Patent Grant
8747207
The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, more particularly, to a bonus mode play feature for a gaming machine.
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available, because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequent play by enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game.
One concept which has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus” game which may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome of the basic game. The bonus game concept is the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/835,840 [hereinafter “the '840 application”], filed Apr. 23, 1997, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. The '840 application discloses an embodiment wherein the basic game is a reel-type slot machine and the bonus game is a simulated reel-type slot machine implemented on a dot-matrix display. The bonus game is entered upon the appearance of a special symbol combination on the reels of the slot machine in the basic game. In the bonus game, the probability of winning combinations appearing on the reels, or the “hit rate,” is much greater than that of the basic game. The player is permitted to keep playing and accumulating winnings from the bonus game until a losing trial occurs. Such a bonus game produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than the basic game because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and is accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio.
Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop new types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators. Preferably, such new bonus games will maintain, or even further enhance, the level of player excitement offered by bonus games heretofore known in the art. The present invention is directed to satisfying these needs.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine including a processor operable in a basic mode and a bonus mode for controlling game play. In the basic mode, the processor operates to select a basic game outcome from among a plurality of possible basic game outcomes. The possible basic game outcomes include a start-bonus outcome the occurrence of which causes the processor to shift operation from the basic mode to the bonus mode. The processor is operable to define a plurality of player-selectable bonus game outcomes. In the bonus mode, a player selects one or more of the bonus game outcomes and credits are awarded based upon which ones of the bonus game outcomes are selected.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine including a processor operable to selecting a game outcome from among a number of possible game outcomes. A number of the possible game outcomes are identifiable according to a pay table as winning combinations, whereas a remaining number of the possible game outcomes are identified as apparent losing combinations. The gaming machine includes means for awarding credits upon occurrences of the winning combinations and upon occurrence of at least one of the apparent losing combinations.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine including a processor operable in a basic mode and a bonus mode for controlling game play. In the basic mode, the processor operates to select a basic game outcome from among a plurality of possible basic game outcomes. The possible basic game outcomes include one or more bonus-resource outcomes the occurrence of which causes the processor to generate a bonus game resource exercisable in a bonus game. The gaming machine includes means for shifting operation of the processor from the basic mode to the bonus mode. The processor is operable to define a plurality of possible bonus game outcomes. In the bonus mode, upon selection of a bonus game outcome, the bonus game resource(s) generated in the basic game may be exercised to affect the bonus game outcome. In one embodiment, where the bonus game outcome would otherwise cause the processor to end the bonus game, an exercise of a bonus game resource in conjunction with the bonus game outcome causes the processor to continue operation in the bonus mode, thereby allowing the player to continue playing the bonus game.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to
After activation of the paylines, the reels 14, 16, 18 are set in motion by either pulling a lever 20 or depressing a push button (not shown) on the slot machine 10. The processor then operates according to its game program to select a game outcome (e.g., “basic” game outcome) corresponding to a particular set of reel stop positions and, using technology well known in the art, causes each of the reels 14, 16, 18 to stop at the preselected stop position. Symbols (see
For example, in the illustrated embodiment, if one coin or credit is played, payline 22 is activated and a winning combination occurs if one of the combinations appearing on the pay table is displayed directly under payline 22 (e.g., with the first, second and third symbols of the combination being displayed, respectively, in the “left-center” position, “middle-center” position and “right-center” position relative to the display window 12). If two coins or credits are played, paylines 22 and 24 are activated and winning combination(s) occur if any of the combinations appearing on the pay table are displayed directly under payline 22 and/or payline 24. Payline 24 requires that the first, second and third symbols of the combination are displayed, respectively, in the “left-upper” position, “middle-upper” position and “right-upper” position relative to the display window 12. If three coins or credits are played, paylines 22, 24 and 26 are activated and winning combination(s) occur if any of the combinations appearing on the pay table are displayed directly under paylines 22, 24 and/or 26. Payline 26 requires that the first, second and third symbols of the combination are displayed, respectively, in the “left-lower” position, “middle-lower” position and “right-lower” position relative to the display window 12. If four coins or credits are played, paylines 22, 24, 26 and 28 are activated and winning combination(s) occur if any of the combinations appearing on the pay table are displayed directly under paylines 22, 24, 26 and/or 28. Payline 28 requires that the first, second and third symbols of the combination are displayed, respectively, in the “left-upper” position, “middle-center” position and “right-lower” position relative to the display window 12. Finally, if five coins or credits are played, paylines 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 are activated and winning combination(s) occur if any of the combinations appearing on the pay table are displayed directly under paylines 22, 24, 26, 28 and/or 30. Payline 30 requires that the first, second and third symbols of the combination are displayed, respectively, in the “left-lower” position, “middle-center” position and “right-upper” position relative to the display window 12.
