Patent Grant
10242536
The present invention relates to a gaming system, a control method for a gaming system, and a computer program for a gaming system.
A gaming machine represented by a slot machine is highly popular among casino customers as a device that provides gaming that is easy to enjoy, and recent statistics report that sales from gaming machines account for the majority of casino earnings. Initial slot machines were simple devices, wherein an inserted coin is received, a configured reel rotates and stops mechanically according to a handle operation, and a win or a loss is determined by a combination of symbols stopped on a single pay line. However, recent gaming machines, such as mechanical slot machines driven by a highly accurate physical reel via a computer controlled stepping motor, video slot machines that display a virtual reel on a display connected to a computer, and various gaming machines that apply similar technology to other casino games are quickly advancing. For the manufacturers that develop these gaming machines, an important theme is to provide an attractive game that strongly attracts casino customers as players, and improves the functionality of the gaming machine.
One attempt to provide a more attractive game experience to players is to provide a bonus game in the form of a lottery ball type game. Such lottery ball type games may be purely mechanical, in which one or more balls are introduced onto a spinning wheel. The spinning wheel has a plurality of numbered pockets. The one or more balls land onto the pockets, forming an outcome of the game. However, mechanical deviations in the spinning wheel or supporting structure may cause uneven game results. Other versions of lottery ball type games may be presented virtually. However, such virtual games may not be as attractive to players as mechanical games.
The present invention is aimed at one or more of the problems identified above.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a ball lottery machine provides a game to one or more player. The ball lottery machine includes a frame, a lottery ball field, an image projection unit, and a control unit. The lottery ball field has a rotating field. The rotating field includes a plurality of ball pockets spaced on the rotating field. The ball pockets are configured to receive a lottery ball. The rotating field is rotatably coupled to the frame. The image projection unit is coupled to the frame and is configured to project a rotating image into an upper surface of the rotating field. The control unit is configured to establish a rate of rotation associated with the rotating field and to responsively control a rate of rotation of the rotating image using the image projection unit.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a method provides a game to a player using a ball lottery machine. The ball lottery machine includes a frame, a lottery ball field, an image projection unit, and a control unit. The lottery ball field has a rotating field, the rotating field including a plurality of ball pockets spaced on the rotating field, the ball pockets being configured to receive a lottery ball, the rotating field being rotatably coupled to the frame, the image projection unit being coupled to the frame and being configured to project a rotating image into an upper surface of the rotating field, the method including the steps of establishing, by the control unit, a rate of rotation associated with the rotating field; and, responsively controlling a rate of rotation of the rotating image using the image projection unit.
In a third aspect of the present invention, a program provides a game to a player using a ball lottery machine. The ball lottery machine includes a frame, a lottery ball field, an image projection unit, and a control unit. The lottery ball field has a rotating field. The rotating field includes a plurality of ball pockets spaced on the rotating field. The ball pockets are configured to receive a lottery ball. The rotating field is rotatably coupled to the frame. The image projection unit is coupled to the frame and is configured to project a rotating image into an upper surface of the rotating field. The program of the gaming machine performing the steps of establishing, by the control unit, a rate of rotation associated with the rotating field and, responsively controlling a rate of rotation of the rotating image using the image projection unit.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a gaming system provides a ball lottery game to a player. The gaming system includes a rotating field with a plurality of ball pockets and a control unit. The control unit is configured to:
establish a plurality of player numbers;
allocate a random number to each of the ball pockets;
display the allocated number relative to the respective ball pockets;
inject a plurality of balls onto the rotating field and responsibly establish an outcome of a primary game;
provide an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the primary game;
detect occurrence of a trigger condition of a bonus game in the primary game;
assign at least one ball pocket to each of a plurality of jackpots;
display an indication of each jackpot relative to the associated ball pockets on the rotating field;
inject a ball onto the rotating field and responsibly establish an outcome of the bonus game; and,
provide one of the jackpots to the player as a function of the outcome of the bonus game.
