Progressive Bonus Apparatus with Visual Value Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bonus games in gaming machines lack continuous player engagement and positive reinforcement for increasing base game bets, with limited anticipation and transparency in bonus game status.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a progressive bonus apparatus that displays bonus funds visually as value elements, such as fish, moving between linked gaming machines, where bet activity influences the speed and linger time of these elements, providing real-time status updates and encouraging players to increase their bets by comparing their progress to others.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional bonus games are implemented, then players can win bonus rewards, but player engagement and anticipation are limited to specific base game conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The bonus game transitions from a static, condition-based mechanism to a dynamic, continuous system. Value elements (fish) continuously move between gaming machines based on real-time bet activity, creating a living bonus pool that adapts to player behavior. This dynamic movement keeps players engaged between base game spins and provides constant anticipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonus game operates continuously throughout the base game play session rather than being triggered only at specific moments. Value elements are constantly being attracted to and distributed among gaming machines based on ongoing bet activity, ensuring uninterrupted player engagement and maintaining bonus relevance throughout the entire gaming session.
2Productivity
If bonus games are made more elaborate and prevalent, then player entertainment increases, but transparency and visibility of bonus status decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Visual icons (fish) serve as intermediary elements that bridge the gap between the complex bonus mechanics and player understanding. These icons provide intuitive visual representation of bonus status, making the abstract bonus system concrete and transparent. Players can easily see which machines have value elements and understand the bonus distribution mechanism through these visual mediators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses visual differentiation through icon display to communicate bonus status. Different gaming machines display value elements with varying visual characteristics based on their bonus status, creating an intuitive visual language that transparently communicates the state of the bonus game across the gaming floor without requiring complex displays or text information.
3Productivity
If players can see other participants' bonus status, then competition and engagement increase, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bonus system is segmented into individual value elements (fish) that can be independently tracked and displayed on each gaming machine. This segmentation allows each machine to display its own bonus status independently while contributing to the overall pool, enabling player comparison without requiring complex centralized coordination. Each machine manages its own segment of the bonus ecosystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies of value elements on display screens representing the bonus status at different gaming machines. These visual copies allow players to compare bonus standings across machines without requiring complex data transmission or processing. The display screens present simplified visual representations (copies) of the bonus state, making comparison intuitive and reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for a game includes providing a plurality of individual gaming machines for playing a base game, where an outcome of each gaming machine is determined at least in part by chance, and communicatively coupling a progressive bonus apparatus to said plurality of individual gaming machines. The method includes creating value elements and inserting them onto individual gaming machines in a bank of gaming machines. The value elements can be seen visually by players so that the players can monitor the status of the bonus game while playing the base game. Also disclosed is an apparatus capable of carrying out the above method as well as a media carrying an instruction set for carrying out the above method.