NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 56

Metamorphic Games

Requirements of Metamorphic Games

3.9.35 Games that are not completely independent of player’s history (i.e. metamorphic) must:

a) display clearly to the player which game rules apply to the current game state;

b) display to the player sufficient information to indicate the current status towards the triggering of the next metamorphosis of the game (e.g. if the game collects tokens towards a feature, the number of tokens missing or the total number required to trigger the metamorphosis must be indicated along with the number of tokens collected at that point);

c) not adjust the likelihood of a metamorphosis occurring, based on the history of prizes obtained in previous games (i.e. games must not adapt their theoretical return to player based on past payouts); and

d) not be misleading. If a game's metamorphosis is triggered after accruing a certain number of tokens or combination of tokens of different kind, the probability of obtaining like tokens must not deteriorate as the game progresses (e.g. for identical tokens it is not permitted that the last few tokens needed are more difficult to obtain than the previous tokens of that kind).

Extra Credits Wagered During Metamorphic Games

3.9.36 If a feature of metamorphic games requires extra credits to be wagered and the game accumulates all winnings (from the trigger and the feature) to a temporary “win” meter (rather than directly to the credit meter), the game must:

a) provide a means where winnings on the temporary meter can be bet (via the credit meter) to allow for instances where the player has an insufficient credit meter balance to complete the feature; and

b) transfer all credits on the temporary meter to the credit meter upon completion of the feature.

Metamorphic Game’s Return

3.9.37 The game's player return over the cycle of both the metamorphic and non-metamorphic part of the game must conform to the minimum theoretical return to player [MINRTP].

3.9.38 If features of a metamorphic game require extra credits to be wagered, the game's theoretical return to player during the feature must be greater than the return of the base game.

3.9.39 If the player is allowed to wager at less than the available optimum strategy during a metamorphic game feature, the manufacturer must provide evidence that this option will not reduce the overall player return for that game below the minimum theoretical return to player [MINRTP].

3.9.40 Any accumulated metamorphic game tokens are not to be lost during a full re-configuration if the game that includes the tokens is still available after the full reconfiguration.

3.9.41 The progressive component of a metamorphic game must be set to the mean progressive amount subsequent to a RAM reset. Note that this requirement applies to tokens (or points) that have accumulation towards a feature (or prize), but not a stand-alone progressive jackpot (see Section 7 Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations).

Residual Credit Removal

3.9.42 If less than or equal to [CRECANLIM] credits for non-tokenised games or [MAXHOPPER] for tokenised games exist on the credit meter and the COLLECT button is pressed, credits must be converted to either the appropriate number of coins and dispensed from the hopper, or if applicable an amount payable via a printed ticket or account transfer. If residual credits exist the manufacturer may provide a residual credit removal play or allow a cancel credit or ticket print to remove the residual credits or return the gaming machine to normal game play (i.e. leave the residual credits on the player’s credit meter for betting).

3.9.43 If the cancel credit option is implemented the player must have the ability to terminate the cancel credit mode and return to normal game play.

3.9.44 The method of implementation of the residual credit removal play must be approved.