In a fifth aspect of the present invention, a method provides a game to a player using a gaming system. The gaming system includes a rotating field with a plurality of ball pockets and a control unit. The method including the steps of:
establishing a plurality of player numbers;
allocating a random number to each of the ball pockets;
displaying the allocated number relative to the respective ball pockets;
injecting a plurality of balls onto the rotating field and responsibly establishing an outcome of a primary game;
providing an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the primary game; detecting occurrence of a trigger condition of a bonus game in the primary game;
assigning at least one ball pocket to each of a plurality of jackpots;
displaying an indication of each jackpot relative to the associated ball pockets on the rotating field;
injecting a ball onto the rotating field and responsibly establish an outcome of the bonus game; and,
providing one of the jackpots to the player as a function of the outcome of the bonus game.
In a sixth aspect of the present invention, a program for provides a game to a player using a gaming system. The gaming system includes a rotating field with a plurality of ball pockets and a control unit. The gaming system with the program performs the steps of:
establishing a plurality of player numbers;
allocating a random number to each of the ball pockets;
displaying the allocated number relative to the respective ball pockets;
injecting a plurality of balls onto the rotating field and responsibly establishing an outcome of a primary game;
providing an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the primary game;
detecting occurrence of a trigger condition of a bonus game in the primary game;
assigning at least one ball pocket to each of a plurality of jackpots;
displaying an indication of each jackpot relative to the associated ball pockets on the rotating field;
injecting a ball onto the rotating field and responsibly establish an outcome of the bonus game; and,
providing one of the jackpots to the player as a function of the outcome of the bonus game.
In a seventh aspect of the present invention, a gaming system provides a ball lottery game to a player. The gaming system includes a rotating field with a plurality of ball pockets and a control unit. The control unit is configured to:
randomly assign a credit value to each of the ball pockets;
display the credit value relative to the respective ball pocket;
inject a plurality of balls onto the rotating field and responsibly establish an outcome of a game, the outcome of the game including the number of balls that have fallen through each ball pocket; and,
provide an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the game.
In an eighth aspect of the present invention, a method provides a game to a player using a gaming system. The gaming system includes a rotating field with a plurality of ball pockets and a control unit. The method includes the steps of:
randomly assigning a credit value to each of the ball pockets;
displaying the credit value relative to the respective ball pocket;
injecting a plurality of balls onto the rotating field and responsibly establish an outcome of a game, the outcome of the game including the number of balls that have fallen through each ball pocket; and,
providing an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the game.
In a ninth aspect of the present invention, a program provides a game to a player using a gaming system. The gaming system includes a rotating field with a plurality of ball pockets and a control unit. The gaming system with the program performs the steps of:
randomly assigning a credit value to each of the ball pockets;
displaying the credit value relative to the respective ball pocket;
injecting a plurality of balls onto the rotating field and responsibly establish an outcome of a game, the outcome of the game including the number of balls that have fallen through each ball pocket; and,
providing an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the game.
With reference to the drawings, and in operation, the present invention is directed towards a gaming system 10, a control method for a gaming system 10 and a program for a gaming machine 10 that provides a game to a player. In one embodiment, the game is provided utilizing a ball lottery machine 12. In another embodiment, the game includes a primary game and a feature or bonus game. Upon the occurrence of an appropriate triggering condition during the primary game, the bonus game may be provided by the ball lottery machine 12.
A gaming system 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, referencing the attached figures is described in detail below. Further, duplicated descriptions will be omitted for identical attached symbols in identical or corresponding parts in each figure. The gaming system 10 includes a ball lottery system 12. The ball lottery system 12 may provide a game to one or more players. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the ball lottery system 12 is a stand-alone unit that provides a game to one or more players. In another embodiment of the present invention, the gaming system 10 may include a station machine 14. The station machine 14 may provide a base or primary game to a player. A bonus game may also be provided to the player utilizing the ball lottery machine 14.
With specific reference to
Ball Lottery Machine
The ball lottery machine 12 provides a ball lottery game to the player. The lottery game may be a primary game or a feature or bonus game (see below). In one aspect of the present invention, the ball lottery machine 12 utilizes physical lottery balls. The ball lottery machine 12 includes a ball lottery playing field 20. The ball lottery playing field 20 includes a plurality of ball pockets 22. In general, during the ball lottery game, one or more physical balls are released onto the ball lottery playing field 20 and fall or are captured into one or more of the ball pockets 22. The ball pocket(s) 22 into which the ball or balls fall or are captured form an outcome of the ball lottery game.
