U.S. patent application number 13/671172 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-25 for gaming machine with player predictable volatility.
The applicant listed for this patent is Naomi Classon, Brett Mezen. Invention is credited to Naomi Classon, Brett Mezen.
Application Number | 20130102386 13/671172 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30004328 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130102386 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mezen; Brett ; et
al. |
April 25, 2013 |
GAMING MACHINE WITH PLAYER PREDICTABLE VOLATILITY
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. If a predefined
winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The gaming
machine further comprises a selector applicable to a game feature
where, upon a trigger condition occurring in a base game, a player
is afforded an opportunity of predicting an outcome of the feature
and, if the player's prediction is correct, a bonus is awarded to
the player.
Inventors: |
Mezen; Brett; (Rosebery NSW,
AU) ; Classon; Naomi; (Lane Cove NSW, AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mezen; Brett
Classon; Naomi |
Rosebery NSW
Lane Cove NSW |
|
AU
AU |
|
|
Family ID: |
30004328 |
Appl. No.: |
13/671172 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12045527 |
Mar 10, 2008 |
8328627 |
|
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13671172 |
|
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|
10734001 |
Dec 10, 2003 |
7374485 |
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12045527 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
A63F 9/24 20130101; G07F 17/3267 20130101; G07F 17/3262
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/29 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 10, 2002 |
AU |
2002953243 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A gaming machine for play of a base game and one or more free
games by a player, the gaming machine comprising: a player input; a
game controller operably connected to the player input, the game
controller adapted to: award, upon the occurrence of a trigger
event in the base game, one or more free games; display on a
display a plurality of game play volatility options for play of the
one or more free games, each of the plurality of game play
volatility options having a winning criterion and a bonus award,
each of the winning criterion for the plurality of game play
volatility options having a different probability of the winning
criterion being satisfied, and wherein the bonus award for each of
the plurality of game play volatility options increases as the
probability of satisfying the winning criterion decreases; and
receive, from operation of the player input, a selection of a game
play volatility from the plurality of a game volatility options to
be played during the one or more free games.
3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the game controller is
further adapted to award the bonus award when the winning criterion
for the selected game play volatility is satisfied.
4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the winning criteria for
the plurality of game play volatility options are a minimum number
of bonus symbols that will be displayed on the display during play
of the one or more free games, and wherein the minimum number of
bonus symbols is different for each of the winning criterion.
5. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the game controller is
adapted to display on the display a bonus symbol meter during play
of the one or more free games that indicates the number of bonus
symbols that have appeared on the display during play of the one or
more free games.
6. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the minimum number of
bonus symbols are selected from a plurality of bonus symbols having
at least two different symbol types, each of the at least two
different types having a base award that is different than the base
award for the other symbols of the at least two symbol types.
7. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the bonus award for the
selected game play volatility is the product of a base award
multiplied by an amount wagered in the base game.
8. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the player input is a
touch screen implemented device for enabling the player to select
the selected game play volatility.
9. A gaming machine for play of a base game and one or more free
games by a player, the gaming machine comprising: a player input; a
game controller operably connected to the player input, the game
controller adapted to: receive an indication that a wager has been
placed for play of the base game; display on a display a plurality
of symbols associated with the play of the base game; award, upon
the occurrence of a trigger event in the base game, one or more
free games; display on the display a plurality of game play
volatility options for play of the one or more free games, each of
the plurality of game play volatility options having a winning
criterion and a bonus award, each of the winning criteria having a
separate and different probability of being satisfied during play
of the one or more free games, the value of the bonus award for
each of the plurality of game play volatility options being related
to the probability of the winning criteria being satisfied.
10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the game controller is
further adapted to receive, from operation of the player input, a
selection of a game play volatility from the plurality of game
volatility options to be played during the one or more free
games.
11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the game controller is
further adapted to award the bonus award when the winning criterion
for the selected game play volatility is satisfied.
12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the winning criteria
for the plurality of game play volatility options are a minimum
number of bonus symbols that will be displayed on the display
during play of the one or more free games, and wherein the minimum
number of bonus symbols is different for each of the winning
criterion.
13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the game controller is
adapted to display on the display a bonus symbol meter during play
of the one or more free games that indicates the number of bonus
symbols that have appeared on the display during play of the one or
more free games.
14. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the minimum number of
bonus symbols are selected from a plurality of bonus symbols having
at least two different symbol types, each of the at least two
different types having a base award that is different than the base
award for the other symbols of the at least two symbol types.
15. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the bonus award for the
selected game play volatility is the product of a base award
multiplied by an amount wagered in the base game.
16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the player input is a
touch screen implemented device for enabling the player to select
the selected game play volatility.
17. A gaming machine for play of a base game and one or more free
games by a player, the gaming machine comprising: a player input; a
game controller operably connected to the player input, the game
controller adapted to: award, upon the occurrence of a trigger
event in the base game, one or more free games; display on a
display a plurality of game play volatility options for play of the
one or more free games, each of the plurality of game play
volatility options having a different minimum credit amount that is
to be won during play of the one or more free games before being
awarded a bonus award, wherein an amount of the bonus award for
each of the plurality of game play volatility options increases as
the minimum credit amount increases; and receive, from operation of
the player input, a selection of a game play volatility from the
plurality of a game volatility options to be played during the one
or more free games.