It will be appreciated, however, that alternative pay schemes may implemented. For example, a winning combination may be defined by the processor to occur when a special “start-bonus” symbol appears on one or more of the reels in any predetermined display position. In one embodiment of the present invention, a “start-bonus” outcome occurs when a special “start-bonus” symbol appears on each of three reels, in either of three visible display positions (e.g., “upper,” “center” or “lower”) on each reel, even if such positions do not correspond with an active pay line. The appearance of a “start-bonus” symbol on the designated number of reels, in the designated display position(s) represents a “start-bonus” outcome causing the processor to shift operation from the basic game to a bonus game. In another embodiment, the processor enters the bonus game upon the appearance of a special symbol combination on the reels 14, 16, 18 which is not identified on the pay table. Because such combination is not identified on the pay table, it is a “start-bonus” combination which players will consider to be a losing combination and, accordingly, represents a surprise winning combination to the player. Alternatively or additionally, the occurrence of “start-bonus” symbols and/or combination(s) may cause the processor to award coin(s) or credit(s) in the basic game.
A video display 32 is provided for displaying the bonus game. The video display 32 may comprise a dot matrix, CRT, LED, LCD, electro-luminescent display or generally any type of video display known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the video display 32 is vertically disposed within an upper portion of the slot machine 10. It will be appreciated that the “basic” game need not comprise a spinning reel slot machine game, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the possible basic game outcomes include a special symbol combination (e.g., “bonus-resource” outcome) causing the processor to generate a bonus game resource exercisable in the bonus game. The occurrence of “bonus-resource” outcome(s) may also cause the processor to award coin(s) or credit(s) in the basic game. In one embodiment, the processor continues to operate in the basic mode after the occurrence of a bonus-resource outcome. In this embodiment, any number of bonus-resource outcomes may occur through several repetitions of the basic game (causing the processor to generate a corresponding number of bonus game resources) before entering the bonus mode, if at all, upon the occurrence of a start-bonus outcome. The bonus game resource(s) may comprise any item which operates to enhance the excitement and/or winning expectation in the bonus game. In one embodiment, for example, a bonus game resource is usable to override an otherwise undesired outcome of the bonus game. For example, in a bonus game including one or more “end-bonus” outcome(s) which would otherwise end the bonus game, a bonus game resource, if available, may be used to override the end-bonus outcome and thereby continue play of the bonus game. Another type of bonus game resource might be used as a multiplier (e.g., 2×, 5×, 10×, etc.) of coin(s) or credit(s) awarded in a bonus game. For example, a “5×” resource played in conjunction with a bonus game outcome awarding 5 coins or credits would result in an award of 25 coins or credits.
A pay table for the JACKPOT PARTY™ slot machine game (corresponding to the symbols shown in
Where the reels each have eighteen symbols corresponding to eighteen reel stop positions, as in the JACKPOT PARTY™ game, the odds of “hitting” each unique combination relative to a single active payline is one in 5,832 (18×18×18). The “Pulls/Hit” column of
The “Probability” column indicates the various probabilities of hitting the respective winning combinations in a single spin. This is computed by taking the inverse of the “Pulls/Hit” values. The “Hit Rate” value at the bottom of the column represents the probability of hitting any winning combination in a single spin.
