U.S. patent application number 12/617193 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for gaming machine including a feature gamble.
Invention is credited to George Roukis.
Application Number | 20100056265 12/617193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31953534 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100056265 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roukis; George |
March 4, 2010 |
GAMING MACHINE INCLUDING A FEATURE GAMBLE
Abstract
A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to
control images of symbols 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 and, if a predefined
winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. A game has a
feature having non-monetary characteristics which can be won, the
non-monetary characteristics being able to be gambled. The gaming
machine includes a selector by which a player is able to gamble at
least one of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature.
Inventors: |
Roukis; George; (Miranda,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCANDREWS HELD & MALLOY, LTD
500 WEST MADISON STREET, SUITE 3400
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
31953534 |
Appl. No.: |
12/617193 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10840875 |
May 7, 2004 |
7637808 |
|
|
12617193 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 ;
463/30 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3267 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/34 20130101; A63F 9/24 20130101; G07F
17/3262 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 ;
463/30 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24; A63F 13/00 20060101 A63F013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 7, 2003 |
AU |
2003902183 |
Claims
1. A gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged
to control images of symbols displayed on the display, the game
controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one
random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a
predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the
gaming machine further comprising a game in which a feature having
non-monetary characteristics can be won, the non-monetary
characteristics being able to be gambled and the gaming machine
including a selector by which a player is able to gamble at least
one of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the non-monetary
characteristics of the feature are selected from the group
including: a number of free games constituting the feature, a
multiplier applied to prizes won during the feature, a number of
paylines applicable to games in a feature, a jackpot category, an
amount of partial or total re-spins in a feature.
3. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the feature is won by the
occurrence of a predetermined trigger condition in an underlying
base game of the game.
4. The gaming machine of claim 3 in which the feature is a series
of free games
5. The gaming machine of claim 4 in which the non-monetary
characteristics associated with the free games include the number
of free games constituting the feature and the multiplier which is
applicable to any wins occurring in the free games of the
feature.
6. The gaming machine of claim 5 in which the player is afforded
more than one opportunity to vary at least one of the non-monetary
characteristics.
7. The gaming machine of claim 6 in which the controller limits the
number of attempts offered to the player to a certain maximum value
or minimum value of the non-monetary characteristics.
8. The gaming machine of claim 6 in which the player is afforded a
predetermined number of attempts to vary the non-monetary
characteristics.
9. The gaming machine of claim 5 in which, where the player is
afforded the opportunity of varying more than one non-monetary
characteristic, once the player has made a final determination
regarding one of the non-monetary characteristics, that
non-monetary characteristic is no longer available for
variation.
10. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the selector is a user
interface.
11. A game to be played on a game playing apparatus, the game
playing apparatus having a display and being controlled by a game
controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the
game comprising a feature having non-monetary characteristics that
can be won, the non-monetary characteristics being able to be
gambled and a player being offered the opportunity to gamble at
least one of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature at the
commencement of the feature.
12. The game of claim 11 in which the non-monetary characteristic
of the feature are selected from the group including a number of
free games constituting the feature, a multiplier applied to prizes
won during the feature, a number of paylines applicable to games in
a feature, a jackpot category, an amount of partial or total
re-spins in a feature.
13. The game of claim 11 in which the feature is won by the
occurrence of a predetermined trigger condition in an underlying
base game of the game.
14. The game of claim 13 in which the feature is a series of free
games.
15. The game of claim 14 in which the non-monetary characteristics
associated with the free games include the number of free games
constituting the feature and the multiplier which is applicable to
any wins occurring in the free games of the feature.
16. The game of claim 15 in which the player is afforded more than
one opportunity to vary each non-monetary characteristic.
17. The game of claim 16 in which the controller limits the number
of attempts offered to the player to a certain maximum value or
minimum value of the non-monetary characteristics.
18. The game of claim 17 in which the player is afforded a
predetermined number of attempts to vary the non-monetary
characteristics.
19. The game of claim 15 in which, where the player is afforded the
opportunity of varying more than one non-monetary characteristic,
once the player has made a final determination regarding one of the
non-monetary characteristics, that non-monetary characteristic is
no longer available for variation.
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 game 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 and/or game features 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 a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a gaming machine having a display and a game controller
arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display, the
game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one
random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a
predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the
gaming machine further comprising a game in which a feature having
non-monetary characteristics can be won, the non-monetary
characteristics being able to be gambled and the gaming machine
including a selector by which a player is able to gamble at least
one of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature.
[0005] In this specification, the term "gamble" or "gambled" is to
be understood as enabling a player to attempt to improve one or
more of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature at the risk
of being placed in a worse position. Preferably, the player is not
required to bet an additional amount in order to be eligible for
the ability to gamble the non-monetary characteristics of the
feature.
