Concentric Reel Gaming Device with Variable Viewable Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ways to win gaming devices have non-linear betting schemes that result in different expected payout percentages for varying wager amounts, leading to inconsistencies and player confusion regarding probability and reward.
Innovation Solution
A gaming device with a mechanical or video display featuring concentric reels and a symbol revealing mechanism, where the positioning of viewable areas on the outer reels determines the award based on the symbols displayed, allowing for dynamic and exciting outcomes without linear betting ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional linear betting schemes are used in gaming devices, then the payout structure is simple and easy to understand, but the player enjoyment and excitement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The gaming device is divided into multiple independent reel sets (first reel set, second reel set, etc.), each capable of generating symbols independently. This segmentation allows for complex award structures while maintaining individual reel simplicity, resolving the contradiction between simple operation and enhanced player enjoyment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the betting scheme by adding multiple reel sets that can be activated independently. Instead of a single linear payline system, players can wager on combinations across multiple reel sets, creating a multi-dimensional betting structure that increases excitement while remaining understandable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If concentric reels with different sized viewable areas are implemented, then award structures become more dynamic and exciting, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested concentric reels where an inner reel is positioned within an outer reel. The inner reel contains symbols while the outer reel provides viewable areas (windows) that can be of different sizes and positions. This nesting creates dynamic award structures through varying window configurations without requiring entirely separate mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the outer reel have different sized viewable areas (first viewable area, second viewable area, etc.), creating local variations in how symbols are displayed. This allows the device to present different award structures in different local regions, enhancing dynamics while using a unified reel mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming device including a plurality of reel sets connected where at least one of the reel sets includes concentric reels having an inner reel and an outer reel. The inner reel includes a plurality of symbols and a plurality of symbol positions where at least two of the symbols are displayed by one of the symbol positions. The outer reel defines a plurality of different viewable areas where one of the outer reel is positionable to enable a player to view at least one of the symbols through a first viewable area and a different number of the symbols through a second viewable area. A processor causes the inner reel and the outer reel to move and provides any outcome to the player based on the number of winning symbol combinations which are displayed on the reels (i.e., not based on any paylines that would have passed through such displayed winning symbol combinations).