Player Tracking Controller for Persistent Virtual Item Collections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic gaming machines lack a comprehensive system for tracking and rewarding players with virtual items across multiple gaming sessions and machines, limiting the persistence and engagement of virtual item collection loyalty programs.
Innovation Solution
A player tracking system that stores and manages virtual item collections, awards tokens based on gameplay, and allows players to redeem these items for physical or digital rewards, with a user interface that tracks progress across sessions and devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a player tracking system stores virtual items across multiple gaming machines, then player engagement and loyalty are enhanced, but system complexity and data management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the virtual item collection functionality into separate modular components: a player tracking controller that manages data storage and token award logic, electronic gaming machines that provide gameplay, and a centralized database structure that organizes token collections. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and maintained independently while working together to enhance player engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The player tracking controller serves as an intermediary between the electronic gaming machines and the central database. It receives gameplay information from machines, determines token awards based on predefined collections, stores virtual items in the database, and transmits notifications back to machines. This intermediary layer simplifies data management by centralizing tracking logic and reducing direct communication requirements between multiple gaming machines and the database.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the system tracks gameplay information across multiple sessions and devices, then persistence of virtual item collections is improved, but data management and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-defines multiple token collections with specific combinations of tokens and associated awards before gameplay begins. The player tracking controller stores these predefined collections in the database, allowing rapid determination of token awards during gameplay by simply checking which predefined collection matches the player's current tokens. This preliminary structuring eliminates the need for complex real-time analysis of token combinations during gaming sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The player tracking controller continuously monitors gameplay information from electronic gaming machines and automatically updates the player's virtual item collection in the database. When a player completes a token collection, the system automatically transmits a notification to the gaming machine indicating the award won. This continuous feedback loop ensures persistence of collection data across sessions while minimizing manual intervention and reducing data management time through automated tracking and notification processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system awards tokens based on gameplay information, then player loyalty rewards are enhanced, but processing requirements and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of token award determination from complex real-time calculation to simple pattern matching against predefined collections. By structuring collections as predetermined sets of tokens with associated awards, the player tracking controller only needs to check whether the player's current tokens match any predefined collection, rather than computing award values from scratch during each gaming session. This parameter change significantly reduces computational load while maintaining versatile reward mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided. The system includes an electronic gaming machine including a display and a controller. The system also includes a player tracking controller in communication with the electronic gaming machine. The player tracking controller is programmed to: a) store a plurality of tokens of a plurality of token collections, wherein each token collection of the plurality of token collections includes a predefined combination of specific tokens of the plurality of tokens and an award; b) receive, from the electronic gaming machine, gameplay information associated with a player; c) determine to award a token of the plurality of tokens to the player based on the gameplay information; and e) transmit a notification of the award of the token to the electronic gaming machine, wherein the electronic gaming machine is configured to display, on the display, the token that was awarded.