U.S. patent application number 11/748962 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-06 for multiple pay combination gaming apparatus.
Invention is credited to Nicholas Luke Bennett, Marijan Jon Kovacic, Lloyd Gilbert Sefton.
Application Number | 20080058068 11/748962 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39152428 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080058068 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bennett; Nicholas Luke ; et
al. |
March 6, 2008 |
MULTIPLE PAY COMBINATION GAMING APPARATUS
Abstract
A gaming machine is disclosed that provides a game in which a
player of the gaming machine stakes a wager on one or more outcomes
of the game that are represented as symbols arranged in an array of
symbol display positions. The player controls the number of
outcomes on which a wager is staked by operating a user interface.
During play of the game the gaming machine causes a display to
display indicia representative of the total number of outcomes
selected but not display indicia representative of every available
outcome and not display indicia of every selected outcome. Indicia
representative of an individual outcome is displayed when that
outcome defines a winning combination. A method of providing a
graphical user interface for a gaming machine is also
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Bennett; Nicholas Luke;
(Lane Cove, AU) ; Kovacic; Marijan Jon; (Lane
Cove, AU) ; Sefton; Lloyd Gilbert; (Lane Cove,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCANDREWS HELD & MALLOY, LTD
500 WEST MADISON STREET
SUITE 3400
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
39152428 |
Appl. No.: |
11/748962 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/20 ; 463/25;
463/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/34 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/020 ;
463/025; 463/036 |
International
Class: |
A63F 13/10 20060101
A63F013/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 15, 2006 |
AU |
2006902576 |
Claims
1. A gaming machine comprising a display and a user interface in
communication with a game controller, the gaming machine providing
a game in which: a player of the gaming machine stakes a wager on
one or more outcomes of the game, which are represented on the
display as a plurality of symbols arranged in an array of symbol
display positions; the player controls the number of outcomes on
which a wager is staked by operating the user interface; the number
of outcomes on which the player stakes a wager is displayed on at
least one gauge that is displayed adjacent to the array of symbol
display positions; if a winning combination of symbols occurs in at
least one of the outcomes on which the player has staked a wager,
the gaming machine awards an award associated with that winning
combination and displays on the display an outcome indicator that
indicates the outcome in which the winning combination of symbols
occurred.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein an outcome indicator for
a said outcome is only displayed during play of the game if a
winning combination of symbols occurs in that outcome.
3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein an outcome indicator is
displayed for an outcome in which a winning combination of symbols
has occurred, whether or not the player has staked a wager on the
outcome and wherein the outcome indicator is displayed differently
depending on whether the player has staked a wager on that
outcome.
4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the outcome indicator for
a said outcome is only displayed during play of the game if the
player has staked a wager on that outcome and a winning combination
of symbols occurs in that outcome.
5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the player is constrained
to select from a selection of groups of said outcomes on which to
stake a wager, each group having a different number of outcomes in
it and all including the outcomes of each group that has a lesser
number of outcomes in it, and wherein during a play of the game the
gauge displays indicia showing the number of outcomes in at least
the group that has been selected for that game play.
6. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the gauge is displayed to
the side of the array of symbol display positions and the gauge
displays indicia representing the groups in order of size along the
side of the array, and wherein the outcomes in a group are
predominantly displayed so that the first symbol display position
in the outcome is proximate the indicia on the gauge for that
group.
7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the outcomes are numbered
and wherein the outcomes are predominantly displayed so that the
first symbol display position in the outcome is located towards the
top of the array for lower numbered outcomes and towards the bottom
of the array for higher numbered outcomes.
8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the outcomes are numbered
and wherein the outcomes are predominantly displayed so that the
first symbol display position in the outcome is located towards the
bottom of the array for lower numbered outcomes and towards the top
of the array for higher numbered outcomes.
9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the user interface
comprises a touch screen over the display and wherein the player
touches operates the portion of the touch screen located over the
gauge to place wagers on different numbers of outcomes.
10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine
provides the game so that the player of the gaming machine can
stake as part of the wager any of a plurality of different bets on
the one or more outcomes, and wherein the bet that the player
stakes is displayed on at least one further gauge that is also
displayed on the display.
