Weighted Symbol Array Interaction for Player Luck and House Edge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The gaming industry faces challenges in creating gaming apparatus and games that provide a negative return on investment in the long run while maintaining a sense of luck and volatility for players, and improving processing speed and animation quality to enhance player engagement.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that incorporates a special game element interacting with a dynamically weighted subset of symbols within a game array, using a random number generator to randomly select an active subset, assign weights to symbols, and modify symbols based on the special game element's landing position, all while determining awards for winning combinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a random element generator is used to create luck and volatility for players, then player engagement and feeling of luck are improved, but the long-term return on investment becomes more negative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing dynamically weighted symbol arrays where symbol weights are not fixed but change over time and across different game instances. The system dynamically adjusts the probability distribution of symbols landing on reels, allowing the game to adapt between providing player engagement (volatility) and maintaining house edge (negative ROI). This dynamic weighting mechanism enables the game to be random and exciting in the short term while ensuring negative return in the long term.
2Ease of operation
If advanced graphics and special effects are incorporated to make games more entertaining, then player engagement is improved, but processing speed and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the symbol array into multiple independent reels, each reel being a separate processing unit. This segmentation allows the system to process and animate each reel independently, improving processing efficiency despite the complexity of advanced graphics. The game logic is also segmented into distinct phases (symbol selection, weight assignment, spin animation, outcome determination), allowing parallel processing and optimization of each segment without compromising overall player engagement.
3Ease of operation
If multiple bonus features with different game formats are added to increase entertainment value, then player engagement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a core weighted symbol array mechanism that serves multiple functions across different game formats and bonus features. The same fundamental mechanism of dynamically weighted symbols and random reel spinning is used universally across various game modes, picking games, and bonus features. This allows the system to offer diverse entertainment experiences without proportionally increasing complexity, as the underlying engine remains consistent and reusable across different game scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system and method provide for enhanced gameplay through the interaction of a special game element with a weighted symbol array. Operations include randomly selecting an active subset of a symbol array using a first random number generator output and assigning weights to symbols within this subset using a second random number generator output. A special game element is randomly positioned on the array via a third random number generator output. At least one symbol is modified based on the special game element's position relative to the active subset. Awards for winning combinations account for symbols, their weights, and modifications from the special game element. Upon wins, symbols are removed and replaced, and a new active subset is selected using a fourth random number generator output, with these steps repeating. The system features game-logic circuitry to perform these operations.