Gaming Machine Symbol Copying for Secondary Bonus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern gaming machines face challenges in providing an engaging and attractive experience for players while improving functionality, as existing technologies often result in repetitive gameplay mechanics and lack innovative features to enhance player interaction and reward systems.
Innovation Solution
A gaming machine with a control unit that initiates a primary game and detects trigger conditions to offer free games, where symbols from a first grid are randomly selected and copied to a second grid, enabling a secondary bonus game with complementary awards, enhancing gameplay dynamics and player engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a primary game with free games is implemented, then player engagement and reward opportunities increase, but the device complexity increases due to multiple display areas and game modes
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit is divided into a first display area and a second display area, each serving distinct functions. The first display area shows the primary game and free games, while the second display area displays copied symbols and bonus game outcomes. This segmentation allows complex gameplay mechanics to be presented in an organized, manageable way that enhances player engagement without overwhelming the interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the display by copying symbols from the first display area to the second display area and retaining them across multiple free games. This creates a layered information structure where past game outcomes are preserved and can trigger complementary awards, adding depth to the gameplay experience without requiring additional physical hardware.
2Productivity
If symbols are copied and retained across free games, then complementary award opportunities increase, but the loss of time for processing and tracking symbol states increases
Solution Approach 1:
Symbols are copied from the first display area to the second display area in advance, during the free games phase. This preliminary action prepares the system to quickly determine complementary award eligibility without requiring complex real-time analysis during bonus triggers. The symbol states are pre-established and retained, enabling rapid processing when bonus conditions are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of symbol occurrences from the first display area and stores them in the second display area. This copying mechanism allows the system to track symbol states across multiple free games without requiring continuous re-evaluation of the original game outcomes. The copied symbols serve as a persistent record that simplifies subsequent bonus determination and reduces processing time for award calculations.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display first and second display areas. A number of free bonus may be awarded during a primary game. During the free spins, any occurrences of a predetermined symbol is copied to the second display area. After the free spins, a secondary bonus may be provided using the second display area and the copied symbols.