U.S. patent application number 12/481044 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for gaming machine with a hold symbol function.
Invention is credited to Philip Jeffery Anderson, Casey Condron, Jamie K. Langille, Linn Anthony McKay, Scott Monroe Stewart.
Application Number | 20090305768 12/481044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41400804 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090305768 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McKay; Linn Anthony ; et
al. |
December 10, 2009 |
GAMING MACHINE WITH A HOLD SYMBOL FUNCTION
Abstract
A gaming machine and associated method. Symbols are selected and
presented on a display in a first random selection process. Each
symbol is selected independently of each other symbol and the
plurality of symbols are separated into at least three distinct
groups of symbols, each group containing at least two symbol. A
player of the gaming machine selects one or more of the groups of
symbols to be held. In a second random selection process any
symbols that are not held are reselected. A prize is paid according
to a pay table and the symbols presented following the second
random selection process.
Inventors: |
McKay; Linn Anthony;
(Henderson, NV) ; Stewart; Scott Monroe; (Las
Vegas, NV) ; Anderson; Philip Jeffery; (Las Vegas,
NV) ; Condron; Casey; (Las Vegas, NV) ;
Langille; Jamie K.; (Las Vegas, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCANDREWS HELD & MALLOY, LTD
500 WEST MADISON STREET, SUITE 3400
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
41400804 |
Appl. No.: |
12/481044 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61060016 |
Jun 9, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3262 20130101;
G07F 17/3209 20130101; G07F 17/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/20 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged to
select symbols, present the selected symbols on a display and award
an award if a winning outcome occurs, the method comprising:
providing for a player to make a wager to enable one or more hands
of plays; selecting and displaying symbols in a game matrix at a
game display defining a primary game display; receiving a selection
from a player of the gaming machine of one or more rows of the
matrix including of the groups of symbols to be held; in a second
random selection process reselecting any symbols that are not
selected by the player to be held and presenting the reselected
symbols on the display; and paying a prize according to a pay table
and the symbols presented following the second random selection
process.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the symbols are presented in a
matrix having n rows and m columns, wherein m is at least 3 and n
is at least 2 and wherein the at least three distinct groups of
symbols are the symbols in each column of the matrix.
3. The method of claim 1, further including providing the option to
select none of the groups of symbols to be held.
4. The method of claim 1, including providing the option to select
all of the groups of symbols to be held.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is the visible
portion of a plurality of physical spinning reels, one reel for
each said presented symbol on the display.
6. A method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged to, in
response to the staking of a wager, select symbols, present the
selected symbols on a display to represent a plurality of outcomes
and award an award if a winning outcome occurs, the method
comprising: receiving a selection of a plurality of outcomes on
which to stake a wager; in a first random selection process
selecting a plurality of symbols and presenting the selected
symbols on a display of the gaming machine in manner so that a
plurality of initial outcomes are visually determinable, wherein
each symbol is selected independently of each other symbol and the
plurality of symbols are separated into at least three distinct
groups of symbols, each group containing at least two symbols and
wherein each of the plurality of outcomes includes one and only one
member of each group of symbols; receiving a selection from a
player of the gaming machine of one or more of the groups of
symbols to be held; in a second random selection process
reselecting any symbols that are not selected by the player to be
held and presenting the reselected symbols on the display so that a
plurality of final outcomes are visually determinable; and
following the second random selection process either paying a prize
or not according to a pay table and the final outcomes.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selection of a plurality of
outcomes on which to stake a wager is a selection of three
outcomes.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein there are five said groups of
symbols.
9. A gaming machine that is arranged to select symbols, present the
selected symbols on a display to represent a plurality of game
outcomes and award an award if a winning outcome occurs in the
plurality of game outcomes, the gaming machine comprising: a game
controller in communication with a display, the game controller
including a random number generator, the game controller adapted to
use numbers generated by the random number generator to select
symbols for presentation on the display in a process including two
stages, wherein in a first stage of the process, a first selection
of a plurality of symbols is presented on the display to form a
plurality of initial outcomes, wherein each symbol is selected
independently of each other symbol; in a second stage of the
process, one or more subsets of symbols are reselected and
presented on the display to form a plurality of final outcomes,
wherein each subset includes one and only one symbol from each of
the plurality of outcomes; following the second stage paying a
prize according to a pay table and the final outcomes.
