Patent Application
20130237307
This application claims the benefit of and priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2012900974, filed on Mar. 12, 2012, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Various slot gaming machines are known. Slot gaming machines generally include a plurality of reels. Each reel includes a plurality of symbols. The reels spin after a player places a wager on the game. The reels spin and then stop to display generated combinations of symbols on the reels. If a generated symbol or combination of symbols is a winning symbol or combination of symbols associated with an award, the player receives that award when the generated symbol or combination of symbols appears along an active payline associated with the reels or in a scatter pay. Players can become frustrated if they almost win an award when the symbols necessary for a winning combination substantially appear on the reels but are missing a symbol or are not in the proper configuration or order to produce a winning combination.
One popular game feature which attempts to resolve such frustration in these situations and increase the player's award opportunities is a wild symbol. A wild symbol changes, replaces or functions as one of the symbols on one of the reels after the reels initially spin and stop. This enables the game to change a first or non-winning combination of symbols to a second and possibly winning combination of symbols, for example, to make a winning combination or align a winning combination on an active payline.
The present disclosure relates broadly to a gaming device operable under control of a processor together with a method of operating a gaming device. The disclosure relates particularly, although not exclusively, to a gaming device and method where a wild symbol is in the course of a plurality of games extends along at least one of a plurality of symbol reels.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:
In one embodiment, the processor is programmed to extend the displayed wild symbols by replicating said wild symbol in the other symbol position. In one such embodiment, the other symbol positions in which the wild symbols are replicated are adjacent one another. In another such embodiment, the further symbol positions in which the wild symbols are replicated are adjacent said one of the symbol positions in which the wild symbol is displayed in said initial of the games. Alternatively the processor is programmed to extend the displayed wild symbols by expanding the wild symbol along the other symbol positions being adjacent said one of the symbol positions and adjacent one another.
In one embodiment, the processor is programmed to extend the displayed wild symbols by persistently extending the wild symbols in subsequent of a series of the plurality of games. In one such embodiment, the persistently extended wild symbols progressively wrap around the determined reel.
In one embodiment, the processor is programmed in the initial game to extend the displayed wild symbols along all visible of the other symbol positions of the determined reels. In one such embodiment, the displayed wild symbols in the subsequent game extends along all visible of the further symbol positions of the determined reels.
In one embodiment, the processor is programmed to reset the extended wild symbols following a predetermined number or quantity of the plurality of games wherein the determined reel is reverted to its designed symbols at respective of its symbol positions. In one such embodiment, the predetermined number or quantity of the plurality of games is equal to the number or quantity of games triggered in a base game.
According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:
In one embodiment, the step of extending the displayed wild symbols involves replicating said wild symbol in the other or further symbol position. Alternatively the displayed wild symbols are expanded along the other symbol positions being adjacent said one of the symbol positions and adjacent one another.
In one embodiment, the step of extending the displayed wild symbols involves persistently extending the wild symbols in subsequent of a series of the plurality of games. In one such embodiment, the persistently extended wild symbols progressively wrap around the determined reel.
In one embodiment, the step of extending the displayed wild symbols in the initial game involves extending the displayed wild symbols along all visible of the other symbol positions of the determined reels. In one such embodiment, the displayed wild symbols in the subsequent game are extended along all visible of the further symbol positions of the determined reels.
In one embodiment, the method also comprises resetting the extended wild symbols following a predetermined number or quantity of the plurality of games wherein the determined reel is reverted to it designated symbols at respective of its symbol positions.
Additional features and advantages are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.
Two example alternative embodiments of the gaming device of the disclosed herein are illustrated in
In the embodiments illustrated in
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, part or all of the program code and/or operating data described above can be stored in a detachable or removable memory device, including, but not limited to, a suitable cartridge, disk, CD ROM, DVD or USB memory device. In other embodiments, part or all of the program code and/or operating data described above can be downloaded to the memory device through a suitable network.
In one embodiment, an operator or a player can use such a removable memory device in a desktop computer, a laptop personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computing device, or other computerized platform to implement the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the gaming device or gaming machine disclosed herein is operable over a wireless network, such as part of a wireless gaming system. In this embodiment, the gaming machine may be a hand held device, a mobile device or any other suitable wireless device that enables a player to play any suitable game at a variety of different locations. It should be appreciated that a gaming device or gaming machine as disclosed herein may be a device that has obtained approval from a regulatory gaming commission. It should be appreciated that the processor and memory device may be collectively referred to herein as a “computer” or “controller.”
