Seamless initiation of primary and secondary games at modified gaming machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional casino gaming machines are limited to a finite set of features and upgrading them with new games or features is expensive, requiring either purchasing new machines or reprogramming, which is costly and often not permitted without regulatory approval.
Innovation Solution
A secondary controller is integrated with the gaming machine to provide additional, secondary wager-based games, which can be different from the primary game, and is initiated with a single input, allowing for a multi-game experience on the same machine or remotely via a server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional gaming machines are upgraded with new games or features by purchasing new machines or reprogramming, then the gaming functionality and entertainment value are improved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The gaming machine is designed with a universal controller that can execute multiple different game applications and software modules. The controller is configured to provide primary gaming functionality while also enabling secondary gaming functionality through software loading, allowing one machine to serve multiple gaming purposes without requiring separate hardware for each game type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses software copies and digital game modules that can be loaded onto the existing hardware platform. Instead of requiring physical reprogramming or hardware modification, the machine can load different game software copies to provide new gaming experiences, significantly reducing the cost of adding new games.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional gaming machines are reprogrammed to add new features, then the gaming functionality is improved, but regulatory compliance becomes more difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is pre-configured with a controller that has the capability to load and execute multiple game applications from the outset. The hardware and software architecture are designed in advance to support multi-game functionality, eliminating the need for post-deployment reprogramming that would require regulatory re-approval.
Solution Approach 2:
The game software is extracted from the hardware configuration, allowing games to be loaded as separate software modules rather than being hard-coded into the machine. This separation enables the machine to run different games without modifying the underlying hardware or core system, maintaining regulatory compliance while adding functionality.
3Ease of operation
If a single input initiates both primary and secondary games, then the player convenience is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The input mechanism for primary and secondary games is merged into a single player input. When the player activates the game, the controller simultaneously initiates both the primary game application and the secondary game application, allowing one operation to trigger multiple gaming functions without requiring separate controls or complex user interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that manages the simultaneous execution of primary and secondary games. It receives the single player input and coordinates the loading and execution of multiple game applications, handling the complexity internally while presenting a simple interface to the player.
Data Source
AI summary
Secondary gaming functionality is provided for a casino gaming machine (26) by a secondary controller (200) of the casino gaming machine. The secondary gaming functionality may function to provide a multi-game experience at the gaming machine or remotely at another gaming machine or other device, e.g., a smart phone (28), tablet, personal computer (32), and the like, via the casino gaming machine. The multi-game experience may comprise one or more secondary wager-based games in addition to the one or more primary wager-based game(s) provided by the primary gaming functionality of the gaming machine. The secondary controller functionality may cause the secondary wager-based game to be presented upon a single input player to the gaming machine which also initiates the primary game, whereby primary and secondary games are initiated seamlessly to the player via a single input.