Dynamic Play Count Control for Electronic Gaming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic game systems charge a flat licensing fee for virtual game cartridges with a fixed number of plays, which does not account for varying player denominations, leading to uneven profits for game operators and potential abuse by operators playing remaining games at high denominations for jackpots.
Innovation Solution
Implement a system where the number of plays available is dynamically determined based on the actual denominations selected by players, allowing for a finite structure for each denomination, with the electronic game service provider charging a flat fee for reloads of virtual cartridges, and updating play counts after each game.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed number of plays is provided per virtual cartridge reload, then the game structure is simple and easy to manage, but operators can abuse the system by playing remaining games at high denominations for jackpots and profits are uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic denomination assignment where each play is randomly assigned a denomination when the player enters the game room, rather than allowing players to choose denominations. This dynamic approach prevents operators from strategically playing remaining games at high denominations while maintaining simple game structure and ensuring fair profit distribution across all plays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the denomination parameter dynamically during gameplay. Instead of fixed denominations per cartridge, the denomination is randomly determined at the start of each play session. This parameter change ensures that operators cannot predict or control which denomination will be assigned to remaining plays, preventing jackpot abuse and ensuring equitable profits.
2Adaptability or versatility
If players can select denominations freely, then player satisfaction and game flexibility increase, but operators may exploit remaining plays at high denominations for excessive jackpots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by removing the player's ability to select denominations before gameplay begins. The system pre-determines that denominations will be randomly assigned, preventing operators from exploiting knowledge of remaining plays to strategically choose high denominations for jackpot purposes. This preliminary constraint eliminates the harmful exploitation behavior while maintaining game flexibility through random denomination assignment.
3Device complexity
If a flat licensing fee is charged for virtual cartridge reloads, then the service model is simple and predictable, but it does not account for varying player denominations leading to uneven operator profits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system tracks the number of plays remaining on each virtual cartridge and randomly assigns denominations based on this information. This feedback loop ensures that as plays are consumed, the system adjusts denomination assignments to maintain equitable profit distribution, while the flat licensing fee structure remains simple and predictable for the service provider.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for controlling the number of plays of an electronic game based on the different denominations at which the electronic game can be played. A game field is constructed having a plurality of elements on a game display wherein each element is filled by a game symbol from a plurality of available game symbols, wherein the game symbols for each element are automatically determined such that there is no winning combination without player interaction. The field of game symbols is presented to the player for selection of a field element wherein such player selection turns the symbol displayed in the field element into a wild symbol. The player's selection of the field element for the wild symbol location is received by the game software which determines each winning combination of symbols that is formed by such wild symbol location selection. Each winning combination of symbols on the field of game symbols is displayed to the player. The total number of plays of the game remaining is dynamically determined based on an action taken by the player prior to selecting the field element location for the wild symbol.