Gaming Machine Feature Wheel with Variable Prize Slices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic gaming systems fail to maintain or increase player enjoyment, as progressive jackpot wheels do not provide dynamic and engaging visual representations of prize values, leading to a need for innovative gaming systems that enhance player interaction and excitement.
Innovation Solution
A gaming machine with a feature wheel displaying slices of varying sizes, where each slice represents a prize with a corresponding value, allowing players to visually identify and interact with different prize options, and where the size of the slice is proportional to its value, enhancing the gaming experience through dynamic visual feedback and potential prize upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a progressive jackpot wheel is displayed with uniform slices, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the player cannot visually distinguish and identify different prize values, reducing engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making each slice of the feature wheel have different visual characteristics corresponding to different prize values. Specifically, slices with higher prize values have larger areas or different colors compared to slices with lower prize values. This allows players to visually distinguish and identify different prize levels at a glance, directly improving ease of operation without requiring complex text labels or additional interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The feature wheel is segmented into multiple slices, each representing a different prize level. The wheel is divided into at least two distinct segments with different visual properties (size, color, or pattern) to represent different prize values. This segmentation enables players to quickly perceive the distribution of prize levels and identify their preferences without requiring detailed numerical displays.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the feature wheel uses fixed prize values, then the game rules are simple, but the player experience is static and less engaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the feature wheel to change its configuration during gameplay. The wheel can rotate to different positions, and the prize values associated with slices can be dynamically updated based on game progress, player selections, or random determinations. This dynamic behavior makes the game more engaging and adaptable, transforming a static display into an interactive experience that responds to player actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as the visual size, color, or position of slices on the feature wheel based on the prize values being displayed. When prize values change during the game, the visual parameters of the corresponding slices are updated to reflect the new values. This parameter change approach allows the system to adapt to different game states without requiring complex text displays or additional interfaces.
3Loss of information
If the display shows detailed prize information, then players can understand prize values, but the display becomes complex and less visually appealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes color changes to communicate prize values effectively. Different prize levels are represented by different colors or color intensities on the feature wheel slices. For example, higher prize values might be indicated by brighter colors or contrasting color patterns. This color-coding system allows players to quickly understand prize values without requiring detailed text labels, maintaining visual appeal while preventing information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from one-dimensional text labels to two-dimensional visual representations on the feature wheel. By using area, shape, or positional dimensions to encode prize information, the display becomes more visually appealing and easier to process. Players can perceive prize values through visual patterns rather than reading text, reducing display complexity while improving information communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine having a game controller and a display. The game controller causes the display to display a feature wheel including a plurality of display slices. A first display slice is associated with a first prize of a plurality of prizes and has a respective variable size being dependent on the first prize and visually identifies the first prize relative to a second prize associated with a second display slice.