Electronic Gaming Device Bonus Game Extended Reel Functionality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic gaming devices lack features that enhance player engagement and entertainment by providing additional opportunities for winning combinations and bonus games without requiring additional wagers, limiting player interaction and excitement.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a secondary base game or 'second chance' mode that reveals additional non-active reel areas after the initial spin, allowing these areas to become active and generate payouts or bonus game initiating events, without requiring an additional wager, and allowing for extended reels in bonus games to increase winning possibilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional reel areas are revealed and made active in bonus games, then player entertainment and winning opportunities are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reel structure is divided into multiple segments: base reels that are active during the base game and bonus reels that are initially non-active. During the bonus game, specific bonus reels are revealed and activated, creating a segmented activation pattern that enhances player entertainment while managing device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The gaming device transitions from a two-dimensional base game view to a three-dimensional extended view by revealing bonus reels that extend beyond the original reel area. This dimensional expansion provides additional winning opportunities and enhances player entertainment without requiring a completely new device structure
2Productivity
If extended reels are utilized in bonus games, then winning possibilities increase, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The same physical reel structure serves multiple functions: it acts as base reels during the base game and transforms into extended reels during the bonus game. This multi-functionality increases winning possibilities while avoiding the need for separate manufacturing of different reel components
Solution Approach 2:
The reel configuration is made dynamic rather than static. The system transitions from showing only base reels to revealing and activating bonus reels during the bonus game. This dynamic reconfiguration increases winning possibilities without requiring permanent physical extensions that would complicate manufacturing
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-active reel areas are revealed after base game completion, then player engagement increases, but game structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bonus reels are pre-configured and positioned in non-active states before the bonus game begins. This preliminary preparation allows for smooth transition and activation during the bonus game, enhancing player engagement while maintaining a manageable game structure through advance setup
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediate state where bonus reels exist in a non-active, hidden configuration during the base game, then transition to an active state during the bonus game. This intermediary configuration enhances player engagement by creating anticipation and revelation, while keeping the overall game structure organized and manageable
Data Source
AI summary
Examples disclosed herein relate to a gaming device including a memory, a processor, a plurality of reels, and a display. The processor may initiate base game play comprising the display, via a reel spin, of symbols relative to one or more of a first set of symbol locations. If a near bonus event triggering condition is met, additional symbols are displayed in a second set of symbol locations comprising the first set of symbol locations and one or more expanded symbol locations. If a bonus event triggering outcome is then received relative to the symbols displayed in the second set of symbol locations, a bonus event is initiated comprising free spins of reels to display symbols in the expanded second set of symbol positions.