11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein there is one said gauge
and one said further gauge that are displayed on opposite sides of
the array of symbol display positions.
12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the maximum number of
outcomes on which a player can select to stake a wager by operating
the user interface is at least 50.
13. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the maximum number of
outcomes on which a player can select to stake a wager by operating
the user interface is at least 100.
14. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the outcomes are pay
lines defined across a plurality of spinning reels.
15. A gaming machine comprising a display and a user interface in
communication with a game controller, the gaming machine providing
a game in which a player of the gaming machine stakes a wager on
one or more outcomes of the game, which are represented on the
display as a plurality of symbols arranged in an array of symbol
display positions, and the player controls the number of outcomes
on which a wager is staked by operating the user interface, and if
a winning combination of symbols occurs in at least one of the
outcomes the gaming machine awards an award, wherein during play of
the game the game controller causes the display to display indicia
representative of the total number of outcomes selected but not
display indicia individually indicating every available outcome and
not display indicia individually indicating every selected
outcome.
16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the indicia
representative of the total number of outcomes selected comprises
an integer displayed on the display, the integer indicating the
number of outcomes selected.
17. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the game controller
causes the display to display indicia representative of a plurality
of options of groups of outcomes available to be selected using the
user interface.
18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the game controller
also causes the display to highlight or display indicia that
indicates the total number of outcomes that are selected using the
user interface.
19. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the user interface has
a corresponding number of buttons to the plurality of options and
the buttons are marked with corresponding indicia to the indicia
displayed on the display.
20. The gaming machine of any claim 15, wherein the indicia
comprises a graduated scale and the game controller causes the
display to highlight a position on the scale depending on the
number of outcomes selected using the user interface in comparison
to the total number of outcomes available to be selected.
21. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein if one or more of the
outcomes selected using the interface is a winning combination, the
game controller further causes the display to display indicia
representative of the winning outcome or outcomes.
22. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein if a plurality of
winning outcomes occurs during play of the game, each winning
outcome is displayed sequentially.
23. A gaming machine comprising a display and a user interface in
communication with a game controller, the gaming machine providing
a game in which a player of the gaming machine stakes a wager on
one or more outcomes of the game, which are represented on the
display as a plurality of symbols arranged in an array of symbol
display positions, and the player controls the number of outcomes
on which a wager is staked by operating the user interface, and if
a winning combination of symbols occurs in at least one of the
outcomes the gaming machine awards an award, wherein the game
controller causes the display to only display indicia of an
individual outcome in the array during play of the game when that
outcome defines a winning combination.
24. The gaming machine of claim 23, wherein the game controller
causes the display to display the total number of outcomes selected
using the user interface.
25. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the game controller
also causes the display to display a number showing the total
number of outcomes that are available to be selected.
26. The gaming machine of claim 23, wherein the game controller
also causes the display to display a graphic representation of the
proportion of the number of outcomes selected using the user
interface in comparison to the maximum number of outcomes that can
be selected.
27. A method of providing a graphical user interface on a display
of a gaming machine which provides a game in which a player has
control over the number of outcomes purchased in the game, the
method comprising displaying on the display a plurality of playing
elements from which the outcomes are defined and only displaying
indicia showing a particular outcome within the playing elements
when that particular outcome defines a winning combination.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying indicia
representative of the number of outcomes purchased.
29. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying the total
number of outcomes available to be purchased.
30. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying a
representation of the proportion of outcomes purchased relative to
the total number of outcomes available to be purchased.
