Cascading Symbol Game Upgrade Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to enhance the level of excitement and entertainment in gaming machines by increasing the number of winning symbol combinations and awards provided to players for a single wager in cascading symbol or tumbling reel games.

Innovation Solution

The gaming system introduces upgrade events that modify symbols, award evaluations, and bonus game attributes, such as upgrading non-wild symbols to wild symbols, adding paylines, or increasing free spins, to enhance winning opportunities during cascading symbol games.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the gaming system provides traditional cascading symbol games with fixed rules, then the game structure is simple and easy to operate, but the number of winning symbol combinations and awards is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of winning symbol combinationsVSAvoidgame structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gaming system dynamically modifies game attributes during play through upgrade events. Symbols can be upgraded from non-wild to wild types, paylines can be added, and bonus game parameters can be adjusted based on random determination. This dynamic adaptation increases the number of winning combinations without requiring a completely complex fixed structure, as the system evolves during gameplay rather than being predetermined.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters during the game by determining upgrades based on random determination. Parameters such as symbol wildness, payline count, and bonus game features are modified through controlled parameter changes. This allows the system to generate more winning combinations by adjusting parameters dynamically rather than relying on a static complex structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the gaming system adds more upgrade events and dynamic modifications, then the number of award opportunities increases, but the complexity of the gaming system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of award opportunitiesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gaming system automatically determines and executes upgrades based on random determination without requiring player input or manual configuration. The system self-manages the complexity by using automated random determination to decide which symbols to upgrade, which paylines to add, and which bonus features to activate. This self-service approach increases award opportunities while containing complexity through automation rather than manual management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-determining upgrade possibilities and preparing modification logic in advance. The random determination mechanism is pre-configured to select from predefined upgrade options, and the system prepares the necessary logic to execute these upgrades before they are needed during gameplay. This preliminary preparation allows complex upgrade events to occur smoothly without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus managing system complexity while increasing award opportunities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9349251B2Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with upgrade events
Publication Date: 2016.05.24 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC
  • US9349251B2 patent drawing
  • US9349251B2 patent drawing
  • US9349251B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more upgrades in association with zero, one or more shifting symbols. Upon an occurrence of an upgrade event, the gaming system upgrades one or more aspects or attributes of one or more games played. In certain embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading the award evaluation of one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more attributes or features of one or more bonus or secondary games which are subsequently triggered.