With specific reference to
The rotating field 24 is rotatably coupled to the frame 18 and is controllably rotated by the field rotating unit 30 under control of the center control unit 26. The image projection unit 28 is coupled to the frame 18 and is configured to project a rotating image upon an upper surface 52 of the rotating field 24. As will be explained in more detail below, the control unit establishes a rate of rotation of the rotating field and responsively controls the image projection unit 28 to controlling a rate of rotation of the rotating image.
In one aspect of the present invention, the rotating image may include a set of attributes associated with each of the ball pockets 22. The associated attributes are projected onto the upper surface 52 of the rotating field 24. In one aspect, the rate of rotation of the rotating image is matched to the rate of rotation of the rotating field 24 such that the attribute associated with each ball pocket 22 is visually associated with the associated ball pocket 22, i.e., the rotating image provides the same attribute to each ball pocket 22 during each play or game session. In another embodiment, rotating image provides a shift of the attribute to each pockets 22 during each play or game session by way of rotating the rotating image and the rotating field 24 in different rotation rate under control of the center control unit 26. In the alternative embodiment, the shift of the attribute might occur constantly or inconsistently during each play or game session
With reference to
The ball lottery playing field 20 may also include a stationary outer portion 58. The stationary outer portion 58 includes an outer panel 60. In one embodiment, the outer panel 60 is transparent or semi-transparent. A plurality of lighting devices, e.g., color changing light emitting diodes or LEDs 62 may be placed underneath the outer panel 60. The outer panel 60 of the stationary outer portion 58 has a circular inner edge and a circular outer edge. The inner edge of the outer panel 60 is adjacent an outer edge of the inner panel 54. In an alternative embodiment, the outer rim portion 56 of the inner panel 54 may be part of the outer panel 60. In the alternative embodiment, the outer rim portion 56 does not rotate, however, the image projected thereon by the image projection unit 28 rotates, and thus, the outer rim portion 56 may appear to be rotating.
Returning to
With reference to
Returning to
The LED control unit 32 controls the LEDs 62 placed under the ball lottery playing field 20. The network unit 34 communicates with at least one of the plurality of station machines 14. The ball injection unit 36 injects at least one ball onto the ball lottery playing field 20 in response to a command received from the center control unit 26. For example, during different (bonus) games, the center control unit 26 may send appropriate commands to the ball injection unit 36 to inject 1, 12, 14, 60, or any number of balls onto the ball lottery playing field 20. As explained in more detail below, the ball sensor units 38 detect balls when the balls pass through and are held in the ball pockets 22 of the ball lottery playing field 20.
The ball hold unit 40 may hold a ball in each of the respective ball pockets 22 and releases the ball by receiving command from the center control unit 26. In some instances, the ball hold units 40 may be deactivated such that the balls are not held, but rather fall through the pockets 22 (see below).
The ball transporting unit 42 transports balls released by the ball hold unit 40, or passed through the ball pockets 22 to the ball injection unit 36. The ball cleaning unit 44 cleans balls by brushing the surface of each ball during ball transportation by the ball transporting unit 42. As discussed in more depth below, the ball cleaning unit 44 includes a brush rotor to prevent dust from sticking on the surface of the balls and thus preventing mechanical failures caused by the dust.
A camera unit 46 captures image(s) and/or video of the ball lottery playing field 20 and sends the image/video data to the center control unit 26. The center control unit 26 may send the image/video data to the station machines 14.
The display unit 48 displays game related information such a value of progressive awards, win credit and rule of the bonus game. The display unit 48 may also display the image(s)/video of the ball lottery playing field 20 captured by the camera unit 46. The speaker unit 50 may play audio related to the game, e.g., sound effects, announcements, etc . . . .