31. A gaming machine comprising: credit input means to receive
credit for wagering on game plays of a game playable on the gaming
machine; display means comprising one or more displays; one or more
input devices that allow the player to specify a wager to stake on
a variable number of the outcomes before the outcomes are displayed
on the display means; a game controller that receives inputs from
the one or more input devices, determines from the inputs the
number of outcomes on which a wager has been staked, reduces a
balance of credit that has been received by the credit input means,
and randomly selects outcomes for the game, wherein the game
controller further controls the display means to display
representations of the game and display an indicator of the
determined number of outcomes on which a wager has been staked as a
gauge and display an outcome indicator that indicates any outcomes
that are associated with the wager that has been staked and the
number of outcomes represented by the gauge that result in a
winning combination; and prize payment means controlled by the game
controller to pay a prize for any said winning combination that
occurs in at least one of the outcomes on which the player has
staked a wager and which are represented by the gauge.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to an Australian patent
application filed on May 15, 2006, as serial number AU2006902576,
entitled "Multiple Pay Combination Gaming Apparatus," which is
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to gaming machines, gaming
apparatus and to methods of gaming. In particular, the present
invention relates to a multiple pay combination gaming apparatus
and a method of providing a multiple pay combination gaming
apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With the increase of gambling at gaming venues has come
increased competition between gaming venues to obtain a larger
share of the total gambling spend. Gaming venue operators have
therefore continuously looked for new variations and types of games
in order to attract both new and return customers to their
venues.
[0004] In response to this need, suppliers of gaming devices and
systems have attempted to provide the sought after variety, while
still developing games that comply with the relevant regulations in
the jurisdiction of the gaming venue operator. Suppliers of gaming
devices therefore are faced with restrictions on the types of games
and gaming apparatus that are allowable, both in terms of the
prevailing regulations and in terms of providing a return on
investment to the gaming venue operators.
[0005] Originally, gaming machines had physical spinning reels,
which were controlled by a stepper motor. These gaming machines
paid a prize if an outcome was spun up on a single central pay line
that was a winning combination. Some later machines displayed three
positions on each reel and provided three horizontal pay lines, one
for each row that could be defined through the spinning reels.
[0006] It is now not uncommon for a player of an electronic gaming
machine having a video display unit to be able to simultaneously
play twenty-five or more pay lines in each activation of a game. It
is usual and desirable to indicate to a player on screen the number
of pay lines that can be purchased and how many pay lines have been
purchased in a way that allows players to readily compare their
purchase with what is available.
[0007] FIG. 14 shows an exemplary screen shot S8 of a game in which
up to twenty-five lines can be played. The available twenty-five
lines are indicated by pay line indicators 9. The player has
selected to play ten lines and therefore the ten lines that are
being played are highlighted. Typically, if a win occurred on one
of the pay lines being played, the pay line which displays the
winning outcome is highlighted, for example by flashing both the
symbols in the outcome that meant that it was a winning combination
and flashing the corresponding pay line indicator 9. Indication of
the winning pay lines is required by the relevant gaming
regulations in many jurisdictions.
[0008] There is a need or want in the industry for gaming machines
to have a high number of pay lines, for example machines with 50,
100 or more pay lines. However, the higher the number of pay lines
that are available, the more difficult it becomes to clearly
display the pay lines on screen. In addition to providing
information that allows a player to play the game in an informed
way, a game designer or gaming machining manufacturer must overcome
the problem of presenting the game in an attractive way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a gaming machine comprising a display and a user interface
in communication with a game controller, the gaming machine
providing a game in which:
[0010] a player of the gaming machine stakes a wager on one or more
outcomes of the game, which are represented on the display as a
plurality of symbols arranged in an array of symbol display
positions;
[0011] the player controls the number of outcomes on which a wager
is staked by operating the user interface;
[0012] the number of outcomes on which the player stakes a wager is
displayed on at least one gauge that is displayed adjacent to the
array of symbol display positions;
[0013] if a winning combination of symbols occurs in at least one
of the outcomes on which the player has staked a wager, the gaming
machine awards an award associated with that winning combination
and displays on the display an outcome indicator that indicates the
outcome in which the winning combination of symbols occurred.
[0014] In one embodiment, an outcome indicator for a said outcome
is only displayed during play of the game if a winning combination
of symbols occurs in that outcome. In this embodiment, an outcome
indicator may be displayed for an outcome in which a winning
combination of symbols has occurred, whether or not the player has
staked a wager on the outcome and wherein the outcome indicator is
displayed differently depending on whether the player has staked a
wager on that outcome.
[0015] In one embodiment, the outcome indicator for a said outcome
is only displayed during play of the game if the player has staked
a wager on that outcome and a winning combination of symbols occurs
in that outcome.
