Patent Grant
6939223
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device having symbols, wherein a player can touch a symbol and receive information concerning said symbol and other pay information.
Gaming device manufactures have long provided gaming machines employing a plurality of reels, wherein the reels each have a plurality of symbols. In these games, the player spins the reels which act independently to produce a random generation of a combination of symbols. If the generated combination, or a portion of the combination, matches one of a number of predetermined award producing or winning combinations, the player receives an award.
To increase player enjoyment and excitement, and to increase the popularity of the gaming machines, gaming device manufacturers constantly strive to provide players with new types of gaming machines that attract the player and keep the player entertained. One proven way manufacturers use to make their machines more popular is to increase the number and variety of winning combinations and provide more opportunities for the player to win. Providing more variety and opportunities holds the player's interest for a longer time and also enables the manufacturer to have a larger range of payouts for winning combinations. The larger range increases the size of the largest possible payout of the gaming device, and larger payouts tend to attract players.
To increase variety and opportunity, manufacturers have increased the number of possible symbol positions or paystops. Increasing paystops increases the number of different symbols a game can have and increases the number of times a particular symbol can appear. Increasing the number of times that a symbol can appear increases its likelihood of appearance, which affects the payout of a winning combination containing that symbol. Winning combinations that have a rare or low likelihood of appearance tend to have higher payouts.
One way manufactures have increased the number of paystops has been to increase the size of the reel to accommodate more stops. Original gaming machines had approximately ten stops per reel, modern mechanical reels have approximately thirty to thirty five stops per reel and modern video machines have no physical limit to the number of stops per reel. Another way manufacturers have increased the number of paystops has been to add reels. Original gaming machines had three reels, while modern mechanical machines have employed up to five reels. Video reel machines have not increased the number of reels past five mainly because five reels create enough diversity to keep the game interesting without becoming too complex for the player to enjoy.
It should be appreciated that gaming machines have become rather complex in comparison to the original three reel, ten stop machine created before 1900. It is well known in the art for the manufacturer to provide pay information on a paytable in accordance with regulation. That is, manufacturers provide a list or paytable containing all the different winning combinations of symbols and the awards associated therewith. Such paytables historically and sometimes still appear on the front face of the gaming machine, such as on the glass in a top cabinet of the machine. However, with more complex video games having multiple paying combinations and different machine configurations, it is not possible to display all necessary information on glass. Therefore, paytables on video machines are also available through player assistance or help screens as is well known in the art. The known help screens, however, do not provide an intuitive or convenient way to display the paytables.
With multiple paylines on simulated displays, which can have any number of simulated reels and an infinite number of different symbols and symbol combinations, the paytables will accordingly have many symbols and symbol combinations to keep track of. The rapid development of complex games has created a need for an easy method for displaying information on a particular symbol, so that a player can learn its function within the game. Games can structure the symbol combinations to pay from left to right, right to left, or in any position on a line, etc. The symbols can also have special functions such as substituting for another symbol, multiplying wins, or triggering a bonus event. Given the spatial limitations of the simulated displays in which the game preferably displays the paytable, paytables often comprise multiple display screens.
Players, in general, wish to play the game and not read paytables. However, players want to know why they won and how much certain combinations pay. Players most likely do not desire to digest an entire paytable; rather, they want to find a particular symbol or combination or find all the winning combinations associated with a particular symbol. It is therefore desirable to provide the information that the player wants rather than requiring a player to scroll through pages of information. No known gaming device provides a quick and easy method for enabling the player to sort through unwanted paytable symbols and combinations to find a desired symbol,or combination.
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for quickly and easily displaying desired paytable information to a player of a gaming device. In accordance with the present invention, it is likely that a player desires paytable or other information regarding a symbol or combination displayed on the display device; therefore, the display device serves as an excellent index of symbols and combinations of symbols for which a player may likely desire paytable or other information. The present invention enables a player to touch any one of the displayed symbols to obtain desired paytable information. Hereinafter, “paytable information” refers to the pay for particular symbols and combinations of symbols as well as other desired information, such as bonus round information involving a certain symbol or combination.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller of the gaming device stores one or more paytables of information for each and every individual symbol contained on the reels of the gaming device. The display device displays the stored information when the player touches the symbol. The controller of the gaming device preferably stores all paytable information associated with each symbol including, but not limited to: (i) base game pays of the symbol or any combination containing the symbol; (ii) bonus round information such as triggering combinations containing the symbol; (iii) multiplier information involving the symbol; (iv) substitute information involving the symbol; and (v) scatter pay information involving the symbol. The embodiment can maintain the different forms of paytable information for a selected symbol on one or more screens or displays.
In an alternative embodiment, the controller of the gaming device stores one or more paytables, wherein each paytable contains information on every and all the symbols. In one example, a single all encompassing paytable stores all information for all symbols including, but not limited to: (i) base game pays of all symbols and combinations; (ii) bonus round information such as all triggering symbols and combinations; (iii) all multiplier information; (iv) all substitute information; and (v) all scatter pay information. In another example of the alternative embodiment, a plurality of partially encompassing paytables store information on all of the symbols for one or more, but not all of the types of paytable information.
