Electronic System for Playing of Reel-Type Games

Abstract

There is disclosed an electronic gaming system (100) comprising one or more player interfaces (6, 7, 17), and a main video display screen (1). The system enables players to simultaneously play a plurality of reel-type games and to place bets on lines of the games. The system displays a plurality of display windows on the main display screen, each window being associated with a respective one of the simultaneously played games and displaying the reels of that game, each reel displaying reel indicia. The system is configured for any one of the games to enter a feature phase when a feature-triggering event occurs. At the start of the feature phase, all the display windows on the main screen, except the particular display window associated with the feature phase, reduce in size or disappear, while the size of the feature game's display window increases, and the other games are also suspended, until the feature phase is completed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example and with references to the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional-type slot machine for use with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic layout of a video screen of a gaming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, when in playing mode;

FIG. 3 is a schematic layout of the video screen of FIG. 2, showing special symbols appearing in separate games;

FIG. 4 is a schematic layout of the video screen of FIG. 2, with only three out of four games being selected for playing;

FIG. 5 is a schematic layout of the video screen of FIG. 2 with the display window of only one game being shown;

FIG. 6 is a schematic layout of the video screen of FIG. 2, in which display windows on the screen show outcomes of corresponding games;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a video screen layout according to a second embodiment of the invention, with multiple player terminals being connected to the screen and multiple game display windows being shown on the screen;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the video screen and terminals of FIG. 7, with only a single game display window being shown on the screen during a feature phase of the corresponding game; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of juxtaposed gaming system reels, and various examples of play “lines” of reel-type games.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In all embodiments, the invention involves a gaming system for playing of reel-type games, where the system is configured to enable simultaneous betting on several simultaneously played games where the reels of the games can be displayed on a single video display.

The gaming system 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention may be provided in a conventional-type slot machine 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, some features of this embodiment of the gaming system will be described with reference to FIG. 1. However, features of the gaming system according to this first embodiment and feature of other preferred embodiments of the invention will be described further with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8.

Each game according to this first embodiment of the invention is represented by way of a set of reels, each with its own line markers. Where reference is made below to a game being displayed, this relates to the display of the reels of the game, and, where the context allows, the display of other information pertaining to the game.

The gaming system 100 includes a random number generator (not shown) to determine the outcome of each game. Each game that being played is displayed to the player in a respective display window on a video screen 1. The player interacts with the machine 30 by pressing push buttons 6 or touch sensitive selectors 7.

The spin of the simulated reels is controlled by a microprocessor (not shown) that can be housed either in the slot machine 30 itself or externally, for example on a network server.

The player selects the number of games to be played by pressing the buttons 6 or selectors 7. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, up to four games, displayed respectively in the display windows 10, 11, 12 and 13, may be played at once according to this first embodiment. However, according to other embodiments, as few as two games or up to more than fifty games could be offered for simultaneous playing. According to the first embodiment, all of the games are of the same type, with the same winning probabilities applying, and same symbols being used, in all the games.

If only one game is selected to be played by a player, the remaining games are still displayed in their respective display windows on the screen 1. However, the line markers of the unselected games are not illuminated while those of the selected game are, thus indicating, on the screen 1, the games that are inactive. This is illustrated in FIG. 4, where only those games presented in the display windows 10, 11 and 12 are selected for playing.

Before a game is initiated, the player presses the buttons 6 or touch screen selectors 7 to select the number of lines to play on each selected game and the number of credits to be bet per line on the selected games. Each of the lines 14 to 16 in the game presented in the display window 10 in FIG. 4 can be selected. According to this embodiment the player selects a particular number of lines to be played and credits to be bet on these lines, and these same parameters apply to all of the selected games. In other embodiments, the player may choose different number of lines and different numbers of credits to bet per line, for the different games that are selected.

As shown for example in FIGS. 2 to 6 there is provided a single status meter 8 which displays the current credits available to the player, the value of the credits that have been bet and the value of the player's winnings. This meter 8 displays the aggregate of all bets placed and wins achieved on all of the games played by the player.

The gaming system 100 can be programmed so that the game is started automatically when the player chooses the number of credits bet per line. Alternatively, a dedicated spin button or selector may be provided to start the game, after all bets have been placed. According to another embodiment, there is provided an automatic mode, in which the games continue to run without interaction by the player.

The display windows 10, 11, 12 and 13 on the screen 1 display the simulated spinning of the reels and the final outcome of each game. The total bet on each game is equal to:

(Number of games played)×(Number of lines played on each game)×(Number of Credits bet on each played line).

