Networked Bonus Feature for Mystery Jackpot Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mystery jackpot systems in linked electronic gaming devices often lead to decreased player engagement as players suspend play after winning, causing the jackpot pool to build up and increasing odds, resulting in reduced play and unclear win notifications for players.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a bonus feature that dynamically manages and displays jackpot accumulation and award distribution across linked gaming devices, using a networked system to connect devices and manage player interactions, ensuring transparent and engaging gameplay experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mystery jackpot system is implemented with random number selection and pool accumulation, then player incentive to play is increased, but player awareness of winning is reduced and play decreases after winning
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback through displays showing the current jackpot amount, number of plays required to win, and player position in the queue. This feedback mechanism keeps players informed about their progress and winning status without revealing the hidden random number, maintaining engagement while preventing information loss about their standing.
Solution Approach 2:
The jackpot system is segmented into multiple visible components: current jackpot amount, plays remaining, player position, and award tier information. This segmentation allows players to understand their status and progress without knowing the complete hidden algorithm, maintaining incentive while providing necessary information.
2Quantity of substance
If the mystery jackpot pool accumulates after a win, then the jackpot amount increases and odds improve, but player play suspends to build the pool
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic bonus opportunities through structured award tiers and time-based or play-count-based reset cycles. Players know that after a win, the system will periodically offer additional bonus chances or reset to new award levels, maintaining continuous engagement while allowing pool accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares and displays information about upcoming bonus opportunities and award tiers before players need to engage. Players are informed in advance about the structure of future bonuses and what actions will trigger them, maintaining continuous play interest while the pool accumulates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pools of varying sizes accumulate simultaneously, then bonus opportunities are increased, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each jackpot pool is assigned distinct local characteristics including different visual displays, color schemes, award tiers, and progression rules. This allows multiple pools to operate simultaneously with unique identities and bonus structures, increasing versatility while managing complexity through localized differentiation rather than uniform complexity throughout the system.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a bonus game that is common to a bank of electronic gaming devices. One or more pools accrue with each wager placed. A player qualifies to play the bonus game when at least one tracked player or game criterion, such as wagers made, exceeds a threshold, triggers a mystery jackpot counter, or is selected by a weighted pay table. The bonus game includes a video display of a wheel bouncing against a brick wall with bricks being exploded by coins. After an opening is formed in the wall and the wheel escapes, a wheel spin determines the bonus game outcome. More than one player may play the bonus game in sequence until the last player spins the wheel.