Few rock and heavy metal legends have had an impact on the world of music like the incredible Ozzy Osbourne, which is why it was so worrying to hear about the health problems he was suffering from earlier this year.
Of course, we’d be fools to think that an injury from a fall at home would keep the great man down and it was very welcome to recently hear the news that his previously-announced – and brilliantly-titled – ‘No More Tours 2’ series of shows would still be going ahead in North America next year. Black Sabbath may be no more, but Ozzy keeps on rocking and fans are sure to be in for a treat with Marilyn Manson joining him for the tour.
However, if you simply can’t wait for the shows and want to get your Ozzy fix in the meantime, you may be pleased to hear that the icon has also recently entered the world of gaming in recent weeks.
Celebrating his career
In the middle of November, the leading games developer NetEnt confirmed the launch of a brand new video slot based around the life and career of the legendary metal frontman.
Ozzy Osbourne Video Slots features a range of imagery and illustrations of the singer from throughout his career, while the official game also gets to showcase some of his famous back catalog along the way too. Furthermore, it includes everything you would expect from a slots-style game, including a range of bonuses and multipliers designed to give players a chance to win big.
Commenting on the decision to make a game based on Ozzy, NetEnt’s director of games Bryan Upton said the hope was that the title would “appeal to his fans as well as a wide cross-section of slots players”. He added that the company was also “ecstatic” to work with him.
A pop culture icon
While to some it might seem strange that Ozzy has been immortalized in an online slot game, he is actually not the first major rock icon to take a leap into the area. For example, the likes of Guns N Roses, Jimi Hendrix and other music legends have already ready been given similar treatment, with titles based around their imagery and songs.
THAT’S A MTHRFN WRAP! #NotInThisLifetime Tour #GnFnR pic.twitter.com/8Q089cbIJs
— Guns N' Roses (@gunsnroses) 23 August 2016
Furthermore, it also cements Ozzy’s place in pop culture as a whole, as he now also sits alongside a host of other icons from other parts of the entertainment world. For example, a trip to William Hill casino online will demonstrate that slot games based on big- and small-screen favorites such as Grease, The Dark Knight, The X Files and Dirty Dancing are also available these days.
Put simply, Ozzy means something to metal fans and the wider public too, thanks to both his music and the famous reality TV show featuring his family from the early part of the 21st century, which makes him a perfect fit for a slot game. As Bryan Upton added, he is a name that “transcends the music industry”.
An incredible career
It is incredible to think that next year will be the 50th anniversary of the release of the debut Black Sabbath album, a record that helped propel Ozzy Osbourne into the spotlight for the very first time. Across the following decades he has gone on to have a remarkable and colorful career, but it is truly fantastic that he still around and going strong.
The launch of a new slot game based on his life is a great example of his enduring popularity and it is sure to be a big hit with metal fans and other players across the months and years ahead.