18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the game controller is
further adapted to award the bonus award when the minimum credit
amount for the selected game play volatility is satisfied.
19. The gaming machine of claim 18, wherein the bonus award for the
selected game play volatility is the product of a base award
multiplied by an amount wagered in the base game.
20. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the player input is a
touch screen implemented device for enabling the player to select
the selected game play volatility.
21. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the player input is a
plurality of buttons on a keypad.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to and benefit as a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/734,001, filed
on Dec. 10, 2003, entitled "Gaming Machine With Player Predictable
Volatility," which claims priority to Australian Application No.
2002953243, filed on Dec. 10, 2002, each of which is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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 selector applicable to a game
feature where, upon a trigger condition occurring in a base game, a
player is afforded an opportunity of predicting an outcome of the
feature and, if the player's prediction is correct, a bonus is
awarded to the player.
[0005] By allowing the player to predict the outcome of a game
feature, the player is, effectively, selecting their desired
volatility of the outcome of the game feature.
[0006] The game feature may be a series of free games. The outcome
in respect of which the player can make the prediction may
constitute one of a number of possible outcomes of game features.
For example, the outcome may be the occurrence of a particular
symbol during the playing of the series of free games constituting
the game feature. Instead, the outcome may be a prediction of an
amount won during the game feature.
[0007] The bonus which is awarded may be related to the degree of
difficulty of achieving the outcome. More particularly, the higher
the degree of difficulty of achieving an outcome, the greater the
bonus that is awarded if the player's prediction is correct.
[0008] The display may include a meter for displaying information
related to the outcome. Thus, if the game feature is a series of
free games and the outcome on which the player makes a prediction
is the collection of a number of symbols, a part of the display
means, at least during the playing of the game feature, may include
a meter which is incremented each time one of the symbols appears
during the playing of the free games. Preferably, the symbols could
appear anywhere in the display and need not occur on a bought
payline.
[0009] The selector may be a touch screen implemented device for
enabling the player to select one of a number of icons relating to
potential game feature outcomes.
[0010] The bonus which is awarded may be multiplied by the number
of credits bet in the underlying base game.
[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of playing a game on a gaming machine, the gaming
machine having a display and being controlled by a game controller
arranged to control images displayed on the display, the gaming
machine including a selector applicable to a game feature and the
method including, upon a trigger condition occurring in a base
game, affording a player an opportunity of predicting an outcome of
the feature and, if the player's prediction is correct, awarding a
bonus to the player.
[0012] The method may include implementing the game feature as a
series of free games.
[0013] Further, the method may include rendering the outcome in
respect of which the player can make the prediction as one of a
number of possible outcomes of game features. Thus, for example,
the method may include rendering the outcome as the occurrence of a
particular symbol during the playing of the series of free games
constituting the game feature. Instead, the method may include
rendering the outcome as a prediction of an amount won during the
game feature.
[0014] The method may include relating the bonus which is awarded
to the degree of difficulty of achieving the outcome. The higher
the degree of difficulty of achieving an outcome, the greater the
bonus that is awarded if the player's prediction is correct.
[0015] The method may include displaying information related to the
outcome on a meter of the display.
[0016] Still further, the method may include implementing the
selector as a touch screen implemented device for enabling the
player to select one of a number of icons relating to potential
game feature outcomes.
[0017] The method may include multiplying the bonus which is
awarded by the number of credits bet in the underlying base
game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The invention is now described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the
gaming machine;
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a screen display of a base game of a game, also
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, played on the
gaming machine of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 4 shows an initial screen display of a game feature of
the game following the base game;
[0023] FIG. 5 shows a screen display during the playing of the game
feature;
[0024] FIG. 6 shows a screen display at the end of the game
feature; and
[0025] FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the game played on the gaming
machine of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] 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 means 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 containing buttons for enabling a
player to play the game 16. The midtrim 20 also houses a credit
input mechanism 24 including a coin input chute 24.1 and a bill
collector 24.2.
[0027] The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is
carried. The artwork 28 includes paytables, details of bonus
awards, etc.
[0028] A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash
payouts from the machine 10.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a control means or
control circuit 32 is illustrated. A program which implements the
game and user interface is run on a processor 34 of the control
circuit 32. The processor 34 forms part of a controller 36 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 keypad 22 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.
[0030] 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 when the player wishes
to redeem his or her credit.
[0031] In FIG. 3 of the drawings, reference numeral 50 generally
designates a screen display of a base game 52 of the game 16 played
on the gaining machine 10. The game 16 is a spinning reel game
having a video representation of five spinning reels 18. It is
assumed that the game 16 has three paylines on which the player can
bet marked as numeral "1", "2" and "3" in FIG. 3 of the drawings.
It is to be noted from abet meter 54 in the display 50 that the
player has bet on all three paylines.
