Patent Grant
8113941
This invention relates to a game, and one particularly adapted for a video display, and even more particularly adapted to a gaming machine or other gaming environment (e.g., Internet) wherein the game evaluates an initial gameplay condition (e.g. “deal”), transforms certain (e.g., related) game elements as may be appropriate, preferably with some rearrangement of remaining game elements, and repeats the evaluations, transformations and rearrangement so long as there is a transformative relationship for continued gameplay.
Traditional slot machines have a plurality of rotating mechanical reels, which rotate and then stop to show symbols on one or more paylines drawn across the reels. Players wager coins or credits on one or more of these paylines and are paid for certain combinations of symbols on a payline for which a wager has been placed. Video slot machines typically show the same type of reel configuration on a video display. Video slot machines typically offer the same types of features as their mechanical counterparts, and often add in a bonus game that occurs when a game results in a particular symbol combination. In certain slot machines there may be combinations of symbols that pay the player that are not necessarily confined to paylines, such as “scatter” pays which may be awarded when certain symbols appear in any visible position on certain reels. There have been games that do not have any paylines, but rather, pay for symbol combinations wherever they occur (e.g. “Spin Keno”, U.S. Ser. No. 10/090,685).
There have been games where, after certain initial results, a random event modifies this result. This has been seen in games with a “respin” feature, such as IGT's “Double Spin Double Diamond”. In that game, at the end of each initial game spin, if changing the third reel could possibly improve the result without the risk of a lesser result, then the third reel is respun by selecting an additional random number.
There have been games where the final result is modified after the spin in a non-random manner. For example, this has been done using a “nudge” feature (e.g. “Double Diamond Deluxe” by IGT) where certain symbols will rise to the payline when they appear below the payline, or other symbols will fall to the payline when they appear above the payline. There have been other games where the player is allowed to “nudge” certain reels after the result to attempt to modify the original result to a better result.
There is a multi-line video slot machine (“Penguin Pays” by Aristocrat) where, after a certain symbol combination is achieved, then a certain symbol is sequentially substituted for each of the fifteen symbols. After each substitution, all paylines are evaluated and the player is paid for all winners in each evaluation.
In broad perspective of a primary aspect of the current invention, the gaming machine creates a random original (first) result. This first result is evaluated, and then, according to specific rules, certain game element symbols are transformed, the remaining elements are rearranged, if permitted, and the new arrangement is then evaluated. This process of transforming, rearranging, and re-evaluating is repeated over and over until no further play is available.
Now, with the foregoing in mind, the current invention builds upon this novel concept for a game that allows for wagering on the continuing process of a game. The present invention, in perhaps one of its broader expressions, comprises a game, as for a gaming machine, wherein a plurality of game element locations are displayed in a matrix. Game elements are provided, wherein the game elements are divided into subsets, each having their own matching relationship. The game is played by randomly assigning each game element to a game element location. This assignment (or “dealt hand”) may or may not result in having all game element locations filled by game elements. A preferred form of the invention fills the matrix with game elements. The gameplay condition then presented is evaluated to determine if a positive outcome has been achieved.
That positive (or winning) outcome, in the preferred embodiments described hereafter, is a matching combination of plural game elements. It need not be a paying combination, however, as will be understood through further consideration of this specification.
If a positive outcome has been achieved, the positive outcome may or may not have a payout associated with it. However, if a positive outcome has not been achieved, then the game is typically over. Continuing on, if a positive outcome has been achieved in the initial gameplay condition, the positive combination(s) is transformed according to specified rules.
The transformation includes removing at least one game element from the previous positive combination, thus creating an open space. The transformation may further include injecting a “Wild” game element in place of a game element in the previous positive outcome. The remaining game elements are then rearranged, if possible, according to a movement methodology. The steps of evaluating, transforming, and rearranging the game elements are repeated so long as there is a positive outcome.
Another objective encompassed in the invention is having positive combinations as three or more contiguous game elements with a matching relationship. A transformation step is disclosed wherein all game elements of a positive combination are removed from the matrix, thus leaving additional open spaces (game element locations).
Yet another variant objective is to include a transformation step wherein, if the positive combination is exactly three game elements, then all game elements are removed except the middle game element, which is transformed into a “Wild” game element. The “Wild” game element has the attribute of matching some or all of the other game element indicia. As such, a positive combination in this embodiment can include: three or more game elements with the same indicia; or one or more game elements with the same indicia with appropriate substitution of “Wild” game elements to achieve three or more matching game elements, or any other conceivable, transformable game element concept.
