Patent Application
20150072757
The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2013901428 filed on Apr. 24, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Described embodiments relate generally to gaming machines and methods of controlling such machines. Particular embodiments relate to gaming machines and methods using play line indicators to indicate selected patterns of symbols appearing in a game of chance played on such gaming machines.
In a gaming system involving gaming machines, it is known for a player to place a wager on a possible game outcome from among a number of possible outcomes in a game of chance. Depending on the actual outcome that occurs, the player may win or lose the wager.
Some gaming machines may offer a player the option to make multiple wagers by allowing the player to select more than one possible game outcome as a winning outcome. This can be done by allowing the player to select multiple play lines, where each play line comprises a specific pattern of symbols appearing at the conclusion of the game of chance.
In order for the player to engage effectively with the use of multiple play lines, each selected and available play line should be distinctively identifiable by the player. When the number of available selections is low (e.g. three or fewer play lines), the player can easily distinguish each play line. However, when the number of play lines is high (e.g. five or more), the player may find it difficult to easily identify each selected and available play line.
It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more shortcomings or disadvantages associated with prior gaming machines and/or game play techniques, or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Some embodiments relate to a gaming machine, comprising:
Each play line indication may have a graphical patch associated therewith, which may be shaped like a tab, for example. The plurality of selectable play lines may be displayed as a series of play line indications, which may extend along a side or top/bottom edge of the display, for example. The play line indications representing inactive play lines may be displayed with a transparent graphical patch while the play line indications representing active play lines may be displayed with an opaque graphical patch. All selectable play lines may be grouped together and may be non-overlapping.
The pattern of symbols of each selectable play line may comprise a linear or non-linear line pattern that does not double back on itself. For example, each selected play line may not intersect with more than one symbol in each column of symbols displayed within a field of play in the game of chance.
Each play line indication may have a unique identifier, which may comprise a number of the play line, for example. This unique identifier may be displayed over the graphical patch for the respective play line indication during selected times or events, such as when indicating a winning play line, when selected play lines change or when displaying a help sequence, for example.
In some embodiments, a summary indication of selected and selectable play lines may be displayed adjacent a display of the plurality of selectable play lines. The summary indication may indicate how many of the selectable play lines are selected for the succeeding game of chance and may indicate a total of how many play lines are selectable.
Each play line indication at or near the periphery of the display may be matched by a corresponding play line indication at or near an opposite periphery of the display. In such embodiments, the game controller may be further configured, for each selected play line that is determined to be a winning play line, to control display of images to: graphically emphasise the respective corresponding selected play line indication, display a winning amount adjacent the respective corresponding play line indication, and/or display a unique identifier of the winning play line in relation to the corresponding play line indication.
In some embodiments, when multiple selected play lines are determined by the game controller to be winning play lines, the game controller is configured to graphically emphasise the selected play line indications of all of the winning play lines simultaneously and optionally to subsequently sequentially emphasise each of the selected play line indications of the winning play lines separately. For multiple winning play lines, the game controller is further configured to display one or more of the winning play lines in a differentiating manner to allow separate visual identification of each winning play line. In some embodiments, the game of chance includes a bonus symbol and when at least one of the winning play lines comprises the bonus symbol, each at least one winning play line comprising the bonus symbol may be graphically emphasised relative to winning play lines that do not comprise the bonus symbol. This graphical emphasis may include displaying the winning play line including the bonus in a different colour to the winning play line that does not include the bonus.
The storing of the data describing at least one selected play line in the memory may be performed by the game controller in response to received user input that indicates at least one play line selection corresponding to the at least one selected play line.
In some embodiments, the game controller is further configured to, in response to determining that a selected play line is a winning play line, sequentially graphically indicate a series of symbols in the selected pattern of symbols that forms the winning play line. This sequential graphical indication may include visibly drawing a line that sequentially connects each of the series of symbols. The line may also be illustrated as originating from the play line indication of the winning play line. Where a corresponding play line indication is displayed on the opposite periphery, the line drawn to connect the series of symbols (in the selected pattern of symbols that forms the winning play line) may be illustrated as terminating at the corresponding play line indication.
