Networked Wagering Game Secondary System for Loyalty Rewards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wagering game operators face challenges in attracting frequent play and increasing profitability, as existing machines often have similar winning expectations and entertainment value, leading to a need for innovative gaming enhancements and customer loyalty programs that effectively reward players.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secondary game system integrated with customer loyalty programs that tracks player activity across multiple wagering game machines, allowing players to earn rewards by achieving specific objectives in community games, which are linked to individual and group achievements in various wagering games.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional wagering game machines are used with similar winning expectations, then the machine structure remains simple and easy to operate, but player engagement and profitability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wagering game machines into a networked system where machines communicate and share data. This merging creates a community game environment that enhances player engagement through social interaction and collective goals, while the network infrastructure manages the complexity centrally rather than requiring complex individual machine designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal loyalty program that operates across all wagering game machines in the network. Players earn loyalty points and participate in community games regardless of which specific machine they play, allowing the same system to serve multiple functions: individual gaming, social interaction, and loyalty rewards management.
2Adaptability or versatility
If customer loyalty programs offer traditional comps funded by operators, then player retention is maintained, but the program cost is high and player excitement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback mechanisms where player achievements in wagering games immediately translate to progress in community games and loyalty program benefits. This continuous feedback loop keeps players engaged and motivated, making the loyalty program more effective at player retention while reducing reliance on expensive operator-funded comps.
Solution Approach 2:
The community game system allows players to earn rewards through their own gaming achievements and contributions to community goals, rather than relying entirely on operator-funded bonuses. Players self-generate value through participation, reducing the direct financial burden on operators while maintaining program attractiveness.
3Productivity
If a secondary game system with community games is implemented, then player participation and loyalty are increased, but the system complexity and configuration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central server or network controller as an intermediary that manages the complexity of the community game system. This intermediary handles player data, tracks achievements, manages loyalty points, and coordinates community game events, freeing individual wagering game machines from needing complex configuration while still enabling sophisticated multi-machine gameplay and reward systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include providing a secondary game for presentation. A game objective for the secondary game is associated with a set of achievements attainable via wagering games available for play via a wagering game machine. The operations can further include detecting attainment of one of the set of achievements via one of the wagering games. The attainment of the one of the set of achievements causes completion of the game objective for the secondary game. The operations can further include awarding a prize associated with a customer loyalty program based on the completion of the game objective.