Still another objective of the present invention is the use of an initial wager on an outcome in gameplay. In one such wagering game, the player is then paid for positive combinations according to a paytable having a structure of payouts for obtaining positive outcomes. It should be noted that a positive outcome may have a payout of zero, with the player nonetheless advancing to a subsequent gameplay condition (sometimes referred to herein as another “level”).
In one aspect of the invention, the player can specify the number of game elements involved in the first gameplay condition, such that less than all of the game element locations are used (filled with game elements). Each possible number of game elements employs a different paytable. In one form of this version, the player selects certain game element locations (or “spots” as sometimes referred to herein) from a larger number of game element locations as the number of game element locations to play and upon which the outcome is based. The more game element locations (spots) that the player selects, the higher the possible payouts. Alternatively, the game elements are simply randomly assigned to locations.
The invention in one preferred embodiment uses a game matrix comprised of adjoining orthogonal rows and columns of game elements locations within the bounds of a rectangle wherein the positive outcome is met by contiguous matching game elements in any row or column of the matrix. The positive outcome could likewise be simply some number of contiguous matching game elements, or even some number of game elements in a so-called “scatter-pay” arrangement.
Another embodiment uses a game matrix wherein the game element locations are defined by segments of a set of concentric rings. In this form of the invention, the positive outcome can be combinations of matching game elements in any “row” or “column” of the concentric rings. Using this type of game matrix, the movement methodology can be defined as toward the common center of the concentric rings, or toward the outward ring for that matter, just to name two ways of movement.
While some kind of movement to fill spaces is contemplated, the described embodiments of this invention generally include a movement methodology with a game boundary towards which the remaining game elements are moved as permitted.
Yet another objective of the invention includes a method of randomly assigning game elements to game element locations in multiple “reel-type” arrangement. This type of selection method includes a random selection from a full set for each game element location. This is contrasted with the single set (“deck”) used for the entirety of the game elements locations.
One form of the invention is a method of playing a wagering game. The game is played by providing a game matrix with a plurality of game element locations. Game elements with differing subsets of game elements with matching relationships are provided. A wager upon the outcome of the game is made. The game elements are then randomly assigned to game element locations for a first gameplay condition. The first gameplay condition is evaluated for a matching relationship for a winning outcome.
The “matching” relationship includes two but preferably more associated game elements. The matching relationship could also include a single game element, such as a special game element which permits the transformative step to occur.
The winning outcome is then transformed by eliminating at least one game piece of the winning relationship to create at least one open space.
The remaining game elements are then moved, if possible, according to a movement methodology. The movement methodology can include any well-defined movements such as moving each game element towards the bottom of a matrix of rows and columns, if possible, to fill any empty space. However, the movement methodology could include moving towards a side, or alternating between which side to move toward, or towards the top of the matrix. Likewise, the movement methodology could include randomly determining which remaining element will fill a blank space, if possible. The new arrangement comprises the next or subsequent gameplay condition.
The steps of determining a matching relationship for a winning outcome, transforming, and moving the game elements are repeated so long as there is a matching relationship for a winning outcome with further movement. After continued gameplay has ceased, a total payout is determined according to a paytable with a hierarchy of awards for the different matching relationships attainable and those actually attained during gameplay.
Additionally, the invention could have a payout wherein each payout for a subsequent gameplay condition is multiplied. For example, the first payout on the first gameplay condition would be multiplied by one, the second payout on the second gameplay condition would be multiplied by two, etc. The invention could use this or any other method of increasing payouts as the number of gameplay conditions increase.
The invention also contemplates a video gaming machine having a video display on which the game matrix is located or shown. The video gaming machine includes a wager input mechanism. An operating system is included in the video gaming machine. The operating system includes a methodology for gameplay establishing a plurality of possible predetermined positive outcomes of game elements in matching relationships. The video gaming machine includes a mechanism for randomly placing game elements in respective game element locations for gameplay. A paytable is also included in the video gaming machine. The paytable has a set of structured payouts for achieving various positive outcomes.
The operating system makes an evaluation of the gameplay condition, and determines whether any positive outcome was achieved. A transformation of the game elements which comprise any such positive outcome occurs including an elimination of at least one of the game elements of each positive outcome to thereby create an open space for that game element location. Next, if any remaining game element can be moved according to a movement methodology, it is so moved. This movement methodology is designed to fill any open space that may have been created. This process of evaluation and so on repeats until there is no longer a positive outcome for continued gameplay. Gameplay ends with rewarding positive outcomes (if any) according to the paytable and the wager.
