Dynamic Bonus Feature Using Symbol Clusters in Wagering Games

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gaming machines lack innovative bonus features that can enhance player engagement and operator profitability, as existing bonus games may not provide sufficient excitement or varying winning opportunities.

Innovation Solution

A gaming system and method that displays a plurality of symbols indicative of a randomly selected outcome, awards for winning paylines, and activates a secondary game feature when a predetermined threshold of winning paylines is reached, incorporating a cluster of common symbols and modifying adjacent symbols to increase winning opportunities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional bonus game is implemented, then player engagement is improved, but the game lacks dynamic winning opportunities and excitement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidgame feature complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic bonus feature where symbol clusters are continuously modified during gameplay. The controller dynamically changes symbol positions and creates expanding clusters of common symbols, transforming the static bonus game into a dynamic experience with evolving winning opportunities, directly addressing the lack of excitement in traditional bonus games

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-positions certain symbols and creates potential clusters before the bonus feature is fully activated. The controller identifies and marks symbols that will form clusters, preparing the game state in advance to ensure exciting winning opportunities arise naturally during the bonus round, enhancing player engagement through anticipated rewards

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If winning opportunities are increased through more paylines, then player excitement is improved, but the probability of achieving threshold wins decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewinning frequencyVSAvoidthreshold achievement probability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of symbol evaluation by creating clusters of common symbols that can expand and contract during gameplay. This transforms the fixed payline structure into a dynamic cluster-based system where winning combinations are formed through symbol grouping rather than traditional payline intersections, increasing both winning frequency and threshold achievement probability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the game board into distinct symbol clusters that can be independently evaluated and modified. By dividing the symbol array into manageable cluster units, the system can create multiple simultaneous winning opportunities across different cluster regions, increasing overall productivity while maintaining reliable threshold achievement through distributed cluster formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8303393B2Wagering game with enhanced bonus feature
Publication Date: 2012.11.06 LNW GAMING INC
  • US8303393B2 patent drawing
  • US8303393B2 patent drawing
  • US8303393B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A gaming system includes at least one display configured to display a plurality of symbols positions. The plurality of symbol positions are configured to display symbols indicative of a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in relation to a plurality of paylines. The gaming system further includes a controller configured to award an award for any winning outcome occurring along a payline and to add a number of winning paylines to a counter configured to track a number of winning paylines. The controller is further configured, in response to a number of winning paylines in the counter exceeding a predetermined threshold number, to activate a game feature in which a second award is awarded.