Some embodiments relate to a gaming system comprising at least one gaming machine as described above and at least one server system in communication with the game controller of the at least one gaming machine.
Some embodiments relate to a method of game play executed by a computerised game controller, the method comprising:
Some embodiments relate to computer-readable storage storing executable program code that, when executed by a game controller, causes the game controller to perform the methods described above and/or implement the features and functions of the game machine or game system described above.
Some embodiments relate to a gaming system comprising at least one server and at least one client device, wherein the at least one server and at least one client device are configured to cooperate with each other to execute program instructions to:
Embodiments are described in further detail below, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Described embodiments generally relate to gaming systems and methods of controlling such systems. Particular embodiments relate to gaming machines and methods using play line indicators to indicate selected patterns of symbols appearing in a game of chance played on such gaming machines.
The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a stand-alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine.
In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player.
However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in standalone gaming machine mode, “thick client” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.
In another form, the gaming system may comprise a gaming server (or multiple gaming servers) interacting with client computing devices over a wired and/or wireless network to allow performance of the games on the client devices. Such client devices may include desktop computers, tablet computers, laptop computer and handheld computing devices (including smart phones), for example, each of which includes at least one processor and memory to store executable instructions for performing the game-related functions described herein. Such systems may therefore not require specific dedicated physical gaming machines as described herein in relation to
One or more of the method steps described in this disclosure may be implemented by executable instructions and parameters 232, 234 (See
Irrespective of the form, the gaming system 100 has several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface in the form of a touch screen 108 as illustrated in
In
The gaming machine 100 includes a console 102 which contains all or most components required to implement a game play whereby a player wins or loses a wager. Access to the components is by way of a hinged door 105. Moulded to the exterior of the console 102 is a display means in the form of at least one visual display unit 104 on which one or more games is played. The video display unit 104 may be implemented as a liquid crystal display, a plasma screen, as a cathode ray screen device or the like. Whilst the console 102 illustrated in
The gaming machine includes a tactile input subsystem for a player to interact via touch with the gaming machine 100. In one example, the tactile input subsystem may include a combination of pushbuttons 106 and a touch screen 108 for enabling a player to play one or more games. The touch screen 108 is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The touch screen 108 is used during the game play between start of a game and the end of a game. A game is considered to have started once a wager is placed and considered complete once the wager has been lost or won. Certain functions of the one or more pushbuttons 106 include: initiation of game play, credit output, gameplay selection, completion of gameplay etc. A midtrim 112 of the machine 100 houses the pushbuttons 106.
The tactile input subsystem may optionally or further include a joystick comprising of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. The tactile input subsystem may optionally or further include a trackpad/touchpad as an example of a screen navigation component that includes a touch sensor to translate the motion and/or position of a user's fingers to a relative position on screen.
The tactile input subsystem may include any suitable device that enables the player to produce an input signal that is received by the game controller (
The midtrim 112 may also house a credit input device including a bill collector 114. The credit input device may further include a coin input chute, a card and/or ticket reader, a magnetic reading head for reading a magnetic stripe card, an electronic reader for a proximity card, a near field communications reader or any other form of electronic, wireless or contact-based reader that can communicate a credit input to the gaming machine.
A credit dispenser in the form of a coin tray 116 is mounted beneath the console 102 and is provided for cash payouts from the machine 100 to the player. A hopper device (not shown) is provided which dispenses coins, or tokens equal to the amount of credit currently on the machine, into the coin tray 116. Aside from the coin tray 116, the credit dispenser may also include a ticket dispenser for issuing a ticket dispensed by a printer which the user can redeem for cash, a note dispenser, a near field (or other) communications transmitter or means to enable remote credit transfer. A variety of suitable payout mechanisms, such as funding to the player's electronically recordable identification card or smart card, may be implemented in accordance with the gaming machine disclosed herein.
