Symbol-Driven Expected Value Enhancements in Wagering Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wagering games lack features to dynamically enhance or decrease player excitement and loyalty over time, as existing bonus games and progressive jackpots do not adapt to changing player preferences effectively.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that uses symbol-driven expected-value (EV) enhancements and eliminations, where EV-enhancement symbols increase game parameters like payouts or spins, and EV-elimination symbols decrease them, dynamically modifying the game experience based on outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional bonus games and progressive jackpots are used, then player excitement is enhanced temporarily, but the system cannot dynamically adapt to changing player preferences over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic game features where bonus game parameters (number of spins, multipliers, pick opportunities) are not fixed but change based on accumulated EV enhancements. The system continuously adjusts game characteristics during play sessions, transforming static bonus structures into dynamic adaptive experiences that respond to player performance and preferences in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters of bonus games based on accumulated EV enhancements. When EV enhancements are collected through base game play, they modify bonus game parameters such as increasing the number of spins in free spin bonuses, adding multiplier values, or providing additional pick opportunities in selection-based bonuses, thereby adapting the game to player preferences through parameter modification.
2Reliability
If EV enhancements are accumulated to increase player excitement, then player loyalty increases, but the expected value of the game becomes unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback loops where base game outcomes generate EV enhancements that are accumulated and subsequently feed back into modifying bonus game parameters. This creates a self-regulating system where the game adapts to player performance while maintaining controlled unpredictability - the feedback mechanism ensures that EV enhancements are earned through play rather than arbitrarily applied, balancing loyalty-building with manageable predictability.
3Ease of operation
If the game offers fixed bonus structures, then the game rules are simple to understand, but the game becomes less engaging over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the game into distinct phases: base game play where EV enhancements are earned, and bonus game execution where enhancements are applied. This segmentation allows players to understand the basic mechanics simply while experiencing dynamic complexity during bonus rounds. The separation of enhancement accumulation from enhancement application maintains rule simplicity while enabling engaging variability.
Data Source
AI summary
Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting wagering games, and computer programs for executing wagering games are disclosed. A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes an input device, a display device, a processor, and a memory device. The memory device stores instructions which cause the processor to operate with the display device to: randomly determine an outcome of the wagering game; display symbols indicative of the wagering-game outcome; determine if the displayed symbols include to an expected-value (EV) enhancement symbol combination or an EV-elimination symbol combination, the EV-enhancement and EV-elimination symbol combinations both including a common symbol arranged in a common manner; activate, responsive to the displayed symbols including the EV-enhancement symbol combination, an EV-increasing opportunity that modifies a wagering-game parameter thereby increasing the EV of the wagering game; and deactivate, responsive to the displayed symbol-combination corresponding to the EV-elimination symbol combination, one or more EV-increasing opportunities.