Mystery Symbol Indicator Persistence in Slot Machine Cascade Sequences

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gaming systems lack innovative features to enhance player engagement and entertainment value, particularly in reel-based slot machine games.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a persistent mystery symbol indicator in gaming machines, which temporarily conceals and reveals symbols during reel spin animations and cascade sequences, providing enhanced gameplay dynamics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional reel-based slot machine games are used, then the game structure is simple and easy to understand, but the player engagement and entertainment value are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidgame structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The game structure transitions from static to dynamic through cascade sequences where symbols fall and reform winning combinations multiple times. The mystery symbol indicators dynamically change state from concealed to revealed during the animation, creating evolving gameplay that maintains player engagement without requiring complex mechanical changes to the underlying system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cascade feature introduces periodic action through repeated spin-animations and symbol transformations. Mystery symbols periodically reveal themselves during cascade sequences, creating rhythmic engagement patterns that enhance entertainment value while building upon the familiar slot machine structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Adaptability or versatility

If mystery symbol indicators are introduced to enhance gameplay, then player engagement and entertainment value improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegameplay dynamicsVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Mystery symbol indicators serve as intermediary elements between the player and the base symbols. They conceal and reveal symbols during cascade sequences, adding a layer of anticipation and engagement without requiring fundamental changes to the reel or symbol structure. This intermediary mechanism enhances gameplay dynamics while maintaining relative system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Mystery symbols are pre-positioned in the matrix before cascade sequences begin. Their concealment and subsequent revelation during cascades create predetermined惊喜 moments that enhance engagement without requiring real-time complex decision-making or dynamic system reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If cascade sequences with symbol removal and dropping are implemented, then entertainment value increases, but the game processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegameplay varietyVSAvoidspin animation duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cascade sequence rapidly processes symbol removal, dropping, and repositioning in a streamlined animation that skips unnecessary intermediate steps. Mystery symbols are revealed during this accelerated sequence, providing entertainment value through quick, engaging transformations rather than prolonged step-by-step animations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The cascade maintains continuous useful action by immediately dropping new symbols into positions vacated by removed symbols, allowing multiple winning combinations to form in rapid succession. This continuous flow of symbol transformation maximizes entertainment value within compressed timeframes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12288440B2Gaming machine and method with cascade feature
Publication Date: 2025.04.29 EVERI GAMES INC
  • US12288440B2 patent drawing
  • US12288440B2 patent drawing
  • US12288440B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a slot machine game with a mystery symbol indicator. Responsive to a play input, a base result representation is shown a matrix of symbol locations. Responsive to a winning pattern formed in the base result representation, cascade sequences occur in which symbols participating in any winning combination are removed from matrix, further symbols drop into the symbol locations of the removed symbols, and a cascade result is evaluated. Mystery symbol indicators are provided in the base result representation, which are configured to temporarily conceal and then reveal a symbol during a reel spin animation of the base result representation, once appearing in the base result representation, persist in the matrix of symbol locations during the one or more cascade sequences, and temporarily conceal and then reveal a new symbol during at least one of the one or more cascade sequences.