Trigger Symbol Secondary Game Mechanics for Player Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gaming systems rely on symbol-driven jackpots, which lack diversity and innovation in gameplay mechanics.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method and system that includes selecting primary and secondary game symbols, displaying trigger symbols, and performing trigger symbol actions to initiate and enhance secondary games, using a combination of thick and thin client architectures for game control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional symbol-driven jackpots are used, then the gaming system is simple to operate, but player engagement and innovation are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidgaming system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gaming system is divided into multiple independent components: primary game symbols, trigger symbols, trigger symbol actions, and secondary games. Each component functions independently but contributes to the overall engaging experience, allowing complexity to be managed through modular design while maintaining high player engagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Trigger symbols serve multiple functions: they can initiate secondary games, modify primary game outcomes, act as wild symbols, or trigger award multiplications. This multi-functionality increases player engagement without proportionally increasing system complexity, as a single symbol type performs diverse roles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If trigger symbols with multiple actions are introduced, then player interaction increases, but game rule complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer interactionVSAvoidgame rule complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Trigger symbol actions are predetermined and associated with specific trigger symbols before the game is played. The system pre-configures what each trigger symbol will do (e.g., make symbols wild, multiply awards), so players interact with simple symbols while the complex rules execute automatically in the background

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The game controller acts as an intermediary that automatically processes trigger symbol actions. When a trigger symbol appears, the controller automatically applies the associated action (such as modifying other symbols or calculating multipliers) without requiring players to understand or manually execute complex rules, thus maintaining ease of operation while implementing sophisticated game logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12633192B2Systems and methods of electronic gaming

Publication Date: 2026.05.19 ARISTOCRAT TECH AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

AI summary

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method of electronic gaming includes selecting a plurality of primary game symbols, displaying the plurality of primary game symbols, initiating, based upon the plurality of primary game symbols, a secondary game, displaying a trigger symbol in association with the secondary game, displaying a trigger symbol action associated with the trigger symbol, selecting a plurality of secondary game symbols in association with the secondary game (where one of the secondary game symbols comprising the trigger symbol), displaying the plurality of secondary game symbols, and performing the trigger symbol action based upon the trigger symbol.