Dynamic Symbol Arrays for Low-Overhead Gaming Outcomes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gaming apparatus struggle to balance yield versus randomness and volatility to create a feeling of luck, while also improving processing speed and efficiency to support complex graphics and multiple random outcome determinations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a gaming machine with a display device presenting a symbol array divided into position subsets, where static and allocated symbol positions are randomly arranged, and dynamically expanded or reset in response to trigger events, minimizing processing overhead and resource burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex graphics and special effects are added to make games more entertaining, then player engagement improves, but processing speed and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The game is divided into separate base game and bonus game components. The symbol array mechanism is isolated as an independent feature that can be activated selectively, allowing complex graphics to be rendered only when needed rather than continuously processing all game elements at full complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The symbol array is implemented as a dynamic structure that can expand and contract based on game state. The array size and complexity adjust automatically - expanding when bonus features are active and contracting during base game play, optimizing processing resources according to actual game demands
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bonus features with different game formats are implemented, then player excitement increases, but processing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The symbol array serves multiple functions across different game formats - it acts as a reel strip in slot games, a card deck in picking games, a wheel in spin games, and can be configured for various bonus feature types. This universal mechanism reduces the need for separate processing logic for each game format, improving overall processing efficiency while maintaining feature variety
Solution Approach 2:
The symbol array dynamically reconfigures its structure and behavior based on the active game format. The same underlying mechanism adapts its rules, symbols, and outcome determination methods to match the current bonus feature type, allowing multiple game formats to share a single optimized processing pathway
3Adaptability or versatility
If random outcome determinations are increased per feature, then player excitement increases, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The random outcome determination logic is extracted from the main game loop and consolidated into the symbol array mechanism. Instead of generating multiple separate random outcomes through complex conditional logic, the system uses a single randomized selection process that draws symbols from the array, simplifying the computational structure while maintaining multiple random determinations per feature
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine comprises a display device that presents a symbol array comprising a plurality of symbol positions divided into a plurality of position subsets and game-logic circuitry that causes the display device to: present the symbol array in a first initial state by presenting at least one static symbol position in each position subset and randomly allocating a first set of allocated symbol positions, generate game cycle outcomes by populating the symbol positions, in response to a trigger event, expand a first position subset to include an expanded symbol position, and present the symbol array transitioning from a final state associated with a reset condition to a second initial state by removing expanded symbol positions and the allocated positions from the symbol positions in the final state and randomly allocating a second set of allocated symbol positions among the position subsets to include with the static symbol positions.