Gaming System Symbol Stack Reveal Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines often frustrate players by not displaying entire symbol stacks during gameplay, especially when only a portion of the stack is visible, leading to a less exciting experience for those who enjoy high action and frequent hits.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that displays additional symbols from a stack when less than all are initially shown after a spin, ensuring the entire stack is visible and determining awards based on the fully displayed symbols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If only a portion of symbol stacks is displayed during gameplay, then the game complexity and symbol variety are maintained, but player excitement and engagement decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines which symbols will be displayed in the symbol stack before the spin occurs. This preliminary selection ensures that when the spin completes, the entire predetermined stack is revealed, providing player excitement while maintaining controlled game complexity through pre-planned symbol arrangements
Solution Approach 2:
The symbol stack display transitions from a static partial view to a dynamic full reveal during gameplay. The system dynamically adjusts the display to show the complete stack of symbols after spinning, creating visual excitement and engagement while managing complexity through controlled animation sequences
2Ease of operation
If entire symbol stacks are always displayed, then player excitement and engagement increase, but the game becomes less challenging and predictable
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines the complete symbol stack outcome before the spin, but only reveals portions of it progressively. This maintains game challenge and unpredictability during gameplay while ensuring the full stack is eventually revealed for award determination, balancing engagement with fairness
Solution Approach 2:
The symbol stack is segmented into multiple reveal stages rather than showing all symbols at once. The system divides the full stack display into progressive segments during the spin animation, maintaining challenge and suspense while ultimately revealing the complete outcome for award calculation
3Device complexity
If partial symbol stacks are displayed to maintain game complexity, then symbol management is simpler, but information completeness for award determination decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines the complete symbol stack and tracks all symbols throughout the spin animation. This preliminary setup ensures that even though only portions are visible during spinning, the complete symbol information is maintained in the system for accurate award determination, preventing information loss while managing display complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions symbol display from a two-dimensional partial view during spinning to a complete multi-dimensional reveal when the stack stops. By utilizing the time dimension of the spin animation, the system manages visual complexity while ensuring complete symbol information is ultimately presented for award evaluation
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments, the gaming system is configured to operate a slot game including a plurality of reels, one of which includes a plurality of designated symbols adjacent to one another on the reel forming a group of designated symbols. For a play of the game, if at least a first quantity of the designated symbols of the group of designated symbols but less than a second greater quantity of the designated symbols of the group of designated symbols is displayed, the gaming system displays one or more other designated symbols of the group of designated symbols in addition to the displayed designated symbols of the group of designated symbols such that the second greater quantity of the designated symbols is displayed. The gaming system determines and provides any awards based on the displayed symbols including any displayed designated symbols of the second greater quantity of the designated symbols.