According to one version of the present embodiment of the invention, the player has the option of making an additional bet according to which, if a particular predetermined combination of outcomes of one or more of the selected games is achieved, a feature or a bonus round is triggered.

According to the present embodiment, when a game starts, all of the reels begin to spin, including the reels of inactive games, that is, games that are not selected for playing. There is a slight delay between the starting of the respective games.

For each game, the left-most reel is the first to stop spinning. Then, with brief moments in-between, each successive reel, from the left-most reel to the right-most reel, stops spinning. According to another embodiment, the starting and stopping of the spinning of the reels is simultaneous.

The microprocessor's random number generator determines the outcome of each game, with this outcome being displayed in the relevant display window 10, 11, 12, 13. If the player achieves a winning outcome on a game, the player is awarded a prize in relation to that game.

In the present embodiment, winning outcomes may be based on the symbols appearing on the line on which bets have been placed, and “Scatter Wins”, as illustrated in FIG. 5. If “n” games are being played, the total “line” prize awarded is equal to:

[(prize per line for game 1)×(bet per line)]+[prize per line for game 2)×(bet per line)]+ . . . [( prize per line for game n)×(bet per line)].

The total Scatter Win is equal to:

[(total number of lines played on game 1)×(bet per line)×(scatter prize)]+[(total number of lines played on game 2)×(bet per line)×(scatter prize)]+[(total number of lines played on game 3)×(bet per line)×(scatter prize)]+ . . . [(total number of lines played on game n)×(bet per line)×(scatter prize)].

The total of all the line prizes and Scatter Wins for all games played is displayed on the status meter 8.

An important feature of the present embodiment is that, if a number of games are being played on the gaming system 100, and if a feature game is triggered by one of the games being played, the feature phase of that game is allowed to continue while the playing of all the other played games is suspended, until the feature phase is completed. The only game that is continued to be displayed in its display window on the screen 1 during the feature phase is the game in the feature phase, which is typically the game that triggered the feature. In addition, the display window relating to this game expands on the screen 1 so as to fill most of the screen, while the display windows for the suspended games are not displayed during the feature phase. In other embodiments, however, a small portion of the video screen 1 may show a reduced-size image of the display windows of selected games, or other gaming information such as jackpot awards, credit points, advertising information, etc.

The status meter 8 remains in its original position during the feature phase and all the relevant details of the wins achieved during the feature phase are included in the display of the status meter.

If game features are triggered by more than one of the games being played, the feature phases of these games are played one after another, individually. Thus the feature phases are queued. After the last of the sequential feature phases is completed, the suspended games continue to be played, and their display windows revert to their original sizes on the display screen 1.

According to the present embodiment, because many games can be played simultaneously, a game feature can also be triggered when a particular combination or arrangement of symbols from different games is achieved. An example of such a combination is illustrated by the symbols designated 9 in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 6, the display windows 10, 11 and 12 illustrate the outcome of the corresponding games as mentioned above in relation to FIG. 4. In particular, the arrangement of three kings (“K”) in the game corresponding to the display window 10, and the arrangement of five queens (“Q”) in the game corresponding to the display window 12 constitute winning outcomes of the particular games.

Since the player did not select the game corresponding to the display window 13, the arrangement of the four Jacks (“J”) in that game do not constitute a winning outcome for the player.

The arrangement of three symbols each shown as “scatter symbol” in the game corresponding to the display window 11 also constitutes a winning outcome of that game, and, according to the present embodiment, the arrangement of these symbols causes a game feature to be triggered. As these symbols are “scatter symbols”, they do not need to fall on a particular game line in order to constitute a winning outcome, although they do need to be displayed in an active game, that is, a game that the player selected to play.

As this game corresponding to the display window 11 triggered a feature, the remaining games (corresponding to the display windows 10, 12 and 13) are suspended during the feature phase, while only the feature phase of the game corresponding to the display window 11 is allowed to continue. During the feature phase, the display window 11 expands on the video screen 1 while the display windows 10, 12 and 13 disappear from the video screen. This single display window is illustrated in FIG. 5. At the end of the feature phase, the play of the suspended games resumes, and the corresponding display windows 10, 12 and 13 revert to there original positions on the video screen 1 together with the display window 11, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Another important embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 7 and 8. According to this embodiment, a number of players have access to play the games on the gaming system 100, each player having an individual interface in the form of a player terminal 17.

According to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above in relation to FIGS. 1 to 6, the games are displayed in display windows on a common screen 1.1 to which all of the terminals 17 are connected.

