Walking Wild Symbols with Persistent Features in Gaming Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic gaming machines struggle to effectively display higher value prizes while controlling game volatility and return to player (RTP), often requiring large memory and processing resources.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of designated walking symbols, such as Walking Wild symbols, which become persistent when reaching a designated location on the game matrix and aggregate, allowing for increased award multipliers and larger prizes while managing game volatility through dynamic symbol movement and locking mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional slot game mechanics are used to display higher value prizes, then prize values can be increased, but memory and processing resources are consumed excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprize valueVSAvoidmemory and processing resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic symbol movement where walking symbols traverse across reels and transform into persistent symbols upon reaching target locations. This dynamic mechanism allows the game to display higher value prizes through symbol aggregation and transformation without requiring static pre-computation of all possible outcomes, thereby reducing memory and processing requirements while maintaining high prize values

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses preliminary action by pre-defining the movement paths and transformation rules for walking symbols before game play begins. The symbols follow predetermined trajectories across reels and automatically transform when reaching designated positions, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations and reducing processing resource consumption during actual game play

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If walking symbols are implemented with persistent features and aggregation mechanics, then game excitement and player engagement are enhanced, but game volatility increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame excitementVSAvoidgame volatility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different symbol types with distinct behaviors: walking symbols that move across reels, persistent symbols that remain in place, and aggregating symbols that combine to form higher value prizes. This localized differentiation allows the game to provide exciting variable outcomes while maintaining controlled volatility through defined transformation rules at specific locations on the reel grid

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by transforming symbol properties as they move across the reels. Walking symbols change from a mobile state to a persistent state when reaching target positions, and multiple symbols can aggregate to change the prize multiplier parameter. These controlled parameter changes enhance game excitement while maintaining volatility management through predefined transformation conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If symbols are locked in position for subsequent spins, then award multipliers can be increased, but game randomness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaward multiplierVSAvoidgame randomness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the game into distinct phases: a walking phase where symbols move across reels with full randomness, and a persistent phase where symbols are locked in position to form award multipliers. This segmentation allows the game to maintain randomness during the walking phase while enabling multiplier accumulation during the persistent phase, balancing both objectives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250166465A1Gaming systems and operations including walking symbols with persistent features
Publication Date: 2025.05.22 ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • US20250166465A1 patent drawing
  • US20250166465A1 patent drawing
  • US20250166465A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An electronic gaming system includes a memory device and a processor configured to cause display of a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a game matrix with a first set of symbols including a first designated persistence symbol displayed in a first symbol position of a first column and a second designated persistence symbol displayed in a first symbol position of a second column. In response to the first designated persistence symbol being displayed in the first column, the first designated persistence symbol is locked in the first symbol position of the first column for subsequent spins of the bonus game. In response to the second designated persistence symbol being displayed in the second column, the second designated persistence symbol is moved horizontally from the second column to an adjacent column of the plurality of columns for a second spin of the bonus game.