Gaming Machine Reel Stop Control for Complete Stack Symbol Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gaming machines often partially display stack symbols, leading to lower win probabilities, reduced player satisfaction, and diminished visual appeal, especially when large symbols are partially shown.
Innovation Solution
A gaming machine with a controller that determines stop positions by unit symbol regions or symbol region groups, ensuring the entire stack symbol is always displayed, thereby increasing player expectations and satisfaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If stop positions are controlled with the spacing width of one symbol, then the reel can stop at any position, but only a part of a stack symbol may be stop-displayed on the symbol display screen
Solution Approach 1:
The symbol display screen is divided into multiple symbol regions, and the reel stop control is segmented into two levels: individual symbol regions and symbol region groups. By controlling stops at the symbol region group level rather than individual symbol level, the system ensures complete stack symbols are displayed while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system transitions from one-dimensional individual symbol positioning to two-dimensional group-based positioning. Symbol regions are organized into groups, and stop positions are determined at the group level, adding a dimensional layer to the control system that ensures complete symbol display while maintaining flexibility.
2Reliability
If the entire stack symbol is stop-displayed on the symbol display screen, then the player's expectations and satisfaction increase, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The symbol region group structure serves multiple functions: it defines display boundaries, determines stop positions, and ensures complete symbol display. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate control mechanisms, thereby managing complexity while achieving reliable complete symbol display.
Solution Approach 2:
Symbol regions are pre-organized into groups before the reel spinning process. This preliminary organization establishes the framework for determining stop positions, ensuring that when the reel stops, complete symbol groups are displayed without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the stopping process.
3Device complexity
If stop positions are determined in units of symbol regions, then the control is simple, but the win rate and payout volatility are lower
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple symbol regions are merged into symbol region groups, and the stop control for these groups is combined into a unified determination process. This merging allows the system to maintain simple control mechanics while achieving higher win rates and payout volatility through the group-based stopping mechanism that ensures complete symbol display.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine according to an aspect of the present invention includes a display device displaying a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of symbol regions populated with symbols, at least one of the plurality of reels having a symbol region group including the symbol regions in a row, and a controller connected to the display device to control display of the display device. The controller determines a stop position by one unit stop position for the symbol region group in at least one reel, when spinning and stopping each of the plurality of reels displayed on the display device.