Gaming System Persistent Element Redistribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gaming systems face challenges in managing persistent elements, as they are vulnerable to abuse by players who seek to exploit unclaimed rewards, leading to unfair advantages and revenue loss for gaming establishments.

Innovation Solution

The gaming system determines the status of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and redistributes or modifies persistent elements when an EGM becomes inactive, transferring accumulated elements to other EGMs or escrowing them to prevent exploitation, thereby maintaining game fairness and player engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If persistent elements are allowed to accumulate indefinitely on inactive EGMs, then player rewards are preserved, but the system becomes vulnerable to exploitation and revenue loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame fairnessVSAvoidrevenue loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting inactive EGMs and modifying their persistent elements before players can exploit them. The controller actively monitors EGM status and intervenes when inactivity is detected, preventing the harmful situation from developing rather than reacting after exploitation occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potentially harmful situation of accumulated unclaimed rewards into a benefit by redistributing these persistent elements to active EGMs. This ensures game fairness is maintained while preventing revenue loss, as the rewards are not lost but rather reallocated to players who are actively engaging with the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If persistent elements are redistributed from inactive EGMs, then exploitation is prevented, but player trust and engagement may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame fairnessVSAvoidplayer engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different treatments to different EGMs based on their operational status. Active EGMs retain their persistent elements and continue normal operation, while only inactive EGMs undergo modification. This localized approach ensures fairness without disrupting the experience of engaged players.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous monitoring of EGM status and provides feedback loops where inactive EGMs are identified, modified, and their persistent elements redistributed. This feedback mechanism maintains fairness while allowing the system to adapt to changing player behavior patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system monitors and modifies persistent elements frequently, then exploitation is deterred, but system complexity and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame fairnessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic monitoring and modification actions rather than continuous intervention. By checking EGM status at intervals and only acting when inactivity thresholds are met, the system maintains fairness while reducing unnecessary computational overhead and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10467855B2Gaming system and method for modifying persistent elements

Publication Date: 2019.11.05 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for modifying one or more accumulated persistent elements.