The “Pays” column of
The “Total Pay” column lists, for each winning outcome, the product of the “Hits” value and the “Pays” value. The CH CH CH combination, for example, having 4 hits each paying 20 coins or credits, has a “Total Pay” value of 80 coins or credits. “Total Coins Paid” is the sum of the various “Total Pay” amounts and equals 3,332 total coins for a 1-coin game. The “Contribution” column indicates, for a 1-coin game, the percentage contribution of the respective “Total Pay” amounts to the total coins or credits payed. Thus, for example, for the CH CH CH combination, the contribution is 0.02401 (100÷3,332).
As will be appreciated, modification of
A summary of the various payout rates, hit rates, total hits and total coins paid for the basic game with different numbers of coins played is set forth in
The information provided in
Therefore, the total expected pay of the FV FV FV outcome in a 1-coin game is 1666.293 (81×20.57152). The expected value of the bonus game resulting from the FV FV FV combination is 0.2857 (0.013889×20.57152).
For the “surprise” J7 OR SL combination (i.e., Jackpot 7, Orange, Special Lemon) symbol combination, the respective J7, OR and SL symbols occupy only one unique position on each reel. This is because the J7 OR SL combination is programmed by the processor to trigger the bonus game only when the “surprise” combination is aligned on the center payline. The J7 OR SL combination will therefore “hit” only 1 time (1×1×1), which equates to 5,832 pulls per hit (5,832÷1) or a probability of 0.000171 (1÷5,832). For a 1-coin game, the expected pay of the bonus game is 20.57152 coins and, therefore, the total expected pay of the J7 OR SL outcome is 20.57152 (1×20.57152). The expected value of the bonus game resulting from the J7 OR SL combination is 0.0035 (0.000171×20.57152).
For both types of parties combined (e.g., for the FV FV FV and J7 OR SL combinations combined), there are 82 “hits” (81+1), which equates to 71.12195 pulls per hit (5,832÷82) or a probability of 0.01406 (1÷71.12195). The total expected pay of the FV FV FV and J7 OR SL outcomes combined (for a 1-coin game) is 1686.865 (1666.293+20.57152) and the contribution to expected value (for a 1-coin game) is 0.2892 (0.2857+0.0035). This value is added to the payout percentage of the basic game to determine the payout percentage of basic game and bonus game combined. For a 1-coin game, the payout percentage of the basic game and bonus game combined is 86.05732% (0.57133+0.2892).
For 2-coin, 3-coin, 4-coin and 5-coin bonus games, the “# PER REEL,” “Hits,” “Pulls/Hit” and “Probability” values will remain the same for each “start-bonus” outcome as in the 1-coin game. This is because, in contrast to the basic game, there is no increase in the number of active paylines for increased numbers of coins. Thus, the FV FV FV combination will trigger play of the bonus game, independent of the number of coins played, whenever party favor symbols are displayed in any of three display positions of the slot machine 10. Similarly, the J7 OR SL combination will trigger play of the bonus game, independent of the number of coins played, when it is displayed on the center payline 22 of the slot machine 10. The “Expected Pay” values for the bonus game will increase roughly in proportion to the number of coins played but, to maintain appropriate payout percentages for the combination of basic and bonus games, must be adjusted slightly downward as the number of coins played is increased so as to counterbalance the relatively high payout percentages of the basic game. More specifically, as discussed in relation to
As play begins, the player is prompted to select one of the thirty windows 101 through 130. It will be appreciated that any of several known player control devices may be utilized to implement the selection of window(s). In one embodiment, an animated “hand” pointer scrolls across the grid and window selection is accomplished by the player depressing a designated “select” button when the hand is pointing to a desired selection. Scrolling of the pointer (e.g., hand) prior to the selection of the desired window may be accomplished automatically according to the game program or may be controlled by the player depressing various buttons. In another embodiment utilizing a touch-screen display, the desired window is selected by simply touching the screen in an area over the window. The selection of selection element(s) under player control is a novel concept which enhances the excitement of the bonus game in relation to other types of bonus games known in the art. Whereas other bonus game(s) have outcomes which are determined entirely by the game program, the outcome(s) in the present game are directly influenced by the player's choice(s) of window(s).
