Gaming Terminal Meter Symbol Emphasis for Bonus Anticipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gaming machines fail to enhance the player's visual anticipation during the transition from a basic game to a bonus game, lacking a visual representation of progress toward a winning outcome, which diminishes the overall entertainment value.
Innovation Solution
A gaming terminal with a display and controller that presents a symbol array and a meter, where a corresponding meter symbol is emphasized when an advantageous symbol is displayed, providing visual cues on the player's proximity to a bonus game before all reels have stopped.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If current gaming machines provide immediate result notification upon bonus game trigger, then the game operation is simple and fast, but the player's visual anticipation and entertainment value are not enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The meter is updated in real-time during the spinning process to preliminarily indicate the player's proximity to a bonus game trigger before all reels have stopped. This preliminary visual feedback enhances anticipation without requiring complex post-spin processing, as the meter continuously reflects the current state of symbol collection during the spin animation.
Solution Approach 2:
The meter serves as an intermediary visual element between the basic game symbols and the bonus game trigger notification. It translates the accumulation of advantageous symbols into a comprehensible visual progression, enhancing player anticipation without directly complicating the core game operation or requiring immediate result disclosure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If visual cues are provided during the spinning process to indicate proximity to bonus game, then player entertainment value is enhanced, but the game display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into distinct functional zones: the main reel area showing spinning symbols and the separate meter area showing progression toward bonus trigger. This segmentation allows the meter to provide enhanced visual feedback without cluttering the primary game display, maintaining clarity while improving entertainment value through dedicated visual space for anticipation building.
3Loss of time
If the meter emphasizes symbols before all reels stop, then player anticipation is built, but the timing precision and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The meter provides continuous feedback during the spinning process by updating its display based on the accumulation of advantageous symbols. This real-time feedback mechanism builds player anticipation throughout the spin duration rather than waiting for reel completion, allowing the system to manage timing complexity through automated symbol counting and meter updates rather than precise manual timing control.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game includes a display, a meter, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the display and is programmed to present on the display a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. The outcome is presented to a player in the form of an arrangement of symbols, at least one of the symbols being an advantageous symbol. The controller is further programmed to emphasize a corresponding meter symbol in the meter when the advantageous symbol has been displayed on the display.