Gaming Machine Region-Specific Award Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming venues face challenges in attracting customers with new game variations while adhering to regulatory restrictions, as conventional award systems for gaming devices are limited and lack innovative ways to offer diverse prizes for winning combinations.
Innovation Solution
A gaming machine and method that associates each symbol position with multiple regions, allowing for region-specific awards based on winning combinations, with awards that can change dynamically or be influenced by random processes, enabling varied and dynamic prize structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional payline award systems are used, then the gaming machine complies with regulations and operates simply, but the game variety and player engagement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple regions (first region, second region, etc.), each associated with different award structures. Symbol positions are segmented and assigned to specific regions, allowing independent award determination for each region while maintaining overall system compliance. This segmentation enables diverse game variations within a single machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The award system dynamically determines prizes based on the specific region where winning symbol combinations appear. Different regions can have different award criteria, payout structures, and symbol requirements. This dynamic approach allows the same symbol combination to yield different awards depending on its location, greatly increasing game variety without requiring multiple separate machines.
2Adaptability or versatility
If region-specific awards are implemented, then player engagement and prize diversity increase, but the complexity of determining awards increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each region is assigned specific quality characteristics (award multipliers, symbol requirements, payout structures) that differ from other regions. The system evaluates winning combinations based on their local region's specific rules rather than applying a uniform award structure throughout. This local quality approach enables prize diversity while maintaining clear, region-specific determination logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The award determination adds a spatial dimension by considering which region a winning combination appears in. Instead of merely evaluating symbol matches, the system now evaluates symbol matches combined with their regional location. This dimensional addition enables diverse prize structures by layering regional characteristics onto the base symbol evaluation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If symbol positions are associated with different regions dynamically, then game replayability increases, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring winning conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
Symbol positions are pre-associated with specific regions before the game evaluates winning combinations. This preliminary assignment of regions to symbol positions establishes clear, predetermined rules for award determination. Players can understand in advance which region each position belongs to, making winning conditions detectable and measurable despite the dynamic regional structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine for providing a game in which a plurality of symbols are selected and displayed in an array of symbol positions on a display, each symbol position associated with one or more of a plurality of regions and each region of the plurality of regions associated with a region specific award. The gaming machine comprises a user interface in communication with a game controller. If a winning combination of symbols occurs such that at least one of the symbols of the winning combination of symbols is displayed in a symbol position associated with a first region of said plurality of regions, the region specific award associated with the first region is awarded. If the same winning combination of symbols occurs such that at least one of the symbols of the winning combination of symbols is displayed in a symbol position associated with a second region of said plurality of regions, the region specific award associated with the second region is awarded.