The foregoing video gaming machine could include a reward for every positive outcome and the awards could be accumulated for a final payout. The video gaming machine could include a game element selection mechanism used by a player to select which game elements are to be used in an initial gameplay condition (i.e., less than all).
The matching relationship for the positive outcome can include at least three game elements with associative indicium in a subset. The positive outcome could include the three or more game elements in a certain geometry. For one instance, the three game elements may be required to be contiguous in a line for a transformation, and the transformation includes elimination of all game elements of the positive outcome. Alternatively, a middle game element of the group is transformed into a “Wild” symbol. The “Wild” symbol has the attribute of matching a plurality of other game element indicia. Additionally, the video gaming machine can include a structure of payouts for positive outcomes including increasing the payout for each repetition through transforming and movement.
The video gaming machine could use a matrix of game element locations organized by orthogonal rows and columns wherein the positive outcome is from a row or column having contiguous matching game elements thereon. Likewise, the video gaming machine could include a boundary towards which the movement methodology moves the remaining game elements. As such, the movement methodology could move the remaining game elements towards the bottom, for instance.
The invention also includes a method of operating a gaming machine with the steps of providing a game matrix having a plurality of game element locations, providing a set of game elements, registering a wager, randomly assigning game elements to game element locations for a gameplay condition, determining if any of the game elements are to be transformed, and transforming the game elements so designated. The transformation preferably includes the elimination of at least one game element, thus creating an open space. Any remaining game elements may be moved to fill an open space according to a movement methodology.
When movement stops, there is then another determination as to whether any remaining game elements can be transformed, repeating the above transformation step, moving step, and determination step so long as there is a transformation for continued gameplay unless some other criterion stops the game. A payout is then made according to a paytable.
The aforementioned method of operating a gaming machine could include the previously described attributes and variations such as eliminating all game elements to be transformed, eliminating all but a middle game element of the elements to be transformed and changing the middle game element into a “Wild” game element.
As previously described, the transformative act can be based on at least two game elements which have an associative relationship being contiguous in the game matrix for the transformation, or in the myriad other arrangements contemplated, including a solitary “special” game element which meets the transformation step. The method of operating a gaming machine likewise may utilize a paytable which has a structure of payouts that is increased for each repetition through transformation and movement. The paytable can be preferably based upon a hierarchy of differing subsets of game elements.
The invention also contemplates a game having a game matrix of a plurality of game element locations, and a set of game elements. A random assignment of game elements to a respective game element location occurs for a first gameplay condition. A preset game methodology determines whether any of the randomly assigned game elements in the first gameplay condition comprise a game element subject to transformation. If so, there is a transformation of the game elements subject to transformation, the transformation including an elimination of at least one of the game elements so transformed to thereby create an open space for that game element location of said eliminated game element. After transformation, there is a determination of whether the remaining game elements can be moved according to a movement methodology designed to fill an open space created, with movement of any such remaining game element(s) as permitted by the methodology for a subsequent gameplay condition. There then ensues another determination according to the game methodology of whether the game elements in the subsequent gameplay condition are subject to transformation, and if so, transformation and movement ensues for continued gameplay, toward ultimately determining an outcome.
As with other embodiments already discussed, the transformation of the aforementioned game can include elimination of game elements subject to transformation. The game elements can further include subsets of game elements which have an associative relationship within each subset. The game methodology may require at least three game elements which have an associative relationship be contiguous in the game matrix for the transformation. The transformation further may include eliminating matched game elements, or all but a middle game element of the match, with changing of the middle game element into a “Wild” game element which has the attribute of matching with a plurality of game element subsets.
The game could also include a wager register and a paytable, which provides a reward in view of the outcome. The paytable can have a structure of payouts for gameplay as previously discussed.
The matrix of game elements of the game can form adjoining orthogonal rows and columns, which establish the game element locations, and the transformation requires that contiguous game elements be in a column or in a row. The game matrix of the game can also include a boundary toward which the movement methodology moves remaining game elements.
The invention further contemplates a bonus for a gaming machine wherein the gaming machine has a base game with game elements in game element locations, and at least some of the game elements are subject to being eliminated in play of the base game. The bonus comprises: a plurality of bonus indicia in a predetermined bonus association, wherein the bonus indicia are placed in respective game element locations and at least one of the bonus indicia is in an unachieved mode relative to the game elements. The unachieved mode is established by a game element being located on the same game element location as a bonus indicium. An achieved mode for the bonus is when all of the bonus indicia in a bonus association are no longer located in the same game element location as a game element.
