Intelligent Gaming Button with Variable Illumination for Player-Controlled Bonus Redemption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines lack player control over bonus games, which can disrupt the rhythm of play and may require new skills, leading to discouragement during extended losing streaks.
Innovation Solution
A player time-selectable bonus award scheme that allows players to accrue and redeem winning outcomes at their discretion, using a counter display and intelligent game button with variable illumination patterns, ensuring a 'can't lose' bonus award experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bonus games are triggered by events during base game play, then player enjoyment is increased, but player control over when bonus games are played is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system accrues winning outcomes during base game play in advance, storing them for later redemption. This allows the player to accumulate bonus awards beforehand and redeem them at a chosen time, combining the excitement of triggering bonuses with the control of when to play them.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonus award system transitions from a static triggered-state to a dynamic accrual-and-redemption system. Players can accumulate multiple winning outcomes and choose when to redeem them, creating flexibility and control over game rhythm while maintaining engagement through the accrual process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex bonus games are introduced to increase player enjoyment, then game variety is improved, but game play rhythm is disrupted and learning curve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the core rewarding element (winning outcomes) from complex bonus game mechanics and presents it in a simple, familiar base game format. Players accrue wins through standard play and redeem them without learning new game skills, maintaining rhythm while providing variety through the accrual-redemption mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the same base game mechanics to serve dual purposes: regular gameplay and bonus accrual. Players use familiar game skills for both base game play and bonus redemption, eliminating the need to learn new skills while maintaining engagement through the accrual system.
3Loss of information
If winning outcomes are revealed immediately during base game play, then transparency is improved, but player engagement and session extension are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines winning outcomes in advance during base game play but delays their revelation until redemption. This maintains transparency about what has been won while extending engagement by allowing players to choose when to reveal and play through the bonus awards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically controls the revelation timing of winning outcomes based on player choice. Outcomes are accrued and stored, then revealed when the player initiates bonus play, creating flexibility in information disclosure that extends session length while maintaining fairness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances player engagement by allowing control over when to reveal winning outcomes, extending play sessions and providing a positive experience, while maintaining a profitable hold percentage for the gaming operator.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to detect a position of the button plunger
Implementation Method 2
a first plurality of light emitters fixedly coupled to the first printed circuit board
Data Source
AI summary
A game button includes an enclosure in which are mounted at least one variable display, a sensor, a memory, and any other components of the game button. The variable display is capable of presenting a plurality of images thereon. The memory is communicatively coupled with the variable display, is adapted to store information for producing the plurality of images presented on the display, and is physically located between the variable display and the sensor.