Gaming Machine Dynamic Game Split and Merge Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gaming machines do not allow players to dynamically change the number of games being played during a session or merge secondary games into a single primary game, limiting player control and flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A gaming machine system that includes a processor and display device, capable of detecting trigger conditions to allocate credits and enable play of secondary games within their own frames, allowing players to split or merge games without additional wagers, with credits and wagers aggregated from a single purse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a player pre-selects a desired number of games before a gaming session begins, then the gaming machine can provide multiple concurrent games, but the player cannot change the number of games during the gaming session

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to change number of games during sessionVSAvoidgame session management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically allows players to change the number of concurrent games during a gaming session by splitting or merging game frames. Players can transition between playing one game and multiple games on the fly without exiting the session, making the game configuration adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The display is divided into multiple independent frames, each capable of displaying a separate game. This segmentation allows the system to independently manage multiple games simultaneously while maintaining the ability to merge them back into a single game, providing flexibility in game configuration during play.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a gaming machine enables a player to start a gaming session with multiple games, then the player can play multiple concurrent games, but the player cannot merge the games into a single primary game on the fly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to merge games during sessionVSAvoidgame configuration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic control over game configuration, allowing players to merge multiple concurrent games into a single primary game during the session. This enables players to adjust the number of active games based on their preferences without requiring a new gaming session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges multiple game frames into a single primary game frame when players choose to consolidate. The merge function combines the games while maintaining credit and wager tracking, allowing players to reduce the number of concurrent games without losing progress or bets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a gaming machine offers a secondary bonus game that is played within the rules of a primary game, then the bonus game can be instantiated, but the primary game is held until the bonus game ends

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent game operationVSAvoidsequential play time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the bonus game into a separate, independently operable frame. Players can access and play the bonus game separately from the primary game without the primary game being held, allowing simultaneous or independent play of both games and eliminating sequential waiting time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If a gaming machine requires players to exit the original multigame session to select a new desired number of games, then the player can change game configuration, but the player must select a new denomination and start play again

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame configuration change easeVSAvoidsession interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows dynamic reconfiguration of the number of concurrent games during an active gaming session without requiring exit or restart. Players can split or merge frames to change the number of games while maintaining their session, credits, and wager settings, eliminating the need to start over.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9361749B2Gaming machine with screen split and merge feature

Publication Date: 2016.06.07 VIDEO GAMING TECH INC

AI summary

A gaming machine includes a display device and a processor. The processor is programmed to cause the display device to display a first game in a first frame, detect a trigger condition during play of the first game in the first frame, based on the detected trigger condition, display a second game in a second frame on the display device, allocate a number of available credits from the first game to the second game, and enable play of the second game with the allocated number of credits.