Expandable Symbol Accumulation in Gaming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The gaming industry faces challenges in creating games that offer a negative return on investment in the long run while remaining random and volatile enough to make players feel they can win in the short run. Additionally, there is a need to improve processing speed and efficiency in gaming systems to enhance gameplay and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system and method that utilize a presentation assembly and game-logic circuitry to present a base set of symbol positions populated with randomly selected symbols. The system expands the symbol set upon detecting a feature trigger event, locks value-bearing symbols, and initiates an outcome counter to manage game duration and award sequences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the gaming system uses a fixed set of symbol positions, then the game structure is simple and processing is efficient, but player engagement and excitement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed symbol position structure to a dynamically expandable one. The symbol array automatically expands vertically when value-bearing symbols are locked, creating new symbol positions below the locked symbols. This dynamic adaptation maintains simplicity in the base structure while providing complexity only when needed for gameplay features, thereby improving player engagement without permanently increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the symbol positions into a base set of symbol positions and an expandable set of additional symbol positions. The base set remains fixed and simple for efficient processing, while the additional positions are created only when necessary through the locking mechanism. This segmentation allows the system to maintain operational simplicity while providing enhanced gameplay when required.
2Ease of operation
If the gaming system expands the symbol set dynamically, then player engagement and win opportunities are improved, but processing speed and efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the base set of symbol positions and their associated values before gameplay begins. The system prepares the foundational structure in advance, so that when expansion is needed during play, only the additional positions need to be created rather than reconstructing the entire symbol array. This preliminary preparation maintains processing efficiency while enabling dynamic expansion for improved player engagement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the gaming system implements expanded symbol positions and locking mechanisms, then the game features and entertainment value are improved, but the complexity of game logic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing an automatic locking mechanism that operates without complex manual control. When value-bearing symbols are generated, the system automatically identifies and locks them, then automatically expands the symbol array and updates game state. This self-managing approach handles the complexity of expanded features through automated routines rather than complex decision logic, thereby improving game versatility while keeping the control logic relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system comprises a presentation assembly presenting a base set of symbol positions and game-logic circuitry that causes the presentation assembly to present, in response to a feature trigger event, an expanded set of symbol positions including a plurality of additional symbol positions within symbol position subsets, present feature game outcomes, lock, in response to any value-bearing symbols detected within the feature game outcomes, the value-bearing symbols within the expanded set of symbol positions. The game-logic circuitry initiates, in response to detecting a first subset reaching an award threshold of locked value-bearing symbols, an outcome counter, resets, in response to detecting a second subset reaching an award threshold, the outcome counter to a reset value, and causes, in response to the outcome counter reaching a termination value, the presentation assembly to conclude the feature game outcomes and present an award sequence for any awarding subsets.