Multiple-Sided Symbols in Cascading Gaming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines lack excitement and entertainment, particularly in cascading symbol games where players face long periods between winning outcomes, and there is a need to increase the number of winning combinations and awards per wager.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of multiple-sided symbols that rotate or flip as they cascade, altering which side is displayed to the player, creating additional award opportunities by changing the symbols evaluated for winning combinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional single-sided symbols are used in cascading games, then the game mechanics are simple to understand, but the player anticipation and excitement are reduced due to long periods between winning outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The symbol is divided into multiple sides or faces, with each side displaying a different symbol. During the cascade, different sides are revealed at different positions, creating multiple evaluation opportunities from a single symbol object. This segmentation increases player anticipation without requiring multiple separate symbols.
Solution Approach 2:
The symbol transitions from a two-dimensional static display to a three-dimensional rotating object with multiple faces. As the symbol cascades and rotates, different faces are revealed, adding a temporal and spatial dimension to the symbol evaluation process, thereby increasing excitement and anticipation.
2Productivity
If symbols are removed and shifted in traditional cascading games, then winning combinations are evaluated, but the number of winning combinations per wager is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sides of the symbol are prepared in advance, with each side containing different symbols. During the cascade, these pre-prepared sides are sequentially revealed as the symbol moves through different positions, allowing multiple winning combination evaluations to occur during a single tumble sequence, thereby increasing productivity without extending time.
3Productivity
If multiple-sided symbols rotate during cascade, then more winning combinations are generated, but the evaluation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The symbol rotates at periodic intervals during its cascade, with each rotation bringing a different face into the evaluation position. This periodic revelation of different symbols allows the system to evaluate multiple winning combinations systematically, managing complexity through structured periodic evaluation rather than continuous complex assessment.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes a plurality of multiple sided symbols or multiple sided game elements. Each multiple sided symbol or multiple sided game element includes a separate or distinct symbol displayed on each of one or more of the sides or faces of that multiple sided symbol. As the gaming system displays such multiple sided symbols at different symbol display positions, the gaming system differs or modifies which sides of which multiple sided symbols are displayed to the player (and thus differs or modifies which separate or distinct symbols of which sides or faces of the multiple sided symbols are displayed to the player).