Upon selection of a selection element, the game controller causes the outcome associated with the selected selection element to be revealed on the display 32. Coin(s) or credit(s) are awarded as appropriate, corresponding to the selected outcome. The award of coin(s) or credit(s) may occur immediately upon selection of the outcome or may be deferred until completion of the bonus game. As an example, suppose that the outcomes corresponding to windows 101 through 130 are as shown in
In an embodiment including “end-bonus” outcomes (e.g., the PARTY POOPER symbol in
In one embodiment, the outcomes corresponding to windows 101 through 130 of the grid 40 are based on the MONOPOLY™ board game. MONOPOLY™ is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. and Hasbro International, Inc., Pawtucket, R.I., used with permission by the assignee of the present invention. In this embodiment, the outcomes corresponding to windows 101 through 130 may include, for example, properties (e.g., Boardwalk, Park Place, etc.), utilities (e.g., Water Works, etc.), railroads (e.g., Short Line, B & O Railroad, etc.), and various end-bonus outcomes (e.g., “GO TO JAIL” squares). In the MONOPOLY™ game, as in the JACKPOT PARTY™ game, the selection of an end-bonus outcome causes the game controller to end the bonus game. Otherwise, the selection of any other outcome causes the controller to award coin(s) or credit(s) corresponding to the selected outcome, and then the player is prompted to make other selection(s), one at a time, until an end-bonus outcome is selected.
Thus, in the MONOPOLY™ game, a player could perhaps select Boardwalk for the first selection, Marvin Gardens for the second selection, Short Line Railroad for the third selection, and so on until selecting a “GO TO JAIL” square. Coin(s) or credit(s) are awarded upon the selection of each property in much the same manner as the selection of coin symbols in the JACKPOT PARTY™ game, with the exception that supplemental coin(s) or credit(s) are awarded in the MONOPOLY™ game if the property selection “completes” a particular color group (e.g., yellow, red, green, blue, etc.) or property type group (e.g., railroads or utilities). The various property color groups and type groups are substantially identical to those in the MONOPOLY™ game and will not be described in detail herein. The supplemental coin(s) or credit(s) awarded upon completion of a group may comprise a predefined amount or a multiplier of the cumulative individual outcomes in the group. More specifically, suppose that the selection of Boardwalk is worth 50 coins or credits and the selection of Park Place is worth 40 coins or credits. If a player were to select both Boardwalk and Park Place in the bonus game and thereby complete the “blue” property group, such selection might produce a supplemental award of 90 coin(s) or credit(s), in addition to the individual awards of 50 coins for Boardwalk and 40 coins for Park Place. The completion of any other color group or type group will similarly result in a supplemental award appropriate to the particular group, as defined in the game program. It will be appreciated that any of several alternative pay schemes may be implemented in the game program.
In one embodiment, upon selection of an end-bonus outcome (e.g., “GO TO JAIL” square), the player is permitted to exercise or “play” a bonus game resource, if such resource has been obtained in the basic game, to overcome an end-bonus outcome and continue play of the bonus game. If no such bonus resources are available, the bonus game is ended upon the selection of an end-bonus outcome. In the MONOPOLY™ game, for example, selection of a “GO TO JAIL” square will ordinarily end the bonus game. If, however, a bonus game resource such as a “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” card has been obtained, the player may exercise or “play” the “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” card to overcome selection of a “GO TO JAIL” square, and thereby continue playing the bonus game. In one embodiment, the “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” card is obtained in a basic slot machine game upon the occurrence of one or more CHANCE symbols displayed on the reels of a slot machine, in much the same manner as in the MONOPOLY™ board game. If a player has obtained a “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” outcome during play of the basic game, that outcome is stored in game memory and may be exercised in the bonus game according to the game program to continue play of the bonus game despite the selection of the “GO TO JAIL” symbol. Exercise of the bonus game resource, if available, may be accomplished automatically by the game controller or in response to player input.