The contemplated bonus for a gaming machine may include the unachieved mode comprising a game element obscuring a bonus indicium from view, and the achieved mode is all of the bonus indicia in an association no longer being obscured. In another embodiment, the bonus indicia in an association are contiguous in a line on a matrix of game element locations.
In yet another embodiment of the bonus, the matrix of the game may be comprised of rows and columns, and the bonus indicia in an association are equal in number to game element locations of a respective row or column and the achieved bonus mode constitutes open spaces throughout a respective row or column having said bonus indicia.
These and other objectives and advantages achieved by the invention will be further understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
The “Chain Reaction” game, as we call it, is preferably played on a gaming machine. While it is implemented on a video gaming device in that application, it could be developed to operate in a mechanical form that could be as a mechanical gaming machine, or a live game such as a casino table game. There may also be practice programs developed to play the game on a personal computer, for instance.
In a presently preferred embodiment, the gaming device displays the game elements as symbols to the player in a traditional rectangular grid or matrix, such as a five by five square. The symbols could be shown in other rectangular dimensions or for that matter, many geometric arrangements without departing from the invention.
The basic concept for the preferred embodiment is as follows: at least some symbols in winning combinations disappear from the game matrix in a transformative step, which may include some symbols in the winning combinations transforming into a different symbol. After this removal and any substitution, symbols are then rearranged (such as being compressed downward in the columns of the foregoing square matrix) to fill in any blank spaces. This could be thought of as if each symbol was a block (cube) and the symbols that disappear cause the blocks above them to fall under gravity in their place(s). A “winning” arrangement can also be a “positive” result. As noted above, the “arrangement” can merely be a special game element appearing. The point is, something occurs that triggers a transformative process to advance the gameplay.
While the foregoing rectilinear geometry and attendant movement rule is used for a preferred embodiment, other geometries and rules could apply. For example, the symbols could be initially displayed in the circular matrix shown in
The “reel” methodology and “deck of cards” methodology are well known in the art. It is not particularly important whether one of these, or yet another methodology, is used for the symbol selection in this invention.
In this first embodiment, the “deck of cards” methodology is used. While the “deck” could be comprised of more than the twenty-five symbol positions, such that twenty-five symbols are drawn from this larger deck for each game (just as Stud Poker draws five cards each game from a fifty-two standard card deck), in the preferred embodiment the “deck” or set of game elements consists of the twenty-five symbols shown in
It is a common practice in gaming machines to give the player multiple ways to wager multiple credits on each game played. In reel slots, this is usually accomplished by providing many different paylines, each of which requires a wager. In the “Spin Keno” application, this is accomplished by allowing the player to select one or more symbol positions with which to wager. In the current invention, this may be provided in a number of ways. For example there could be ten paylines for the rows 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and columns 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 in the grid, with wins only being awarded when they occur on lines that have received a wager. Alternatively, the player could have the option of wagering one to twenty-five credits to activate each of the twenty-five squares in the grid, with wins only being awarded that contain a symbol in a square that has been wagered upon. This could be modified so that wins are only paid when they are entirely contained in squares which have been wagered upon. In the embodiment shown in
There is no limit to the methods that could be used to encourage higher bets by providing more action in the game. In this preferred embodiment, however, the player is given five free symbols as indicated in the information area 78. The player may wager one to twenty credits for one to twenty additional symbols, for a maximum of twenty-five symbols (one for each position in the grid). If less than twenty credits is wagered, the extra symbols are replaced with blank symbols that are not part of any winning paytable value.
It will be noticed that the symbols shown in
When one credit is played, it would have been acceptable to use the first six symbols of
The following paytable was used for twenty symbols used in play (i.e., Five free “7's” and twenty other game elements for the five by five matrix):
The symbols may be revealed to the players in any desired animated fashion, such as dropping them from over the board as if they were tiles.
Once the symbols have been displayed in a gameplay condition, the program identifies any winning combinations. In this embodiment, any group of three matching symbols that appears on consecutive (contiguous) horizontal spaces (rows) or vertical spaces (columns) on the board is considered a winning combination, of course, if that combination is listed on the paytable. Any other rules for winning symbol alignment including using more or less symbols for winning combinations may be used without departing from the invention.
