Accumulation Matching Bonus Feature Game Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gaming machines lack feature games that provide enhanced excitement and increased opportunities for winning, failing to fully captivate player interest with their limited progressive prize structures and award mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a gaming machine that includes a primary game followed by an accumulation/matching style feature game, where players accumulate bonus slots during a free games portion and select target symbols from a pool to win bonus awards, with the option to win additional free games and multiply wins, offering multiple opportunities for prizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional progressive prize structures are used, then the gaming machine can offer prize awards, but player engagement and excitement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The feature game is divided into multiple distinct portions: a first portion where bonus slots are accumulated during free games, and a second portion where target symbols are selected from a pool. This segmentation creates multiple stages of engagement and multiple opportunities to win, transforming a single-prize structure into a multi-stage adventure that significantly improves player excitement and involvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The game introduces dynamic elements including accumulating bonus slots during free games, selecting target symbols from a dynamically updated pool, and removing selected symbols from the pool after selection. These dynamic mechanisms create evolving gameplay conditions that maintain player interest and provide enhanced engagement compared to static prize structures.
2Productivity
If feature games are triggered by predetermined events, then players have opportunities to win, but the excitement and frequency of winning are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
During the first portion of the feature game, bonus slots are accumulated in advance through free games before the second portion begins. This preliminary accumulation creates a foundation for potential winnings in the second portion, giving players a sense of progress and building anticipation that enhances both excitement and perceived frequency of winning opportunities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism using a pool of bonus symbols that serves as a mediator between the accumulated bonus slots and the final bonus awards. Players select target symbols from this pool, and the matching process uses the pool as an intermediary to determine wins, creating multiple layers of interaction that enhance both player excitement and winning frequency.
3Ease of operation
If a single feature game portion is used, then the game structure is simple, but player engagement and winning opportunities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The feature game is segmented into two distinct portions with different functions: the first portion focuses on accumulating bonus slots through free games, while the second portion focuses on selecting target symbols from a pool to win bonus awards. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while collectively providing enhanced player engagement and multiple winning opportunities, justifying the increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the feature game by introducing a pool of bonus symbols that exists separately from the main game grid. This additional dimensional element (the pool) provides a new way to interact with and select symbols, creating enhanced gameplay dynamics and multiple winning opportunities that justify the increased game structure complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a game controlled by a gaming machine includes accepting a wager from a player, presenting a primary game, awarding any primary game awards to the player, and upon a triggering event, presenting a feature game. The feature game includes performing a first portion of the feature game during which a set of bonus slots is accumulated and performing a second portion of the feature game. The second portion of the feature game includes selecting at least one set of a predetermined number of target symbols, associated with a bonus award, from among a pool of bonus symbols during which selected bonus symbols are not removed from the pool, and selecting a set of match symbols, equal in number to the accumulated number of bonus slots, from among the pool of bonus symbol during which selected bonus symbols are removed from the pool. The match symbols are compared to the at least one set of target symbols. If all the symbols in the at least one set of target symbols correspond to match symbols, the bonus award associated with the at least one set of target symbols is awarded to the player.