The layout of the video screen 1.1 of this embodiment corresponds to that of the first embodiment of the invention, although there may be different numbers of games, and hence display windows, depending on the particular version of the embodiment. Thus, the layouts shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 also apply to the present embodiment of the invention.

According to the present embodiment, each terminal 17 has its own display screen (not shown). If possible in light of the number of games accommodated by the gaming system according to the present embodiment, the display screens of the individual terminals 17 can be configured to show the display windows of all of the games as shown on the video screen 1.

Each player can choose which games to play, and the particular betting strategy for the selected games, via that player's terminal 17. Thus, for example, where the gaming system enables a total of nine games to be played simultaneously, each player may choose to play two of the nine games, a total of 25 lines, and to bet three credits per line. Another player, for example, may choose to play all nine games, a total of 25 lines, and to bet ten credits per line.

However, in another preferred embodiment, all of the players would be limited to playing all of the available games, to ensure equal participation by the players.

Wins are allocated to each player according to the bets placed by the player at the player's respective terminal 17.

If a feature is triggered by any one of the games being played, the play of the remaining games will be suspended, the size of the display window of the triggering game will be expanded to fill a larger portion of, or even substantially the entirety of, the video screen 1.1, and players that were playing the triggering game will be able to continue playing the feature phase of that game in accordance with their respective chosen betting criteria.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, the gaming system is configured to enable games to be played on a personal computer (not shown). The computer can enable playing on that computer alone, or on a number of computers connected via a network, such as the Internet.

According to the above embodiments, the probability of a feature being triggered is the same for each game whether that game is played alone or simultaneously with other games. However, in the normal situation where a number of games are played simultaneously, the fact that numerous games are being played will result in features being triggered more often than if one game were being played alone.

In some instances, for example, if four games are played simultaneously, a feature may be triggered approximately four times more often that if any one of those games was played alone.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these are general trends that depend on statistical probabilities and relate to average frequencies over extended periods of time. These averages therefore may not correspond exactly to the frequency of corresponding events over shorter periods of time.

It will further be appreciated that, increasing the number of games played simultaneously should result in features being triggered more often, even if the frequency of triggering by any one game is the same as that of all of the other games.

The increased number of features triggered as a result of numerous games being played simultaneously results in increased entertainment value for players and assists in maintaining the interest of players in playing the games.

In addition, it will be appreciated that the value of bets placed by a player for numerous games played simultaneously is the aggregate of the bets placed on each of the games. Thus, where the gaming system according to the present embodiment is implemented on a conventional slot machine, prize tables of that machine which determine prize amounts based on the value of bets placed by players, do not need to be modified to accommodate the features of the present embodiment, insofar as those prize tables apply to each of the games available to be played simultaneously.

It is also possible for the microprocessor to be programmed to reduce the probability of a feature being triggered by at least one of the games when that game is played simultaneously with a large number of other games, relative to the probability of the game triggering a feature when the game is played alone.

In this case, when numerous games are played simultaneously, even though the probability of a feature being triggered by any one or more games is reduced, the fact that numerous games are being played means that there should be an overall increase in the frequency of features being triggered. Thus, players will still be left with the impression that the features occur more often than usual and may be encouraged to continue playing.

Similar considerations apply to the awarding of prizes. Where numerous games are played simultaneously, prize awards should occur more often than if any one game were played alone. Since this may result in a player being left with the impression of a larger overall prize award, the value of the prize relating to each game can be made smaller, when that game is played simultaneously with other games, than the value of that prize when the game is played alone.

Alternatively, in other embodiments, the value of the prize relating to each of the games, during simultaneous playing, can be larger than the value of the prize when the respective game is played alone. This feature may be used in a case where the probability of features being triggered in any of the simultaneously played games is reduced when compared with the probability when the respective game is played alone.

According to the preferred embodiments, a portion of the bets placed on each of the simultaneously played games is allocated to a jackpot pool, and these games are configured, when predetermined criteria are met, to trigger a jackpot payout.

By presenting only feature-triggering games on the video screen as described above, the enjoyment and excitement experienced by players as a result of a feature being triggered should not be negated by the fact that numerous games are being played together.

In addition, according to the embodiment described in relation to FIGS. 7 and 8, the ability of numerous players to play games simultaneously via the terminals 17 allows the players to share their gaming experiences with one another, which can enhance player enjoyment, especially when bonus points or other game features are won.

Although the invention is described above with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not limited to those embodiments, but may be embodied in many other forms.

For example, bonuses or features may be awarded in different ways to those described above. In particular, a bonus might be associated with the combined outcomes of all of the games. Thus, if the outcomes of all of the games played involved the presentation of a particular common symbol, this could trigger a special bonus. This could be a particularly beneficial way of awarding major jackpots that typically require very high odds.