In one embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gaming device randomly generates awards and/or other game outcomes based on probability data. In one such embodiment, this random determination is provided through utilization of a random number generator (RNG), such as a true random number generator, a pseudo random number generator or other suitable randomization process. In one embodiment, each award or other game outcome is associated with a probability and the gaming device generates the award or other game outcome to be provided to the player based on the associated probabilities. In this embodiment, since the gaming device generates outcomes randomly or based upon one or more probability calculations, there is no certainty that the gaming device will ever provide the player with any specific award or other game outcome.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
The display devices may include, without limitation, a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) a display based on light emitting diodes (LED), a display based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a display based on polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display based on a plurality of surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a display including a projected and/or reflected image or any other suitable electronic device or display mechanism. In one embodiment, the display device includes a touch-screen with an associated touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of any suitable size and configuration, such as a square, a rectangle or an elongated rectangle.
The display devices of the gaming device are configured to display at least one and preferably a plurality of game or other suitable images, symbols and indicia such as any visual representation or exhibition of the movement of objects such as mechanical, virtual or video reels and wheels, dynamic lighting, video images, images of people, characters, places, things and faces of cards, and the like.
As illustrated in
As seen in
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, one input device is a cash out button 38. The player may push the cash out button and cash out to receive a cash payment or other suitable form of payment corresponding to the number of remaining credits. In one embodiment, when the player cashes out, the player receives the coins or tokens in a coin payout tray 40. In one embodiment, when the player cashes out, the player may receive other payout mechanisms such as tickets or credit slips redeemable by a cashier for other suitable redemption system) or funding to the player's electronically recordable identification card.
In one embodiment, as mentioned above and seen in
In one embodiment, as seen in
Gaming device 10 can incorporate any suitable wagering primary or base game. The gaming machine or device may include some or all of the features of conventional gaming machines or devices. The primary or base game may comprise any suitable reel-type game, card game, cascading or falling symbol game, number game or other game of chance susceptible to representation in an electronic or electromechanical form, which in one embodiment produces a random outcome based on probability data at the time of or after placement of a wager.
In a cascading or falling symbol game, symbols fall into place in respective symbol positions displayed on the display device of the gaming device. The symbols move or fall from a top of the display device instead of landing in the respective symbol positions as a plurality of reels stop sequentially (e.g., left to right).
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the game outcome provided to the player is determined by a central server or controller and provided to the player at the gaming device. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of such gaming devices are in communication with the central server or controller. Upon a player initiating game play at one of the gaming devices, the initiated gaming device communicates a game outcome request to the central server or controller.
In one embodiment, the central server or controller receives the game outcome request and randomly generates a game outcome for the primary game based on probability data. In another embodiment, the central server or controller randomly generates a game outcome for the secondary game based on probability data. In another embodiment, the central server or controller randomly generates a game outcome for both the primary game and the secondary game based on probability data. In this embodiment, the central server or controller is capable of storing and utilizing program code or other data similar to the processor and memory device of the gaming device.
The central server or controller communicates the generated or selected game outcome to the initiated gaming device. The gaming device receives the generated or selected game outcome and provides the game outcome to the player. In an alternative embodiment, how the generated or selected game outcome is to be presented or displayed to the player, such as a reel symbol combination of a slot machine or a hand of cards dealt in a card game, is also determined by the central server or controller and communicated to the initiated gaming device to be presented or displayed to the player. Central production or control can assist a gaming establishment or other entity in maintaining appropriate records, controlling gaming, reducing and preventing cheating or electronic or other errors, reducing or eliminating win-loss volatility and the like.
In one embodiment, a plurality of the gaming devices are capable of being connected together through a data network. In one embodiment, the data network is a local area network (LAN), in which one or more of the gaming devices are substantially proximate to each other and an on-site central server or controller as in, for example, a gaming establishment or a portion of a gaming establishment. In another embodiment, the data network is a wide area network (WAN) in which one or more of the gaming devices are in communication with at least one off-site central server or controller. In this embodiment, the plurality of gaming devices may be located in a different part of the gaming establishment or within a different gaming establishment than the off-site central server or controller. Thus, the WAN may include an off-site central server or controller and an off-site gaming device located within gaming establishments in the same geographic area, such as a city or state. The WAN gaming system may be substantially identical to the LAN gaming system described above, although the number of gaming devices in each system may vary relative to each other.