[0016] In one embodiment, the player is constrained to select from
a selection of groups of said outcomes on which to stake a wager,
each group having a different number of outcomes in it and all
including the outcomes of each group that has a lesser number of
outcomes in it, and wherein during a play of the game the gauge
displays indicia showing the number of outcomes in at least the
group that has been selected for that game play. In this
embodiment, the gauge may be displayed to the side of the array of
symbol display positions and the gauge displays indicia
representing the groups in order of size along the side of the
array, and wherein the outcomes in a group are predominantly
displayed so that the first symbol display position in the outcome
is proximate the indicia on the gauge for that group.
[0017] In one embodiment, the outcomes are numbered and wherein the
outcomes are predominantly displayed so that the first symbol
display position in the outcome is located towards the top of the
array for lower numbered outcomes and towards the bottom of the
array for higher numbered outcomes.
[0018] In one embodiment, the outcomes are numbered and wherein the
outcomes are predominantly displayed so that the first symbol
display position in the outcome is located towards the bottom of
the array for lower numbered outcomes and towards the top of the
array for higher numbered outcomes.
[0019] In one embodiment, the user interface comprises a touch
screen over the display and wherein the player touches operates the
portion of the touch screen located over the gauge to place wagers
on different numbers of outcomes.
[0020] In one embodiment, the gaming machine provides the game so
that the player of the gaming machine can stake as part of the
wager any of a plurality of different bets on the one or more
outcomes, and wherein the bet that the player stakes is displayed
on at least one further gauge that is also displayed on the
display. In this embodiment, there may be one said gauge and one
said further gauge that are displayed on opposite sides of the
array of symbol display positions.
[0021] In one embodiment, the maximum number of outcomes on which a
player can select to stake a wager by operating the user interface
is at least 50.
[0022] In another embodiment, the maximum number of outcomes on
which a player can select to stake a wager by operating the user
interface is at least 100.
[0023] In one embodiment, the outcomes are pay lines defined across
a plurality of spinning reels.
[0024] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a gaming machine comprising a display and a user interface
in communication with a game controller, the gaming machine
providing a game in which a player of the gaming machine stakes a
wager on one or more outcomes of the game, which are represented on
the display as a plurality of symbols arranged in an array of
symbol display positions, and the player controls the number of
outcomes on which a wager is staked by operating the user
interface, and if a winning combination of symbols occurs in at
least one of the outcomes the gaming machine awards an award,
wherein during play of the game the game controller causes the
display to display indicia representative of the total number of
outcomes selected but not display indicia individually indicating
every available outcome and not display indicia individually
indicating every selected outcome.
[0025] In one embodiment, the indicia representative of the total
number of outcomes selected comprises an integer displayed on the
display, the integer indicating the number of outcomes
selected.
[0026] In one embodiment, the game controller causes the display to
display indicia representative of a plurality of options of groups
of outcomes available to be selected using the user interface. In
this embodiment, the game controller may also cause the display to
highlight or display indicia that indicates the total number of
outcomes that are selected using the user interface. Also, the user
interface may have a corresponding number of buttons to the
plurality of options and the buttons are marked with corresponding
indicia to the indicia displayed on the display.
[0027] In one embodiment, the indicia comprises a graduated scale
and the game controller causes the display to highlight a position
on the scale depending on the number of outcomes selected using the
user interface in comparison to the total number of outcomes
available to be selected.
[0028] In one embodiment, if one or more of the outcomes selected
using the interface is a winning combination, the game controller
further causes the display to display indicia representative of the
winning outcome or outcomes.
[0029] In one embodiment, if a plurality of winning outcomes occurs
during play of the game, each winning outcome is displayed
sequentially.
[0030] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided a gaming machine comprising a display and a user interface
in communication with a game controller, the gaming machine
providing a game in which a player of the gaming machine stakes a
wager on one or more outcomes of the game, which are represented on
the display as a plurality of symbols arranged in an array of
symbol display positions, and the player controls the number of
outcomes on which a wager is staked by operating the user
interface, and if a winning combination of symbols occurs in at
least one of the outcomes the gaming machine awards an award,
wherein the game controller causes the display to only display
indicia of an individual outcome in the array during play of the
game when that outcome defines a winning combination.
