Dynamic Paytable Adjustment in Poker Bonus Gaming Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gaming devices lack innovative bonus games that provide enhanced player excitement and awards, relying on traditional triggering events during base game operations.

Innovation Solution

A gaming system that allows players to participate in an interactive draw poker game with a bonus gaming session featuring a re-draw option, where players can hold and discard cards to form winning hands, with dynamic paytables adjusting based on qualified events such as non-winning and non-flush hands, increasing the potential for higher awards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional triggering event is used to activate a bonus game, then the bonus game can be played to fruition and the player can return to the base game, but the player excitement and enjoyment are not sufficiently enhanced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonus game structureVSAvoidgame operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the bonus game structure flexible and adaptable. The bonus game can be interrupted and exited at multiple points, allowing the player to return to the base game. The paytable dynamically adjusts based on the number of qualified events, creating a living, changing game structure rather than a static one. This resolves the contradiction by making the bonus game versatile enough to enhance excitement while maintaining manageable operational complexity through clear exit and return mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the paytable parameter based on the number of qualified events accumulated during the gaming session. As more qualified events occur (non-winning hands or winning hands with non-designated ranks), the paytable adjusts to offer higher awards. This parameter change creates evolving excitement and engagement without requiring complex game mechanics, as the changing rewards themselves provide the enhanced experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a bonus gaming session with re-draw option is implemented, then player engagement and excitement are enhanced, but the game structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidbonus game structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bonus game into distinct phases: the initial draw, the optional re-draw, and the award determination. Each segment has clear rules and outcomes. The game can be exited after the initial draw or continued with the re-draw option, creating manageable segments that enhance player engagement without overwhelming complexity. Each segment is independently understandable and可控.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by allowing the player to evaluate the initial hand and make a holding decision before the re-draw occurs. The player can see the initial cards, decide which to hold, and then choose whether to proceed with the re-draw based on that evaluation. This preliminary evaluation and decision-making process enhances engagement by giving the player control and strategic input, while the structured nature of the preliminary action keeps the overall game structure manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If dynamic paytables adjusting based on qualified events are used, then higher awards and player satisfaction are achieved, but the gaming system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaward potentialVSAvoidpaytable management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the number of qualified events during the gaming session and using this information to adjust the paytable. Each qualified event (non-winning hand or winning hand with non-designated rank) provides feedback that triggers a paytable adjustment. This feedback loop creates a simple yet effective mechanism for increasing award potential based on game progression, without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated systems. The feedback is automatic, cumulative, and directly tied to observable game events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9105161B2Gaming system, gaming device, and method for providing a poker game with a bonus gaming session having re-draw option
Publication Date: 2015.08.11 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC
  • US9105161B2 patent drawing
  • US9105161B2 patent drawing
  • US9105161B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A gaming system provides a bonus gaming session that is activated during a play of a five-card draw poker base game when a predetermined plurality of the first set of five cards dealt meets a predetermined criteria, for example at least four of the five cards dealt and held by the player share a common suit. When activated, the gaming system repeats plays of the game in the bonus gaming session until a winning draw poker outcome has been generated. In the bonus gaming session, the card that is not co-suited with the plurality of the held first set of cards is discarded and randomly replaced until a winning five-card hand is generated, upon which the gaming device provides an award. The gaming system provides a correspondingly larger award for a winning flush hand for each additional re-drawn fifth card required to achieve a winning five-card flush hand.