Gaming System Persistent Element Retention Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gaming systems lack mechanisms to introduce randomness and volatility in the persistence of game elements, leading to reduced player engagement and award opportunities, as all elements are typically removed after a designated number of plays.

Innovation Solution

The gaming system selectively retains zero, one, or more persistent elements upon a persistent element elimination event, allowing some elements to persist for additional plays, introducing randomness and increasing award opportunities through retained lucrative elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If all persistent elements are removed after a designated number of plays, then the system maintains simplicity in element management, but player engagement and award opportunities are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelement management simplicityVSAvoidaward opportunities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines which persistent elements to retain based on game outcomes and volatility parameters. The retention is not static but adapts to game conditions, allowing the system to maintain simplicity in rules while creating dynamic award opportunities through random or outcome-based selection of elements to persist

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the persistence parameter of game elements from a fixed removal schedule to a variable retention mechanism. By adjusting which elements persist based on game outcomes and predefined volatility levels, the system increases award opportunities without complicating the core management logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If persistent elements are retained for additional plays, then volatility and player engagement are increased, but the system complexity in tracking element persistence increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidelement tracking complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments persistent elements into different categories or groups, allowing selective retention of specific elements while eliminating others. This segmentation simplifies tracking by organizing elements into manageable subsets with different persistence rules, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining engagement through varied retention patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of tracking all elements uniformly, the system applies partial action by selectively retaining only certain elements based on game outcomes. This partial retention approach reduces tracking complexity compared to universal retention while still providing sufficient volatility and engagement through the strategic persistence of key elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If selective retention of persistent elements is implemented, then award opportunities are increased, but the randomness and unpredictability of element persistence may reduce game fairness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaward opportunitiesVSAvoidgame fairness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from game outcomes to determine which persistent elements to retain. Game results inform the retention decision, creating a feedback loop that maintains fairness by ensuring element persistence is tied to actual game performance rather than pure randomness, thus preserving award opportunities while maintaining game integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes predefined rules and parameters for element retention before game play begins. By setting volatility levels and retention criteria in advance, the system ensures fair and predictable randomness, allowing award opportunities to increase while maintaining game fairness through pre-established transparent rules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10733846B2Gaming system and method for retaining persistent elements
Publication Date: 2020.08.04 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC
  • US10733846B2 patent drawing
  • US10733846B2 patent drawing
  • US10733846B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Gaming systems and methods which retain one or more persistent elements upon an occurrence of a persistent element elimination event.