As discussed above, the image projection unit 28 projects the rotating image (of a game field) on the rotating field 24. The rotating image may include game related information and one or more attributes associated with the ball pockets 22. The rotation, e.g., motion, speed, acceleration, of the rotating image may be matched with the rotation of the rotating field 24. The rotating field 24 is rotated by a motor (now shown) of the field rotating unit 30.
In order to minimize the effect of any mechanical deviation in the ball lottery playing field 20, including the ball pockets 22, and the field rotating unit 30, the center control unit 26 may randomly determine the positions/orders of the set of attributes in the rotating image for each play of the game. For example, in some instances of the game, each pocket 22 has an associated number. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of
In another embodiment, the ball pockets 22 are not consecutively numbered. In this embodiment, the number associated with each ball pocket 22 is randomly determined for each spin of the ball lottery playing field 20 or play of the game.
In other embodiment, the rotating image has an initial position. For each spin of the ball lottery playing field 20 or play of the game, the rotating image may be shifted by a predetermined angle or predetermined number of ball pockets 22 or randomly.
As discussed more fully below, the ball lottery machine 12 may provide a game to one or more player. The game may be a stand-alone independent game or may be a bonus game triggered by or during a main or primary game provided to a player of one of the station machines 14.
Several games are listed below, and described more fully further below. However, it should be noted that variations of the games described, or other games, may be provided by the ball lottery machine 12.
In a first (type of) game, each of the ball pockets 22 has an associated number, e.g., 1-25. Before initiation of the game, the player establishes one or a predetermined number of pocket numbers. The player numbers may be randomly selected for the player. Alternatively, the player may select the numbers directly. In still another embodiment, the central control unit 26 may establish a random one or a predetermined number of pocket numbers and provide the player an opportunity to select a different pocket number or predetermined number of pocket numbers. The player is awarded an award, bonus award or special award if one or all of the player established number are selected by the ball lottery machine 12.
In a second (type of) game, the ball lottery machine 12 may award a player one of a plurality of jackpots. Each of the jackpot is assigned to one or more of the ball pockets 22. The ball pockets 22 assigned to each jackpot may be in sections, i.e., assigned to adjacent ball pockets 22 or may be dispersed along the ball lottery playing field 20. One or more balls are released onto the ball lottery playing field 20 and are collected into respective ball pockets 22.
In one embodiment, a single ball is released. The player is awarded one of the jackpots corresponding to the jackpot associated with the ball pocket 22 that captures the ball. In another embodiment, if the ball pockets 22 associated with one of the jackpots are filled with balls, then the player is awarded the corresponding jackpot.
In a third (type of) game, the set of attributes associated with the ball pockets 22 includes various credit values. A plurality of balls may be released onto ball lottery playing field 20 and captured by the ball pockets 22. The player is awarded a total credit value as a function of the sum of the credit values associated with the ball pockets 22 containing a ball. In an alternative embodiment, the balls are not hold or collected by the ball pockets 22, but are allowed to pass through. Thus, more than one ball may pass through a ball pocket 22. The total credit value awarded to the player from each ball pocket 22 may be a function of the credit value associated with the ball pocket 22 and the number of balls that pass through the ball pocket 22.
With reference to
With specific reference to
The upper part 66 of the ball lottery machine 12 may also house the image projection unit 28. With reference to
Returning to
The lower part 70 of the ball lottery machine 12 houses the field rotating unit 30, the ball transporting unit 42, and the ball cleaning unit 44 which are accessible through a plurality of access panels 79.
With reference to
As shown, the ball lottery playing field 20 includes an inner part or rotating field 24 and a stationery outer portion 58. The rotating field 24 is rotated by the field rotating unit 30 under control of the central control unit 26. The image projection unit 28 projects an image onto the rotating field 24. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of lighting devices or LEDs 62 are provided underneath the transparent outer panel 60. The plurality of LEDs are controlled by the central control unit 26 via the LED control unit 32. The LEDs are used to highlight different aspects of the game provided by the ball lottery machine 12 (see below).
