U.S. patent application number 09/823553 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for gaming machine with a free game, single reel spin feature.
Invention is credited to Bennett, Nicholas Luke.
Application Number | 20020010017 09/823553 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3820684 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020010017 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bennett, Nicholas Luke |
January 24, 2002 |
Gaming machine with a free game, single reel spin feature
Abstract
A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to
control images displayed on the display. The game controller is
arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused
to be displayed on the display. If a predefined winning event
results, the machine awards a prize. Upon completion of a base game
which includes a trigger condition, a feature game sequence is
initiated wherein, in respect of at least certain of the games of
the feature game sequence, at least one of a plurality of image
carrying elements from a preceding game is held, a decision as to
which image carrying element is to be held being made independently
of the trigger condition. while remaining image carrying elements
displayed on the display are caused to change.
Inventors: |
Bennett, Nicholas Luke;
(Sydney, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Rosenman & Colin LLp
575 Madison Avenue
New York
NY
10022-2585
US
|
Family ID: |
3820684 |
Appl. No.: |
09/823553 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3267 20130101;
G07F 17/3244 20130101; G07F 17/3265 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/20 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2000 |
AU |
PQ6588 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means
arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game
control means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one
random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if
a predefined winning event results, the machine awards a prize, the
gaming machine being characterised in that, upon completion of a
base game which includes a trigger condition, a feature game
sequence is initiated wherein, in respect of at least certain of
the games of the feature game sequence, at least one of a plurality
of image carrying elements from a preceding game is held, a
decision as to which image carrying element is to be held being
made independently of the trigger condition, while remaining image
carrying elements displayed on the display means are caused to
change.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the feature game sequence
is a series of free games.
3. The gaming machine of claim 2 in which, in the series of free
games, the first game of the series of free games has all its image
carrying elements changed to refresh the display.
4. The gaming machine of claim 3 in which, for remaining games of
the series of free games, only one of the image carrying elements
is caused to change each time.
5. The gaming machine of claim 4 in which the image carrying
element which is selected to change is randomly selected by the
game control means.
6. The gaming machine of claim 5 in which the selected image
carrying element differs from one game to the next in the series of
free games.
7. The gaming machine of any one of claims 2 to 6 inclusive in
which, if another trigger condition occurs during the series of
free games, a new series of free games is started.
8. The gaming machine of claim 7 in which the new series of free
games is added to the series of free games remaining from an
initial sequence of free games
9. The gaming machine of claim 8 in which, in a first game of the
new series of free games, only one of the image carrying elements
is caused to change by the control means.
10. The gaming machine of any one of the preceding claims in which
any wins which occur during the feature game sequence pay a
predetermined integer multiple of that which an equivalent win pays
in the base game.
11. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as
described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a gaming machine. More
particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine and to an
improvement to a game played on such a gaming machine.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Players who regularly play gaming machines, quickly tire of
particular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of
these machines to develop innovative game features which add
interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players
amused and therefore willing to continue playing the games as well
as to attract new players.
[0003] Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming
machine market, there is intense competition between manufacturers
to supply various existing and new venues. When selecting a
supplier of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will often pay
close attention to the popularity of various games with their
patrons. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are keen to devise
games which are popular with the players as a mechanism for
improving sales, retaining customers and attracting new
customers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to the invention, there is provided a gaming
machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to
control images displayed on the display means, the game control
means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random
event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a
predefined winning event results, the machine awards a prize, the
gaming machine being characterised in that, upon completion of a
base game which includes a trigger condition, a feature game
sequence is initiated wherein, in respect of at least certain of
the games of the feature game sequence, at least one of a plurality
of image carrying elements from a preceding game is held, a
decision as to which image carrying element is to be held being
made independently of the trigger condition, while remaining image
carrying elements displayed on the display means are caused to
change.
[0005] The invention is intended particularly for use in spinning
reel-type games where each image carrying element is a video
simulation of a spinning reel. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the video simulations of spinning reels carry a
number of symbols thereon which, when the reels stop spinning cause
a plurality of the symbols to be displayed on the display means. It
will. however, be appreciated that the invention could be
applicable to other types of games, for example, card games, ball
games, such as Keno. or the like.
[0006] The feature game sequence may be a series of free games. The
trigger condition may be any suitable trigger condition, such as,
for example, the presence of a number of scatter symbols on the
display means.
[0007] In the series of free games, the first game of the series of
free games may have all its image carrying elements changed to
refresh the display, ie. all the reels may be re-spun. For
remaining games of the series of free games, only one of the image
carrying elements is caused to change each time, ie. only one of
the reels may be re-spun in each free game of the series. The reel
which is selected for re-spinning may be randomly selected by the
game control means and may differ from one game to the next in the
series of free games.
[0008] If another trigger condition occurs during the series of
free games, a new series of free games may be started. The new
series of free games may be added to the series of free games
remaining from an initial sequence of free games. In other words,
in the example as specified above, if the plurality of scatter
symbols again appears, a new series of free games is started.
[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, in the first free game
of the new series, all the reels may be re-spun whereafter only one
of the reels in the free games is re-spun for each free game.
