Gaming Machine Predictive Effect Display for Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gaming machines do not provide an early indication of a winning payout, leading to a lack of engagement and excitement for players as they only display the sign of winning after each reel is stopped individually.
Innovation Solution
A gaming machine that includes a display device for showing symbols, a starting device for initiating variable displays, and a processor to conduct an internal lottery for determining symbol combinations, allowing predictive effect images to be displayed before the reels stop, indicating the payout level expected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a liquid crystal display device is used to display characters and effects, then the annunciation and notification functions are improved, but the sign of winning cannot be displayed until after each reel is stopped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by displaying the predictive effect image before the reel stopping process is completed. The processor determines the lottery result during reel rotation and prepares the appropriate predictive effect image, then displays it on the liquid crystal display device while the reels are still spinning. This allows the winning information to be shown in advance rather than waiting for all reels to stop, thereby resolving the timing issue without requiring complex additional hardware
2Ease of operation
If predictive effect images are displayed during reel rotation, then player engagement is improved, but the display device must handle multiple simultaneous display modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the liquid crystal display device to perform multiple functions: it displays the reel symbols, shows predictive effect images indicating potential winning combinations, and provides annunciation for actual wins. The processor manages different display modes (reel display mode, predictive effect mode, annunciation mode) by selecting appropriate images from stored templates based on the current game state. This allows a single display device to handle multiple functions without requiring separate dedicated displays for each purpose
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine is provided so as to comprise: a display device for displaying symbols variably and statically; a starting device for an operation to start a variable display of the symbols; a storage device for storing a plurality of predictive effect images corresponding to respective payout levels; and a processor being operable to: conduct an internal lottery to determine a combination of symbols to be displayed statically; select one of the predictive effect images corresponding to a predetermined winning combination when it is determined that the determined combination to be displayed statically matches the predetermined winning combination; and cause the selected one predictive effect image to be displayed as well as the variable display of symbols, wherein the plurality of predictive effect images indicate a degree of the payout levels such that a payout level to be awarded can be expected before an operation to stop the variable display.