Slot Reel Feature Persistence With Moving Symbol Overlays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slot-style games lack persistent features that carry over from one game instance to the next, providing a simple display and resolution without additional processing steps to indicate how features persist between instances.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that introduces feature symbols on specific reels, which trigger persistent features across game instances, allowing feature symbols on adjacent reels to activate value symbols on other reels, with animations showing symbol movement and overlaying to visually indicate persistence, enhancing award outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional slot-style games are used, then the game display is simple and resolution is straightforward, but the game lacks persistent features that carry over between game instances
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by carrying forward feature symbols from previous game instances to the current instance. These persistent feature symbols are predetermined to appear on specific reels based on previous game outcomes, creating a link between game instances and enabling features to persist without requiring complex real-time processing during gameplay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying by reproducing feature symbols from previous game instances and placing them on the same reels in the current instance. This copying mechanism allows persistent features to be visually represented and functionally activated without requiring complex new generation logic, simply replicating the symbolic representation across game instances.
2Reliability
If feature symbols on adjacent reels are used to trigger value features, then award outcomes are enhanced, but the game processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by restricting the triggering mechanism to specific adjacent reel positions rather than requiring analysis of all reel combinations. The persistent feature symbols are placed on predetermined reels (e.g., reels 1 and 2), and only these specific locations are monitored for triggering value features on other reels, simplifying the processing complexity while maintaining award enhancement.
3Ease of operation
If animations showing symbol movement and overlaying are implemented, then player engagement increases, but the processing steps and time required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies skipping by rapidly transitioning through the animation sequence rather than allowing each frame to process sequentially. The persistent feature symbols are animated to move and overlay on the reels in a condensed time frame, providing visual engagement while minimizing the time added to the game cycle. The animation serves as a visual transition rather than a prolonged processing step.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a persistent feature in an electronic game includes: (A) simulates spinning of a plurality of reels; (B) generating a first spin result; (C) triggering a value feature based on the occurrence of at least one feature symbol appearing on the first reel and at least one feature symbol appearing on the second reel in first spin result, causing the electronic game to award value feature symbols that appear on the other reels; (D) during a second spin, displaying an animation of moving the first and second feature symbols one or more positions of the reel upon; (E) overlaying the moved feature symbols during the second spin of the plurality of reels; and (F) triggering the value feature for the second spin when at least one feature symbol appears on both the first reel and on the second reel.