Konami Group has been granted a patent for a bonus device and method for gaming machines. The device is a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object, such as a sphere or box, that can rotate or move to display a bonus. The device is embedded with display technology that allows the bonus amounts to change based on certain conditions in the base game. The patent also includes a gaming machine with a base game display, a bonus game display with a rotatable wheel, and a processor programmed to execute an algorithm for displaying animated sequences and selecting bonus award amounts. GlobalData’s report on Konami Group gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Konami Group, Location-based parallel gaming was a key innovation area identified from patents. Konami Group's grant share as of September 2023 was 40%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
A bonus device and method for gaming machines
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11756385B2) describes a gaming machine with unique features. The machine includes a housing, a base game display, and a bonus game display mounted above the base game display. The bonus game display features a rotatable wheel. The machine is equipped with a processor that is programmed to execute an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images.
The algorithm involves several steps. First, the rotatable wheel on the bonus game display is animated to display a plurality of panels with changeable award amounts. These award amounts are selected from a schedule of award amounts, which are arranged in a non-uniform probability distribution. The number of changeable award amounts in the schedule is greater than the number displayed on the wheel.
Next, the base game display features a plurality of reels that spin and stop to display the outcome of a base game. If a trigger condition occurs during the base game, the processor randomly selects a second award amount from the schedule of award amounts. At least one panel on the wheel is then modified to replace the displayed award amount with the randomly selected second award amount.
Finally, the rotatable wheel on the bonus game display is animated again to spin and stop, revealing the outcome of a bonus game, which includes a selected bonus award amount.
The patent also mentions additional features of the gaming machine. For example, the processor can animate an index position on the bonus game display to indicate the selected bonus award amount. The rotatable wheel can also display a plurality of award multipliers, and the selected bonus award amount can be modified based on an associated award multiplier. The wheel can have an inner display portion showing the award multipliers and an outer display portion showing the panels with changeable award amounts. The inner display portion can rotate with respect to the outer display portion.
Furthermore, the gaming machine may include a projector mounted to the housing, which can display images onto the rotatable wheel.
Overall, this patent describes a gaming machine with a unique combination of features, including a non-uniform probability distribution of award amounts, animated displays, and the ability to modify award amounts based on multipliers. These features could enhance the gaming experience for players.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
