Gaming Machine Modifiable Reel Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines fail to maintain player interest as bonus games with the same reels and symbols become repetitive, leading to a lack of excitement and reduced chances of winning, necessitating new features to enhance gameplay experience.
Innovation Solution
A gaming machine that modifies reel features upon detecting specific symbols, generating a secondary game outcome with a modified reel strip, allowing for diverse re-drawing and increasing the number of re-drawing reels, which can change the symbol alignment and synchronization timing to maintain win situations and create new combinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the same reels and symbols are used in bonus games, then the game structure remains simple, but player interest and excitement decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The reel strip is made dynamically modifiable during gameplay. The controller can modify the reel strip to include additional symbols, change symbol positions, or alter reel features based on game outcomes and player interactions, transforming a static reel configuration into a dynamic one that adapts to game progress
Solution Approach 2:
The reel strip is divided into multiple symbol positions that can be independently modified. Specific symbols can be added, removed, or repositioned at different locations on the reel strip, allowing selective modification of different segments of the reel to create varied game outcomes
2Reliability
If additional free games use the same reels, then the game flow remains consistent, but the chance of winning does not significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reel strip parameters are changed during gameplay by modifying symbol positions, adding or removing symbols, and altering reel features. These parameter changes increase the variability of game outcomes and improve win probability in bonus games while maintaining control over the modification process
3Adaptability or versatility
If the game uses static reels throughout play, then the manufacturing and operation are simple, but player engagement and excitement are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static reels to dynamically modifiable reels where the controller can alter reel strip content during gameplay. This allows the same physical reel strip to provide varied gameplay experiences through software-controlled modifications, enhancing player engagement without requiring multiple physical reel strips
Solution Approach 2:
The reel strip serves multiple functions: it provides the base game symbols, enables bonus game features, and allows dynamic modification for different game outcomes. This multi-functionality allows a single reel strip design to support diverse gameplay modes and increase player engagement
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a display device for displaying a game and a controller connected to the display device. The game includes a plurality of reels, each reel having a reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol positions in a predetermined order. The controller is configured to determine an outcome of the primary game, responsively spin and stop the reels to display the outcome of the primary game, and provide a first award to the player based on the primary game outcome. The controller detects if a triggering graphic is being displayed with the primary game outcome and is associated with at least one reel, modifies a reel feature of a reel strip associated with the reel, and generates an outcome of a secondary game including the modified reel strip.