Player-Controlled Volatility in Bonus Rounds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic games lack mechanisms that allow players to influence the volatility of bonus rounds, leading to a lack of engagement and excitement, as players desire control over prize frequency and magnitude.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enable players to affect the volatility of a bonus round by placing bonus symbols obtained during the primary game on available symbol positions, allowing them to balance higher frequency of payouts against higher magnitude through strategic placement, thereby influencing the game's outcome.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If players are provided with fixed bonus round parameters without influence, then the game implementation is simple, but player engagement and excitement are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bonus round transitions from a static, fixed-parameter system to a dynamic system where players can actively adjust volatility settings. The game mechanism allows real-time modification of bonus round characteristics based on player choices, transforming the experience from passive to interactive and thereby increasing engagement without requiring overly complex underlying systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements parameter changes by allowing players to modify key bonus round parameters such as volatility, prize frequency, and payout magnitude. This enables the same bonus round framework to adapt to different player preferences and risk tolerances, enhancing engagement while maintaining a relatively simple core mechanism that adjusts parameters rather than requiring complex reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If players can strategically place bonus symbols to control volatility, then player control and excitement are enhanced, but the complexity of the bonus round mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bonus round mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: symbol placement interface, volatility determination logic, and prize calculation module. This segmentation allows the complexity to be distributed across manageable functions rather than a monolithic system, making the volatility control mechanism more adaptable while keeping each component relatively simple and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary layer between the player's symbol placement actions and the final bonus round outcomes. This intermediary mechanism translates player choices into volatility parameters and prize calculations, providing a clear causal link that enhances player control and excitement while abstracting the underlying complexity from the user interface.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the bonus round provides fixed prize structures, then the implementation is straightforward, but player attention and engagement over extended periods are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The prize structure transitions from a static, fixed arrangement to a dynamic system that adapts based on player volatility choices and bonus round progression. This dynamic prize determination maintains player attention over extended periods by providing varying reward patterns that respond to player actions and risk preferences, preventing boredom and fatigue associated with repetitive fixed-structure games.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback mechanisms where the bonus round outcomes and prize calculations respond to player volatility selections and performance throughout the round. This continuous feedback loop keeps players engaged by providing immediate consequences for their strategic decisions, extending attention spans through varied and adaptive prize structures rather than repetitive fixed patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a player may influence the volatility of a bonus round of a game by placing elements collected during a primary game onto symbol positions of the bonus round. In some embodiments, if a symbol position onto which a player placed one or more bonus round symbols is selected as an active symbol position for an event instance of the bonus round, the player wins a prize. Additionally, a multiplier may be applied to the value of the prize or other benefit may be provided to the player if the player placed more than one bonus round symbol element on the position. Thus, a player having a plurality of bonus round symbols to place may choose to increase the frequency of prizes won (e.g., by distributing the bonus round symbols over more positions) or increase the value of prizes (e.g., by grouping more symbols on fewer positions).