With reference to
With reference to
With specific reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In a first step S1, the rotational speed of the rotating field 24 is established. In a second step S2, the rotating image is rotated based on the detected rotation speed of the rotating field 24. In a third step S3, the rotation speed of the rotating field 24 is checked at a predetermined time interview. In one embodiment, the rotational speed of the rotating field 24 may be calculated by measuring a time interview of rotation (360 degrees) and calculating the average speed over the cycle. Alternatively, a predetermined value representing a desired rotational speed of the rotating field 24 may be used. In still another embodiment, a position or speed sensor may be used. For example, a rotary encoder may be used to detect a position of the rotating field 24. The rotating speed of the rotating field 24 may be established by determining a change of position over a predetermined period of time.
In a fourth step S4, the center control unit 26 modifies the rotational speed of the rotating image to match the rotation speed of the rotating field 24 based on the established rotation speed. In one embodiment, the rotational speed of the rotating image is modified gradually to prevent any abrupt changes in the speed.
In a fifth step S5, based on the game process, if the rotating image is to be continued to be rotated, then the method M10 returns to the third step S30. Otherwise, the method M10 ends.
Station Machines
With reference to
In one embodiment, a single station machine 14 may be provided. The ball lottery machine 12 provides a stand-alone ball lottery game to a player. The player interacts with the gaming system 10 through the station machine 14.
In another embodiment, multiple station machines 14 may be provided. Each station machine 14 may provide a primary game to a respective player. During the primary game, a bonus game may be triggered. The bonus game may be provided by the ball lottery machines 12.
Each gaming station machine 14, according to the present embodiment, receives a predetermined game value from the player, generates a game result, and provides a payout to the player according to the game result.
The display unit 102 may include a flat panel display device, such as both liquid crystal display devices and organic EL display devices and the like, and by controlling via the station control unit 100, a (primary and/bonus) game is provided to a player.
A speaker unit 114 may be provided on the cabinet 116, and by controlling via the station control unit 100, sound is provided to the player. On the control panel 118, a bill/ticket validator unit 108 and an operation unit 106 are provided.
The player tracking unit 112 may be housed on the center of the front surface of the cabinet 116. The player tracking unit 112 has a card reader that recognizes a player identification card, a display that presents data to the player, and a keypad that receives input by the player. This type of player tracking unit 112 reads information recorded on the player identification card inserted by the player into the card reader, and displays the information and/or information acquired by communicating with the external system on the display, by cooperatively operating with the station control unit 100 mentioned below or an external system. Further, input from the player is received by the keypad, the display is changed according to the input, and communication with the external system is carried out as necessary.
The bill/ticket validator unit 108 is disposed on the control panel 118 in a state where the insertion opening that a bill or ticket is inserted into is exposed, an identification part that identifies a bill/ticket by various sensors on the inside of the insertion opening is provided, and a bill/ticket storage part is provided on the outgoing side of the identification part. The bill/ticket validator unit 108, receives and identifies bills and tickets (including vouchers and coupons) that are the game value as a game executing value, and notifies the station control unit 100 mentioned below.
A ticket printer unit 104 is disposed on the control panel 118 in a state where the ticket output opening that a ticket is output from is exposed, a printing part that prints predetermined information on a printing paper on the inside of the ticket output opening is provided, and a housing part that houses the printing paper inside the paper inlet side of the printing part is provided. The ticket printer unit 104, under the control of the station control unit 100 mentioned below, prints information on paper and outputs a ticket according to credit payout processing from the station machine 14. The output ticket can use the payout credit as game play by being inserted into the bill/ticket validator unit of another gaming machine, or, can be exchanged for cash by a kiosk terminal inside of the casino or a casino cage.
The operation unit 106 receives the operation of the player. The operation unit 106 includes a group of buttons that receives various instructions from the player on the station machine 14. The operation unit 106, for example, may include a spin button and a group of setting buttons. The spin button receives an instruction to start (start rotating the reel) the game listed below. The group of setting buttons includes a group of bet buttons, a group of line-designation buttons, a max bet button, and a payout button and the like. The group of bet buttons receives an instruction operation regarding the bet amount of credits (bet number) from the player. The group of line-designation buttons receive an instruction operation that designate a pay line (referred to as an effective line below) subjected to a line judgment below from the player. The max bet button receives an instruction operation regarding the bet of the maximum amount of credits that can be bet at one time from the player. The payout button receives an instruction operation instructing a credit payout accumulated in the station machine 14.