10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the gaming machine
includes a user interface adapted to allow a player of the gaming
machine to select the number of said subsets of the first selection
of symbols to be reselected.
11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the symbols are
presented in a matrix having n rows and m columns, wherein n is at
least 2 and m is at least 3 and wherein subsets of the first
selection of symbols available for selection consist of at least
two of the columns of symbols in the matrix.
12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the gaming machine and
user interface is adapted so that the player can select any of the
m columns to be reselected.
13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the gaming machine and
user interface is adapted so that the player can select all or none
of the m columns to be reselected.
14. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the display is the
visible portion of a plurality of physical spinning reels, one reel
for each said presented symbol on the display.
15. A gaming machine for play by a player comprising: a primary and
at least one second game display matrices defined by N1-X columns
and M rows; a device for prompting play a processor to randomly
select and to control the display to display symbols in the primary
game matrix, to hold at least one of the columns NH of the primary
game and replicate the held column NH into the second game; an
input device for the player to hold remaining columns, any held
columns replicated into said second game; a device to prompt a
draw, said processor in response to said prompt configured to
select and display symbols for any column N1-X not held to define
final outcomes for the primary and said second game and to compare
the outcomes to a schedule of winning outcomes and to issue an
award for any winning outcomes.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/060,016 having a filing date of Jun. 9, 2008,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] [Not Applicable]
MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
[0003] [Not Applicable]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention generally relates to gaming machines
and methods of gaming. A particular embodiment of the present
invention relates to gaming machines that select and present a
plurality of game outcomes on which the player may stake a
wager.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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 therefore
are faced with restrictions on the types of games and gaming
machines that are allowable, both in terms of the prevailing
regulations and in terms of providing a return on investment to the
gaming venue operators.
[0007] One way in which suppliers have provided increased variety
and interest is to provide multi-line spinning reel gaming machines
and other games with a plurality of outcomes, such as poker-style
card games with multiple hands. The increased number of game
outcomes that result (one outcome per pay line in a spinning reel
game and one outcome per hand in a card game), provides for
increased wager options. For example, the player may select to
wager on one pay line or hand, or may select to wager on a
plurality of pay lines or hands. In addition, the player may select
to wager a variable amount on each outcome. For example, in a
spinning reel game, in one game play the player may wager 1 credit
per pay line selected and in another game play may wager 10 credits
per pay line selected.
[0008] In addition to the demand for new games, there continues to
be a demand for traditional types of games. For example, gaming
machines with mechanical reels driven by stepper motors continue to
be popular with many players. There is therefore also a demand for
gaming machines that may be of interest to these players.
[0009] With regards to gaming machines players often look to games
where they have a degree of input and control over the outcome.
Games such as video Poker give players a chance to select, from an
initial display of typically five playing cards, which cards to
hold and which to discard in the hopes of improving the hand
ranking (and award) on the draw where discarded cards are
replaced.
[0010] Still a further aspect of gaming is the desire of players to
be able to increase their odds for receiving a winning outcome.
This can be done by providing, more wager options as described
above such as providing players with the ability to wager on
multiple pay lines or arrangements. Providing more wagering
propositions increases the odds for a player to receive a winning
outcome and, for the casino, increases the amounts wagered and
hence their expected profits.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged to
select symbols, present the selected symbols on a display and award
an award if a winning outcome occurs, the method comprising:
[0012] in a first random selection process selecting a plurality of
symbols and presenting the selected symbols on a display of the
gaming machine, wherein each symbol is selected independently of
each other symbol and the plurality of symbols are separated into
at least three distinct groups of symbols, each group containing at
least two symbols;
[0013] receiving a selection from a player of the gaming machine of
one or more of the groups of symbols to be held;
[0014] in a second random selection process reselecting any symbols
that are not selected by the player to be held and presenting the
reselected symbols on the display; and
[0015] paying a prize according to a pay table and the symbols
presented following the second random selection process.
[0016] In one embodiment, the symbols are presented in a matrix
having n rows and m columns, wherein m is at least 3 and n is at
least 2 and wherein the at least three distinct groups of symbols
are the symbols in each column of the matrix.