Instead, in a first game of the new series of free games, only one
of the image carrying elements may be caused to change by the
control means rather than the entire screen display being
refreshed.
[0010] Any wins which occur during the feature game sequence may
pay a predetermined integer multiple of that which an equivalent
win pays in the base game. Typically, any win in one of the feature
games may pay triple that of the equivalent win in the underlying
base game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention is now described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a three dimensional view of a gaining machine,
in accordance with the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a control circuit
of the gaming machine of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen display of a result of a
base game played on the gaming machine of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIGS. 4a to 4e show various screen displays of a feature
game sequence of the game:
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of the game of FIGS. 3 and 4a to
4e; and
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of another embodiment of the game
of FIGS. 3 and 4a to 4c.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a
gaming machine, including a game, in accordance with the invention.
The machine 10 includes a console 12 having a video display unit 14
on which a game 16 is played, in use. The game 16 is a spinning
reel game which simulates the rotation of a number of spinning
reels 18. A midtrim 20 of the machine 10 houses a bank 22 of
buttons for enabling a player to play the game 16. The midtrim 20
also houses a credit input mechanism 24 including a coin input
chute 24.1 and a bill collector 24.2.
[0019] The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is
carried. The artwork 28 includes paytables, details of bonus
awards, etc.
[0020] A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash
payouts from the machine 10.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a control means or
control circuit 32 is illustrated. A program which implements the
game and user interface is run on a processor 34 of the control
circuit 32. The processor 34 forms part of a controller 36 which
drives the screen of the video display unit 14 and which receives
input signals from sensors 38. The sensors 38 include sensors
associated with the bank 22 of buttons and touch sensors mounted in
the screen. The controller 36 also receives input pulses from the
mechanism 24 indicating that a player has provided sufficient
credit to commence playing. The mechanism 24 may, instead of the
coin input chute 24.1 or the bill collector 24.2, or in addition
thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown) or any other type of
validation device.
[0022] Finally. the controller 44 drives a payout mechanism 40
which, for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the
coin tray 30 to make a pay out to a player when the player wishes
to redeem his or her credit.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the result of a
base game 16 is shown. In this example, three scatter symbols S 42
are spun up. The presence of the three scatter symbols 42 is a
trigger condition which starts a feature sequence being a
predetermined number of free games such as sixteen free games. In
addition, a win is paid for the three scatter symbols 42.
[0024] In a first game of the series of free games, the screen
display of which is shown at 44 in FIG. 4a of the drawings, all
five reels 18 are re-spun. In the example shown in FIG. 4a a win is
paid for five Jacks on line one. There are now fifteen free games
remaining.
[0025] After the second free game, the result is as shown in FIG.
4b of the drawings. Only the fourth reel has been selected to be
re-spun, the selection taking place randomly under the control of
the control circuit 32 of the machine 10. the remaining reels 18
having been held. In this regard, it is to be noted that the
control circuit 32 makes the decision as to which reels 18 are to
be held in each free game of the series independently of which
reels 18 carried the scatter symbols 42 which triggered the feature
sequence. In the game shown in FIG. 4b, a win is paid for three
Jacks on the first payline. Fourteen games remain of the series of
free games.
[0026] After the third spin, the result is as shown in FIG. 4c of
the drawings. In this case, the second reel 18 has been selected by
the control circuit 32 to be re-spun with the remaining reels 18
being held. Once again, three scatter symbols 42 are present so
that the feature sequence, i.e. the series of free games or spins,
re-occurs. In other words, the presence of the three scatter
symbols 42 triggers a new series of free games so that there are
now twenty-nine free games being the thirteen remaining games from
the initial series of free games plus the sixteen of the second
series of free games. A prize is also paid for the three scatter
symbols 42.
[0027] In a first embodiment of the invention, in a first game
after the second trigger condition, ie. the first game of the
remaining twenty-nine games, the control circuit 32 only selects
one reel 18 to be re-spun with the remaining reels 18 being held.
Instead, in a second embodiment of the invention, the presence of
the three scatter symbols 42 re-triggers the feature and all the
reels 18 are re-spun for the first game in the new series of free
games with the result being shown in FIG. 4d of the drawings. For
this game, a win is paid for three Kings on payline two as well as
four Tens on payline three. There are now twenty-eight free games
remaining.
[0028] For the following game in the second embodiment of the
invention, only one of the reels 18 is re-spun. Once again, the
fourth reel 18 is randomly selected to be re-spun and the result is
shown in FIG. 4e of the drawings. A prize is paid for four Kings on
payline two and for three Tens on payline three. There are now
twenty-seven free games or spins remaining which take place as
described above.
[0029] In respect of either embodiment described above, any wins
which occur during a free game of the feature pay a predetermined
multiple of that which the equivalent win pays in the underlying
base game. Typically, any win in one of the feature games pays
triple that of the equivalent win in the underlying base game.
[0030] It is an advantage of the invention that a feature game
sequence is provided which the applicant believes will enhance
player interest.
[0031] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the
invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The
present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *