Slot Machine Bonus Game with Manual Dexterity Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current slot machine games lack excitement, leading to potential revenue loss for casinos and manufacturers due to monotonous gameplay.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a bonus round feature that displays moving elements on an output device, allowing players to select these elements using manual dexterity within a predetermined time or until a termination element is selected, awarding prizes based on the difficulty of selection, which can include monetary awards, multipliers, or hints, and offering options to continue or return to the main game.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a bonus round with manual dexterity selection is added to slot machine games, then player engagement and excitement are enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidgame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The game is divided into distinct segments: the base slot machine game and the bonus round. The bonus round itself is segmented into multiple selectable elements, each with different awards. This segmentation allows the complex bonus feature to be added without fundamentally altering the base game structure, resolving the contradiction between enhanced engagement and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bonus round feature is designed as a universal module that can be integrated with standard slot machine games. The same bonus round structure can be used across different game themes and configurations, allowing the system to provide enhanced engagement while maintaining manageable complexity through reusable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If moving elements are displayed and players must select them manually, then excitement and challenge increase, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame challengeVSAvoidelement selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Players are not required to select all moving elements, but only need to select enough to achieve a satisfactory award. The bonus round allows partial completion - players can stop selecting elements once they are content with their accumulated award, reducing the operational burden while maintaining challenge and excitement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

A touch-screen interface acts as an intermediary between the player and the moving elements. This intermediary provides intuitive control, allowing players to easily select elements through natural touching gestures rather than complex mechanical interactions, thus maintaining ease of operation while preserving the challenge of selecting moving targets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a predetermined time limit is imposed on element selection, then game intensity increases, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame intensityVSAvoidbonus round duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bonus round uses periodic action through the time limit mechanism, creating intensity and urgency. However, the time limit is calibrated to provide sufficient time for players to make meaningful selections, balancing intensity with reasonable time investment. The periodic nature of the time countdown enhances engagement without causing excessive time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple moving elements with different awards are provided, then reward variety increases, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaward varietyVSAvoidelement identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Different moving elements are distinguished by visual characteristics such as color, size, and graphical symbols. These visual cues make it easy for players to detect and differentiate between elements with different awards, reducing the difficulty of identification while maintaining award variety and player engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS9165419B2Slot machine bonus game providing awards for manual dexterity

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 GAMES GLOBAL OPERATIONS LTD

AI summary

A slot machine method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a bonus round for a slot machine game that allows players to use manual dexterity in order to earn prizes in a bonus round. Moving elements can be selected (e.g., shot, touched, etc.) and if successfully selected, the player can earn a bonus award. Bonus awards can accumulate until the bonus round is over. The bonus round can end when either a predefined time is over or the player selects a termination element.