Gaming Machine Overflow Prize Display Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic gaming systems with multilevel progressive jackpots face a challenge in maintaining player engagement as the progressive jackpot grows without being won, leading to a need for innovative features that enhance the display and return of larger jackpot prizes.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of incrementable and displayable overflow jackpots, managed through a feature wheel, allows for the upgrading and displaying of progressive jackpots, providing larger prizes and enhanced player engagement by incrementing the overflow prize when the first prize reaches its threshold and awarding payouts associated with the overflow prize when the initial prizes are not won.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the progressive jackpot continues to grow until capped, then the jackpot prize increases, but player engagement decreases due to lack of visible progression and smaller prize returns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the progressive jackpot into multiple display areas (first display area for first prize, second display area for overflow prize, third display area for feature wheel). This segmentation allows the system to display different aspects of the jackpot progression simultaneously, making the growth visible to players and maintaining engagement while the jackpot accumulates to large amounts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third dimension by adding the feature wheel with rotating indicators to the display. This adds a dynamic, interactive element that shows the progression path to different prize levels. The wheel rotates to indicate which prize level is currently active, providing visual feedback about jackpot progression without requiring the jackpot to be won immediately.
2Device complexity
If the overflow prize is not displayed, then the display remains simple, but players cannot see the increasing prize amounts and larger jackpot returns
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into three distinct areas: first display area showing the first prize, second display area showing the overflow prize, and third display area showing the feature wheel. This segmentation allows the system to present multiple layers of prize information simultaneously, making the overflow and progression visible without creating a single overwhelming display.
Solution Approach 2:
The feature wheel acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the jackpot accumulation and the player. It provides a visual representation of the progression path and currently active prize level, translating the abstract concept of growing jackpot into a concrete visual indicator that players can understand and track.
3Device complexity
If the feature wheel is not used, then the gaming mechanism remains simple, but the dynamic and interactive display of increasing prizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The feature wheel introduces dynamic movement to the display, rotating to indicate different prize levels or progression states. This dynamic element makes the display adaptable to showing different aspects of jackpot progression based on the current game state, providing visual feedback about prize accumulation and potential rewards without requiring complex game mechanics.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine including a display. The display displays a first prize and a second prize. The first prize has a first prize threshold and the second prize has a second prize threshold. The display also displays an overflow prize, while the game controller contributes to the first prize at least a portion of the credit balance with respect to a wagering activity, and causes the display to display an increment of the overflow prize in response to the first prize having reached the first threshold. A payout mechanism configured to, in response to determining the first prize and the second prize are not to be awarded, cause a payout associated with the incremented overflow prize.