Dynamic Reel Symbol Clumps for Gaming Engagement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines struggle to maintain player engagement and attract new players due to the perceived equal likelihood of winning at competing machines, necessitating innovative features that enhance entertainment value and perceived chances of winning.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for gaming machines that dynamically add additional symbol locations to reels, creating clumps of symbols, which are filled with identical symbols, enhancing the visual appeal and perceived chances of winning by altering the reel structure during gameplay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reel structure is kept static with fixed symbol locations, then the game mechanics are simple and easy to understand, but player engagement and perceived chances of winning remain low
Solution Approach 1:
The reel structure transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one where symbol locations are added or removed during gameplay. The system dynamically modifies the reel by adding adjacent symbol locations to existing symbols, creating growing symbol clusters that adapt to gameplay conditions rather than remaining fixed throughout the game.
Solution Approach 2:
The reel is segmented into individual symbol locations that can be independently modified. Instead of treating the reel as a single fixed structure, the patent divides it into discrete symbol positions that can be selectively added or removed, allowing granular control over reel composition and enabling targeted modifications to specific symbol clusters.
2Reliability
If additional symbol locations are added to create clumps of symbols, then player engagement and perceived winning chances increase, but the complexity of the game mechanics increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-determining which symbols will form clumps and proactively adding symbol locations to create winning configurations before the spin outcome is finalized. This preliminary structuring of symbol clusters gives players the perception that winning outcomes are being prepared and facilitated, enhancing perceived reliability of winning.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system has a plurality of reels. Each reel has a plurality of symbol locations. The gaming system is in communication with one or more processors. The gaming system involves the selection of a symbol location on a first reel of the plurality of reels. The selected symbol location is associated with a first type of symbol. At least one additional symbol location is added to the first reel at a location adjacent to the selected symbol location. Each additional symbol location is filled with the first type of symbol to create a first clump of the first type of symbols. Alternatively, the gaming system determines a number of additional symbol locations that are added to the first reel adjacent to the selected first symbol location. The gaming system then fills the additional symbol locations with symbols.