In one embodiment, when the bonus game has ended, the game program causes the display to reveal the outcomes associated with the entire grid 40, thereby permitting the player to see which ones of the remaining windows contained end-bonus outcomes and which ones of the windows contained “safe” outcomes such as the award of coin(s) or credit(s).
In one embodiment, after displaying the entire grid for a few seconds, the game controller causes the display to restore the screen to show only the selected windows, then pays out the win total associated with the selected windows. The win total in the JACKPOT PARTY™ bonus game is the sum of the selected “coin” symbol awards plus one coin (in a 1-coin game) for the PARTY POOPER symbol. The PARTY POOPER symbol will result in an award 2 coins, 3 coins, 4 coins and 5 coins, respectively, in a 2-coin, 3-coin, 4-coin and 5-coin game. The award of coin(s) for the PARTY POOPER symbol assures a winning outcome in the bonus game even if the PARTY POOPER symbol is the first (and last) selection in the game. After payment of the award, the display screen in one embodiment will display an attract mode animation until the next bonus game is commenced.
In one embodiment, the win amounts associated with the various windows are varied depending on the number of coins played to adjust the payout percentages of the game. In the JACKPOT PARTY™ game, for example, as discussed in relation to
In one embodiment, the average (non end-bonus) window value for a 1-coin game is 5.70833 and the average (normalized, non end-bonus) window values for 2-coin, 3-coin, 4-coin and 5-coin games is 5.541667, 5.375, 5.166667 and 4.666667, respectively. For a 1-coin game, the specific window values are 1 (2 occurrences), 2 (4 occurrences), 3 (3 occurrences), 4 (2 occurrences), 5 (8 occurrences), 10 (2 occurrences), 15 (2 occurrences) and 20 (1 occurrence). For a 2-coin game, the specific normalized window values are 1 (2 occurrences), 2 (5 occurrences), 3 (3 occurrences), 4 (3 occurrences), 5 (6 occurrences), 10 (2 occurrences), 15 (2 occurrences) and 20 (1 occurrence). For a 3-coin game, the normalized window values are 1 (2 occurrences), 2 (6 occurrences), 3 (2 occurrences), 4 (1 occurrence), 5 (8 occurrences), 10 (3 occurrences), 15 (1 occurrence) and 20 (1 occurrence). For a 4-coin game, the normalized window values are 1 (2 occurrences), 2 (8 occurrences), 3 (1 occurrence), 4 (2 occurrences), 5 (6 occurrences), 10 (3 occurrences), 15 (1 occurrence) and 20 (1 occurrence). Finally, for a 5-coin game, the normalized window values are 1 (2 occurrences), 2 (9 occurrences), 3 (3 occurrences), 4 (2 occurrences), 5 (4 occurrences), 10 (2 occurrences), 15 (1 occurrence) and 20 (1 occurrence).
For any given number of coins played from 1 to 5, the corresponding set of win amounts are randomly assigned to non-POOPER windows and are available for selection in the bonus game. Arrangement of the various win amounts, once determined, remains fixed for the duration of the bonus game. The arrangement of win amounts and POOPER windows is reaccomplished, however, upon subsequent plays of the bonus game so that each individual bonus game will generally have a unique arrangement of outcomes in the grid.
