Time-Based Bonus Eligibility Counter for Wagering Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional gaming machines fail to reward fast-play and high-play players with bonus opportunities, as their eligibility for bonus games is not differentiated from slow-play and low-play players, leading to a lack of incentive for increased input of time and money.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that increments a counter for bonus-time eligibility upon wager input, allowing players to play a bonus game if the counter is greater than zero when triggered, with the eligibility time being decremented over real time, and potentially offering higher bonus multipliers for increased wagering speed and amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional gaming machines provide the same bonus opportunities to all players regardless of play rate, then the system is simple to operate, but fast-play and high-play players are not rewarded for their increased input of time and money
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of bonus game eligibility from a static state to a dynamic one based on time elapsed since last bonus play. The controller monitors the time parameter and compares it against a threshold to determine eligibility, allowing fast-play players to accumulate eligibility faster and receive rewards proportionally to their activity level
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring player activity and time elapsed, then providing differentiated bonus opportunities based on this data. The controller receives information about player wagering patterns and adjusts bonus eligibility accordingly, creating a feedback loop that rewards increased engagement
2Productivity
If bonus games are offered frequently to all players, then player engagement increases, but the cost to the operator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different bonus frequencies to different players based on their individual play patterns. Instead of a uniform approach, the system tailors bonus eligibility to each player's time since last bonus, ensuring that bonus games are offered at optimal intervals to maximize engagement while controlling costs
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts bonus eligibility based on the time elapsed since the player's last bonus game. This dynamic approach allows the operator to control bonus frequency and cost while maintaining player engagement, as eligibility is not fixed but changes continuously based on player activity
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a display and a controller. The display displays a base game of the wagering game in response to receiving a wager input from a player. The controller is coupled to the display and, in response to receiving the wager input, is programmed to increment eligibility time to a counter of bonus-time eligibility. The counter is decremented as real time progresses. If the counter is greater than zero when a bonus game of the wagering game is triggered, the player is allowed to play the bonus game.