[0031] In one embodiment, the game controller causes the display to
display the total number of outcomes selected using the user
interface. In this embodiment, the game controller may also cause
the display to display a number showing the total number of
outcomes that are available to be selected.
[0032] In one embodiment, the game controller also causes the
display to display a graphic representation of the proportion of
the number of outcomes selected using the user interface in
comparison to the maximum number of outcomes that can be
selected.
[0033] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of providing a graphical user interface on a
display of a gaming machine which provides a game in which a player
has control over the number of outcomes purchased in the game, the
method comprising displaying on the display a plurality of playing
elements from which the outcomes are defined and only displaying
indicia showing a particular outcome within the playing elements
when that particular outcome defines a winning combination.
[0034] In one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying
indicia representative of the number of outcomes purchased.
[0035] In one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying
the total number of outcomes available to be purchased.
[0036] In one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying a
representation of the proportion of outcomes purchased relative to
the total number of outcomes available to be purchased.
[0037] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is
provided a gaming machine comprising:
[0038] credit input means to receive credit for wagering on game
plays of a game playable on the gaming machine;
[0039] display means comprising one or more displays;
[0040] one or more input devices that allow the player to specify a
wager to stake on a variable number of the outcomes before the
outcomes are displayed on the display means;
[0041] a game controller that receives inputs from the one or more
input devices, determines from the inputs the number of outcomes on
which a wager has been staked, reduces a balance of credit that has
been received by the credit input means, and randomly selects
outcomes for the game,
[0042] wherein the game controller further controls the display
means to display representations of the game and display an
indicator of the determined number of outcomes on which a wager has
been staked as a gauge and display an outcome indicator that
indicates any outcomes that are associated with the wager that has
been staked and the number of outcomes represented by the gauge
that result in a winning combination; and [0043] prize payment
means controlled by the game controller to pay a prize for any said
winning combination that occurs in at least one of the outcomes on
which the player has staked a wager and which are represented by
the gauge.
[0044] Further aspects of the present invention and further
embodiments of the aspects of the invention described in the
preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following
description, given by way of example and with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] Notwithstanding any other embodiments that may fall within
the scope of the present invention, certain embodiments of the
present invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0046] FIG. 1: shows diagrammatically, a view of a gaming machine
suitable for implementing an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0047] FIG. 2: shows a block diagram of gaming apparatus suitable
for implementing an embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 3: shows a block diagram of components of the memory of
the gaming apparatus represented in FIG. 2.
[0049] FIG. 4: shows diagrammatically, a network gaming system
suitable for implementing an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIGS. 5 to 10: show exemplary screen shots from a gaming
apparatus implementing a first game of certain embodiments of the
present invention.
[0051] FIG. 11: shows an arrangement of pay line outcomes for the
game shown in FIGS. 5 to 10.
[0052] FIG. 12: shows numbered outcome indicators for the 100 pay
lines shown in FIG. 11.
[0053] FIG. 13: shows an exemplary screen shot from a gaming
apparatus implementing a second game of an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0054] FIG. 14: shows a screen shot showing the pay line structure
of some prior art games.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, one example of a
gaming machine suitable for implementing an embodiment of the
present invention is generally referenced by arrow 10.
[0056] The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display
14 on which is displayed representations of a game 16, that can be
played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a
bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to play the game 16. The
mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 including a
coin input chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. A top box 26 may
carry artwork 28, including for example, pay tables and details of
bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game.
Further artwork and/or information may be provided on the front
panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the
console 12 for cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.
[0057] The display 14 shown in FIG. 1 is in the form of a video
display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device.
Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display,
plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the
visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box 26 may
also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may
be of the same type as the display 14, or a different type of
display.