The “% end” column in
The “% safe” value of each consecutive choice is the “% safe” value of the last choice minus the “% end” value of the last choice. Thus, the “% safe” value of CHOICE 1 is 0.8 (the “% safe” value of CHOICE 0 (1.0) minus the “% end” value of CHOICE 0 (0.2)). The probability that the second choice, once reached, will result in an end-bonus outcome is 0.20689 (six end-bonus outcomes divided by 29 remaining window choices). The “% end” value for CHOICE 1 is therefore 0.165517 (0.8×0.20689) and the “% safe” value for the third choice (CHOICE 2) is 0.634483 (0.8−165517). The “% end” and “% safe” values for each of the remaining 24 successful choices are computed in similar fashion.
The “Pays” column in
The “EV” column in
For 2-coin, 3-coin, 4-coin or 5-coin games, the numbers of choices, “% end” and “% safe” values will be identical to that of
It will be appreciated that the information provided in
The display commands include packetized graphics instructions which specify, for example, frame animations, sprite animations, text printing and text banners to be displayed by the video display 32 in either a “basic” game or “bonus” game. The display controller 36 executes the video operating instructions to operate the video display 32.
In one embodiment, the display controller 36 takes the form shown in
The program PROM 52 stores control software, intermediate instructions and data necessary to control operation of the display 32 in response to instructions from the CPU 34. The data PROM(s) 54 stores window values and data necessary to assign various values/outcomes to the grid 40 in bonus mode, as well as data relating to text printing, text banners, fonts, frames, sprites, frame animations and sprite animations to be displayed by the display 32 in bonus mode or attract mode. The PROM(s) 52 and 54 may comprise physically separate memory structures (e.g., stored on separate memory “chips”) or may comprise functionally separate memories integrated on a single chip. As will be appreciated, the memory structures 52 and 54 may be comprised of any of several types or combinations of memories known in the art, including volatile or writable memories.
In one embodiment, the display 32 comprises a dot matrix display having 12,288 elements, including 64 rows of 192 “pixels.” The pixels are separately actuatable, preferably at a rate of 25 full frames per second or more, to form a graphics display which may include, for example, animated characters, text or symbols. It will be appreciated, however, that the display 32 may comprise any of several alternative types of displays or modified forms of dot matrix displays. For example, the display 32 may comprise a CRT, LED, LCD or electro-luminescent display rather than a dot matrix display, or may comprise a dot-matrix display having fewer or greater numbers of pixels or a different arrangement of pixels than heretofore described. The display 32 may comprise a color or monochrome display. In an embodiment where the display 32 comprises a monochrome display, the pixels are preferably actuatable at three or more discrete intensity levels to emulate three or more shades of “gray.”
The display 32 is not limited to showing only the bonus game, but in some embodiments may be used to display both the basic game and bonus game. In other words, the basic game and bonus game may be implemented entirely in video in a gaming machine not having a mechanical spinning reel display. One such type of video game is illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the memory unit 64 includes a read-only memory (ROM) 68 for storing a game code, graphics and audio associated with the video game 60 and a battery-backed random access memory (RAM) 70 for storing various operating instructions and data for operating the video game 60. The ROM memory 68 is non-volatile (e.g., its data content is preserved without requiring connection to a power supply) and is generally unalterable while it remains within the video game 60. The battery-backed RAM memory 70 is volatile but retains its data content as long as power is provided, either from an external power source or the battery back-up. The RAM memory 70 is alterable by the controller 62 when appropriate (e.g., in response to change in operational status of the video game 60). It will be appreciated that the memory unit 64 may be implemented on memory structures other than ROM and battery-backed RAM, or may be integrated on a single memory structure.
The game controller 62 controls play of the video game 60 responsive to player inputs provided through an operator interface 72. The game controller 62 may comprise a microcomputer, microprocessor or any other suitable device for executing control of the video game 60. The operator interface 72 may comprise any combination of push buttons, joysticks, keypads, touch-screens and the like. The game controller 62 executes control software in the memory 64 according to the player inputs and communicates the resulting video game activity including, for example, text, animations and background graphics to the graphics display 66. The graphics display 66 may comprise a CRT, LED, LCD, dot-matrix, electro-luminescent display or any other type of display known in the art.