[0017] In one embodiment, the method further includes providing the
option to select none of the groups of symbols to be held.
[0018] In one embodiment, the method further includes providing the
option to select all of the groups of symbols to be held.
[0019] In one embodiment, the display is the visible portion of a
plurality of physical spinning reels, one reel for each said
presented symbol on the display.
[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged
to, in response to the staking of a wager, select symbols, present
the selected symbols on a display to represent a plurality of
outcomes and award an award if a winning outcome occurs, the method
comprising:
[0021] receiving a selection of a plurality of outcomes on which to
stake a wager;
[0022] in a first random selection process selecting a plurality of
symbols and presenting the selected symbols on a display of the
gaming machine in manner so that a plurality of initial outcomes
are visually determinable, wherein each symbol is selected
independently of each other symbol and the plurality of symbols are
separated into at least three distinct groups of symbols, each
group containing at least two symbols and wherein each of the
plurality of outcomes includes one and only one member of each
group of symbols;
[0023] receiving a selection from a player of the gaming machine of
one or more of the groups of symbols to be held;
[0024] in a second random selection process reselecting any symbols
that are not selected by the player to be held and presenting the
reselected symbols on the display so that a plurality of final
outcomes are visually determinable; and
[0025] following the second random selection process either paying
a prize or not according to a pay table and the final outcomes.
[0026] In one embodiment, the selection of a plurality of outcomes
on which to stake a wager is a selection of three outcomes. In one
embodiment, there are five said groups of symbols.
[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a gaming machine that is arranged to select symbols,
present the selected symbols on a display to represent a plurality
of game outcomes and award an award if a winning outcome occurs in
the plurality of game outcomes, the gaming machine comprising:
[0028] a game controller in communication with a display, the game
controller including a random number generator, the game controller
adapted to use numbers generated by the random number generator to
select symbols for presentation on the display in a process
including two stages, wherein
[0029] in a first stage of the process, a first selection of a
plurality of symbols is presented on the display to form a
plurality of initial outcomes, wherein each symbol is selected
independently of each other symbol;
[0030] in a second stage of the process, one or more subsets of
symbols are reselected and presented on the display to form a
plurality of final outcomes, wherein each subset includes one and
only one symbol from each of the plurality of outcomes;
[0031] following the second stage paying a prize according to a pay
table and the final outcomes.
[0032] In one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a user
interface adapted to allow a player of the gaming machine to select
the number of said subsets of the first selection of symbols to be
reselected.
[0033] In one embodiment, the symbols are presented in a matrix
having n rows and m columns, wherein n is at least 2 and m is at
least 3 and wherein subsets of the first selection of symbols
available for selection consist of at least two of the columns of
symbols in the matrix. In this embodiment, the gaming machine and
user interface may be adapted so that the player can select any of
the m columns to be reselected. The gaming machine and user
interface may also be adapted so that the player can select all or
none of the m columns to be reselected.
[0034] In one embodiment, the display is the visible portion of a
plurality of physical spinning reels, one reel for each said
presented symbol on the display.
[0035] Further aspects of the present invention and further
embodiments of the aspects 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 SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1: shows diagrammatically, a view of a gaming console
suitable for implementing the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 2: shows a block diagram of gaming machine suitable for
implementing the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 3: shows a block diagram of components of the memory of
the gaming machine represented in FIG. 2.
[0039] FIG. 4: shows diagrammatically, a first game screen
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0040] FIG. 5: shows diagrammatically, a second game screen
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0041] FIG. 6: shows a flow diagram of a process performed in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIGS. 7 and 8: show a further embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0043] FIGS. 9 and 10: show yet another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0044] In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, one example of a
gaming console that is suitable to implement the present invention
is generally referenced by arrow 114.
[0045] The gaming console 114 includes two displays 106A, 106B on
one or both of which is displayed representations of a game that
can be played by a player and a bank of buttons 107A and/or a touch
screen 107B to enable a player to play the game. The displays 106
may be video display units, such as a cathode ray tube screen
device, a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable
video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical
device. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the display
106A is an array of physical spinning reels, which are rotated by
stepper motors. The display 106B may display artwork, including for
example, pay tables and details of bonus awards and other
information or images relating to the game. In alternative gaming
consoles the display 106B may be omitted, optionally replaced by a
static display. Where a single game is played, as hereinafter
described, only display 106A need be a processor controlled display
such as an LCD, plasma, OLED or other video display. Where multiple
games are played display 106A may be configured to handle the
display of the games or additionally or alternatively the top
display 106B may be a processor controlled video display displaying
one or more games to the player.