Here “matching” means having a common indicium, such as an Eye symbol, or a Bug. “Matching” as further revealed herein can also include a “Wild” symbol as part of the winning association or outcome. “Matching” may further include some kind of common associative theme for the subset, such as a “flower” motif using various flowers for one subset, various “sheep” pictorials for another, kinds of “bees” for a third and so on. “Matching” is thus used expansively herein to connote some pre-determined associative relationship, with or without “Wild” elements. Again as noted above, there need not be any “match” of plural game elements at all if a “special” game element meets the criteria for winning combinations.
In
In
In
The board is evaluated for a third time, as shown in
Sometimes a player may achieve many winning combinations, resulting in an “overflow” condition of information in the limited information area 78. A “Scroll Up” button 88 and a “Scroll down” button 90 can be included to allow the player to review all the winning combinations. Other possible features include a “Reset” button 92 and a “Replay” button 94. The “Reset” button 92 allows a player to redisplay the initial deal or play for further review. The “Replay” button 94 allows a player to replay the previous deal and re-watch the evaluations.
The foregoing embodiment also includes features such as a “Start Game” button 96, a “Max Bet Start” button 98, a “Number of Spots” button 100, a “Bet” meter 102, a “Bet Per Spot” button 104, and a “Help See Pays” button 106. These types of features are well known in the art, and further description is unnecessary.
In another embodiment which is a variation on that just described, a “Wild” symbol is introduced to provide more action on more games. “Wild” symbols are widely used in gaming machines, and depending on the rules of the particular machine, may substitute for a single type of symbol, a group of symbols or any symbol. While any of these configurations is compatible with this invention, the “Wild” in these examples are matches for any symbol. Furthermore, in any given evaluation, a “Wild” symbol may be a match for one symbol in a first paying combination and “Wild” for a different second symbol in a different paying combination.
In this embodiment, initially there are no “Wild” symbols in the deck of symbols, however, anytime a paying combination is comprised of exactly three symbols, instead of removing all three symbols from the board after evaluation, the outer two symbols are removed, while the center symbol is replaced with a “Wild” symbol. “Wild” symbols could also be substituted when four and/or five symbol winning combinations are removed without departing from the invention. Obviously, some convention could be used to determine where the “Wild” would be placed in the transformation of a group without a central game element. The “Wild” symbols could also be part of the “deck” or injected by other means without departing from the invention.
Now returning to
The program calls out these three winning combinations, shows their pay values (ten credits for four “Any Bugs”, five credits for three “Any 7's” and four credits for three Silver Bugs), and displays this information in the information area 78 as illustrated in
The program now evaluates the display shown in
The winning symbols from
Bonus Game
It is currently very popular to have a special bonus game in games of chance. In some traditional slot machines, there are certain indicia that initiate a bonus round when they appear on a wagered payline. In other machines, the bonus is initiated by a special “scatter pay”, which is defined as a certain combination or combinations of visible symbols, without regard to a particular payline. When a scatter-type pay is used, the bonus round is initiated when the combination appears, without regard to wagered paylines. The awards from a scatter pay bonus round are typically multiples of the entire wager of the initiating spin. Conversely, when a bonus round is initiated through particular symbols appearing on a wagered payline, the bonus is typically paid in multiples of the number of credits wagered on the specific line where the initiating symbols appeared.
A bonus game is not necessary, but may be added to the game of this invention in any of the conventional manners. An infrequent symbol combination such as four consecutive King Tut symbols on a payline could initiate the bonus game. Alternatively, the bonus game could be triggered using some quantity of scattered symbols. This configuration would work better if there were more symbols in the set than in the grid, or if the “reel” methodology was used.
An interesting approach is the initiation of the bonus game or round as a result of a particular geometric configuration. For example, the bonus game could be awarded anytime a complete column is cleared, or whenever two adjacent columns are cleared. The bonus round could also be initiated if the top three rows are completely cleared.
However, in one preferred embodiment of a bonus game herein, certain columns are randomly signified as “Bonus Columns” at the start of each game. The bonus game is initiated any time a Bonus Column is cleared out, i.e. all game symbols removed.
In the game of
Additional Bonuses
Other bonuses may be awarded based on the results of the game, including certain bonuses for achieving geometric feats. In this preferred embodiment there is a large bonus for clearing all twenty-five symbols off the board (leaving no symbols on the board at the end of the game). There could be bonuses for other geometric arrangements, such as clearing three or four columns or clearing the three or four top rows.
