Dynamic Side Reel Shifting for Electronic Gaming Volatility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic gaming machines (EGMs) lack innovative user interface (UI) features and backend processing capabilities that effectively enhance user experience, extend player engagement, and maintain interest, despite regulatory requirements for randomness and return to player (RTP) levels.
Innovation Solution
Implementing control logic and backend operations that dynamically shift side reels into and out of the reel area, incorporating symbols of greater value to enhance game volatility while maintaining a designated RTP, through the use of random number generators (RNGs) and weighted tables to manage game outcomes and volatility levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If side reels are shifted into the reel area to increase game volatility, then player engagement and entertainment value improve, but the device complexity and UI management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reel configuration where side reels are shifted into the main reel area during bonus games. The UI dynamically adjusts to accommodate varying numbers of active reels (3-5 reels), with the interface automatically reconfiguring to maintain optimal playability and visual presentation regardless of how many reels are currently active.
Solution Approach 2:
The control logic and UI are designed to handle multiple game modes (base game and bonus game) within a single interface framework. The same UI components serve different functions depending on the game state, managing both standard 3-reel gameplay and expanded 5-reel bonus gameplay without requiring separate interface designs.
2Duration of action of moving object
If side reels with higher value symbols are introduced to enhance game volatility, then player interest and engagement extend, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring game outcomes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides clear visual feedback to players regarding which reels are currently active and participating in the spin. The UI highlights or distinguishes active reels from inactive ones, ensuring players can easily detect which reels will contribute to the outcome. This feedback mechanism maintains transparency despite the dynamic reconfiguration of reel positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The reel area is segmented into distinct active and inactive regions, with clear visual separation between reels that are currently participating in the game versus those that are not. This segmentation helps players easily identify which reels will affect the game outcome, simplifying outcome detection despite the presence of multiple potential reels.
3Ease of operation
If the reel area is dynamically reconfigured during gameplay, then user experience and entertainment value improve, but the stability of the game structure decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reel configuration changes occur in periodic cycles corresponding to game phases. During base games, the system maintains a stable 3-reel configuration, and during bonus games, it transitions to a 5-reel configuration. These transitions occur at predictable intervals based on game triggers, providing structural stability within each phase while allowing dynamic changes between phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares and pre-configures the reel structure before gameplay begins. All potential reels are loaded and positioned in advance, with the UI pre-programmed to handle various reel configurations. This preliminary preparation ensures that when transitions occur, they are smooth and maintain structural integrity, rather than ad-hoc adjustments during active gameplay.
Data Source
AI summary
Innovations in user interface (“UI”) features of an electronic gaming device, and in features of backend processing to implement the UI features, are presented. For example, control logic selects active reels, which include side reels and main reels. Compared to the main reels, the side reels typically include symbols of greater interest to a user. The control logic also selects a subset of the active reels. The control logic spins at least some of the active reels on a display screen of the device. The control logic shifts some active reels into a reel area while shifting other active reels out of the reel area, before stopping at the subset of the active reels. Reel shifting can increase game volatility while maintaining a designated level of return to player.