[0006] The non-monetary characteristics of the feature may be
selected from the group including, but not necessarily consisting
exclusively of, a number of free games constituting the feature, a
multiplier applied to prizes won during the feature, a number of
paylines applicable to games in a feature, a jackpot category, an
amount of partial or total re-spins in a feature, a number of
player selections available to a player in the feature.
[0007] The feature may be won by the occurrence of a predetermined
trigger condition in an underlying base game of the game. For
example, in the case of a spinning reel base game, the feature may
be triggered upon the occurrence of a predetermined symbol or
combination of symbols. The combination of symbols may be the
occurrence of a predetermined number of scatter symbols on the
display means. For example, a feature comprising a number of free
games may be awarded when at least three scatter symbols are spun
up. The more scatter symbols that are spun up, the more free games
there may be constituting the feature.
[0008] The invention may be applicable to any feature. However, for
ease of explanation, the invention will be described with reference
to the feature being a series of free games. The non-monetary
characteristics associated with the free games may include the
number of free games constituting the feature as determined by the
number of scatter symbols which triggered the feature and the
multiplier which is applicable to any wins occurring in the free
games of the feature.
[0009] As indicated above, the player may be offered the
opportunity of varying at least one of the non-monetary
characteristics of the feature. Preferably, in the case of a
feature constituted by a series of free games, the player is
offered the opportunity of varying the number of free games
constituting the feature as well as the multiplier which is
applicable to any wins won in a free game of the feature. The idea
is that the player tries to improve the position for himself or
herself by increasing the number of free games and the multiplier
with no guarantee being provided that the player's position will be
improved. In fact, the ability to vary the non-monetary
characteristics may result in the player's position being
worsened.
[0010] The player may be afforded more than one opportunity to vary
each non-monetary characteristic. However, the controller may limit
the number of attempts offered to the player to a certain maximum
value or minimum value of the non-monetary characteristics.
Instead, the player may be afforded a predetermined number of
attempts to vary the non-monetary characteristics.
[0011] As specified above, one of the non-monetary characteristics
is a jackpot category. Certain progressive jackpots have five
levels being a mini jackpot, a minor jackpot, a grand jackpot, a
major jackpot and a maxi jackpot. Thus, when the player has been
awarded one of the lower jackpot categories, the player may be able
to attempt to obtain a higher jackpot level.
[0012] Further, where the player is afforded the opportunity of
varying more than one non-monetary characteristic, once the player
has made a final determination regarding one of the non-monetary
characteristics, that non-monetary characteristic may no longer be
available for variation.
[0013] The ability to vary a non-monetary characteristic of the
feature may be entirely at the discretion of the player.
Accordingly, one of the options available to the player may be to
select to play the feature with the non-monetary characteristics of
that feature being as they were when the feature was triggered.
[0014] The selector may be a user interface. The user interface may
be a touch screen of the display. In addition, or instead, the user
interface may include one or more control buttons on a midtrim of
the gaming machine.
[0015] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a game to be played on a game playing apparatus, the game
playing apparatus having a display and being controlled by a game
controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the
game comprising a feature having non-monetary characteristics that
can be won, the non-monetary characteristics being able to be
gambled and a player being offered the opportunity to gamble at
least one of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature at the
commencement of the feature.
[0016] A game playing apparatus includes one which does not require
the wagering of a stake in order to play the game and further
includes apparatus which is connectable to a network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention is now described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in
accordance with the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the
gaming machine;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a screen display of a result of a base game of
a game played on the gaming machine of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIGS. 4 to 8 show a series of screen displays prior to
commencement of a feature won in the base game; and
[0022] FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of the game played on the gaming
machine of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] 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 display in the form
of a video display unit 14 on which a game 16 is played, in use.
The video display unit 14 may be implemented as a cathode ray
screen device, a liquid crystal display, a plasma screen, or the
like. 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 keypad 22 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.
[0024] The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is
carried. The artwork 28 includes paytables, details of bonus
awards, etc.
[0025] A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash
payouts from the machine 10.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a 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 that drives the screen of the
video display unit 14 and that 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 of the video
display unit 14. The controller 36 also receives input pulses from
the mechanism 24 to determine whether or not 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.
[0027] Finally, the controller 36 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 30 when the player
wishes to redeem his or her credit.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a screen display of the
result of a base game of the game 16 is shown and is designated
generally by the reference numeral 50.
[0029] The base game is a spinning reel game. Reel symbols of the
base game (and, in this example, reel symbols of the free games of
the feature) include a scatter symbol 52. When three or more
scatter symbols 52 are spun up anywhere on the display, a feature
is triggered.
[0030] Hence, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, because three
scatter symbols 52 have been spun up in the base game, the feature
is triggered. The feature is a series of free games. The number of
free games constituting the feature is dependent on the trigger
condition. More particularly, the number of free games constituting
the feature depends on the number of scatter symbols 52 which are
spun up in the underlying base game. When three, four, or five
scatter symbols are spun up, ten, fifteen or twenty free games,
respectively, are awarded. In another embodiment of the invention,
the number of free games awarded is independent of the number of
scatter symbols 52 that occur in the base game. In other words,
three or more scatter symbols 52 trigger a feature comprising
fifteen free games with a multiplier of three applying to all
wins.
