Animated Reel Gaming Machine with Dynamic Bonus Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gaming machines lack engaging and interactive bonus features that can enhance player experience and attract more customers.
Innovation Solution
A gaming machine with a control unit that renders animated sequences of computer-generated images, featuring a bonus game screen with virtual independent reels and a bonus independent reel, which spin and stop to display a bonus game outcome, enhancing player interaction and engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mechanical reels are used, then the device structure is simple, but the player engagement and attractiveness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical reels with computer-animated virtual reels displayed on a display device. The control unit generates and displays animated sequences of computer-generated images that simulate reel spinning and stopping, eliminating the need for physical mechanical components while enhancing player engagement through dynamic visual effects and interactive bonus games.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional mechanical reel movement to multi-dimensional computer-generated imagery with animated sequences, special effects, and virtual bonus games. The display device presents visual content that occupies multiple perceptual dimensions including motion, color, and interactive elements, significantly enhancing player engagement beyond traditional mechanical limitations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If computer-animated bonus features are added, then player engagement increases, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls the display of virtual reels, generates computer-animated sequences, manages bonus games, and handles game outcome determination. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional control unit, the system achieves enhanced player engagement while managing complexity through functional integration rather than proliferation of separate components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual independent reels and bonus independent reels are implemented, then the gaming experience is enhanced, but the rendering complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the reel system into separate virtual independent reels and bonus independent reels, each rendered and controlled independently. The display device presents multiple reel instances that can spin, stop, and display outcomes separately, allowing complex gaming experiences with multiple simultaneous reel actions while managing rendering complexity through modular independent processing of each reel instance.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine including a cabinet, a display device mounted to the cabinet, and a control unit operably coupled to the display device is described herein. The control unit includes a processor programmed to execute an algorithm to render an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the display device including the steps of rendering a bonus game screen on the display device including a reel display area including a reel window displayed in an initial reel window state having an initial window width, transforming the reel window from the initial reel window state to a modified reel window state to reduce a width of the reel window to define a bonus reel region between the transformed reel window and an outer edge of the reel display area, and animating a bonus reel window to appear in the bonus reel region.