Gaming System Symbol Modification for Winning Combinations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spinning-reel type games in gaming venues often result in a low probability of winning symbol combinations, leading to player dissatisfaction, despite frequent gameplay, as only a small proportion of possible symbol combinations are winning, necessitating additional features like special symbols or re-spins to maintain player engagement.
Innovation Solution
An electronic method and system that selects and displays sets of symbols, applying a modification rule repeatedly until a winning combination is achieved, including features like rotating reels or replacing symbol sets, to ensure a winning outcome, integrated into a gaming system and controller, allowing for a feature game with free games triggered by specific conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spinning-reel type games are used with a small proportion of winning symbol combinations, then the game complexity and symbol variety are maintained, but the player winning probability and engagement are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the symbol set可变 (variable) through rotation mechanisms. Reels can rotate to different positions, and symbol sets can be dynamically replaced based on game state. This allows the system to adapt the probability distribution of winning combinations in real-time, ensuring that winning combinations are more likely to appear during feature games while maintaining complexity in base games.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by switching between different symbol sets and modifying reel configurations. The system can change the composition of symbol sets, the number of reels, and the rotation rules based on whether it's a base game or feature game mode. This parameter change enables the system to optimize winning probability for feature games while maintaining appropriate complexity for base games.
2Ease of operation
If additional features like special symbols, free games or re-spins are incorporated to provide enjoyment, then player engagement is improved, but the game complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the game into distinct modes: base game mode and feature game mode. Each mode has its own specific rules and characteristics. The base game uses standard spinning-reel mechanics, while the feature game incorporates additional features like free spins and modified symbol sets. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by isolating different gameplay experiences in separate operational contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal game framework that can operate in multiple modes. The same core gaming system can provide both base game functionality and feature game functionality by switching between different operational parameters and symbol sets. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by using a single platform for multiple game types rather than requiring separate systems for each feature.
3Reliability
If the system repeatedly applies modification rules to ensure a winning combination, then the player guaranteed a win in feature games, but the time required and operational steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining the sequence of operations for feature games. When a feature game is triggered, the system has already prepared the modified symbol sets and rotation rules in advance. The modification rules are applied in a predetermined sequence to ensure a winning combination is achieved efficiently, reducing the time required compared to random trial-and-error approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a gaming system comprising a display 54, a symbol selector 623, a symbol evaluator 625 and a symbols modifier 626. The symbol selector 623 is arranged to select a plurality of sets of symbols for display on the display. The symbol evaluator 625 is arranged to determine whether the displayed symbols include any winning symbol combination. The symbol modifier 626 is arranged to, only upon a determination that the displayed symbols do not include any winning symbol combination, repeatedly apply a modification rule to at least one of the plurality of sets of symbols until the displayed symbols include any winning symbol combination.