Hold-and-Spin Configurable Symbols With Spin-Tag Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gaming systems face challenges in implementing new gaming features that are both entertaining and cost-efficient while meeting regulatory requirements, particularly in managing configurable symbols and spin tags without excessive memory requirements and ensuring fair game outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A gaming machine system that uses configurable symbols with spin tags, allowing for independent assignment of indicia and spin tags, reducing the need for lengthy reel strips and enhancing player engagement through symbol splitting and award presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional reel strips with fixed symbols are used, then the game structure is simple, but the memory requirements increase and player engagement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reel strip into two independent components: a base symbol and a spin tag. The base symbol contains the visual indicia, while the spin tag contains the game logic (number of spins, split factor). This segmentation allows the system to reuse base symbols across multiple spin tags, dramatically reducing memory requirements while enabling complex game features like symbol splitting and progressive awards that enhance player engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The base symbol is designed to be universal and reusable across multiple spin tags. A single base symbol can be associated with different spin tags having different spin counts and split factors, allowing the same visual symbol to serve multiple game functions. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of unique symbol entries needed in memory while providing diverse gameplay experiences.
2Adaptability or versatility
If configurable symbols with spin tags are implemented, then player engagement increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the symbol display (base symbol) from the game logic (spin tag), the patent reduces device complexity. The base symbol handles only visual presentation, while the spin tag handles game mechanics. This clear separation of concerns makes the system easier to implement, maintain, and regulate compared to a monolithic symbol structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spin tag introduces configurable parameters (spin count, split factor) that can be adjusted without changing the base symbol structure. This parameter-based approach allows for flexible game design and regulation compliance while maintaining a consistent underlying data structure, thereby managing device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If symbol splitting is implemented, then player excitement increases, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
When a configurable symbol is split, the system creates copies of the base symbol associated with the same spin tag. These copied symbols inherit the visual and logical properties of the original, ensuring consistency and fairness. This copying mechanism allows for exciting symbol splitting features while maintaining regulatory compliance through precise, rule-based duplication rather than complex manufacturing variations.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine provides a spinning reel game having a base game, from which a hold-and-spin game is triggered when a determined quantity of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. For each spin of the feature game, spin tags of configurable symbols are updated. When the spin tags have a predetermined relationship to a threshold value, the associated configurable symbol is split into a group of symbols. A feature game award is presented based on values associated with each configurable symbol in the feature game outcome.