Reel Strip Configuration for Volatility Management in Gaming Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic gaming devices face challenges in enhancing user experience and managing volatility while maintaining a target Return to Player (RTP) through existing UI features and backend processing methods, which are not sufficiently effective in providing a computationally efficient and engaging gaming experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a special mode process that adjusts reel strips and reel areas to ensure a minimum award, using linked reel strip mechanisms and index tables to manage volatility and RTP, and enhancing usability through graphical changes and symbol clustering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If reel strips are modified and reel area is enlarged to ensure minimum award in special mode, then user experience and engagement are improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reel strips are dynamically modified during game play to transition from base mode to special mode. The system adjusts reel strip configurations, symbol distributions, and reel area dimensions in real-time based on game state, allowing the device to adapt complexity levels rather than maintaining fixed high complexity throughout
Solution Approach 2:
The gaming device operates in distinct segments or modes (base mode and special mode) with different reel strip configurations. Each mode has its own optimized parameters, allowing the system to manage complexity by activating only the necessary configuration for the current game state rather than maintaining all possibilities simultaneously
2Reliability
If reel strips are modified and reel area is enlarged to ensure minimum award, then volatility management and RTP control are improved, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
Reel strip modifications and reel area enlargements are performed in advance during mode transitions rather than calculating outcomes in real-time. The system pre-configures favorable symbol distributions and reel strip arrangements before the special mode begins, reducing the computational burden during active gameplay while ensuring RTP targets are met
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters such as reel strip symbol distributions, reel area dimensions, and symbol weights when transitioning to special mode. These parameter adjustments are calculated and applied beforehand, allowing the system to control volatility and RTP through configuration changes rather than complex real-time computations
3Reliability
If linked reel strip mechanism is used to switch reel strips iteratively, then volatility management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linked reel strip mechanism introduces an intermediary layer between the random number generator and the final symbol display. This intermediary systematically manages the transition between different reel strip configurations, providing controlled volatility through predetermined linkages rather than direct random selection, thereby managing complexity through structured intermediation
Data Source
AI summary
In an electronic gaming device, an instance of a process uses a set of reels. A determination is made regarding whether or not a result satisfies a trigger condition for a special mode. Responsive to the special mode being triggered, the process is adjusted so that a final outcome of the instance necessarily satisfies a threshold condition. For example, the set of reels is changed by, for at least one of the reels, swapping or modifying the reel strip for the reel to include a higher concentration of target symbol instances, while also increasing a count of instances of symbols enclosed in a reel area. Graphical elements associated with the process can be changed accordingly. The final outcome is determined according to the adjusted process, and indicators of the instance and final outcome can be displayed using the graphical elements for the adjusted process.