Gaming System Dynamic Prize Eligibility for Player Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Players tend to avoid gaming machines linked to a jackpot controller that recently awarded a jackpot, as they perceive it will take a long time for the progressive pool amount to reach jackpot levels again, leading to decreased player engagement.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that allows players to select a prize from a plurality of prizes, with eligibility determined by a prize pool value and winning conditions, including random selection or specific game outcomes, enabling awards even if the progressive pool value does not immediately reach jackpot levels, and optionally selecting alternative prizes if the initial choice is not eligible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the jackpot controller waits for the progressive pool amount to reach a randomly selected jackpot value before awarding a prize, then the prize award threshold is met, but player engagement decreases when the pool has recently paid out
Solution Approach 1:
The prize selection mechanism is segmented into multiple independent prizes with different value thresholds. Instead of a single progressive jackpot, the system divides the prize structure into several tiers (e.g., first prize, second prize, third prize), each with its own eligibility criteria based on the progressive pool amount. This allows players to win smaller prizes when the pool is low while still contributing to larger prize opportunities when the pool grows.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the parameters of prize eligibility based on the progressive pool amount. When the pool is below certain thresholds, only lower-value prizes become eligible for award. As the pool accumulates, additional higher-value prizes become eligible. This parameter-based eligibility system ensures that prizes can be awarded at various pool levels rather than requiring a single high threshold.
2Reliability
If the progressive pool amount is reset to base level after a jackpot award, then the jackpot controller can repeat the process, but it takes a long time for the pool to reach jackpot levels again
Solution Approach 1:
The prize structure is segmented into multiple tiers that can be awarded at different pool accumulation stages. After a jackpot award resets the pool to base level, players can still win smaller segmented prizes that become eligible at lower pool thresholds. This segmentation creates multiple winning opportunities throughout the pool accumulation cycle rather than a single distant jackpot target.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic prize opportunities through the segmented structure. As the progressive pool accumulates after a reset, different prize tiers become eligible at different intervals or threshold levels. This creates periodic winning opportunities for players throughout the accumulation cycle, rather than requiring them to wait for the full jackpot threshold to be reached.
3Quantity of substance
If players avoid gaming machines that recently awarded jackpots, then the jackpot controller loses potential contributors to the progressive pool, but the machines cannot force player participation
Solution Approach 1:
The prize eligibility structure varies locally based on the progressive pool amount. Different prizes have different eligibility thresholds, creating a local quality landscape where certain prizes are available while others are not. This local variation in prize availability provides players with meaningful choices at different pool levels, making the machines attractive even after jackpot payouts when lower-threshold prizes are eligible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which prizes are eligible for award based on the current progressive pool amount. This dynamic eligibility structure changes in real-time as the pool accumulates or resets, providing players with dynamically updated winning opportunities. The dynamic nature ensures that machines remain playable and attractive at all pool levels, not just when jackpots are imminent.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system is disclosed that comprises a prize selector arranged to facilitate player selection of at least one prize of a plurality of prizes, each prize having an associated prize value. The gaming system also includes a prize eligibility determiner arranged to determine whether a prize is eligible to be awarded to the player based on a relationship between a prize pool value and the prize value associated with the prize, the prize pool value being associated with game play, and a winning condition determiner arranged to determine whether a winning condition exists. The gaming system is arranged to award the selected prize to the player if the prize has been determined to be eligible and a winning condition has been determined.