Dynamic Game Matrix Expansion for Electronic Gaming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic gaming machines lack a mechanism to dynamically expand the game matrix during a bonus game, thereby limiting player engagement and potential winnings.
Innovation Solution
The system triggers a bonus game by displaying a predetermined number of designated symbols in the active play area and at least one symbol in the inactive play area adjacent to the upper row, causing the active play area to expand upwardly to include a portion of the inactive play area, effectively increasing the game matrix height to match contiguous designated symbols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the game matrix size is kept fixed during base game play, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but player engagement and potential winnings are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The game matrix transitions from a static structure during base game play to a dynamic structure during bonus game play. The matrix expands vertically to include inactive play area rows when a bonus game is triggered, allowing the game to adapt its configuration based on game state. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction by enabling versatility when needed while maintaining simplicity during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The game matrix expands in the vertical dimension by incorporating inactive play area rows into the active game matrix. This dimensional expansion allows the game to increase its play area without adding horizontal complexity, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity by utilizing unused vertical space.
2Area of stationary object
If the active play area is expanded to include inactive play area during bonus game, then the area for winning combinations is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inactive play area rows serve dual purposes: they remain inactive during base game play to maintain simplicity, but become active game rows during bonus game play to expand winning opportunities. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing the same physical space to serve different functions based on game state, increasing area without permanently increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The game matrix dynamically adjusts its active area by incorporating inactive rows during bonus games. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the active play area to expand only when needed, resolving the contradiction between increasing winning area and maintaining structural simplicity during normal operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expanding reels feature is added to the bonus game, then player engagement and potential winnings are enhanced, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The game automatically transitions between simple base game mode and enhanced bonus game mode with expanding reels, removing the need for player intervention to activate features. This dynamic mode switching resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced features only when triggered by game conditions, maintaining ease of operation while enabling versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The game system automatically detects when bonus game conditions are met and activates the expanding reels feature without requiring player input. The system self-manages the transition to the enhanced game mode, resolving the contradiction between providing advanced features and maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic gaming system including a memory and processor is described. The processor is configured to cause display of a plurality of game symbols in a plurality of symbol positions within an active play area and an inactive play area of a base game wherein the inactive play area includes stacks of symbol positions each stack corresponding to a column of a first subset of columns in the active play area; cause a bonus game to be triggered when a number of designated symbols are displayed within the active play area and displayed in the inactive play area in a symbol position adjacent to an upper row of the active play area; and as part of the bonus game, cause the active play area to expand upwardly to include a portion of the inactive play area to a height equal to a highest symbol position displaying contiguous designated symbols.