Gaming System with Splittable Symbol Positions for Winning Combinations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic gaming machines lack the ability to form larger winning combinations, limiting player engagement and potential winnings due to fixed symbol positions and paylines.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of split symbol positions, where each symbol position is divided into sub-positions across multiple columns, allowing for more symbols to contribute to winning combinations, enhancing gameplay and player experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional fixed symbol positions are used, then the game structure is simple and easy to understand, but the maximum number of symbols in winning combinations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides each symbol position into multiple sub-positions (e.g., first sub-position and second sub-position). This segmentation allows multiple symbols to occupy what was traditionally a single position, enabling winning combinations to include more symbols than traditional slot machines while maintaining a relatively simple overall grid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an additional dimensional layer by splitting positions into sub-positions. Instead of expanding the grid horizontally or vertically, it creates a hierarchical structure where positions contain multiple sub-positions, effectively adding a third dimension to the symbol arrangement without increasing the visible grid size.
2Productivity
If more symbol positions are added to allow larger winning combinations, then player engagement and potential winnings increase, but the device complexity and evaluation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting positions into sub-positions, the patent enables more symbols to participate in winning combinations without adding more position slots to the grid. This maintains device simplicity while increasing the quantity of symbols that can form winning combinations, thereby enhancing player engagement and potential winnings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic evaluation rules that adapt to the split position structure. The system dynamically determines which sub-positions contribute to winning combinations based on payline configurations, allowing flexible evaluation that simplifies the overall process despite the increased symbol quantity.
3Quantity of substance
If split symbol positions are implemented, then larger winning combinations can be formed, but the evaluation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic evaluation rules that adapt to the specific payline and symbol configuration. The system dynamically determines which sub-positions contribute to winning combinations, allowing the evaluation process to remain efficient despite the increased complexity of split positions. This dynamic approach simplifies detection by focusing only on relevant sub-positions for each evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial evaluation by focusing only on the sub-positions that are relevant to each payline and winning combination. Instead of evaluating all possible symbol arrangements, the system selectively evaluates only the necessary sub-positions, reducing the overall evaluation complexity while still capturing all winning scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system comprises a display, a player interface, and a game controller having a processor, and a memory storing symbol data, a pay table, and instructions, when executed, cause the processor to receive a selection specifying paylines for evaluation, each payline specifying one symbol position on one column, split a first symbol position into sub-positions, randomly select symbols for display at the symbol positions and sub-positions, display the symbols selected, and evaluate the symbols displayed at the sub-positions on each payline that includes the sub-positions, whether the symbols displayed at the sub-positions contribute to a winning combination.