In another embodiment, the data network is an internet or intranet. In this embodiment, the operation of the gaming device can be viewed at the gaming device with at least one internet browser. In this embodiment, operation of the gaming device and accumulation of credits may be accomplished with only a connection to the central server or controller (the internet/intranet server) through a conventional phone or other data transmission line, digital subscriber line (DSL), T-1 line, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, or other suitable connection. In this embodiment, players may access an internet game page from any location where an internet connection and computer, or other internet facilitator is available. The expansion in the number of computers and number and speed of internet connections in recent years increases opportunities for players to play from an ever-increasing number of remote sites. It should be appreciated that enhanced bandwidth of digital wireless communications may render such technology suitable for some or all communications, particularly if such communications are encrypted. Higher data transmission speeds may be useful for enhancing the sophistication and response of the display and interaction with the player.
As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the present disclosure may be employed in a server based gaming system. In one such embodiment, as described above, one or more gaming devices are in communication with a central server or controller. The central server or controller may be any suitable server or computing device which includes at least one processor and a memory or storage device. In alternative embodiments, the central server is a progressive controller or another gaming machine in the gaming system. In one embodiment, the memory device of the central server stores different game programs and instructions, executable by a gaming device processor, to control the gaming device. Each executable game program represents a different game or type of game which may be played on one or more of the gaming devices in the gaming system. Such different games may include the same or substantially the same game play with different pay tables. In different embodiments, the executable game program is for a primary game, a secondary game or both. In another embodiment, the game program may be executable as a secondary game to be played simultaneous with the play of a primary game (which may be downloaded to or fixed on the gaming device) or vice versa.
In this embodiment, each gaming device at least includes one or more display devices and/or one or more input devices for interaction with a player. A local processor, such as the above-described gaming device processor or a processor of a local server, is operable with the display device(s) and/or the input device(s) of one or more of the gaming devices.
In operation, the central controller is operable to communicate one or more of the stored game programs to at least one local processor. In different embodiments, the stored game programs are communicated or delivered by embedding the communicated game program in a device or a component (e.g., a microchip to be inserted in a gaming device), writing the game program on a disc or other media, downloading or streaming the game program over a dedicated data network, Internet or a telephone line. After the stored game programs are communicated from the central server, the local processor executes the communicated program to facilitate play of the communicated program by a player through the display device(s) and/or input device(s) of the gaming device. That is, when a game program is communicated to a local processor, the local processor changes the game or type of game played at the gaming device.
As shown in
Each symbol is positioned at a symbol position such as 68a, 68b and 68c of the central reel 62c. For each reel activation, the reels independently spin until each reel stops at a generated symbol position, that is a reel stop position. The display device 60 indicates a combination of symbols along one of a plurality of paylines such as 70a to 70y. In this example there are 25 paylines 70a to 70y each associated with a combination of five symbol positions from left to right.
A credit display 72 displays the number of credits available to the player to wager or bet on the game. A bet or wager display 74 indicates the number of credits the player wagered or bet on the game. A win display 76 indicates the total value of the awards accumulated by the player in the game. While the player's credit balance, the player's wager, and any awards are displayed as an amount of monetary credits or currency in certain of the embodiments described herein, one or more of such player's credit balance, such player's wager, and any awards provided to such a player may be for non-monetary credits, promotional credits, and/or player tracking points or credits.
As best shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In this embodiment the initial and subsequent games may be continued in a free game feature. As shown in FIGS. 4A/4B and 5A/5B the initial and subsequent games are games one and two of 10 free games. In this embodiment, the wild EYE symbol will each time it is displayed in the central reel 62c extend to the other displayed symbol positions such as 68d and 68e. The wild symbol 66 is therefore persistently extended along the determined reel such as 62c so that it progressively wraps around the reel 62c. Each of the extended or in this example duplicated wild symbols overlays or replaces one or more symbols on the determined reel and causes each replaced symbol to act as a wild symbol.
The wild symbol will in the various embodiments extend on the determined reel until one or more of the following events occur:
In the examples described the wild symbol is extended to the visible area only of the display device such as 60. It is possible however that the wild symbol may be extended to symbol positions outside the visible symbol positions to enhance the number of possible winning hits.
It should be appreciated that the extension of wild symbols is not limited to feature games such as free spins. It may also apply to the base game as a series of consecutive occurrences. For example during the base game if a wild appears it will extend to cover all positions on that reel. All wins paid will be paid accordingly. The Wild will remain extended for the next base game spin and if it lands will extend again. Modification to the base game strips will continue as long as the wild appears on screen. Although not limited to feature games the extending wild symbol may apply to other feature games. For example, extending wild symbols could be used in re-spins where some reels are held while others are re-spun. As an alternative to free games a player may buy feature games where the bought feature games incorporate the extending wild symbols.
