom with +/- adjusters.",
    "note": "more SCATTER on trigger spin means more reels start expanded and FS begins with more ways already active"
  },

  "game_parameters": {
    "rtp_base": "96.07%",
    "rtp_buy_3sc": "96.05%",
    "rtp_buy_4sc": "96.01%",
    "rtp_buy_5sc": "96.01%",
    "rtp_source": "paytable page 4/7 explicit text, OCR-verified",
    "volatility": "high",
    "volatility_source": "paytable page 4/7 badge: 5 of 5 lightning bolt icons with label 'VOLATILITY'; text confirms 'High volatility games pay out less often on average but the chance to hit big wins in a short time span is higher'",
    "max_win": "10,000x bet",
    "max_win_source": "paytable pages 3/7 and 6/7 both state: 'The maximum win amount is limited to 10,000x bet in both base game and free spins. If the total win of a FREE SPINS round reaches 10,000x bet the round immediately ends, win is awarded and all remaining free spins are forfeited'",
    "min_bet": "$0.20",
    "max_bet": "$240.00",
    "bet_source": "paytable page 4/7: 'MINIMUM BET: $0.20 / MAXIMUM BET: $240.00'",
    "ante_bet": null,
    "jackpot": null,
    "jackpot_tiers": null,
    "no_progressive_multiplier": true,
    "no_hold_and_spin": true,
    "no_tumble": true
  },

  "settings_and_ui": {
    "settings_menu": {
      "trigger": "hamburger (≡) icon, bottom-left",
      "options": [
        "GAME HISTORY — external link to game history page",
        "TOTAL BET — adjustable via minus/plus controls, shows current bet in USD",
        "BATTERY SAVER — toggle to reduce animation speed and save battery (off by default in capture)",
        "AMBIENT MUSIC — toggle ambient background music (off by default in capture)",
        "SOUND FX — toggle game sound effects (off by default in capture)"
      ]
    },
    "autoplay_menu": {
      "trigger": "AUTOPLAY button, bottom-right",
      "options": [
        "TURBO SPIN — checkbox toggle (unchecked in capture)",
        "QUICK SPIN — checkbox toggle (unchecked in capture)",
        "SKIP SCREENS — checkbox toggle (CHECKED by default in capture — auto-skips feature intro and end screens)"
      ],
      "spin_count": "slider for number of autospins; 100 shown in capture",
      "start_button": "large green 'START AUTOPLAY (N)' button where N = selected count"
    },
    "speed_modes": "3 available via turbo/quick/normal cycle (speed icon bottom-left cycles through)",
    "info_button": "lowercase 'i' circle icon opens the 7-page game rules/paytable panel",
    "bottom_bar_layout": {
      "left": "Pragmatic Play logo, settings (≡), sound toggle (i)",
      "center_left": "CREDIT $X.XX (orange label) / BET $X.XX (gold label)",
      "center": "SPIN TO WIN! idle text",
      "right": "minus (−), circular spin button (arrow), plus (+), AUTOPLAY"
    },
    "keyboard": "SPACE and ENTER start/stop spin"
  },

  "accessibility": {
    "base_game_colorblind_notes": [
      "WAYS counter: numeric value (576) readable without color; panel is gold/dark brown",
      "BUY button: labeled with text 'BUY', not icon-only",
      "Win amount shown in USD dollars at bottom center — text, not just animation",
      "Detective character identifiable by fedora-and-cane silhouette shape",
      "All symbol win triggers light up the winning symbols' borders — not color-only"
    ],
    "free_spins_colorblind_notes": [
      "Mode change: full background color shift (blue → crimson red) plus villain character appears on left — dual visual cues",
      "SCATTER color change (green → red bottle): shape is identical; colorblind users rely on position and count, not color",
      "FREE SPINS counter appears as a new gold panel below WAYS — numeric label 'FREE SPINS' + count",
      "WAYS counter value changes numerically; expansion confirmed by number change not just color",
      "Stop button changes shape (circular arrow → red square) — shape change, not just color"
    ],
    "motor_accessibility": [
      "SKIP SCREENS option enabled by default in capture (autoplay context) — reduces required interactions",
      "Keyboard SPACE/ENTER alternative to clicking spin button"
    ],
    "audio": [
      "Separate toggles for ambient music and sound effects — each independently disableable",
      "FS mode implied ambient change (laboratory atmosphere)"
    ]
  },

  "coverage_notes": {
    "captured_successfully": [
      "Base game (all 13 symbol types visible across frames)",
      "Paytable all 7 pages fully paginated",
      "Bonus buy dialog (all 3 options visible)",
      "Free spins intro screen",
      "Free spins gameplay at multiple WAYS stages (WAYS 5040 and 15120 observed)",
      "Mid-FS win screen (SUPERB! $96.00)",
      "Post-FS win display ($150.40)",
      "Settings menu",
      "Autoplay menu",
      "Small base game win ($0.50)"
    ],
    "not_captured": [
      "MYSTERY symbol transformation in base game (did not trigger naturally in ~10 spins per manifest)",
      "MYSTERY symbol transformation during FS (visible on reels as ?? tiles but transform not isolated)",
      "Natural FS trigger (all FS captured via buy)",
      "FS win at or near 10,000x cap (theoretical max not reached in session)"
    ],
    "data_not_on_frames": [
      "Release date (not shown in any captured frame)",
      "Exact autoplay stop conditions / loss limits (panel not fully explored)"
    ]
  },

  "unreadable_or_uncertain": {
    "ways_progression_formula": "Exact intermediate WAYS values (576 → 2520 → 5040 → 15120) were noted by capturer but the paytable only states max = 100,000; the formula is: initial 3×4×4×4×3 then each expanded reel multiplies the product. TL context values (576→2520→5040→15120) are plausible session observations, not a fixed sequence.",
    "villain_payout_value": "The Villain replaces the Hero as the highest paying symbol in FS. Paytable states the Hero payout (6x / 2x / 1x). Whether the Villain retains exactly these values or has adjusted FS-specific values is not separately declared in the paytable text — assumed to inherit Hero's payouts per 'replaces' wording.",
    "autoplay_stop_limits": "The autoplay panel shows spin count slider only; win/loss limit stop conditions were not expanded in the captured frame."
  }
}