[0046] A credit input including a coin input 110A and/or bill
collector 110B allows a player to provide credit for wagering and a
coin output 111 is provided for cash payouts from the gaming
console 114. A card and/or ticket reader 108 and a printer 109 may
be provided to provide player tracking, cashless game play or other
gaming and non-gaming related functions.
[0047] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a gaming machine, generally
referenced by arrow 100, suitable for implementing the present
invention. The gaming machine 100 may include the gaming console
114 shown in FIG. 1 and accordingly like reference numerals have
been used to describe like components in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0048] The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101, which
in the illustrated example includes a computational device 102,
which may be a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic
device or other suitable device. Instructions and data to control
operation of the computational device 102 are stored in a memory
103, which is in data communication with, or forms part of, the
computational device 102. Typically, the gaming machine 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 the present invention will be stored in
the memory 103. The instructions and data for controlling operation
of the computational device 102 may be stored on a computer
readable medium from which they are loaded into the gaming machine
memory 103. The instructions and data may be conveyed to the gaming
machine by means of a data signal in a transmission channel.
Examples of such transmission channels include network connections,
the Internet or an intranet and wireless communication
channels.
[0049] The game controller 101 may include hardware credit 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 machine 100. The input/output
interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent
devices with their own memory for instructions and data.
[0050] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral devices that
communicate with the controller are the displays 106, bank of
buttons/touch screen 107, the card and/or ticket reader 108, the
printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input 110 and a coin
output 111. Additional devices may be included as part of the
gaming machine 100, or devices omitted as required for the specific
implementation.
[0051] The bank of buttons 107A and/or touch screen 107B together
with one or both of the displays 106 may provide a user interface
115 through which the gaming machine 100 and player communicate. If
a card/ticket reader 108 is provided, this may also form part of
the user interface 115.
[0052] In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a
communications interface, for example a network card 112. The
network card 112, may for example, send status information,
accounting information or other information to a central
controller, server or database and receive data or commands from
the central controller, server or database. The network card 112
may also enable communication with a central player account,
allowing cashless gaming. One or more of the peripheral devices,
for example the card/ticket reader 108 may be able to communicate
directly with the network card 112. The network card 112 and the
I/O interface 105 may be suitably implemented as a single machine
communications interface.
[0053] The game controller 101 may also include a random number
generator (RNG) 113, which generates a series of random numbers
that are used by the computational device 102 to determine the
outcomes of games played on the gaming machine 100. In particular,
the RNG 113 determines the displayed stopping position of each of
the reels 1 (see FIG. 4). Reels 1 may be either electro-mechanical
stepper reels or video generated representations of reels.
[0054] The game controller 101 may have distributed hardware and
software components that communicate with each other directly or
through a network or other communication channel. The game
controller 101 may also be located in part or in its entirety
remote from the user interface 115. Also, the computational device
102 may comprise a plurality of devices, which may be local or
remote from each other and may incorporate jackpot servers and
other devices that determine game play of games on the gaming
console 114. Instructions and data for controlling the operation of
the user interface 115 may be conveyed to the user interface 115 by
means of a data signal in a transmission channel. The user
interface 115 may be a computational device, for example a personal
computer, used by a person to play a game provided from a remote
game controller 101.
[0055] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary block diagram of the main
components of the memory 103. The RAM 103A typically temporarily
holds instructions and data related to the execution of game
programs and communication functions performed by the computational
controller 102. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may
contain system and game related code. The mass storage device 103C
may be 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.
[0056] FIG. 4 shows a screen display that may be displayed on the
display 106A that includes a touch screen 107B. The screen display
in this embodiment shows a game that displays on the display 106A
fifteen reels 1 (one only indicated by a reference numeral), each
of which presents a symbol 2 (one only indicated). In the
embodiment shown, the reels 1 are arranged in an array in the form
of a matrix having three rows and five columns 3-7. Below the
columns 3-7 is displayed `Hold` icons 8-12, which represent the
location of touch panels on the touch screen 107B.