In one embodiment, the operator interface 72 comprises a touch-screen electrically coupled to the display 66. Player inputs are provided by touching the touch screen 72 at touch points directly above various “keys” or key outlines or other specified areas on the display 66. The controller 62 may be programmed to display the various “keys” or key outlines (not shown) on the graphics display 66 and to recognize the locations of the “keys,” key outlines, or other specified areas of the graphics display 66 according to control software in the ROM memory 68. The “keys” or key outlines, if used, may be displayed both during attract mode and during active play of the game. The “keys” may simulate the appearance of an actual key or may comprise game symbols and/or characters shown on the graphic display 66. For example, in a video game implementation of the JACKPOT PARTY™ bonus game, the key outlines may comprise areas of the display 66 on which the bonus game window(s) are displayed.
The touch screen (not shown) defines an X-Y matrix of touch responsive points positioned adjacent to and overlying the “keys” of the display 66. In one embodiment, the touch-screen comprises a ClearTek® capacitive touchscreen, commercially available from MicroTouch Systems, Inc., Methuen, Mass. It will be appreciated, however, that other types or models of touchscreens known in the art may be used. In the ClearTek® touch screen, voltage is applied to the four corners of the touch screen to create a uniform voltage field about the touch screen. When pressure from a finger or stylus is applied to a selected touch point of the touch screen, current is drawn from the sides of the touch screen in proportion to the distance of the touch point from the edge of the touch screen.
A touch screen controller (not shown) evaluates the current flow to detect the coordinates of the touch point. The game controller 62 determines whether the touch point coincides with any “key(s)” on the underlying display 66 and, if so, performs a function or functions (e.g., a designated game activity) associated with that displayed “key.” In the JACKPOT PARTY™ bonus game, for example, pressing the touch screen at a location directly above a displayed window causes the game controller 62 to “select” that window, to display the bonus game outcome associated with that window and award coin(s) or credit(s) as appropriate.
In a video game, pressing of a particular “key” generally causes the game controller 62 to trigger display of game activity on the graphic display 66. The game activity may cause the game controller 62 to periodically redefine key outlines, displays and/or functions associated with the game. For example, in the JACKPOT PARTY™ bonus game, the controller 62 initially causes key outlines associated with the various windows to initially “mask” or hide the game outcomes and, as a result of game activity, causes the windows to reveal the game outcome(s) associated with the selected window(s). Pressing the touch screen above the window outline while the window is “masked” will cause the controller 62 to perform a different function than it would perform if the window has been “unmasked” to display a particular game outcome.
In the illustrated embodiment, there are five paylines 122, 124, 126, 128 and 130. In one embodiment, each of the paylines are “active” regardless of the number of coin(s) or credit(s) played. Any number from one to ninety coin(s) or credit(s) may be played. Winning combination(s) occur if any of the combinations appearing on a pay table are displayed directly under any of the active paylines. Paylines 122, 124 and 126 extend horizontally across the five reels 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80 in alignment with, respectively, consecutive center, upper and lower symbols on each reel. Payline 128 extends in a “V” pattern in alignment with the upper symbol of reel 72, center symbol of reel 74, lower symbol of reel 76, center symbol of reel 78 and upper symbol of reel 80. Payline 130 extends in an inverted “V” pattern in alignment with the lower symbol of reel 72, center symbol of reel 74, upper symbol of reel 76, center symbol of reel 78 and lower symbol of reel 80.