Operational Flowcharts
The programming for certain embodiments described above is operationally summarized in the flowcharts of
After the program returns from the “Set Button Active/Inactive States” subroutine, the program reads any active buttons of the gaming machine in step 210. In step 212, a determination is made of whether the player actuated any active buttons. If the player did not actuate any of the active buttons, the program returns to complete step 202 again. If the player did actuate one of the active buttons, the program proceeds to execute any step associated with the particular actuated button.
If the player actuates the “Cashout Menu” button 108 (e.g.
If the player actuates the “Help See Pays” button 106 (e.g.
If the player actuates the “Bet Per Spot” button 104, the program calls an “Increment Bet Per Spot” subroutine, described hereinafter, at step 218. After the program returned from the “Increment Bet Per Spot” subroutine, the program returns to complete step 202.
If the player actuates the “Number of Spots” button 100, the program proceeds to complete an “Increment Number of Spots” subroutine, described hereinafter, at step 220. After the program returns from the “Increment Number of Spots” subroutine, the program returns to complete step 202.
If the player actuates the “Max Bet Start” button 98, the program sets the “Number of Spots” 107 meter to 20 at step 222. The program then sets the “Bet Per Spot” meter 105 to 5 in step 224. Next in step 226, the program sets the “Bet” meter 102 to one hundred. After step 226 is completed, the program proceeds to complete a “Play A Game” subroutine, described hereinafter, in step 228. Alternatively, if the player actuates the “Start Game” button 96, the program directly executes the “Play A Game” subroutine, described hereinafter, in step 228. In either case, the program returns to step 202 after the game is complete.
Referring back to step 298, if the matrix of tiles did not change during the “Search For Winning Combinations” subroutine, the program proceeds to step 302 and calls a “Search For Board Cleared Bonus” subroutine, described hereinafter, to determine if a board cleared bonus can be awarded. After the program returns from the “Search For Board Cleared Bonus” subroutine, the program proceeds to step 304 and calls a “Search for Bonus Columns” subroutine, described hereinafter, to determine if a Bonus Round or Game can be awarded. Once the program returns from the “Search for Bonus Columns” subroutine, the program returns to the Game Set Up Routine ready to execute step 202 (see
If so, then in step 340, the program determines if this symbol type matches any existing entries in the Win Description List. If symbol types do match any existing entries in the Win Description List, then step 344 is executed and the program determines if the matching entry from the Win Description List also occurs in the same row or column as the current matching symbol set. If the matching entry from the Win Description List also occurs in the same row or column as the current matching symbol set, then the win is not added to Win Description List and the program returns to step 326 of
As alluded to above, the steps of 332, 340, and 344 ensure that a player gets paid only for the highest matched set of symbols. For illustration purposes imagine that a deal resulted in row containing “Blue 7”, “Blue 7”, “Blue 7”, “Red 7”, and “Red 7”. The player would be paid for five “Any 7's” and three “Blue 7's”. The player would not receive an award for the other two embedded three “Any 7's” and the two embedded four “Any 7's”.
Referring back to step 340, if the symbol type did not match any existing entries in the Win Description List, the program would have executed step 342 and continued on from there.
Referring back to step 338, if the symbol names did not match a payline in the paytable, then the program would have returned to the “Search For Winning Combinations” subroutine ready to execute step 326.
Referring back to step 362, if the program determined that the paying symbol positions did not include exactly three symbols, then the program would have proceeded to execute step 368 to remove the graphic highlights after a short delay. After step 368 is executed, the program determines if this is the last entry in the Win Description List in step 370. If this is not the last entry in the Win Description List, then the program will increment the Win Table Index by one in step 372. After completion of step 372, the program will loop back to execute step 348 and will continue on as previously described.
Referring back to step 370, if this is the last entry in the Win Description List, then the program will return to “Searching For Winning Combinations” subroutine (
Referring back to step 390, if the program determines that this column has been cleared, then the program proceeds to step 396 and determines if the column has been assigned a Bonus Marker. If the column has not been assigned a Bonus Marker, then the program proceeds to execute step 392 described above and continues on from there. If however, it is determined that the column has been assigned a Bonus Marker in step 396, then the program increments the “Num Of Matching Columns” value by one in step 398. After step 398 is completed, the program proceeds to execute step 392 described above and continues on from there.
Referring back to step 392, if it is determined that all five columns have been examined, then the program executes step 400 to determine if the “Num Of Matching Columns” value is greater than zero. If the “Num Of Matching Columns” value is not greater than zero, the program “bangs up” the value of the “Credits Won” meter 84 into the “Total Credits” meter 86 in step 402.