[0057] Each of the fifteen reels 1 has a plurality of symbols on it
and in this embodiment displays a single symbol when stopped. The
number of symbols on each of the reels 1 is a matter of design
choice. For example, each reel may have between 15 to 25 symbols,
with either all reels having the same number of symbols or
different reels having differing numbers of symbols, depending on
the specific implementation. The symbols sets on the reels 1 may
all be the same or may differ between the reels.
[0058] When the game is played, the stopping position of each of
the reels 1 is individually randomly determined. Accordingly the
symbols 2 displayed by each reel 1 is randomly determined
independently of the stopping position of the other reels 1. By way
of example only, the reels may display the symbols as shown in FIG.
4.
[0059] The player then selects between zero and all of the columns
3-7 to `Hold`. Equivalently, the player may select between zero and
all of the columns 3-7 to reselect or discard.
[0060] For example, the pay table of the game may specify that
three, four or five `J` symbols along a pay line pay prizes. If the
symbols shown in FIG. 4 are displayed in the initial display or
"deal", the player may choose to hold columns 3, 4, 5 and 7, both
to preserve the winning combination of three `J` symbols and in the
hope that the reel on the third row of column 6, when re-spun, will
reveal a `J` symbol to provide five `J` symbols along the pay line
P3 (see FIG. 5). Assuming that this choice is made, then all three
reels 1 in column 6 are re-spun on the "draw", which may result in
the screen display shown in FIG. 5. This screen display indicates
whether a win has occurred.
[0061] In this embodiment, the game has three pay line P1-P3 that
extend across each of the three rows of reels 1. If the rules of
the game require combinations of symbols to occur from left to
right along a pay line, and three or more `J`, `Q`, `K` or `A`
symbols along a pay line to win a prize, then the result of the
game play indicated by FIG. 5 is the awarding of the prize
specified in the pay table for three `J` symbols.
[0062] The two-stage selection process of the initial deal and the
draw therefore provides a plurality of initial outcomes (the
symbols shown in FIG. 4 along the pay lines P1-P3) and a plurality
of final outcomes as a result of the draw (the symbols shown in
FIG. 5 along the pay lines P1-P3). In some embodiments, the player
may be given two or more opportunities to hold or reselect symbols,
meaning that there would be one or more intermediate outcomes and a
three or more stage selection process. Of course, the more
opportunities to reselect symbols, the higher the chance of the
total game play resulting in a winning outcome in one or more of
the outcomes and therefore the wager required and/or the prizes
payable will need to reflect this to achieve a required expected
return to player for the gaming machine 100.
[0063] As is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, conflicting hold
strategies may result. For example, instead of preserving the three
`J` symbols on pay line P3, the player may choose to hold the reels
in columns 3, 4 and 7, in the hope of achieving three, four or five
`K` symbols along pay line P1. Which option is preferred depends on
the chance of achieving each of these winning outcomes and the size
of the prize associated with each outcome, as specified by the pay
table for the gaming machine 100. By way of simplified example, if
every symbol had a 1 in 5 chance of occurring on a reel 1, then if
reels 3-5 and 7 were held, there would be an 80% chance of
achieving a win for three `J` symbols and a 20% chance of achieving
a win for five `J` symbols. If instead reels 3, 4 and 7 were held,
there would be a 16% chance of achieving a win for three `K`
symbols, a 4% chance of winning the prize for five `K` symbols, a
16% chance for winning the prize for three `J` symbols and a 4%
chance of winning the prize for five `J` symbols.
[0064] If the prizes had values as follows: [0065] Three `J`
symbols pays 5 credits; [0066] Five `J` symbols pays 25 credits;
[0067] Three `K` symbols pays 20 credits; and [0068] Five `K`
symbols pays 50 credits; then the expected return for holding reels
8-10 and 12 is 9 credits and the expected average return for
holding reels 8-9 and 12 would be 7 credits. Therefore,
statistically the better strategy is to hold reels 3-5 and 7.
However if the prize for five `K` symbols paid 250 credits, then
the expected average return for holding reels 3-4 and 7 would
increase to 15, making the better strategy the holding of reels
3-4. The game could therefore involve a skill element, requiring
the player to choose the correct hold strategy, or the gaming
machine could recommend or require the best hold strategy for the
player.