[0058] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a gaming apparatus,
generally referenced by arrow 100, suitable for implementing an
embodiment of the present invention. The gaming apparatus 100 may,
for example, operate as a standalone gaming machine of the type
shown in FIG. 1. However, the gaming apparatus 100 may
alternatively operate as a networked gaming machine, communicating
with other network devices, such as one or more servers or other
gaming machines. The gaming apparatus 100 may also have distributed
hardware and software components that communicate with each other
directly or through a network. Accordingly, different reference
numerals have been used in FIG. 2 from FIG. 1 for components that
may be equivalent.
[0059] The gaming apparatus 100 includes a game controller 101,
which in the illustrated example includes a microprocessor,
microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational
device 102. Instructions and data to control operation of the
computational device 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in
data communication with the computational device 102. Typically,
the gaming apparatus 100 will include both volatile and
non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with
such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103. The
instructions to cause the game controller 101 to implement an
embodiment of the present invention will be stored in the memory
103.
[0060] The gaming apparatus may include hardware meters 104 for the
purposes of regulatory compliance and also include an input/output
(I/O) interface 105 for communicating with the peripheral devices
of the gaming apparatus 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or
the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own
memory for instructions and data.
[0061] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral devices that
communicate with the controller are one or more displays 106, a
user interface 107 including a touch screen 106A, a card and/or
ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input
mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additional devices
may be included as part of the gaming apparatus 100, or devices
omitted as required for the specific implementation.
[0062] In addition, the gaming apparatus 100 may include a
communications interface, for example a network card 112. The
network card, may for example, send status information, accounting
information or other information to a central controller, server or
database and receive data or commands from a the central
controller, server or database. As explained in more detail in
relation to FIG. 4, the computational device 102 may include two or
more controllers or processors, which may be local or remote from
each other and the displays 106.
[0063] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary block diagram of the main
components of the memory 103. The RAM 103A typically temporarily
holds program files for execution by the computational controller
102 and related data. The EPROM 103B may hold be a boot ROM device
and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass
storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the
integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the
computational controller 102 using protected code from the EPROM
103B or elsewhere.
[0064] FIG. 4 shows a gaming system 200. The gaming system 200
includes a network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet
network. Gaming devices 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of
two gaming devices 202 in FIG. 4, are connected to the network 201.
The gaming devices 202 may be gaming machines 10, as shown in FIG.
1 or form part or all of another gaming apparatus 100. Single
gaming devices 202 and banks 203 containing three or more gaming
devices 202 may also be connected to the network 201.
[0065] One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the
network 201. The displays 204 may, for example, be associated with
a bank 203 of gaming devices. The displays 204 may be used to
display representations associated with game play on the gaming
devices 202, and/or used to display other representations, for
example promotional or informational material.
[0066] Servers may also be connected to the network 201. For
example, a game server 205 may generate game outcomes for games
played on the gaming devices 202, a database management server 206
with associated database 206A may store game programs and
associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202
and a jackpot server 207 may control one or more jackpots
associated with the gaming devices 202.
[0067] Further servers may be provided to assist in the
administration of the gaming system 200, including for example a
gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to
monitor the use of licenses to particular games. An administrator
terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the
network 201 and the devices connected to the network.
[0068] The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming
systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network
and/or a wide area network such as the Internet through a firewall
211.
[0069] FIGS. 5 to 10 show exemplary screen shots S1 to S6 of a game
16 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The
game may be implemented by the gaming machine 10, gaming apparatus
100 and/or within the gaming system 200, with a game controller 101
causing a display 106 to display the screen shots S1 to S6 during
game play. Unless specifically stating otherwise, the following
description refers to implementation of the game on a standalone
gaming machine 10 (see FIG. 1).
[0070] The game 16 is a spinning reel type game. Five spinning
reels 1-5 are provided, each of which displays four playing
elements or symbols 6 (one only indicated by a reference numeral).
The symbols therefore define a matrix of five columns and four
rows. If the game 16 pays from left to right, as is typical of a
spinning reel game, up to 1024 different outcomes can be defined in
the matrix, representing every possible combination of visible
symbols, with each combination having one symbol from each of the
five reels 1 to 5.