In the alternative embodiment, when the player touches a symbol, the game automatically and immediately scrolls through one of the encompassing paytables to the area of the paytable containing the selected information and commands the display device to display the selected area. When multiple encompassing displays contain one or more types of paytable information, the present invention scrolls to and enables the player view each of the areas of each of the types of information containing the selected information.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gaming device having touch activated symbol or other paytable information.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes.
Referring now to the drawings,
As illustrated in
After depositing the appropriate amount of money, a player can begin the game by pulling arm 18 or by pushing play button 20. Play button 20 can be any play activator used by the player which starts any game or sequence of events in the gaming device.
Referring to
Gaming device 10 also has a paystop display 28 which contains a plurality of reels 30, preferably three to five reels and preferably in video form. Gaming device 10 can also be in mechanical form, wherein a separate video display contains the paytable of the present invention. Each reel 30 displays a plurality of symbols such as bells, hearts, martinis, fruits, cactuses, numbers, cigars, letters, bars or other images, which preferably correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device 10. If the reels 30 are in video form, the gaming device 10 preferably displays the video reels 30 in a display device described below. Furthermore, gaming device 10 preferably includes speakers 34 for making sounds or playing music.
At any time during the game, a player may “cash out” and thereby receive a number of coins corresponding to the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash out button 26. When the player “cashes out,” the player receives the coins in a coin payout tray 36. The gaming device 10 may employ other payout mechanisms such as credit slips redeemable by a cashier or electronically recordable cards that keep track of the player's credits.
With respect to electronics, the controller of gaming device 10 preferably includes the electronic configuration generally illustrated in
As illustrated in
It should be appreciated that although a processor 38 and memory device 40 are preferable implementations of the present invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's) or other hard-wired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, although the processor 38 and memory device 40 preferably reside on each gaming device 10 unit, it is possible to provide some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a playing station such as over a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like. For purposes of describing the invention, the controller includes the processor 38 and memory device 40.
Referring to
In addition to winning credits in this manner, gaming device 10 also preferably gives players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus round. This type of gaming device 10 will include a program that will automatically begin a bonus round when the player has achieved a qualifying condition in the game. This qualifying condition can be a particular arrangement of indicia on the display window 28. The gaming device 10 also includes a display device such as a display device 32 shown in
Referring still to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The embodiment of
The cursor 56 is preferably a conventional arrow as is commonly used in commercially available software. Software adapted to simulate the cursor preferably enables the player to manipulate the cursor 56 to any area on the display device 32 within the boundary created by the reels 30 and the symbols “A” through “O”. That is, the player preferably cannot move the cursor outside of the reels onto extraneous indicia and/or selectors.
Referring now to
The remote control device 60 can be any known device, employing any known signal frequencies, for sending a plurality of remote signals to the gaming machine.
The remote control embodiment is preferably employed when the gaming device 10 is a pub-style table-top game (not shown) that a player operates while sifting or standing some distance from the gaming device. The present invention is particularly useful in such a situation because the player may not have the ability to select or see an entire pay table for every symbol but nevertheless requires pay table information. It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrating the three activation embodiments discussed, wherein variations in the disclosed apparatus can achieve the same result using the methods disclosed.
Referring now to
As illustrated in
The game can maintain the display of the underlying indicia, e.g. the symbols “A” through “O”, and other game theme indicia. Alternatively, the game can blank-out or provide no background or underlying indicia and thus highlight the paytable displays. The game suitably differentiates the paytable display 62 from the reels 30 and associated symbols, so that a player can easily read and understand the information contained in the paytable display. The game can additionally provide an audio production through the speakers 34, which provides or otherwise discloses the information of the paytable display 62. Alternatively, or in addition to the display 62 and/or the audio production, the present invention contemplates providing a video animation or motion picture production in conjunction with the information disclosure. Such a dynamic visual display increases the player's entertainment and enjoyment.
Referring now to
It should be appreciated that the paytable display 64 can provide more or less information and is not limited to providing the information described herein. Base game pay information 66 preferably includes “of a kind” information, such as the pay for obtaining an “L, L” or “L, L, L, L”. Base game pay information 66 also preferably includes combination information such as the pay for obtaining combinations including an “L” such as the “L, M, N, O” shown in the paytable 64.
Bonus round information 68 preferably includes all symbol combinations including the selected symbol that will trigger a bonus round or bonus event. The paytable 64 illustrates three combinations having the selected symbol “L” that will trigger a bonus round. It should be appreciated that a single “L” symbol or other “of a kind” combination can also trigger a bonus round. Bonus round information 68 is not limited to triggering combinations. If a symbol is used in the bonus round, bonus round information 68 can also include bonus pay information involving the symbol (e.g., base game pay information 66 format but involving the bonus round).
