Slot Machine Symbol Conversion for Jackpot Wins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slot machines lack an additional feature to enhance player excitement and prolong gameplay, leading to reduced revenue generation for casinos.
Innovation Solution
A special feature game is introduced in gaming machines, initiated by trigger events such as specific symbol combinations, where the lowest value symbols are converted to high-value wild symbols during free spins, increasing the chances of winning and potentially large awards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional slot machines are used without additional features, then the game operation is simple, but player excitement and revenue generation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic symbol conversion during free games where the lowest value symbol changes over time. Initially, the lowest value symbol is converted to a wild symbol, and upon triggering the feature again, the next lowest value symbol is converted. This dynamic progression adds versatility to the game while maintaining manageable complexity through clear conversion rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the lowest value symbol to a wild symbol in advance during free games, before the player can use it to form winning combinations. This preliminary conversion enhances player excitement and winning opportunities without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus adding game feature versatility while keeping operation simple.
2Reliability
If the lowest value symbol is converted to a wild symbol during free games, then the player's chance of winning increases, but the game complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of symbol value by converting the lowest value symbol to a wild symbol during free games. This parameter change is systematic and rule-based, ensuring that the conversion follows a predictable pattern (lowest value → wild), which increases winning chances while maintaining clear, manageable game rules rather than increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The converted wild symbol serves multiple functions: it can substitute for any regular symbol to complete winning combinations and can be part of multiple different winning lines simultaneously. This multi-functionality increases the player's winning chance significantly while the underlying conversion mechanism remains simple and rule-based.
3Productivity
If multiple lowest value symbols are converted to wild symbols, then the award potential increases, but the game operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple converted wild symbols across different reel positions into a unified game state. All converted symbols work together simultaneously to form winning combinations, effectively combining their value-multiplier functions. This merging approach maximizes award potential while the operation remains simple as players don't need to track individual symbol conversions, only the overall wild symbol presence.
Data Source
AI summary
Upon a trigger event occurring during a main game on a video slot machine, a number of free games having a special feature are awarded to the player. For each trigger event that occurs during the free games, the lowest value symbol displayed for each free spin becomes a wild symbol or other high value symbol. The converted symbols remain converted during the entire free game session in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the converted symbols revert back to the original symbol if no further trigger event occurs in the free games. The accumulation of high value symbols over multiple spins increases the chances of the player winning an especially large award, such as a jackpot.