[0069] Prizes other than prizes in credits may be offered. For
example, a prize may be an award of a feature game or the award of
a physical item, such as a car. Each of these prizes will have a
value or expected average value that can be used to determine the
expected overall return of the game and the expected return of each
hold strategy in a game.
[0070] In the screen shot shown in FIG. 5, the Hold icons 8-12 are
not displayed, as the player no longer has the option to hold some
symbols and reselect others. Alternatively, the Hold icons 8-12 may
still be displayed. When still displayed, the icons 8-12 may be lit
brightly when they can be selected to hold symbols in their
respective column 3-7 and dulled when the final outcome is
displayed. When selected the icons 8-12 may be dulled, or may flash
or otherwise represent that they have been selected.
[0071] While the description of FIGS. 4 and 5 has been provided
with reference to an electronic gaming machine where a video
display displays representations of reels, cards or other symbol
carrying devices, in one embodiment the symbols are carried on
physical reels. In this case, the Hold icons 8-12 are replaced by
Hold buttons, which may be part of the bank of buttons 107A, or
provided separate to the bank of buttons 107A, for example
immediately below the physical reels to in a similar configuration
to that shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The Hold buttons may be
illuminated to show when they can be used to hold symbols.
[0072] FIG. 6 shows a process flow diagram of a process performed
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The
process may be performed by any of the versions of the gaming
machine 100 described previously herein.
[0073] In step 20, the game controller 101 monitors the bill
acceptor and/or coin input 110 and/or information received by the
card/ticket reader 108 or network card 112 for a deposit of credit
and in response causes the hardware meters 104 to increment
according to the denomination of the game. The game controller 101
then monitors the user interface 107 for the input of a wager. The
input of the wager may specify whether player wishes to wager on
pay line P2 alone, on pay lines P1 and P2, or on all three pay
lines P1-P3. The input may also specify the amount to be wagered on
each pay line. In alternative embodiments, the number of pay lines
may be fixed at three and/or the amount to be wagered per pay line
may be fixed.
[0074] If there is sufficient credits in the meters 104 to support
the wager, a game play is commenced in step 21 by the game
controller 101 receiving random numbers from the RNG 113, spinning
the reels 1 and causing the reels 1 to stop according to the
received random numbers. As previously described, the stopping
position of each reel is independently determined.
[0075] In step 22 the game controller monitors the bank of buttons
and/or touch screen 107 for a player input of reels to be held. The
player may select columns of reels to hold by touching the touch
screen 107B at the location of between zero and all five of the
`Hold` icons 8-12. Repeated presses of the same `Hold` icon may
cycle between selecting and deselecting a column to be held. As
discussed previously, the gaming machine may indicate a recommended
hold strategy, for example by illuminating the appropriate columns
and/or the appropriate `Hold` icons and may require selection of
the recommended hold strategy. This may be achieved by preventing
continued play until the appropriate columns have been held.
[0076] The player may indicate completion of the selection of a
hold strategy by pressing a `spin` or `draw` button (step 23). This
may be button in the bank of buttons 107A. The game controller 101
then determines if any symbols have not been held. If all five
columns have been held, then the process proceeds to step 26.
[0077] If there are reels that have not been held, then these reels
are re-spun and stopped to reveal the game outcome (step 25). In
step 26 any prizes are awarded to the win meter. These prizes may
be transferred to the credit meter automatically, or after the
completion of further optional game processes, such as a double or
nothing gamble feature.
[0078] The embodiment described above had a total of fifteen reels,
each presenting one symbol. In other embodiments other numbers of
reels may be provided. For example, an alternative embodiment may
involve a game having three columns and two rows so as to present
six symbols. Another embodiment may have three columns and three
rows of reels. A still further embodiment may have six columns and
four rows.
[0079] In addition, the reels need not be presented in a matrix.
