Pointer Offset Reference Position Adjustment for Game Balance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In games of chance, such as Wheel of Fortune, player choice can lead to the discovery of higher average payouts, resulting in players consistently selecting the pointer with the highest yield, reducing the entertainment value and excitement of the game.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a reference position is moved based on the selected pointer's offset value, or using separate pay tables for each pointer, ensuring that the average payout remains the same regardless of the player's selection, thereby maintaining game excitement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pointers with different payout weights are provided to increase player engagement, then player participation and entertainment value improve, but players can discover and consistently select pointers with higher average payouts, reducing long-term game balance
Solution Approach 1:
The reference position is dynamically adjusted based on the selected pointer's offset value. When a player selects a pointer, the system calculates the pointer's offset from the reference position and moves the reference position accordingly, ensuring that the wheel stop positions shift to maintain consistent average payouts across all pointer selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of reference position dynamically. By adjusting the reference position based on pointer offset values, the system modifies the mapping between wheel stops and payout positions, ensuring that each pointer configuration maintains the same statistical average payout while providing different visual outcomes.
2Reliability
If the reference position is moved based on pointer offset values to maintain consistent average payouts, then game balance is preserved, but the system complexity increases due to dynamic position calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores offset values for each pointer configuration. These offset values represent the positional difference between each pointer and the reference position. By preparing these values in advance, the system avoids complex real-time calculations during gameplay, reducing operational complexity while maintaining game balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference position acts as an intermediary element between the selected pointer and the wheel stop positions. Instead of directly mapping pointers to fixed stops, the reference position mediates the relationship by shifting based on pointer offsets, simplifying the control logic while achieving balanced payouts.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for compensating for a player choice in a game of chance. A plurality of outcomes is defined. A sequence of positions corresponding to the plurality of outcomes is provided, including a reference position. A plurality of pointers is situated at positions in the sequence. Each pointer has an offset value with respect to the reference position along the sequence of positions. Responsive to selection of one of the pointers, the reference position is moved according to the offset value associated with the selected one pointer, so that the selected one pointer points at the reference position. A number is received. The received number determines one of the plurality of outcomes according to a predefined probability associated with the reference position. The determined one outcome is output at the reference position.