Referring back to step 400, if the “Num Of Matching Columns” value is greater than zero, then the program executes a Bonus Game (not shown) in step 404. Once the program has returned from the Bonus Game, the program adds the bonus information to the paytable in the Information Area 78 and adds the number of credits earned in the bonus round to the “Credits Won” meter 84 in step 406. After step 406 is completed, the program executes step 402 as described above. After step 402 is completed, the program returns through the Play A Game” subroutine (
Analysis of the Game
In a preferred embodiment of the game, a separate analysis is performed for each number of tiles (blocks, symbols, game elements) played (one to twenty credits playing six to twenty-five tiles respectively). Each such analysis will confirm the return for the selected paytable. In the preferred embodiment, the pay values for each combination will remain constant and different symbol sets will be used for different number of tiles. The game could instead use one set of symbols when twenty-five tiles are played, and then use only subsets of this set for playing fewer tiles. Or, as previously stated, the same symbols could be used for all wagers with wins only awarded in squares that were wagered upon. The methodology used for changing the bet is not important, and there are many schemes that will work within the scope of the invention. The analysis shown below is for playing the twenty-five symbol “deck” or set with a wager of twenty credits.
To perform a conventional mathematical analysis on this game, it is necessary to understand the results of every possible hand. In the illustrated embodiment above, which randomly distributed a set of twenty-five tiles to the twenty-five positions, there are a possible twenty-five factorial starting combinations, thus resulting in over 15.5 septillion games to analyze:
25!=15,511,210,043,330,985,984,000,000
Schemes using a larger set of tiles or using a random selection at each tile position would result in an even larger space of possible games.
Using conventional mathematical analysis to analyze the game, one would write a computer program to analyze each distinct possible placement. If possible, redundancies could be removed to trim down the number of boards which needed to be analyzed. Given the current speed of computers and the massive number of combinations, it was decided that it would take too long for current computers to complete such a detailed analysis, even with a massive reduction of redundant boards. Happily, through random simulation of the game, the results can be seen to converge at much lower play counts.
A program was written to play the game using the twenty-five tile set shown in
In the running of these simulations, there were never any winning combinations past the twelfth evaluation. Any time that there are one or more winning combinations, play results in the removal of at least two symbols. After twelve evaluations, under the rules of this embodiment, there must be at least twenty-four symbols removed. This means that after twelve winning evaluations there will be exactly zero or one symbol left on the board, which cannot result in a thirteenth level winner. Using a different methodology of tile removal could result in more possible evaluations. Those skilled in the art understand how to expand the occurrence tables to cover all possible outcomes.
For the analysis shown here, a simulation of five billion games was played, recording each pay at each evaluation level. Those skilled in the art understand how to determine an adequate number of games to play such that the results are convergent. Table 2 shows the number of occurrences of each possible pay at each evaluation level.
Looking at the “3 King Tut” combination, we can see that in five billion plays of the game that “3 King Tuts” combination occurred on the first evaluation of a game 65,213,976 times. This combination occurred on the second evaluation (after the first evaluation symbols were removed) 141,898,654 times. It occurred on the twelfth evaluation a total of seven times in five billion plays.
Table 3 shows the probability of any given game resulting in the specified combination at the specified evaluation level. The probability is computed by dividing the corresponding Table 2 occurrence count by the five billion total plays. For example, the probability of achieving a “3 King Tut” win on the first level evaluation of any given game is 0.0130428 or once every 76.67 games. The probability of getting a “3 King Tut” win on the second level evaluation of any given game is 0.0283797 or once every 35.24 games on average. Likewise, the probability of a “3 King Tut” win on the twelfth level evaluation is 1.4×10−9 or once every 714,285,714 games on average.
Once the probabilities have been determined, they are combined with a paytable to determine the expected return. Table 4 shows a possible paytable for this game. The first column (Evaluation Level 1) shows the “base” payout values awarded on the first evaluation level. All of the other columns use this base value multiplied by the current Evaluation Level. This is done to take into account the multipliers used in this embodiment. If a different scheme were employed for awards on the various evaluation levels, then it would be taken into account in this paytable. Those skilled in the art can easily change the mechanics and make the corresponding changes to the paytable. Given the symbols and combinations allowed, it is this set of paytable values that will be modified to change the expected return of the base game, if desired.
Table 5 shows all of the Expected Value (EV) components for the different possible pays of the game. Each component is formed by multiplying the corresponding values from Table 3 (probability) and Table 4 (Pay Table value) and then dividing this product by the twenty credits required to play the game. Each EV component represents the fraction of each coin wagered that will be returned by the specific pay combination at that evaluation level.
