Dynamic Mechanical Display Concealment for Gaming Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic gaming machines lack innovative gameplay mechanics, leading to a need for new interactive and exciting wagering games that go beyond the same old themes and operations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating dynamic mechanical components with concealed displays that reveal awards based on pre-established gaming outcomes, allowing player interaction through selection mechanisms such as arms and hands, flowers, bottles, or a jack-in-the-box, enhancing player engagement and award presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic gaming machines use conventional operations and themes, then manufacturing and operation are simple, but player engagement and excitement are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges mechanical components (arms, hands, flowers, bottles, jack-in-the-box) with electronic display technology to create a hybrid gaming system. This combination provides both tactile mechanical interaction and visual electronic feedback, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and engagement by integrating two different domains into a unified gaming experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical components are designed to be dynamic rather than static - arms can rotate and open hands, flowers can bloom, bottles can be opened, and the jack-in-the-box can jump out. These dynamic transformations create excitement and variety in the gaming experience without requiring complete structural redesign, thus improving creativity while controlling complexity.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical components are added to enhance player interaction, then player engagement improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using purely mechanical reward delivery systems, the patent replaces them with electronic displays concealed within mechanical components. The mechanical parts serve primarily as interactive interfaces and revealers, while the actual award information is delivered electronically, reducing the complexity of the mechanical reward delivery system while maintaining player engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical components act as intermediaries between the player and the electronic display system. Players interact with the mechanical elements (selecting hands, opening flowers, cracking bottles), which then reveal the electronic displays showing awards. This intermediary layer enhances player engagement by providing tactile interaction while the electronic system handles the complex reward logic.
3Ease of manufacture
If concealed displays are used within mechanical components, then award presentation becomes more exciting, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gaming machine is divided into separate modular components - the mechanical elements (arms, hands, flowers, bottles, jack-in-the-box) are distinct from the electronic display units. Each mechanical component can be manufactured and tested independently, then assembled with its corresponding display module. This segmentation reduces manufacturing complexity by allowing parallel development and assembly of mechanical and electronic subsystems.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine includes a mechanical component for facilitating concealment of a display device during inactivity. Upon activation, a dynamic member of the mechanical component re-positions to reveal the display device showing a player award. The dynamic member and display combination facilitates an unlimited number of gaming machines. By way of example, a bonus game comprises two arms extending from a top portion of a gaming machine. In response to a primary game outcome, a player is provided with an opportunity to select one of the arms. Upon the player's selection, a hand corresponding to the selected arm, turns over and opens to reveal the display device and displayed bonus award. Other examples include flower petals opening and self-opening bottles. The use of mechanical components having one or more dynamic members attract players and facilitate a unique means of generating and displaying a primary or bonus award.