Persistent Prize Accumulator in Wager Games to Reduce Gameplay Monotony

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gaming machines suffer from monotonous gameplay, leading to boredom for players and surrounding spectators, and lack features that engage multiple types of participants in a gaming environment.

Innovation Solution

A gaming machine with a persistent feature that accumulates occurrences of a triggering symbol across instances of the base game, providing a feature award and potentially free spins, and includes a prize position counter and accumulator that reset upon reaching a maximum value, enhancing gameplay dynamics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional slot machine displays are used with basic game templates, then the device complexity is low, but the player engagement and entertainment value deteriorate due to monotony

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidgameplay dynamics

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic gameplay elements through prize accumulators that progressively increase and counters that track occurrences, transforming the static slot machine interface into a dynamic system that evolves during play. The bonus feature activation based on triggering symbols creates dynamic state changes that enhance player engagement without requiring complex hardware modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a temporal dimension to the gameplay by introducing persistent features that carry over across multiple base game instances. The prize accumulators and counters create a fourth dimension of gameplay beyond the traditional 2D reel display, allowing players to engage with progressive elements that unfold over time and multiple spins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If persistent features with prize accumulators are implemented, then player engagement is enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to additional software and data structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegameplay dynamicsVSAvoidsoftware structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the gaming system into distinct functional components: base game logic, persistent feature management, prize accumulator tracking, and bonus feature activation. This modular software architecture allows each component to be independently developed and maintained, reducing overall system complexity despite the enhanced gameplay dynamics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-structures the software with predetermined maximum values for counters and accumulators, and pre-defined bonus feature triggers. This preliminary configuration reduces runtime complexity by eliminating the need for dynamic decision-making algorithms, as the system follows pre-established rules for feature activation and prize distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12562028B2Wager-based game having persistent gaming feature with prize accumulator and prize counter associated with triggering symbols provided by a gaming machine

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 AGS LLC

AI summary

A wager-based game includes a base game and a persistent feature game. A player may be provided an award based on the outcome of the base game. A counter may be incremented in response to an occurrence of a triggering symbol in the outcome of the base game and associated prize is added to an accumulator. The prize is awarded to the player if the counter is equal to a maximum value.