[0071] In the exemplary game 16 shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, a wager
indicator 40 shows five combinations, indicated by combination
indicators 41-45. Each combination indicator 41-45 shows the number
of outcomes or pay lines that are included in that combination. In
the example shown, the available combinations allow two, twenty,
fifty, eighty or one hundred lines to be purchased by a player.
FIG. 5 shows a screen shot S1 when two lines have been purchased,
FIG. 6 shows a screen shot S2 when twenty lines have been purchased
and so forth for FIGS. 7 to 9. As is usual in a gaming machine,
during normal play and excluding from consideration any "scatter
pays" or other special symbols or features that may be provided,
only a winning combination that occurs on a purchased pay line
results in the award of a prize in credits or another award.
[0072] FIGS. 5 to 10 show an embodiment of the present invention in
which all five combination indicators 41-45 are displayed on screen
and the selected combination is highlighted. In less preferred
embodiments, the display may only show the combination indicator
41-45 that corresponds to the combination selected by the player.
For example, in FIG. 5 only the combination 41 showing "2" lines
may be displayed and in FIG. 8 only the combination 44 showing "80"
lines may be displayed.
[0073] The wager indicator 40 can be viewed as a representation of
a gauge, which gives a graphical representation of the proportion
of outcomes purchased relative to the total number of outcomes
available to be purchased. The gauge starts at the top of the
screen (FIG. 5) when the minimum number of outcomes has been
purchased and progresses towards the bottom of the screen (FIG. 9)
when all possible outcomes have been purchased. Although the gauge
shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 shows discrete tabs for each combination
indicator 41-45, this is not essential and the gauge may appear
more like a temperature gauge, optionally changing colour dependent
on the number of outcomes purchased and optionally only displaying
an integer that indicates the number of outcomes purchased.
[0074] Therefore, in accordance with the instructions of the game
16, the game controller 101 causes the display 14 to show indicia
of the number of outcomes purchased without the complexity and
clutter of displaying every outcome that is available to be
purchased. In addition, the screen preferably also graphically
displays a representation of the proportion of outcomes purchased
relative to the total number available to be purchased. This can be
a general indication of proportion rather than an exact or close
approximation of the actual proportion, as is the case with the
example provided in FIGS. 5 to 10.
[0075] The bank of buttons 22 or other user interface 107, which
may include the touch screen 106A, preferably has a button or other
selector corresponding to each of the five combinations.
Alternatively, a single button may be used to cycle through the
five available options, or two buttons provided, one to move to the
next highest option and the other to move to the next lowest
option. In one embodiment, a player of the gaming machine 10 could
touch the touch screen and drag his or her finger along the
combination indicator 40 or other gauge, with the number of pay
lines increasing or decreasing as the player moves along the
combination indicator. The gaming machine 10 would display an
increasing or decreasing wager amount in a bet indicator 48 (see
FIG. 10) as the number of pay lines selected for purchase increase
or decrease respectively.
[0076] In an alternative game, the player may be able to select
many more combinations of outcomes. For example, for a game having
five spinning reels and three symbols from each reels displayed for
each game activation the player may be able to choose between 1 and
1024 lines. In this case, the bank of buttons 22 or other user
interface 107 may have an "increase bet" button and a "decrease
bet" button. The wager indicator 40 when displayed as a gauge may
then also have a much higher resolution of steps and could show a
moving marker as the player pressed the "increase bet" and
"decrease bet" buttons.
[0077] FIG. 10 shows a screen shot S6 following the purchase of
eighty pay lines and play of the game 16. The result of the game is
that one of the purchased outcomes, the thirty-eighth pay line is a
winning combination. Having purchased eighty lines, as indicated by
the highlighting of combination 44 in the wager indicator 40, at a
cost of 40 credits ($0.40 in a 1 cent game) as indicated on the
screen under the "BET" heading, a win of 8 credits resulted, as
indicated on the screen under the "WIN" heading. The win of 8
credits would typically be stored by the game controller 101 in a
software implemented win meter, and then transferred to the credit
meter of the gaming apparatus after any subsequent events that may
be provided as part of the game.