In another example, prizes can be awarded for game outcomes involving “scatter symbols” even if one or more of the “scatter symbols” appears as part of the outcome of a non-active game (i.e. a game that was not selected by a player).

In another example, instead of all of the available games being of an identical type to one another, the gaming system may be configured for the simultaneous playing of numerous games or different types.

In addition, while the preferred embodiments were described in the context of electronic games having simulated reels, mechanical reels might also be used, for example where the duration of the spinning of the reels is mechanically determined on the basis of a random, or pseudo-random, event.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming system comprising: At least one player interface for enabling a player to interact with the system;a main video display screen; anda random number generator, wherein the system enables a player to simultaneously play thereon a plurality of reel-type games and to select parameters of said plurality of games, said parameters including at least one of game lines on which the player places bets and the amount that is bet per selected line,wherein the system is configured to have a plurality of display windows appear simultaneously on the main display screen, each window being associated with a respective one of the simultaneously played games and being adapted to display a plurality of reels pertaining to that respective game, each reel having a plurality of reel indicia arranged circumferentially thereon,wherein the system is configured for the random number generator to determine a particular outcome for each play of each game, that outcome being one of a plurality of possible outcomes, and being constituted by a particular arrangement of indicia of the reels pertaining to that game,wherein the system is configured for a particular one of the games to enter a feature phase when the outcome of at least one of the games constitutes a predetermined feature-triggering event,wherein the system is configured at the start of said feature phase for all of the display windows on the main display screen, except the particular display window associated with said particular game, to reduce in size or disappear from the main display screen and for the size of said particular display window to increase on the main display screen, at least until the feature phase is completed, andwherein the system is configured for the play of all of the games other than said particular game to be suspended at least until the feature phase is completed.

2. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, configured for the size of said particular display window to increase on the main display screen so as to occupy substantially the whole of the main display screen.

3. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, configured for the play of said suspended games to resume after the feature phase of said particular game is completed.

4. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, configured for a plurality of the games to enter respective feature phases when outcomes of at least one of the games constitute respective predetermined feature-triggering events, and if such feature-triggering events occur while a feature phase of another game is underway, to cause the respective feature phases that have not yet been entered to be entered sequentially, with the play of all games other than that in the feature phase to be suspended, and for the play of the suspended games to be resumed after the sequential feature phases are completed.

5. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, configured to cause the feature phase of the or each game to be entered in response to a feature-triggering event which is constituted by a predetermined outcome of a plurality of the games.

6. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, configured to cause the feature phase of the or each game to be entered in response to a feature-triggering event which is constituted by a predetermined outcome of a single game.

7. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, comprising a slot machine which includes the main display screen and the player interface.

8. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of player interfaces for enabling each of a plurality of players, simultaneously, to play at least one of said plurality of reel-type games on the gaming system.

9. The electronic gaming system of claim 8, wherein each interface comprises a display for indicating the status of bets placed on, and credits awarded to the respective player in relation to, said at least one game.

10. The electronic gaming system of claim 8, configured such that, when the feature phase of a game is entered, each one of said plurality of players can continue to play that game only if that player had been playing that game before the feature phase of that game was entered.

11. The electronic gaming system of claim 8, configured to enable each of said players to play the at least one reel-type game in accordance with the game parameters entered by that player.

12. The electronic gaming system of claim 8, comprising a plurality of slot machines, each including one of said plurality of player interfaces.

13. The electronic gaming system of claim 8, wherein each player terminal comprises a terminal screen, the gaming system being configured for the display windows that appear simultaneously on the main display screen to also appear simultaneously on each terminal screen at which a player plays.

14. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, comprising a personal computer configured to enable said simultaneous playing thereon of the plurality of reel-type games.

15. The electronic gaming system of claim 14, wherein the personal computer is configured to be connected to other personal computers on a network and to enable players to play said plurality of reel-type games via the network.

16. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the network includes the Internet.

17. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, wherein the probability of each game entering a feature phase is lower, when that game is being played simultaneously with at least another one of the games, than when only that game is being played.

18. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, configured to award a prize to a player when any of the games that that player is playing has a predetermined winning outcome, wherein the value of the prize is smaller when that game is being played simultaneously with at least another one of the games, than when only that game is being played.

19. The electronic gaming system of claim 1, configured such that a portion of the amounts that are bet by the or each player on each game that is played is contributed to a jackpot pool, and such that a predetermined outcome of at least one of the games triggers a jackpot payout to players playing that at least one game.