Electronic Game Reel Areas with Persistent Blocking Symbols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reel-based games face limitations in variability and flexibility due to the computational resources required for managing feature symbols, which restrict the number of instances and credit values awarded, affecting return-to-player and payout volatility.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of electronic gaming systems with multiple reel areas where feature symbols act as blocking symbols, persisting between plays and triggering a feature game, allowing for increased variability while maintaining or reducing computational resources, and providing visual indications of game status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If feature symbols are used to trigger feature games in conventional reel-based games, then gameplay variability is improved, but computational resources are consumed and payout volatility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The game display is divided into multiple independent reel areas (first reel area and second reel area), each capable of independently displaying symbols and triggering feature games. This segmentation allows the system to manage feature symbols in isolated sections, reducing the computational burden of tracking and managing features across the entire game grid while maintaining variability in gameplay outcomes.
2Reliability
If feature symbols persist between plays, then payout volatility is enhanced, but computational tracking complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Persistent feature symbols are tracked independently within each reel area. The system determines whether feature symbols persist in the first reel area and the second reel area separately, reducing the computational complexity of tracking compared to managing a single unified set of persistent features across the entire game display.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple reel areas are implemented, then gameplay variability is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each reel area is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a display area for base game symbols and as an independent unit for triggering and managing feature games. The same structural elements (reel areas, symbol displays, blocking mechanisms) are reused across multiple functional contexts, increasing gameplay variability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic gaming machine includes a display device for an electronic game that includes first and second reel areas, and a game controller configured to cause display of symbols including feature symbols in the first and second reel areas as part of a base game mode, determine that the first reel area includes a triggering number of the feature symbols for triggering a feature game mode and that the second reel area does not include the triggering number of the feature symbols, cause display of a visual indication that the second reel area is inactive for a feature game initiated in the first reel area, and upon conclusion of the feature game, cause the feature symbols to be removed from the first reel area, and cause display of a visual indication that the second reel area is reactivated while maintaining the feature symbols in the second reel area.