Electronic Gaming Reel Persistence for Cross-Spin Value Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic gaming machines lack features that provide short-term persistence, leading to conclusivity in each game instance without carrying over elements from one round to the next, which can diminish player engagement and excitement.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a gaming system that includes feature symbols on specific reels, which trigger persistent features across game instances, allowing feature symbols on certain reels to activate value symbols on other reels, and providing reel expansion and visual animations to illustrate persistence, enhancing award outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional electronic gaming machines are used with independent game instances, then each game round is conclusive and simple to operate, but player engagement and excitement diminish due to lack of persistence
Solution Approach 1:
Feature symbols are predetermined to appear on specific reels (first and second reels) before the spin occurs. This preliminary positioning of feature symbols ensures that when they appear, they automatically trigger the persistent feature, creating player engagement without requiring complex player decisions or actions during gameplay.
Solution Approach 2:
The persistent feature is nested within the base game structure. When feature symbols appear on the first and second reels, they trigger a value feature that awards value symbols on other reels (third, fourth, and fifth reels). This nested structure allows the persistent feature to operate within the existing game framework while adding layers of complexity and engagement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If feature symbols are placed on all reels, then persistence coverage is maximized, but device complexity and difficulty of detecting features increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reels are segmented into two distinct groups: first and second reels that display feature symbols, and third, fourth, and fifth reels that display value symbols. This segmentation clearly separates the functions of different reels, making the persistent feature easier to detect and understand while maintaining comprehensive persistence coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different reels have different local qualities or functions. The first and second reels are specifically configured to display feature symbols that trigger persistence, while the third, fourth, and fifth reels are configured to display value symbols that are awarded. This local differentiation simplifies the overall system by giving each reel a specific, identifiable role.
3Adaptability or versatility
If visual animations are added to show persistence, then player engagement improves, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual color changes and graphical transformations to indicate persistence. When feature symbols appear on the first and second reels, the system highlights these symbols and displays their persistence through color changes and visual effects on the display device, providing clear feedback to players without requiring complex mechanical animations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces potential mechanical animation systems with electronic display-based visual effects. The persistent feature symbols are displayed and animated through software-controlled graphical interfaces on the display device, which consumes significantly less energy than mechanical animation systems while providing equivalent or superior visual feedback.
4Adaptability or versatility
If persistent features are implemented across all game elements, then player engagement increases, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gaming system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a base game component, a persistent feature component, and an award component. This modular segmentation allows each module to be developed, tested, and manufactured independently, then integrated into the complete system, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining full persistent functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a persistent feature in an electronic game includes: (A) simulates spinning of a plurality of reels; (B) generating a first spin result; (C) triggering a value feature based on the occurrence of at least one feature symbol appearing on the first reel and at least one feature symbol appearing on the second reel in first spin result, causing the electronic game to award value feature symbols that appear on the other reels; (D) during a second spin, displaying an animation of moving the first and second feature symbols one or more positions of the reel upon; (E) overlaying the moved feature symbols during the second spin of the plurality of reels; and (F) triggering the value feature for the second spin when at least one feature symbol appears on both the first reel and on the second reel.