Attract Package Scheduling for Wagering Game Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wagering game machines face a challenge in attracting players due to repetitive and monotonous splash screens and sequences, necessitating improved methods to increase user interest.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an attract scheduling system that manages the display of attract packages on wagering game machines, allowing players to preview upcoming games and scheduling their presentation to maintain interest through periodic introduction of new content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If splash screens and sequences are constantly replayed to attract players, then player attraction is maintained, but the content becomes repetitive and monotonous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayer attractionVSAvoidcontent repetitiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays attract packages for upcoming games before they are actually playable. This preliminary presentation of future content creates anticipation and maintains player interest without requiring constant replay of the same sequences, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining attraction and avoiding repetitiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The attract scheduling system dynamically manages when different attract packages are displayed based on game release schedules and player engagement patterns. This dynamic adjustment prevents monotony by introducing varied content at appropriate times while maintaining effective player attraction strategies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If attract packages are displayed continuously to showcase upcoming games, then player engagement is enhanced, but the display time for actual gaming is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidgaming time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic display of attract packages at strategically determined intervals rather than continuous display. This periodic action maintains player engagement through anticipation while preserving substantial gaming time, resolving the contradiction between enhanced engagement and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

Attract packages are displayed in advance of actual game availability, creating anticipation that motivates players to return to the machine when games become playable. This preliminary action generates engagement without requiring continuous display during gaming sessions, thereby reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the same game content is displayed repeatedly to maintain interest, then the display remains consistent, but player interest decreases due to monotony

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay consistencyVSAvoidplayer interest
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains display consistency by presenting attract packages that faithfully represent upcoming games before release. These pre-displayed packages provide stable, recognizable content while generating player interest through anticipation of future gameplay, resolving the contradiction between consistency and interest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The attract scheduling system changes the temporal parameters of content display by introducing new attract packages at specific intervals based on game release schedules. This parameter change maintains display consistency within each package while varying the overall content sequence to sustain player interest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8864582B2Wagering games with attract package scheduling
Publication Date: 2014.10.21 LNW GAMING INC
  • US8864582B2 patent drawing
  • US8864582B2 patent drawing
  • US8864582B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Apparatus, systems, and methods to manage attract software package access, storage, and execution scheduling for wagering game machines. A wagering game machine may operate to determine the availability of one or more attract packages, as well as to determine whether any available attract packages comprise an active attract package based on one or more schedules. The gaming machine may access one or more of the available, active attract packages and present them. The attract packages and associated schedules can be loaded into the gaming machine using a number of mechanisms, including a server and a machine-readable medium.