In the embodiment described and illustrated extension of the wild symbol is limited to reels two, three and four. It should be appreciated that extension of the wild symbol may be limited to one of the reels only or extend to all available reels. The extension to all available reels is not limited to five reels only but may apply to any reel layout or alternate arrangement of symbols on the screen display such as 60. For example, the gaming device may employ one or more uni-symbol display reels where each symbol on a display of the gaming device represents or is included on a different reel.
It is to be understood that wild symbols are equivalent to substitute symbols. If the wild symbol extends to cover additional positions on the determined reels. These positions remain substitutes for a subsequent game. In the case of free games, the extended wild symbols remain for the rest of the free games. The wild symbol is in this exampled designated with the EYE symbol but may be designated with any suitable designator or symbol. The probability of each of the symbols and in particular the wild symbol being indicated or generated on one of the reels 62a to 62e is suitably determined by the game implementor and may for example be determined based on a required return to player. The probability associated with the wild symbol displaying is less than at least one of the probabilities associated with the other symbols on the reels displaying.
The wild symbol matches or substitutes for any other symbol within the set of symbols used in the game. The wild symbol generally substitutes for one of the symbols indicated on the same payline as the wild symbol. The wild symbol may also match or substitute for the most desirable symbol on a payline such as a jackpot symbol or the symbol associated with the largest award in the game.
In the initial and subsequent award evaluation there are any number of awards associated with the symbols or combination of symbols. For example, the awards may be one or more of: one or more values, a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, a quantity of player tracking points, a progressive award, one or more modifiers, such as one or more multipliers, a quantity of free plays of one or more games, a quantity of free spins of a plurality of reels (or one or more wheels), a quantity of plays of one or more secondary or bonus games, a multiplier of a quantity of free plays of a game, one or more lottery based awards, such as lottery or drawing tickets, a wager match for one or more plays of one or more games, an increase in the average expected payback percentage of one or more plays of one or more games, one or more comps, such as a free dinner, a free night's stay at a hotel, a high value product such as a free car, or a low value product such as a free teddy bear, one or more bonus credits usable for online play, a lump sum of player tracking points or credits, a multiplier for player tracking points or credits, an increase in a membership or player tracking level, one or more coupons or promotions usable within and/or outside of the gaming establishment (e.g., a 20% off coupon for use at a convenience store), virtual goods associated with the gaming system, virtual goods not associated with the gaming system, an access code usable to unlock content on the internet, and/or any other suitable award or awards. The determination of any winning symbol combinations and evaluation of awards will continue until the game reverts to regular play wherein typically the extended wild symbols revert to their original designated symbols.
The gaming device and methodology of the present disclosure also include a wild symbol that extends across a plurality of the reels. That is, the wild symbol extends from left to right or right to left and causes at least one symbol from a plurality of the reels to act as a wild symbol. That is, the display device 60 appears in the form of an expanding wild row rather than an expanding wild column as described earlier. The extending wild symbol may be employed by a game that is displayed by either or both of the display devices 16 and 18 described above.
It should be appreciated that in different embodiments, one or more of:
The present disclosure may be implemented in various configurations for gaming machines or gaming devices, including but not limited to: (1) a dedicated gaming machine or gaming device, wherein the computerized instructions for controlling any games (which are provided by the gaming machine or gaming device) are provided with the gaming machine or gaming device prior to delivery to a gaming establishment; and (2) a changeable gaming machine or gaming device, where the computerized instructions for controlling any games (which are provided by the gaming machine or gaming device) are downloadable to the gaming machine or gaming device through a data network when the gaming machine or gaming device is in a gaming establishment. In one embodiment, the computerized instructions for controlling any games are executed by a central server, central controller or remote host. In such a “thin client” embodiment, the central server remotely controls any games (or other suitable interfaces) and the gaming device is utilized to display such games (or suitable interfaces) and receive one or more inputs or commands from a player. In another embodiment, the computerized instructions for controlling any games are communicated from the central server, central controller or remote host to a gaming device local processor and memory devices. In such a “thick client” embodiment, the gaming device local processor executes the communicated computerized instructions to control any games (or other suitable interfaces) provided to a player.
In one embodiment, one or more gaming devices in a gaming system may be thin client gaming devices and one or more gaming devices in the gaming system may be thick client gaming devices. In another embodiment, certain functions of the gaming device are implemented in a thin client environment and certain other functions of the gaming device are implemented in a thick client environment. In one such embodiment, computerized instructions for controlling any primary games are communicated from the central server to the gaming device in a thick client configuration and computerized instructions for controlling any secondary games or bonus functions are executed by a central server in a thin client configuration.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the device and method may extend to different wagering games such as video poker games, video blackjack games, video keno, video bingo or any other suitable game may be implemented. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012900974 | Mar 2012 | AU | national |