The gaming machine 100 includes a top box 118 on which artwork 120 is carried in the form of electronic visual display units. The artwork 120 could also be made from physical materials such as paper, plastic banners or posters. The artwork 120 may have generic information related to the machine or gaming system or the artwork 120 be specifically made for a particular game to be played on the machine 100. Whilst the artwork 120 is shown as being carried on the top box 118, the art work 120 can also be positioned in or on the bottom panel of the door 105, or any other part of the gaming machine 100 visible to the player.
The gaming machine 100 further includes an auditory unit in the form of speakers (not shown) to provide auditory feedback to the player of the gaming machine 100.
Referring to
Central to the logic cage is a central processing unit 202 such as a processor, a microcontroller-based platform, a suitable integrated circuit, or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's). The processor 202 is in communication with or operable to access or to exchange signals with an outcome evaluator 203, RAM 204, ROM 206, a non-volatile memory in the form of a compact flash 230, an audio output 208 via an audio control module 209, and a random number generator 210. The audio control module 209 has its own digital signal processor, analogue to digital converters, amplifiers and other circuitry necessary to broadcast the output from the speakers. RAM 204 may include non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), and other forms as commonly understood in the gaming industry.
Compact flash memory 230 is physically secured within a slot in the logic cage 201. In one embodiment, the compact flash memory 230 is physically secured inside the logic cage within game logic circuitry 200 by a mechanical locking mechanism. Compact flash memory 230 is partitioned 231 into two parts. A first part comprises a game software module 232 and a second part comprises a metering information module 234.
The processor 202 runs executable code residing in game software module 232 of compact flash 230 that facilitates play of the game by a player through the display device and/or push buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen 108 of the display. Metering information module 234 contains the gaming machine parameters which include values that would usually be stored on a hard meter. The values in metering information module 234 are only ever incremented, and cannot be reset or decremented. The only way to alter the values stored is by running the executable code stored in game software module 232, the program code of which is executed by processor 202. The executable code of game software module 232 further interacts with the credit dispenser 116 via a payout mechanism 224 and the auditory output 208. The game software module 232 contains the rules of the game, the sequence of gameplay, communicates with external systems, monitors peripheral equipment and maintains integrity of the software code, etc. The processor 202 continually checks for error conditions.
A program which implements the user interface is further run by the central processing unit 202. The processor 202 forms part of a controller 216 that drives the screen of the video display unit 104 and that receives input signals from sensors 218. The sensors 218 include sensors associated with the push buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen of the visual display unit 104. The controller 214 also receives input pulses from mechanisms 220 and 224 to determine whether or not a player has provided sufficient credit from either payment device 114 or payment device 116 to commence playing.
In one embodiment, a player may insert an identification card into a card reader (not shown) of the gaming machine 100. Such an identification card may be a smart card having a programmed microchip, a coded magnetic strip, or coded rewritable magnetic strip, wherein the programmed microchip or magnetic strips are coded with a player's identification, credit totals (or related data), and/or other relevant information. In another embodiment, a player may carry a portable device, such as a mobile phone, a radio frequency identification tag, or any other suitable wireless device, that communicates a player's identification, credit totals (or related data), and other relevant information to the gaming device.
In a thick client embodiment, game server 308 implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 304 and the gaming machine 304 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server 308 and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 310 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 304 in a database 318.
In a thin client embodiment, game server 308 implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 304 and the gaming machine 304 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server 308 provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components.
Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network 300, including for example a gaming floor management server 320, and a licensing server 322 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal 324 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 302 and the devices connected to the network.
The gaming system 300 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 330.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 308 could run a random number generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals.
Referring also now to
For each play line indication 410 that corresponds to an active play line, an emphasised play line indication 415 is displayed as part of the series of play line indicators 410. For play line indicators 410 that are inactive, a de-emphasised play line indication 412 is shown in the series. Emphasised play line indications 415 may be shown in a graphically opaque manner, while de-emphasised play line indications 412 may be shown in a transparent or translucent manner, for example.
