Slot Machine Holding Game Feature for Player Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slot machines lack a mechanism to enhance player engagement and entertainment value by providing strategic interest and extended gameplay opportunities when a payout is not made during the base game.
Innovation Solution
The slot machine incorporates a holding game feature that allows players to select and fix symbols from the base game, with adjacent symbols coinciding with the selection also being fixed, and subsequent games focusing on rearranging non-fixed symbols, offering a strategic element and maintaining player interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional base game is played with automatic symbol rearrangement, then the game operation is simple and fast, but player engagement and entertainment value are reduced when no payout is made
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between base game mode (automatic rearrangement) and holding game mode (manual selection), allowing the gameplay mechanics to adapt based on whether a payout was achieved. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by providing simple operation during base games while enabling enhanced engagement through strategic holding decisions when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The game is segmented into distinct phases: base game for quick play and holding game for strategic engagement. By separating the gameplay into these segments, the system maintains operational simplicity in the base game while providing versatility and player engagement in the holding game segment, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and player engagement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a holding game feature is added to fix selected symbols and rearrange non-fixed symbols, then player engagement and entertainment value are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it manages both the automatic base game and the interactive holding game, and the display system handles both automatic symbol arrangement and manual selection feedback. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide enhanced player engagement through the holding game feature while avoiding the need for separate dedicated hardware components, thus managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing symbol arrangement infrastructure to serve the holding game functionality. The controller leverages the same display and symbol management systems already present in the base game, making them serve dual purposes. This self-service approach enables the holding game feature without requiring additional complex hardware, thereby enhancing player engagement while controlling device complexity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If multiple holding games are executed to fix more symbols, then gameplay duration and entertainment value are extended, but the game duration and time investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holding game is structured as periodic action with a maximum of three rounds, where players can choose to continue or stop after each round. This periodic structure allows the gameplay duration to be extended for enhanced entertainment value while providing players control over their time investment, as they can exit after any round rather than being forced to complete a fixed extended duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The gameplay duration dynamically adjusts based on player choices in each holding game round. Players can engage for one round, two rounds, or three rounds depending on their interest and time available. This dynamic duration resolution allows the system to extend gameplay for entertainment value while preventing excessive time investment, as the duration is flexible rather than fixed.
Data Source
AI summary
The slot machine fixes symbols selected by the player's operation to press a touch panel and symbols next to selected symbols which coincide with selected symbols, and scrolls symbols other than fixed symbols.