Slot Machine Bonus Pool Error Banking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current slot machine games lack an engaging mechanic that incorporates player skill and fails to effectively utilize player errors as a shared resource, leading to suboptimal gameplay experiences and potential unfairness towards non-skilled players.

Innovation Solution

A slot machine game mechanic that triggers a bonus round based on the presence of adjacent bonus symbols, allowing players to place 'charges' on symbols, which upon explosion, rearrange to maximize horizontally adjacent bonus symbols, with the option to bank player errors into a shared bonus pool for subsequent players to earn.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If slot machine games incorporate player skill, then gameplay engagement is improved, but player errors result in loss of potential winnings without recovery mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegameplay engagementVSAvoidplayer error loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts player errors (harmful factor) into a beneficial resource by creating an error bank that accumulates potential winnings from suboptimal plays. This accumulated value is then redistributed to subsequent players who make optimal decisions, transforming the harm of player errors into a benefit for skilled players and recovering the lost value.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of operation

If slot machine games lack skill incorporation, then gameplay simplicity is maintained, but player errors cannot be utilized as a shared resource

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegameplay simplicityVSAvoidplayer error resource

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by establishing an error bank mechanism in advance that automatically captures and stores player errors as potential winnings. This pre-established structure ensures that when players make errors, the value is immediately captured and preserved for future redistribution, rather than being lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If bonus rounds are triggered frequently, then player excitement is increased, but game complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonus round frequencyVSAvoidgame complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing a simplified bonus mechanism that focuses on specific key elements (error banking and redistribution) rather than comprehensive game complexity. The bonus round triggers based on specific conditions (adjacent bonus symbols) and executes a focused set of actions (placing charges, exploding symbols, redistributing errors) without requiring complex multi-stage procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11257324B2Slot machine game with banking of player error

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 GREEN JADE GAMES LTD

AI summary

A method, system, and computer readable storage to implement an electronic wagering game. The wagering can spin reels of symbols to a random result. A bonus round can be triggered depending on the symbols that result from the spin. If the bonus round is triggered, the player has discretion to take particular actions in the bonus round, and any non-optimal play in the bonus round has an error associated with it which is computed and added to a bonus pool so subsequent players in the bonus round can potentially be awarded the bonus pool.