It will be appreciated, however, that alternative pay schemes may implemented. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, a winning combination is defined by the game controller to occur when a special “start-bonus” symbol appears on any three consecutive reels in any of the three visible display positions (e.g., “top,” “middle” or “bottom”), even though such positions do not correspond with an active pay line. Similar to the mechanical slot machine (
Like the mechanical slot machine (
According to one embodiment, the video game uses symbols corresponding to those shown in
Like the basic game described in relation to
Like the bonus game described in relation to
Upon initial play of the bonus game, the windows are masked as shown in
In an embodiment including “end-bonus” outcomes, the selection of an end-bonus outcome causes the game controller to end the bonus game. Otherwise, the selection of any other outcome causes the controller to prompt the player to make other selection(s), one at a time, until an end-bonus outcome is selected. In one embodiment, upon selection of an end-bonus outcome, the player is permitted to exercise or “play” a bonus game resource (which may comprise, for example, a “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” card in a MONOPOLY™-based game), if such resource has been obtained in the basic game, to overcome an end-bonus game outcome and continue play of the bonus game. If no such bonus resources are available, the bonus game is ended upon the selection of an end-bonus game outcome. When the bonus game has ended, the outcomes associated with the entire grid are revealed, as discussed in relation to
One embodiment of the video “bonus” game comprises a JACKPOT PARTY™ game substantially similar to the game described in relation to
In one embodiment, after completion of the bonus game, the game controller causes the entire grid to be displayed for a few seconds, then restores the screen to show only the selected windows, then pays out the win total associated with the selected windows. The win total in the JACKPOT PARTY™ bonus game is the sum of the selected “coin” symbol awards plus one coin for the PARTY POOPER symbol for each coin played, which may be up to 90 coins in the video game embodiment. Generally, in an n-coin game, the PARTY POOPER symbol will result in an award of n coins or credits. The award of coin(s) for the PARTY POOPER symbol assures a winning outcome in the bonus game even if the PARTY POOPER symbol is the first (and last) selection in the game. After payment of the award, the display screen in one embodiment will display an attract mode animation until the next bonus game is commenced.
In one embodiment, the normalized win amounts associated with the various windows are the same regardless of the number of coins played. Thus, the normalized average bonus also remains the same for any number of coins or credits played. This is in contrast to the embodiment discussed in relation to
Specifically, in one embodiment of the JACKPOT PARTY™ video game, the normalized win amounts in the 24 non-POOPER windows are 1 (2 occurrences), 2 (5 occurrences), 3 (1 occurrence), 4 (1 occurrence), 5 (9 occurrences), 10 (3 occurrences), 15 (2 occurrences) and 20 (1 occurrence). The average (non end-bonus) normalized window value is therefore 6.0, regardless of the number of coins played. The actual win amounts available for the various games may be computed by multiplying the respective normalized win amounts by the number of coins played. Thus, for example, the actual win amounts with 2 coins played are 2 times that of the normalized win amounts, the actual win amounts with 3 coins played are 3 times that of the normalized win amounts, and so on.
For any given number of coins played, the corresponding actual win amounts are randomly assigned to non-POOPER windows and are available for selection in the bonus game. Arrangement of the various win amounts, once determined, remains fixed for the duration of the bonus game. The arrangement of win amounts and POOPER windows is reaccomplished, however, upon subsequent plays of the bonus game so that each individual bonus game will generally have a unique arrangement of outcomes in the grid. The various possible bonus game outcomes in the JACKPOT PARTY™ video game correspond generally to the outcomes identified in
Similarly, for multi-coin games (up to 90 coins in the video embodiment), the numbers of choices, “% end” and “% safe” values will again be identical to that of
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/014,568, filed Jan. 26, 2011 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,480,480; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/818,368, filed Jun. 14, 2007, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,901,283 on Mar. 8, 2011; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/101,959, filed Apr. 8, 2005, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,809 on Apr. 21, 2009; which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/813,099, filed Mar. 30, 2004, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,412 on Jun. 14, 2005; which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/673,718, filed Sep. 29, 2003, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/981,203, filed Oct. 16, 2001, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,074 on Nov. 11, 2003; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/710,564, filed Nov. 9, 2000, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,309 on Nov. 27, 2001; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/127,377, filed Jul. 31, 1998, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,255 on Feb. 20, 2001; which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/079,143, filed Mar. 24, 1998, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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