Gaming System Asynchronous Symbol Motion Award Zone

Solution Overview

Problem

Gaming systems face challenges in striking a balance between yield and randomness to create a feeling of luck, while also improving processing speed and efficiency to enhance player engagement through advanced graphics and features, and inefficiencies in processor execution can slow down gameplay.

Innovation Solution

A gaming system comprising an input device, electronic display, and game-logic circuitry that initiates a wagering game, displays a gamescape with moving symbols, and triggers an award sequence when a predetermined threshold of symbols are inside an award zone, allowing for efficient processing and random outcome determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple random number calls are made to determine multiple gaming outcomes, then the randomness and feeling of luck are improved, but the processing time and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandomness of outcomeVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining all gaming outcomes using multiple random number calls before the symbols start moving. This allows the random outcomes to be established in advance, and the subsequent symbol animation merely reveals these predetermined outcomes, eliminating the need for multiple random number calls during the animation phase and reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system generates and stores multiple random number outcomes in advance, then uses a single random number call during gameplay to select from these predetermined outcomes. This preliminary generation of random numbers separates the randomness generation from the display animation, maintaining game integrity while improving processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple random number calls are made to determine multiple gaming outcomes, then the randomness and feeling of luck are improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandomness of outcomeVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining all gaming outcomes using multiple random number calls before the symbols start moving. This allows the random outcomes to be established in advance, and the subsequent symbol animation merely reveals these predetermined outcomes, eliminating the need for multiple random number calls during the animation phase and reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system generates and stores multiple random number outcomes in advance, then uses a single random number call during gameplay to select from these predetermined outcomes. This preliminary generation of random numbers separates the randomness generation from the display animation, maintaining game integrity while improving processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If symbols move asynchronously and are stopped at different times, then the visual complexity and player engagement are improved, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines in advance which symbols will land in the award zone and their final positions, then controls the animation timing to create the appearance of asynchronous movement. The processing complexity is reduced by pre-calculating outcomes and using a single random number call to determine the stop sequence, rather than continuously calculating positions during animation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a single random number outcome to control multiple symbols' movement and stopping behavior. Instead of generating separate random outcomes for each symbol, the same random number is used to determine the stop sequence for all symbols, simplifying the processing while maintaining visual interest through asynchronous animation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10891826B2Gaming system having asynchronous motion of symbols determining award outcomes

Publication Date: 2021.01.12 LNW GAMING INC

AI summary

A gaming system includes an input device, an electronic display device, and game-logic circuitry. In response to the input device detecting a physical item associated with monetary value that establishes a credit balance, the game-logic circuitry initiates a wagering game responsive to an input indicative of a wager drawn on the credit balance. The wagering game includes display of a gamescape that includes an award zone and a plurality of symbols moving around the gamescape on the display device. An award sequence is triggered when a predetermined threshold of the plurality of symbols are positioned completely inside the award zone. When the award sequence is triggered, the symbols inside the award zone stop moving and a corresponding award value is determined based on the symbols inside the award zone.