Gaming Grid Activation via Direction Indicators

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gaming systems face challenges in providing bonus activities that are both exciting and random, with some players disliking complex bonus rounds and others seeking a more unpredictable experience, while current bonus activities often have a predetermined end and may become off-putting due to their complexity and predictability.

Innovation Solution

A gaming system that employs a display grid with activated and deactivated positions, where direction-indicating symbols randomly activate or deactivate grid positions, allowing for a dynamic and potentially infinite bonus activity that maintains player engagement without requiring complex decision-making.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional bonus rounds are implemented with multiple steps and player decisions, then player engagement is improved, but game complexity increases making some players feel overwhelmed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonus game simplicityVSAvoidbonus round structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bonus round is segmented into multiple independent grid positions (e.g., 5x5 grid with 25 positions) that can be activated or deactivated individually. Each position operates independently, allowing the game to progress through simple sequential activation without requiring complex multi-step player decisions. This segmentation transforms a potentially complex bonus round into a series of simple, manageable steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring players to make complex decisions to progress through a bonus round, the system inverts the approach by using random activation of grid positions. The progression is determined by the system rather than player complexity, simplifying the player's role to observing and reacting to random outcomes rather than navigating complex decision trees.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If bonus activities have a predetermined end, then game structure is improved, but player excitement decreases due to predictability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonus round flexibilityVSAvoidgame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bonus round structure is made dynamic through the random activation and deactivation of grid positions. Rather than following a fixed predetermined sequence, the game adapts its progression based on random outcomes. The number of remaining activated positions changes dynamically, creating an unpredictable endpoint that maintains player excitement while preserving overall game structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters (which specific grid positions are activated) randomly during the bonus round. This parameter variation ensures that each bonus round unfolds differently, preventing predictability while maintaining the structural framework of grid-based progression. The random parameter changes create versatility in outcomes without compromising the stable grid structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If grid positions are randomly activated and deactivated, then player engagement is improved through unpredictability, but game duration becomes variable and potentially indefinite

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame play simplicityVSAvoidbonus round duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes preliminary conditions by creating a finite grid with a predetermined number of positions (e.g., 25 positions in a 5x5 grid). This preliminary structure ensures that the bonus round must eventually conclude when all positions have been activated and deactivated, preventing truly indefinite duration while maintaining the simplicity and unpredictability of random activation during play.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bonus round maintains continuous useful action through the sequential activation and deactivation of grid positions. Each random activation represents a meaningful game step that progresses the bonus round forward. This continuous progression ensures the game remains engaging without unnecessary delays, balancing unpredictability with reasonable duration control through the finite grid structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS7674176B2Gaming using display elements activated by direction indicators

Publication Date: 2010.03.09 KING SHOW GAMES INC

AI summary

Gaming systems/processes employing display elements activated by direction-indicating symbols from adjacent display elements. A slot game event provides a display grid having deactivated grid positions and at least one activated grid position. A direction-indicating symbol is randomly presented in the activated grid position, indicating the direction of a deactivated grid position, and the deactivated grid position is activated in response. Distinguishing non-selected grid positions from selected grid positions may involve visually de-emphasizing the non-selected grid positions, such as by dimming or obscuring, or highlighting the selected grid positions. An activated grid position may be deactivated if a stop symbol is randomly presented in the grid position. Game play may be repeated until all activated grid positions are deactivated grid positions and/or de-emphasized grid positions. A currently deactivated and/or de-emphasized grid position may be re-activated in response to the direction-indicating symbol being presented in an adjacent grid position.