All that is required is the presentation of a plurality of symbols
in three or more groups, to allow a hold strategy to be determined
and selected. In certain embodiments of the invention, including
the embodiments described herein previously, each group of symbols
may include one and only one symbol from each outcome that
indicates whether a winning outcome has occurred (i.e. each group
includes only one symbol from each pay line P1-P3). Alternatively,
larger groups may be provided. For example, a player may be
required to select either both of columns 3 and 4 to be held or
select none of the symbols in these two columns to be held. The
option could still be provided to select columns 5-7 individually,
or these columns may be split into a group of two columns and a
single column.
[0080] In another embodiment, and with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8,
the display 106A displays a primary game display with three
vertically arranged reels 200, 202, 204 each displaying three
symbols in rows 208, 210, 212. Each reel 200-204 may be an
electro-mechanical stepper reel or may be a reel displayed on a
video display as is known in the art. Each reel 200-204 defines a
set of symbols such as symbols S1-SN as is known in the art. There
may be, for example, twenty-two stops for each reel with each stop
defining a position for a symbol (including graphic symbols such as
"7s", "Bar", "Cherry" or blanks or a partial symbol where there may
be more stops than symbols. Under control of the processor 102 the
reels 200-204 are controlled spin and stop to randomly position
symbols in the 3.times.3 game matrix 214 defined by the three reels
200-204 and the three rows 208-212 to define, at least initially, a
primary game initial display.
[0081] In addition to the primary game display at display 106A the
player can enable one or more second games 216a-d which are also,
in this example, 3.times.3 display matrices. These second games
216a-d can be displayed at display 106B or, in the alternative, may
share real estate with the primary game display at the display
106a.
[0082] The primary game display 106A has one or more pay lines.
While there may be numerous pay lines, for purposes of explanation
it will be assumed that the primary game as well as the second
games have only three horizontal pay lines 218, 220, 222. It should
be understood that there may be more or fewer pay lines.
[0083] To play the game of FIGS. 7 and 8, the player makes a wager
to enable one or more pay lines for the primary game and for one or
more second games 216a-d. A wager protocol is preferably adopted
such that the player's wagers first enable the pay lines of the
primary game before enabling pay lines in any second game 216a-d.
Alternatively, through a touch screen input, the layer may be able
to allocate some of the wagers. For purposes of this example it
will be assumed the player has wagered the maximum amount to enable
the primary and the four second games 216a-d.
[0084] When the player has made their wager game play is prompted
and the processor 102 and RNG 113 randomly select and display at
the display 106A a primary game initial display or "deal". The
player then has the option to hold none, one or more reels 200-204
in the hopes of improving the outcome in relation to a
predetermined pay table. In the example of FIG. 7 the player has
elected to hold reels 200 and 204 and re-spin reel 202 in the
hopes, for example, of receiving three S1 symbols on pay line 218.
The held reels 200 and 204 are replicated into each enabled second
game as shown. The player then commands a "draw" whereupon the
processor 102 and RND 113 random select a stop position for and
display for each of the primary game and second games 216a-d for
the center reels 202. FIG. 8 shows the displays after the draw. As
can be seen in FIG. 8, for each of the primary and second games
216a-d the stop positions for each of the primary and secondary
games middle row on the draw each randomly positioned producing in
most cases different winning or losing outcome. With reference to
FIG. 8 the primary game has a winning outcome on payline 218 of
three S! symbols on payline 218. Winning outcomes also appear in
second games 216b and 216c of also three S1 symbols on the center
payline. The payer would receive an award for each wining outcome.
For the next "hand" the player would wager to enable the paylines
and second games as discussed above.