[0032] In the screen display 50, three roundel symbols 56 are
displayed in a scatter configuration. The symbols 56 are scatter
symbols and the occurrence of three of the symbols 56 results in
the triggering of a game feature of the game 16. The game feature
is a series of free games, for example, fifteen free games.
[0033] The game feature allows the player to predict what will
happen during the free games of the game feature. A bonus prize is
awarded if the player's prediction is correct.
[0034] The game 16 and, in particular, the game feature has an
aviation theme, hence the roundel scatter symbols 56.
[0035] When the trigger condition occurs in the base game 52, the
screen display 50 changes to a screen display 60 as shown in FIG. 4
of the drawings. The screen display 60 comprises a selection of
possible outcomes 62. The player chooses one of the outcomes 62 by
touching the appropriate part of the screen of the video display
unit 14 or by pressing one of the buttons of the keypad 22 of the
gaming machine 10. A message "Choose your Mission" 64 is also
displayed. In the game feature illustrated the possibilities are as
follows: [0036] collect 5 or more "plane" symbols to win a bonus of
15 credits; [0037] collect 10 or more "plane" symbols to win a
bonus of 30 credits; [0038] collect 15 or more "plane" symbols to
win a bonus of 140 credits; [0039] collect 20 or more "plane"
symbols to win a bonus of 400 credits; and [0040] collect 25 or
more "plane" symbols to win a bonus of 1000 credits.
[0041] It will be noted that the more bonus symbols (the "plane"
symbols) which need to be collected the higher the bonus which is
awarded. Thus, the player has the opportunity to select their
desired volatility of the game feature and, if the player's
prediction is correct, the bonus amount is awarded to the player.
Thus, the player can predict that fewer bonus symbols will occur in
the playing of the series of free games with a lower bonus prize
being awarded. Instead, the player can predict that a larger number
of bonus symbols will occur during the playing of the series of
free games with a higher bonus prize being paid if the player's
prediction is correct.
[0042] It is also to be noted in FIG. 4 of the drawings that the
bonus prize which is awarded is multiplied by the number of credits
wagered in the base game 52. Therefore, because the player was
playing one credit per line on all three paylines in the base game
52 of the game 16, the bonus award will be multiplied by three.
Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, each indicated
bonus award is the base award multiplied by the number of credits
wagered.
[0043] The player commences the game feature by selecting the
appropriate outcome 62. It is assumed that the player has selected
"Mission 1" by touching that icon on the screen display 60. FIG. 5
shows a screen display 66 after a first free game of the series of
free games of the game feature. Two "plane" symbols 68 were spun up
in the first free game and a bonus symbol meter 70 in the display
66 is incremented by two as illustrated.
[0044] As indicated above, the game feature comprises a series of
fifteen free games. FIG. 6 shows a screen display 72 at the end of
the series of free games. As described above, it is assumed that
the player selected the first outcome where fifteen credits,
multiplied by the number of credits wagered, i.e. 45 credits, is
awarded for the player correctly predicting the outcome of the
series of free games.
[0045] Because the player had to collect five or more "plane"
symbols 68 but the player actually collected 11 "plane" symbols as
shown on the bonus symbol meter 70 in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the
bonus of 45 credits is awarded but is added to a win meter 76. This
is accompanied by a message 74 on the screen of the screen display
72. The game feature and the game 16 are then at an end.
[0046] In the examples set out above, the outcome which the player
predicts is the minimum number of special symbols, the bonus
symbols, that will occur during the series of free games
constituting the game feature. The bonus prize awarded changes
depending on the difficulty of achieving the prediction.
[0047] In other implementations of the invention, there could be
multiple symbols which increment the meter 70 and/or symbols which
increment the meter 70 by different amounts.
[0048] Still another implementation of the game feature could be
the prediction of the amount won during a game or series of free
games of a game feature. Thus, a series of free games may be
awarded on the occurrence of a trigger condition in an underlying
base game. A second screen appears displaying five options. The
player chooses one of the options by touching the screen overlying
that option or using one of the buttons on the keypad 22 of the
gaming machine 10. The options could, for example, be as follows:
[0049] a free game win of 10 credits or more wins a bonus of 15
credits; [0050] a free game win of 25 credits or more wins a bonus
of 40 credits; [0051] a free game win of 50 credits or more wins a
bonus of 100 credits; [0052] a free game win of 75 credits or more
wins a bonus of 250 credits; and [0053] a free game win of 100
credits or more wins a bonus of 500 credits.
[0054] Once again, the bonus amount is multiplied by the number of
credits bet in the underlying base game. For example, if twenty
lines were being played then if the player had selected the first
option and had correctly predicted the outcome a bonus of 300
credits would be awarded. The bonus could be awarded for each free
game during the series of free games or for the sum of the credits
won during the playing of all of the free games of the game
feature.
[0055] Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention that a game
feature is provided which enables a player to predict an outcome in
the game feature where, the lower of the likelihood of the outcome
being achieved, the higher the prize awarded. Thus, the player can
select an easier outcome with a lower bonus award being made or a
more difficult outcome with a higher bonus award being made if the
prediction is correct. This will enhance the enjoyment of the
player in playing the game.
[0056] 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.
* * * * *