[0031] Thus, arising from the result of the base game shown in FIG.
3, ten free games are awarded.
[0032] Prior to commencement of the feature, a second screen
display 54 appears on the video display unit 14 of the gaming
machine 10. The second screen display 54 firstly includes a message
56 notifying the player of the number of free games constituting
the feature and the multiplier which will be applicable to any wins
occurring in the free games of the feature.
[0033] In addition, three icons 58, 60 and 62 are displayed in the
display 54. These icons 58, 60 and 62 are arranged behind a touch
sensitive part of the screen of the video display unit 14. Thus,
the screen serves as a user interface by means of which a player
can make his or her selection.
[0034] By means of the icons 58, 60 and 62 the player can choose to
play the feature or to gamble non-monetary characteristics
associated with the feature, more particularly, the number of free
games constituting the feature and/or gamble the multiplier
applicable to the free games of the feature, respectively.
[0035] If the player selects the icon 58, i.e. the "Play Feature"
icon, the feature is played with the non-monetary characteristics
of that feature as they initially were when the feature was
triggered. In other words, the feature will consist of ten free
games in which all wins are multiplied by a multiplier of two.
[0036] As indicated by the icon 60 and 62, the player has the
option of varying both non-monetary characteristics of the feature,
being the number of free games constituting the feature and the
multiplier which is applicable to wins occurring during any free
game of the feature.
[0037] Assuming the player selects firstly to vary the number of
free games, the player touches the icon 60. The screen display
changes to that shown at 64 in FIG. 5 of the drawings. A central
message 66 shows the number of free games. A further message 68
shows what the result will be if the player succeeds in improving
his or her position and a message 70 shows what the player's
position will be if the player's position is worsened as a result
of losing the gamble.
[0038] If the player wishes to change his or her mind, the player
can touch the screen over a message 72 and take the current free
games, i.e. ten free games. If, however, the player wishes to
gamble the free games, the player touches icon 74.
[0039] It is assumed that the player decides to gamble the free
games and touches the icon 74. As a result of the player's gamble
the player has a successful outcome and the result is shown on
screen display 76 (FIG. 6 of the drawings). Once again, the player
is afforded the opportunity of further gambling the free games by
touching the icon 74 or the player can take the free games by
touching the icon 72. Also, a message 78 is displayed illustrating
what the player's position will be if the player improves his or
her position by gambling the free games again. A further message 80
is displayed indicating what the player's position will be if the
player loses the gamble should the player decide to gamble the free
games again.
[0040] It is assumed that the player then decides to take the free
games by touching the icon 72. As a result, a screen display 82, as
shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, is displayed. A message 84 is
displayed showing that the player has won fifteen free games. At
present, all wins are multiplied by two. The icon 60 is rendered
inactive and this is shown by the icon 60 being greyed out so that
the player can no longer select to gamble the free games. The icons
58 and 62 remain active.
[0041] The player elects to gamble the multiplier by pressing the
icon 62 and the screen display changes to that as shown at 86 in
FIG. 8 of the drawings. The screen display shows, at 88, the
current multiplier. It further shows a message 90 indicating what
the position will be if the player successfully gambles the current
multiplier. A message 92 indicates what the player's position will
be if the player has an unsuccessful gamble with respect to the
multiplier.
[0042] Two icons 94 and 96 are also displayed allowing the player
either to gamble the multiplier or to take the present multiplier,
respectively. Thus, the player is afforded another opportunity to
take the current multiplier.
[0043] Both in respect of the number of free games and in respect
of the value of the multiplier, the player may be offered a limited
number of gambles and/or a maximum and minimum number of free games
or multiplier that may be awarded.
[0044] Preferably, the player can gamble up to a maximum of
twenty-five free games or down to a minimum of five free games
before the player is compelled to take the free game gamble.
[0045] Similarly, in respect of the multiplier, the player can
gamble up to a maximum multiplier value of ten or a minimum
multiplier value of one before being compelled to take the
multiplier gamble.
[0046] Once the number of free games and multiplier have been
finalised, the screen display 50 will return and, to commence the
feature, the player presses a "Start Feature" button on the keypad
22.
[0047] If the trigger combination occurs again during any one of
the free games then, after the completion of the free games
currently being played, the player will again be afforded the
option of gambling the number of free games and the multiplier for
the re-triggered series of free games.
[0048] Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention that a
gaming machine 10 and game 16 are provided which will enhance
player interest. Players can gamble non-monetary characteristics
associated with the feature in order to attempt to improve their
position. In so doing, the player's involvement in the game 16 is
enhanced resulting in greater player enjoyment.
[0049] 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.
* * * * *