[0078] An outcome indicator 46 indicates the pay line that caused
the win. No outcome indicator 46 is displayed for any pay line that
did not contain a winning combination. Multiple outcome indicators
46 may be displayed sequentially or simultaneously if more than one
pay line contained a winning combination that contributed to the
win meter under the game rules. In the embodiment shown, the
outcome indicator 46 includes a number identifying the pay line and
also a representation of a pay line 46A showing the symbols that
made up the pay line. These symbols may also flash or otherwise be
highlighted to the player.
[0079] The arrangement of the outcomes, in this example pay lines
may be varied to match the wager indicator 40. Traditionally, the
pay line allocated to pay line number one is a straight pay line
that traverses through the centre row of the symbols defined by the
displayed part of the spinning reels. In the currently contemplated
preferred embodiment the pay line allocated to pay line number one
is located towards the top of the screen to match the location of
the combination indicator 41. The first 50 pay lines may be
predominantly defined by symbols in the upper two rows and the
second 50 pay lines may be predominantly defined by symbols in the
lower two rows. In one embodiment, the first symbol or leftmost
symbol in a game that pays left to right across the spinning reels,
is dominant, so that the first 50 pay lines are defined by patterns
where the symbol on the first reel is predominantly on the upper
two rows. Similarly, for the second 50 pay lines the symbol used on
the first reel may be predominantly located on the lower two
rows.
[0080] FIG. 11 shows a possible arrangement of lines in accordance
with this arrangement method. In this arrangement the first 50 pay
lines, specifically pay line 1 to pay line 50 all have the first
symbol position in one of the top two rows of the first
column/reel. These lines also have the last symbol position in the
same row of the last column/reel. Similarly, the last 50 pay lines
have first and last symbol positions in the lower two rows of the
first and last columns/reels respectively.
[0081] FIG. 12 shows all 100 of the outcome indicators 46 for the
game described herein in relation to FIGS. 5 to 11. When an outcome
displays a winning combination of symbols, the outcome indicator 46
for that outcome is displayed between the wager indicator 40 and
the symbols in the position horizontally in line to the position of
the outcome indicator 46 shown in FIG. 12. For example, the outcome
indicator `3` would be displayed between the wager indicator 40 and
the symbols where the outcome indicator `1` is currently shown.
Similarly, the outcome indicator `42` would be displayed where the
outcome indicator `40` is currently shown.
[0082] In the example game shown in FIG. 10, the player wagered one
credit per line-cost. The game may provide the option to wager two
or more credits per line cost. For example, if the player played
eighty lines at two credits per line cost and game outcomes of FIG.
10 resulted, the bet would have been eighty credits and the win
sixteen credits. The player could vary the credits per line cost
using the bank of buttons 22.
[0083] FIG. 13 shows an example screen shot S7 in which the credits
per line-cost are also displayed as a gauge. In screen shot S7 the
wager indicator 40A is similar to that previously described and a
per line-cost indicator 47 shows the bets per line, the options
being 1, 10, 24, 40 (currently selected) and 50 in the example
shown.
[0084] In one embodiment of the invention, where a player has
purchased less than the maximum number of outcomes and one or more
winning combinations occurred in outcomes that were not purchased,
then the gaming apparatus may indicate this to the player. For
example, if the player purchased 20 lines in a game supporting up
to 100 lines, winning combinations in lines 21 to 100 may be
indicated. Preferably the indication is in a less prominent way
than for winning combinations that occur in outcomes that have been
purchased.
[0085] While the foregoing description has been provided by way of
example of the preferred embodiments of the present invention as
presently contemplated, which utilise gaming apparatus and
machines, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that
the present invention also may have application to internet gaming
and/or have application to gaming over a telecommunications
network, where handsets are used to display game outcomes and
receive player inputs.
[0086] Where in the foregoing description reference has been made
to integers having known equivalents, then those equivalents are
hereby incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
[0087] Those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that
modifications and additions to the embodiments of the present
invention may be made without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
[0088] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and
defined in this specification extends to all alternative
combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or
evident from the text or drawings. All of these different
combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the
invention.
[0089] It will also be understood that the term "comprises" (or its
grammatical variants) as used in this specification is equivalent
to the term "includes" and should not be taken as excluding the
presence of other elements or features.
* * * * *