Mechanical Reel Positioning for Expanded Active Symbol Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic gaming machines (EGMs) with mechanical reels lack the ability to dynamically display an expanded number of active symbols during bonus or feature games, limiting the variety and excitement of gameplay.
Innovation Solution
The EGMs are equipped with a processor that controls mechanical reels to spin and stop at vertically offset positions, allowing one reel to display a greater number of active symbols than others, thereby expanding the potential winning combinations during feature games.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical reels are controlled to spin and stop at vertically offset positions during feature games, then the number of active symbols and winning combinations is expanded, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the reel stop positions variable and adaptable rather than fixed. The processor dynamically controls each mechanical reel to stop at different vertical positions (e.g., first stop position, second stop position, third stop position) based on the game state, enabling the display of different numbers of active symbols (three, four, or five symbols) during base games and feature games respectively. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to expand the number of active symbols from the conventional fixed configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the mechanical reels by controlling them to stop at multiple predetermined vertical positions. The processor modifies the stop position parameter based on the game mode (base game or feature game), thereby changing the number of visible active symbols on each reel. This parameter change enables the transition from a fixed three-symbol display to variable displays of three, four, or five symbols, expanding the gameplay possibilities without requiring physical modification of the reels themselves.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of pay lines is increased by expanding active symbols, then the variety of winning combinations is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring outcomes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the processor continuously monitor the stop positions of all mechanical reels and automatically determine the outcome based on the displayed symbols. The system provides feedback to the player by displaying the results on the display device and updating the credit balance. This feedback mechanism simplifies outcome detection by automating the comparison of symbols across reels and pay lines, making the complex evaluation of multiple winning combinations transparent and manageable for both the system and the player.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic gaming machine may include a plurality of mechanical reels, each of which may include a plurality of symbols, and a processor configured execute instructions stored on a memory. When the processor executes the instructions, the processor may control a first mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels to spin and stop on a first stop position relative to a centerline, such that the first mechanical reel displays a first plurality of active symbols. The processor may execute the instructions to control a second mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels to spin and stop on a second stop position relative to the centerline. The second stop position may be vertically offset from the first stop position, such that the second mechanical reel displays a second plurality of active symbols greater than the first plurality of active symbols displayed by the first mechanical reel.