Amusement Machine Integrating Crane, Slot, and Button Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional claw crane machines have a low success rate due to factors like player skill, depth perception, and machine configuration, with limited options for adjusting winning percentages and payouts, leading to inconsistent player experience and revenue for operators.
Innovation Solution
A coin-operated amusement device combining a crane game, a win every time game, and a simulated slot machine, allowing players to play three games in any order, with adjustable prizes and winning percentages, and redeeming prizes via an online website, incorporating a traditional crane game, a button-activated game with flashing lights, and a slot machine game.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional crane game is used, then the machine structure is simple, but the player success rate is low and experience is inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a traditional crane game with a slot machine game and a button game into a single integrated amusement machine. The crane game portion allows players to attempt to grab prizes, while the slot machine portion provides an alternative winning mechanism. This merging ensures that players have multiple pathways to success, thereby improving the overall player success rate and experience consistency without requiring complete redesign of the entire machine structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The amusement machine is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates as a traditional crane game, a slot machine, and a button game all in one device. The control system can switch between different game modes, and the prize dispensing mechanism serves all three game types. This multi-functionality allows the machine to cater to different player preferences and skill levels, improving reliability of player experience while managing complexity through shared components.
2Reliability
If the crane grip strength is adjusted to increase winning rate, then player success rate improves, but operator control over revenue decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the crane mechanism where the grip strength and operational parameters can be adjusted in real-time based on various factors including player performance, time of day, and operator preferences. The system can dynamically switch between different grip strengths and game modes to balance player success rates with operator revenue control, allowing adaptability without sacrificing either player experience or operator authority.
Solution Approach 2:
The amusement machine allows operators to change multiple parameters including grip strength, game duration, prize availability, and the probability of the slot machine portion triggering. These parameter changes enable fine-tuning of the player success rate while maintaining operator control over revenue management. The system can adjust the ratio between crane game successes and slot machine bonuses to achieve desired revenue targets.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple games are combined in one machine, then player engagement increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the amusement machine into distinct functional segments: a crane game section with its own control and prize area, a slot machine section with reels and display, and a button game section. Each segment operates semi-independently with its own control logic, but they share common infrastructure such as the prize dispensing mechanism, credit system, and main control unit. This segmentation allows for modular design that improves player engagement through variety while managing complexity through standardized interfaces and shared components.
Data Source
AI summary
Coin operated amusement device including a crane game, a game of chance, and a simulated slot machine in combination. A player deposits coins, and is able to play three games. One game is a traditional crane game. A second game requires a player to press a button to stop moving, flashing lights on an area to win a prize. The second game is located on the corners of the cabinet and above the marquee on the top of the crane game machine cabinet. In a third game, the player plays a slot machine game located on the marquee of the crane machine and pulls a one-arm bandit handle to start the game. If the player wins the slot machine game, the prize is tickets that can be redeemed via an online website/store. Games are played in any order and combination and the prizes adjusted by the operator.