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
Engineering 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
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
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
2Productivity
If winning opportunities are increased through more paylines, then player excitement is improved, but the probability of achieving threshold wins decreases
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
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
Data Source
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.