[0085] Turning to FIG. 9 still a further embodiment of the present
invention is shown. In this embodiment a primary game 300 is shown
defined by a game matrix having three reels 200, 202, 204 and rows
208, 210, 212. The leftmost reel 200 may be configured to display a
single symbol as shown or "stacked" versions of the same symbol
such that reel 200 always displays a single symbol. Since most pays
are from left to right by providing a single symbol (or stacked
copies of the same symbol) at reel 200 confusion over symbol
combinations and which reels to hold is diminished. The game of
FIG. 9 may be a payline game as described above or may be a pay
arrangement game such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,102
owned by the assignee of this application, such games sold under
the mark REEL POWER.RTM., the disclose of which is incorporated by
reference. In such games the player wagers on reels and symbol
arrangements. For example, with reference to the primary game 300 a
first wager would enable the leftmost reel 200 and the center row
for reels 202 and 204 defining a single pay arrangement. A player
may, for example, be able to wager five credits on the first
arrangement. Wagering more would enable not only the first
arrangement but a second arrangement including all of the symbols
of the second reel 202 and the center row of reel 204 now defining
three symbol arrangements. Again the player may be able to wager
more on the second arrangement up to a maximum permitted by the
game. Wager still more the player would enable all reels defining
nine symbol arrangements. The available symbol arrangements are
defined by the equation: N1M.times.N2M.times.N3M where N! is the
leftmost reel 200, N2 is the center reel 202 and N3 is reel 204 and
"M" is the number of rows of different symbols displayed for the
reel for the game. Thus for the primary game there are
1.times.3.times.3 possible arrangements for the player to wager
upon. To simplify wagering a protocol may be adopted for player
wagering. For example the first five credits wagered would be
applied to the first pay arrangement with the sixth-tenth credits
wagered adding the second arrangement and so forth. Thus the player
could wager a maximum of forty-five credits for the primary
game.
[0086] In addition to the primary game one or more secondary games
302a, b games are provided in the display 106B or share real estate
with the primary game at display 106A. The player may enable the
one or more secondary games 302a,b by selecting and/or wagering.
For example, the credits may be wagered and allocated as
follows:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Credit Wagered Game Pay Arrangement 1
Primary 1st 2 Second game 302a 1st 3 Second game 302b 1st 4 Primary
Game 1.sup.st and 2nd 5 Second game 302a 1.sup.st and 2nd 6 Second
game 302b 1.sup.st and 2nd 7 Primary game 1.sup.st, 2.sup.nd and
3rd 8 Second game 302a 1.sup.st, 2.sup.nd and 3rd 9 Second game
302b 1.sup.st, 2.sup.nd and 3rd 10 Primary game 2 credits on
1.sup.st, 1 credit on 2.sup.nd and 3rd
[0087] And so forth. According to this example the player could
wager a maximum amount for the primary and two second games 302a,b
of 9 arrangements .times.5 credits per arrangement .times.3
games=135 credits. Other wagering schemes may be adopted.
[0088] The pay arrangements of Table 1 are:
##STR00001##
[0089] After the player has made their wager game play is prompted
and the processor 102 and RNG 113 randomly select and display at
the display 106A a primary game initial display or "deal".
According to this embodiment the reel 200 is automatically "held".
Accordingly reel 200 should have a symbol set such that no initial
deal is a "dead hand". i.e. cannot possibly result in a winning
outcome. The automatic holding of reel 200 simplifies the player's
decisions and is believed to help speed play. It should be
understood that the game may randomly select which reel(s) 200,
202, 204 to hold or, where all reels are similarly populated with
symbols the processor may select the reel(s) to hold for the best
possible outcome for the player. Held reel 200 is duplicated into
any enable second games 302a,b. The player next has the option of
additionally holding one or both of reels 202, 204 in the hopes of
obtaining a winning outcome. In the example of FIG. 7 the player
would hold reel 204 (assuming the player has enabled the third pay
arrangement, i.e. all possible none ways of winning) hoping to get
one or more combinations of S1 symbols for a winning outcome. The
held reels 202,204 are replicated into each of the enabled second
games 302a, b.
[0090] The player then prompts a "draw" whereupon the processor
randomly selects and displays the symbols for reel 202 for the
primary and any second games 302a,b to complete play and produce an
outcome for each game. Each outcome is then compared to a schedule
of winning outcomes and the player receives an award for all
winning outcomes. For example, with reference to FIG. 10 and
assuming three S1 symbols are a winning outcome the player has
obtained two winning outcomes in the primary game 300 and one
winning outcome ins the second game 302a.
[0091] The foregoing game can be played on any suitable game matrix
of N reels and M rows and can be played as an arrangement game such
as that described above and with reference to the '102 patent cited
above or can be based upon paylines. The game can also be played
with either electro-mechanical stepper reels or video reels.
[0092] While the foregoing description has primarily focussed on a
spinning reel game, the invention may be implemented in other
forms, such as a card game where cards are selected and displayed
on the display 106A, or a dice game.
[0093] 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 machines of the type
found in casinos, 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.
[0094] 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.
[0095] 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.
[0096] 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.
* * * * *