Multiplier information 70 includes all information about the selected symbol and combinations including the symbol, wherein the symbol or combination having the symbol causes the game to multiply the pay of a winning combination. For example, paytable 64 discloses that one or more “L's” in addition to a winning combination doubles the pay of the combination. Multiplier information 70 can include many variations from the above example. For instance, obtaining an “L” as part of a winning combination, as opposed to in addition to the combination, can multiply the pay of the combination. The multiplier can likewise be 3×, 4×, etc.
Substitute information 72 includes all information about a selected symbol involving the symbol's ability to substitute for other symbols in winning combinations. For example, the paytable 64 discloses that an “L” symbol can substitute for an “A”, “E”, “I”, and “O” symbol, where these symbols, in a defined combination, produce a base game award.
Scatter pay information 74 includes all information about a selected symbol that is specific to a scatter pay. In a scatter pay, the game pays the player for any winning combinations that appear on the reels either in the display window 28 or on the display device 30. That is, the winning combinations do not have to occur on a defined payline. The winning combinations can occur in any configuration on the displayed symbols, even vertical combinations (i.e., two symbols of the same reel).
Symbols or combinations can operate the same in a scatter round as they do in the regular base game. Alternatively, symbols or combinations can act differently, and such differences create scatter pay information 74. For example, referring to the paytable 64, an “L, L, L, L” combination normally pays 10,000 credits, as shown in the base game information 66. In the scatter round, an “L, L, L, L” combination pays 5,000 credits, as shown in the scatter pay information 74. It should be appreciated that the implementor can create any difference according to the overall math of the machine and is not limited to lessening the pay as shown.
Paytable 64 of
Referring now to
The embodiment illustrated by
Referring now to
Referring now to
The embodiment illustrated by
The displays only preferably contain the desired information, e.g., the symbol “L”, but can alternatively additionally display a portion or all of the information for neighboring symbols. The symbols “K” and “M” are shown to illustrate that the paytables contain information on more than one symbol. The game can immediately display paytable information for the symbol “L” or provide a desirable effect, such as scrolling through a blurred paytable before reaching the desired symbol.
It should be appreciated that the paytable embodiments of
Referring now to
Referring to
Each of the selectors can be an area of a touch screen 46 adapted to send an input to the controller or an external input device 33 mounted on the panel of the gaming device 10. After choosing a desired symbol, the player selects the selector corresponding to the type of information desired. The individual selector method applies to both the single symbol paytable embodiment illustrated by FIG. 8 and the “all symbols” paytable embodiment of FIG. 10.
Another method contemplated by the present invention for enabling a player to view each paytable display containing one or more types of paytable information includes adapting the controller to sequentially scroll through the various paytable displays or pertinent portions of the paytable displays. The controller displays, for example, a paytable display (or area thereof) containing desired base game pay information 66, bonus round information 68 and multiplier information 70 for five seconds. The controller then displays a paytable display (or area thereof) containing desired substitute information 72 and scatter pay information 74 for three seconds.
The implementor can set the time of each paytable display of a sequence for any amount of time. The time preferably enables the player to comfortably view the display, but does not delay the normal operation of the game. It is well known in the art to set a timer or otherwise programmably create a sequence of events. The sequencing method requires no extra simulated or electromechanical input device. The sequencing method also applies to both the single symbol paytable embodiment illustrated by
It should be appreciated that in the player selectable embodiments, the player can use the same symbol activation device or method or a different device or method to return to the symbol display. In the sequencing method, the game can automatically return to the symbol display. Alternatively, the sequencing method can provide a suitable selector that enables the player to interrupt the sequence and immediately return to the symbol display.
While the present invention is described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. Modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and this application is limited only by the scope of the claims.
This application is related to the following commonly-owned co-pending patent applications: “GAMING DEVICE WITH TRAVELING REEL SYMBOLS,” Ser. No. 09/606,928, “GAMING DEVICE WITH MULTI-PURPOSE REELS,” Ser. No. 09/606,733, “GAMING DEVICE WITH SIGNIFIED REEL SYMBOLS,” Ser. No. 09/605,344, “GAMING DEVICE HAVING COMPETITION BONUS SCHEME,” Ser. No. 09/628,144, “GAMING DEVICE HAVING TOUCH ACTIVATED ALTERNATING OR CHANGING SYMBOL,” Ser. No. 09/602,331, “GAMING DEVICE PROVIDING AUDIO WAGERING INFORMATION,” Ser. No. 09/629,288, “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A CHANGEABLE OBJECT,” Ser. No. 09/680,111, “GAMING DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE AUDIO, VIDEO OR AUDIO-VIDEO EXHIBITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RELATED SYMBOLS,” Ser. No. 09/689,529, “GAMING DEVICE HAVING INTERACTING SYMBOLS,” Ser. No. 09/686,308, “GAMING DEVICE WITH TRAVELING REEL SYMBOLS,” Ser. No. 09/689,197, and “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A SYMBOL COVERING FEATURE,” Ser. No. 09/684,275.
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