With reference to
In one aspect of the present invention, the station machine 14 provides a game to the player. The game may include a primary game and a bonus or feature game. For instance, the primary game may be a video slot game, and the bonus game may be the awarding of change for an award utilizing the ball lottery machine 12. During the primary game, in response to a predetermined trigger a chance to be awarded an award via the ball lottery machine 12.
In general, the station control unit 100 starts a game and determines an outcome of the game. An award may be awarded to the player as a function of the outcome of the game, a paytable and a wager made by the player. It should be noted that the primary game may be any type of game, including but not limited to a video poker game, a video slot game, a video bingo game, and the like.
The station control unit 100 determines if a trigger condition has occurred during the primary game provided by the station machine 14. If the trigger condition has occurred, then the ball lottery machine 12 may be rotated such that the ball lottery machine 12 faces the station machine 14 which triggered the bonus.
Games Provided by the Ball Lottery Machine
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the first exemplary game includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage is of the first type (see above). Each of the ball pockets 22 has an associated number, e.g., 1-25. In the illustrated embodiment, a number is randomly assigned to each ball pocket 22. Before initiation of the game, the player establishes one or a predetermined number of pocket numbers. The player numbers may be randomly selected for the player. Alternatively, the player may select the numbers directly. In still another embodiment, the central control unit 26 may establish a random one or a predetermined number of pocket numbers and provide the player an opportunity to select a different pocket number or predetermined number of pocket numbers. A plurality of balls is then released onto the ball lottery playing field 20 and are captured by respective ball pockets 22. The player is awarded an award, bonus award or special award if one or all of the player established numbers are selected by the ball lottery machine 12.
With specific reference to
Returning to
With reference to
Station 1: 1, 10, 20
Station 2: 8, 18, 24
Station 5: 3, 2, 12.
In a fourth step S14, a plurality of balls is injected onto the ball lottery playing field 20. In the illustrated embodiment, twelve balls are utilized, but any number of balls may be used. The field rotating unit 30 rotates the rotating field 24. In one embodiment, the rotating field 24 and the rotating image may already be rotating when the balls are injected onto the ball lottery playing field 20. The rotating field 24 is stopped after a predetermined or randomly determined time. As the rotating field 24 slows to a stop, any balls that have not been captured may be captured by one of the ball pockets 22.
Once the ball lottery playing field 20 has stopped and/or the balls have been captured, the ball pockets 22 that have captured a ball are detected (by the ball sensor units 38) in a fifth step S15. The ball pockets 22 containing a captured ball form an outcome of the game. With reference to
In a sixth step S16, if a match trigger condition has occurred, then the method proceeds to a seventh step S17. In one embodiment, for a particular player or station to advance to the second stage, the ball pockets 22 corresponding to all of the player's selected numbers must have a captured ball. In other words, if at least one of the player selected numbers is not included in the outcome of the game, then the second stage is not entered. In the seventh step S17, any credits are awarded according to the number of matches between the player numbers and the outcome of the game. If two numbers of matches between the player numbers and the outcome of the game, 2000 credits are awarded. If one numbers of matches, 1000 credits are awarded. If no numbers of matches, 400 credits are awarded.
If in the sixth step S16, if all of the numbers the player selected are included in the outcome of the game, then the method proceeds to an eighth step S18. In the eighth step S18, the second stage of the first exemplary game is triggered.
With reference to
With specific reference to
With specific reference to
With specific reference to
With specific reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, there are three jackpots: MAXI, MAJOR, MINI. The jackpots may be progressive jackpots or each jackpot may have a predetermined award or number credits associated therewith. Returning to
Returning to
With reference to
With specific reference to
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, there are three jackpots: MAXI, MAJOR, MINI. The jackpots may be progressive jackpots or each jackpot may have a predetermined award or number credits associated therewith. Returning to
Returning to
Any other awards indicated by the outcome may also be awarded to the player.