In between successive games of chance, a player may provide selection input via the tactile input subsystem to select or deselect one or more play line indications 410, thereby toggling such play line indications 410 between selected and deselected states. Each selection or deselection of a graphical patch corresponding to a play line indication 410 is stored in the memory of the gaming machine 100 or 304 (either RAM 204 or Flash 230) for use by the processor 202 (executing the code of software module 232) to determine, in cooperation with the outcome evaluator 203, whether a selected play line corresponds with a winning outcome in the game of chance.
As illustrated in
Once the set of symbols 506 to be displayed in the field of play 505 is determined by execution of the game software module 232 in cooperation with the random number generator 210, the game software module 232 generates (in cooperation with a graphics processor) images to be displayed, depicting the set of symbols and, in cooperation with the outcome evaluator 203, determines whether the symbols corresponding to one or more selected play lines comprise a winning combination of such symbols, and if so, it is determined that those one or more selected play lines are winning play lines.
Example selectable play line patterns may include, for example, a straight central line, a straight upper line, a straight lower line, a zig-zagging pattern, a V-shaped pattern, an inverted V-shaped pattern, a W-shaped pattern and an inverted W-shaped pattern, just to name a few. Various other line patterns may be selectable, so long as they include a single symbol position in each column 508 in the field of play 505.
In the example illustrated in
In the example shown in
Optionally, as part of the display of the winning play line 520, a win description 517 may be displayed adjacent the graphical patch 415 that is emphasised as the winning play line indication 515. This win description 517 may include words and symbols to convey to the player a winning amount associated with the winning outcome of the winning play line. For example, as shown in
Referring in particular to
As is evident from the example display 600, where a number of winning play lines are displayed, it can be difficult for a player to discern specific winning play lines from each other. Therefore, all winning play lines may be initially displayed simultaneously, as is shown in
Referring also to
In the example shown in
As indicated in
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
While the foregoing description has been provided by way of example of the preferred embodiments of the present invention as presently contemplated, which utilise gaming machines of the type found in casinos, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention also may have application to internet gaming and/or have application to gaming over a telecommunications network, where mobile handsets are used to display game outcomes and receive player inputs. Such mobile devices include smart phones, notebooks, tablets, iPads and laptop computers. For instance free mobile device games may be offered for download and play on a players personal mobile device as a bonus game play. In such an embodiment the gaming machine may comprise a power interface to enable interaction between the respective devices and/or a communication or wireless interface to enable data transfer. During game play, the gaming machine may be configured to send information to the player's personal mobile device.
Further embodiments may enable a player to upload the outcome of a game or bonus game to a social media site(s), post tournament scores etc.
Certain steps in the processes or process flows described in this disclosure naturally precede others for the invention to function as described. However, the invention is not limited to the order of the steps described if such order or sequence does not alter the functionality of the invention. That is, it is recognized that some steps may performed before, after, or parallel (substantially simultaneously with) other steps without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In some instances, certain steps may be omitted or not performed without departing from the invention. Further, words such as “thereafter”, “then”, “next”, etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps. These words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the exemplary method.
Additionally, one of ordinary skill in programming is able to write computer code or identify appropriate hardware and/or circuits to implement the disclosed invention without difficulty based on the flow charts and associated description in this specification, for example.
Therefore, disclosure of a particular set of program code instructions or detailed hardware devices is not considered necessary for an adequate understanding of how to make and use the invention. The inventive functionality of the claimed computer implemented processes is explained in more detail in the above description and in conjunction with the figures which may illustrate various process flows.
In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another.
A storage media may be any available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer.
Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (“DSL”), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.
Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (“CD”), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (“DVD”), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
Although selected aspects have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that various substitutions and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2013901428 | Apr 2013 | AU | national |