The sum of all of these EV components is the Expected Return of the base game of this embodiment of this invention. As shown at the bottom of Table 5, all of the EV components summed together total 0.808107 indicating that 80.8107% of the credits wagered will be returned by the base game. It is well known in the art how to adjust the pay values of Table 4 to raise or lower this expected return from the base game. The expected return could also be modified by changing the components of the tile set or changing the methodology of selecting the symbols, as has been previously discussed.
The simulation program that created the occurrence counts also kept track of whatever other statistics are necessary to regulate the pay values of the game. In this embodiment, one must determine how often each column is cleared, as well as how often the entire matrix of twenty-five squares is cleared in order to determine the Expected Return.
Table 6 shows the calculation for the Expected Return from the Bonus Game. For the purposes of clarity, columns in the game are now referred to here as “stacks”, so as not be confused with columns in the table. The first column of the table shows the name of the game stack. The five stacks get cleared out at different frequencies, so they were tracked separately by the simulation program. The second column of Table 6 shows the number of times the specific stack was cleared in five billion plays. The third column computes the probability of clearing that particular stack, which is the second column Occurrences divided by the five billion total plays. As expected, the closer to the horizontal center, the more often a stack is cleared. This is due to there being more ways to use a symbol in the center stack in a winning horizontal combination. The fourth column shows the probability of the “Bonus” background appearing (as seen in stacks three and four of
The fifth column is the probability of initiating the bonus round by clearing the current game stack. It is the product of the third column probability of clearing a stack and the fourth column probability of the “Bonus” background appearing. The sum of all of the fifth column values is the probability of entering the bonus round on any given game. This is 0.1095952 or 1 in 91.24 games. The frequency will actually be a little lower, since there will be occasions when multiple columns marked with “Bonus” are cleared. When this happens, the bonus award will be multiplied by the number of initiating columns. Alternatively, the game could offer multiple bonus rounds for multiple initiating columns. In either case, Table 6 correctly computes the return as there will be on average one bonus game award for every 91.24 games played. This frequency could be raised or lowered by modifying the fourth column values of probability of “Bonus” appearing in the stacks.
The sixth column shows the expected return of a bonus game. The construction of bonus games to meet a given return is well known in the art and is not shown here. The bonus game of this embodiment provides a return, on average of 213.421269 credits for a twenty credit wager.
The seventh column computes the return for bonus games initiated by this stack. It is the product of the fifth column probability of initiating a bonus game in this stack and the sixth column expected return of the bonus game, divided by the twenty credit wager required for this embodiment of the game. The sum of all EV components is shown at the bottom of the seventh column. The total expected return from the bonus game is 0.11694971 or 11.69% of the credits wagered. This return could be modified by changing either the column six EV of each Bonus Game or the column four Probability of “Bonus” in each stack.
Table 7 shows the Expected Return for the Bonus for clearing the entire board. In the Occurrences column it shows that the simulation program cleared the board 14,267 times in the five billion simulated plays. The probability is computed by dividing this number of Occurrences by the five billion plays completed. The “1 in X” is the reciprocal of the probability showing that the board will be cleared on average every 350,459 plays. By setting the award for clearing the board at 25000 credits, we have an EV component of 0.003567, which is the product of this pay value and the probability. We can raise or lower this component by changing the Pay value as is well known in the art.
Table 8 shows the entire return of the game, summing up the components from the Base Game (Table 5), the Bonus Game (Table 6) and the Clearing the Board Bonus (Table 7). This shows that the total return is 0.928624 or 92.86%. This is the percentage of credits wagered that will be returned to the player in the long run with the machine retaining or “holding” 7.14% of all credits wagered.
As mentioned previously, if a game utilizes a different number of played spots or game element locations, a similar analysis must be completed in order to determine the payouts for various possibilities of winning spot combinations. The corresponding paytable for playing one spot (see
Thus, while the present invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, those of skill in this art will recognize even more variations, applications and modifications which will still fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, all as intended to come within the ambit and reach of the following claims:
This application is a Divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/231,550, filed Aug. 30, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,322.
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| 6311976 | Yoseloff et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
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| 20030054874 | Kaminkow | Mar 2003 | A1 |
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| 20040043809 | Gomez et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060205473 A1 | Sep 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10231550 | Aug 2002 | US |
| Child | 11412527 | US |