With reference to
With specific reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With respect to the method M60, in a first step S61, if a trigger condition is detected in the base or primary game, then the method M60 proceeds to a second step S62. In the second step S62, the player is presented with an option to select a bonus game. In a third step S63, the player's selection is sent to the central control unit 26 of the ball lottery machine 12.
With respect to the method M70, in a first step S71 if a player's bonus game selection is received, then the method M70 proceeds to a second step S72. In the second step S72, a bonus game image corresponding to, or associated with, the bonus game selected by the player is projected onto the rotating field 24 of the ball lottery playing field 20. In a third step S73, the selected bonus game is provided on the ball lottery machine 12.
With reference to
Next, is a description of a program of the gaming system 10 for operating one or a plurality of computers as the control units 26, 200. The gaming system 10 stores the program in the memory, and can execute the program. The gaming system 10 can access the program stored in the memory and can operate as the gaming system 10 of the present embodiment by the program.
Further, the program according to the embodiment may be provided through a network or stored in a recording medium. Recording media such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, CD-ROM, DVD, or ROM and the like, or semiconductor memory and the like are exemplified as a recording medium. In this case, a program stored in the memory uses a reading device inside the gaming system 10 such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive device, CD-ROM drive device, and DVD drive device and the like.
The embodiments of the present invention are described above, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, a variety of variations are possible.
In such an embodiment, a station machine 14 providing a game in the form of a slot machine is described, but this is not limited thereto, and a game in the state of poker, a video card game called black jack, bingo, keno, a wheel game and the like may be provided. Further, it is possible to apply the present invention to a pachinko machine or a pachinko slot machine.
Referring to
Further, in the embodiment, a bill or ticket is displayed as game value, and received by these bill/ticket identification devices, and a form where a ticket is output by a printer unit is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The game value is a concept including tangible objects such as a coin, bill, coin, medal, ticket, and the like, or electronic data that has a value equivalent to these. For example, a coin is received by the coin accepter, and there may be a form where a coin is paid by a coin hopper. A player is identified and credit that is accumulated in an account on a server is used, there may be a form where credit is paid to an account, information of credit stored in a storage medium of a magnetic card, IC card and the like is read and used, and there may be a form where credit is paid by writing to the storage medium.
Exemplary embodiments of a station machine, a gaming system, and a ball lottery machine, and a method of providing an award to a player are described above in detail. The machines, system, and method are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of the machines and/or system and/or steps of the method may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. For example, the machines may also be used in combination with other gaming systems and methods, and is not limited to practice with only the gaming device as described herein. Rather, an exemplary embodiment can be implemented and utilized in connection with many other gaming system applications. For instance, the present invention is applicable to a gaming system which is a combination of a community gaming system and individual gaming devices.
A controller, computing device, or computer, such as described herein, includes at least one or more processors or processing units and a system memory. The controller typically also includes at least some form of computer readable media. By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media may include computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology that enables storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media. Those skilled in the art should be familiar with the modulated data signal, which has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.
The order of execution or performance of the operations in the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations described herein may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments of the invention may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.
In some embodiments, a processor, as described herein, includes any programmable system including systems and microcontrollers, reduced instruction set circuits (RISC), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic circuits (PLC), and any other circuit or processor capable of executing the functions described herein. The above examples are exemplary only, and thus are not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term processor.
In some embodiments, a database, as described herein, includes any collection of data including hierarchical databases, relational databases, flat file databases, object-relational databases, object oriented databases, and any other structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system. The above examples are exemplary only, and thus are not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term database. Examples of databases include, but are not limited to only including, Oracle® Database, MySQL, IBM® DB2, Microsoft® SQL Server, Sybase®, and PostgreSQL. However, any database may be used that enables the systems and methods described herein. (Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation, Redwood Shores, Calif.; IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.; Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.; and Sybase is a registered trademark of Sybase, Dublin, Calif.)
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Other aspects and features of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims. It should also be noted, that the steps and/or functions listed within the appended claims, notwithstanding the order of which steps and/or functions are listed therein, are not limited to any specific order of operation.
Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.
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