Upgradable Symbol Stacks in Wagering Games
Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines lack features that enhance entertainment value and player attraction, leading to a need for continuous development of new games and enhancements to increase profitability through frequent play.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that upgrades stacked symbol columns based on predetermined ranks, allowing for random selection of outcomes and re-spinning to determine high and low ranks, thereby upgrading lower-ranked symbols to higher-ranked symbols, enhancing gameplay and potential winnings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional gaming machines operate with fixed symbol arrangements and base games only, then the device complexity remains low, but the entertainment value and player attraction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic gameplay by allowing symbol stacks to be upgraded from lower ranks to higher ranks during the game. The symbol arrangement changes from static to dynamic through mechanisms like re-spinning columns and upgrading stacks based on randomly selected outcomes, thereby increasing entertainment value without requiring completely new game hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses nested structure where multiple game layers are contained within a single base game framework. The base game includes optional enhanced games that can be activated, and within those, bonus games with additional features. This nesting allows multiple entertainment features to coexist within a unified system, increasing versatility without proportionally increasing overall complexity
2Productivity
If the gaming system implements multiple game modes and enhanced features, then player attraction and frequency increase, but the device complexity and programming requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal gaming system where a single base game can transform into multiple enhanced games and bonus games through configurable parameters and randomly selected outcomes. The same symbol array and player interface handle all game modes, allowing one system to serve multiple functions and attract diverse player preferences without requiring separate dedicated systems for each game type
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes game parameters dynamically through randomly selected outcomes that determine symbol upgrades, re-spin conditions, and bonus game activations. By using parameter changes rather than fixed complex programming for each scenario, the system achieves high player engagement while keeping the underlying programming structure more manageable and adaptable
3Adaptability or versatility
If symbol stacks are upgraded to higher ranks, then the potential winnings and entertainment value increase, but the randomness and unpredictability of outcomes may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the randomly selected outcome directly influences the symbol stack upgrades and re-spin conditions. The system continuously provides feedback to the player through visual and auditory cues during upgrades and re-spins, maintaining engagement while ensuring that each outcome remains randomly determined. This feedback loop preserves randomness while enabling progressive winnings through structured upgrades
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system includes one or more input devices, display devices, processors, and memory devices. At least one of the memory devices store instructions that cause the system to receive a wager and to display at least one array having a plurality of columns. An outcome is randomly selected, in response to the wager, in which a first column is stacked with a stack of symbols of a first rank and a second column is stacked with a stack of symbols of a second rank. The first rank is compared with the second rank to determine a high rank and a low rank according to a predetermined pay table. The stack of symbols of the low rank is upgraded to a stack of symbols of the high rank.