Secondary Game Controller for Gaming Terminal Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gaming systems struggle to maintain player interest due to increased sophistication and exposure, as the ability to attract players through linked jackpots has diminished in effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A secondary game system for a gaming terminal network that includes a secondary game controller for providing and managing secondary games, allowing users to register and deregister for games, and displaying information such as jackpot values and contributions, with features like user-initiated game creation and participation management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a central display provides visual indication of jackpot prize to attract players, then player attraction is improved, but player interest maintenance deteriorates due to increased player sophistication and exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single centralized jackpot display into multiple distributed secondary game controllers, each providing its own visual indication of secondary game information. This allows the system to maintain player attraction across multiple independent display points while reducing the negative effect of players becoming desensitized to a single repetitive display, thereby helping maintain player interest.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple secondary games are provided to enhance player engagement, then player engagement is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary game controller is designed as a universal multi-functional device that can provide multiple different secondary games and information display options. This allows the system to offer diverse game experiences to enhance player engagement while avoiding the complexity of having separate dedicated controllers for each game type. The single controller handles game management, information display, registration, and deregistration functions across multiple game types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of game management, information display, registration handling, and deregistration processing into a single secondary game controller. This consolidation provides multiple secondary games through one integrated system rather than requiring separate systems for each function, thereby enhancing player engagement while controlling system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If users can register and deregister for secondary games dynamically, then user control and engagement are improved, but communication overhead and system response requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service registration and deregistration where users can independently register their gaming terminals for secondary games and deregister when desired, without requiring manual system administrator intervention. The secondary game controller automatically processes these registration and deregistration requests, providing enhanced user control while managing communication overhead through automated handling rather than manual processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the inventive method commences with the provision of a plurality of secondary games, which may be default secondary games and/or user-initiated secondary games. The latter may have aspects that are dependent upon data entered by the initiating user into their gaming terminal 5. The method proceeds with the provision to the users of information 32 regarding each of the available secondary games (or at least a subset thereof). This assists the users to make informed decisions regarding in which of the secondary games they wish to participate. The method further includes the step of allowing each of the users to register and/or deregister their respective gaming terminal 5 for participation in a selected one of the secondary games.