Dynamic Bonus Symbol Array for Gaming Machine Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gaming machines lack incentives to retain player interest as the standard structure of game play and bonus prizes becomes familiar, leading to a decline in engagement.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a gaming machine with an electronic controller that randomly determines and displays bonus symbols, allowing them to be added to the game array over subsequent plays, enhancing the game experience and increasing prize opportunities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional gaming machines use standard game play structure and bonus prizes, then the game operation is simple and easy to understand, but player interest and engagement decline over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic game play by allowing the array of game squares to change size and configuration during the game. The electronic controller randomly determines whether to display bonus symbols and can add them to the array during subsequent plays, making the game structure adaptable and evolving rather than static, thereby maintaining player interest while managing complexity through programmed variability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters of the game array dynamically - the number of game squares, the arrangement of symbols, and the presence of bonus symbols are all variables that can change during play. The electronic controller modifies these parameters randomly to create varied gameplay experiences, transforming the conventional fixed structure into a flexible system that adapts to maintain engagement
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gaming machine displays more bonus symbols and varies gameplay, then player interest is maintained, but the complexity of controlling the game increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic controller operates autonomously by randomly determining game outcomes and managing the bonus symbol array without requiring complex player input or external intervention. The controller self-regulates the game flow, adding or removing bonus symbols based on programmed randomness, which manages the complexity of automation through simple random number generation rather than complex control algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the display shows the current state of the array and game progress, and the electronic controller adjusts subsequent gameplay based on the randomly determined outcomes. This feedback loop simplifies control by using random number generation to determine actions rather than requiring complex predictive control, maintaining gameplay variation while managing automation complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine comprises a display and an electronic controller for playing a first game. The electronic controller is configured to randomly determine whether to display one or more bonus symbols in the first game, each bonus symbol being associated with a bonus value award. Where a trigger event occurs during the first game, such as the appearance of a predetermined order of bonus symbols, electronic controller is configured to display an array of the bonus symbols on the display or optionally on another display. Where bonus symbols appear in further plays of the first game or plays of a second game, the bonus symbols are added to the array and bonus symbols present on the array are sequentially transferred to a win meter, which increments by the amount of the associated bonus value award of each transferred bonus symbol.