Patent Application
20100075739
This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2007905577, having a filing date of Oct. 11, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
The present invention relates to a gaming system, a method of gaming, a game controller and computer program code.
It is known to provide a gaming system which comprises a game controller arranged to select a stopping position for each of a plurality of reels to thereby randomly display several symbols from each reels at respective ones of a plurality of display positions. The game controller will then determine whether to make an award based on the displayed symbols. Such gaming systems may commonly be implemented as a stepper machine provided with mechanical reels with each reel carrying a set of symbols, or a video machine wherein symbols are displayed as virtual reels on a video display.
While such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming comprising:
In an embodiment, the method comprises providing at least one win line playable by a player, each at least one win line corresponding to a plurality of the display positions, and evaluating whether there is a winning combination on each win line played by the player.
In an embodiment, there are a plurality of win lines, each corresponding to a different plurality of display positions.
In an embodiment, subsets of the plurality of display positions correspond to respective ones a plurality of reels and each win line comprises a display position of each reel.
In an embodiment, the method comprises receiving a player selection at least one win line.
In an embodiment, each first award is a prize amount.
In an embodiment, each second award comprises a prize amount.
In an embodiment, each second award comprises a multiplier.
In an embodiment, each second award comprises a jackpot increment.
In an embodiment, the first and second awards are awarded to the player as a single prize.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a game controller arranged to:
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises a first award evaluator to determine whether to make the first award and a second prize evaluator arranged to determine whether to make the second award.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to provide at least one win line playable by a player, each at least one win line corresponding to a plurality of the display positions, and evaluating whether there is a winning combination on each win line played by the player.
In an embodiment, there are a plurality of win lines, each corresponding to a different plurality of display positions.
In an embodiment, subsets of the plurality of display positions correspond to respective ones a plurality of reels and each win line comprises a display position of each reel.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to receive a player selection of at least one win line.
In an embodiment, the first and second awards are awarded to the player as a single prize.
In an embodiment, the game controller is implemented by a processor executing program code stored in a memory.
In a third aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to provide at least one win line playable by a player, each at least one win line corresponding to a plurality of the display positions, and evaluating whether there is a winning combination on each win line played by the player.
In an embodiment, there are a plurality of win lines, each corresponding to a different plurality of display positions.
In an embodiment, subsets of the plurality of display positions correspond to respective ones a plurality of reels and each win line comprises a display position of each reel.
In an embodiment, the gaming system comprises an instruction input mechanism operable by the player to make a player selection of at least one win line.
In an embodiment, the first and second awards are awarded to the player as a single prize.
In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming comprising:
In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a game controller arranged to:
In an embodiment, the game controller is implemented by a processor executing program code stored in a memory.
In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:
In a seventh aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed by a processor implements one or both of the above methods.
In an eighth aspect the invention provides a computer readable medium comprising the program code.
In a ninth aspect, the invention provides a data signal comprising the program code.
In a tenth aspect, the invention extends to transmitting program code.
A embodiment of the invention will now be described in relation to the following drawings in which:
The embodiment provides a gaming system having a gaming controller arranged to implement a method of gaming. The gaming controller is arranged to provide a plurality of display positions and select a plurality of symbols for display at the display positions. The symbols are evaluated to determine whether to make a first award based on a designated number of a designated symbol in a winning combination such that the first award is independent of the positions of the designated symbols, and if a prize is awarded, evaluating the symbols to determine whether to make a second, additional award based on the arrangement of the designated symbols in the winning combination. Typically the second award will be a modification of the first award such that a single prize amount is awarded to the player. The gaming system may be provided in 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 stand alone 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.
Irrespective of the form, the gaming system has several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in
Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 54, a game play mechanism 56 that enables a player to input game play instructions, and a speaker 58 for audio outputs.
The game controller 60 is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Herein the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server.
A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in
A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.
The display 14 shown in
The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103.
The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.
In the example shown in
In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.
It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101.
One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. The displays 204 may, for example, be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.
In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to carry out the accounting in respect of the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided.
In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server 205 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 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devices connected to the network.
The gaming system 200 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 211.
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 205 could run a random 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.
The embodiment may be implemented in relation to a spinning reel type game. Gaming systems for implementing games that involve a display of spinning reels as part of the display of the outcome of a game have either a video display or a mechanical display, these later machines most usually being “stepper” machines which have a separate motor for each reel. However, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be implemented in respect if other forms of games, including card games and dice games.
The game controller of a spinning reel type game may select symbols for display at a plurality of stop positions by employing a stop determining function that randomly determines the stop position for each reel. For example, if there are five reels, each having twenty symbols, the stop determining function might determine that the stop positions are positions: 3, 13, 7, 9 and 17 which correspond to symbols of each reel. The spinning of the reels is then controlled so that each symbol comes to a stop in the same row, typically a predetermined row in a “window” visible to the player on the display that which corresponds to a player playing a single win line. When a reel stops, the symbols will be in one of a plurality of possible symbol positions for that reel relative to the stop position.
Spinning reel type games typically allow a player to select how many win lines of a plurality of win lines they will play in each game—i.e. a minimum of one win line up to the maximum number of win lines allowed by the game, although often not all variations are presented as options to the player. For example, the player might be offered 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 25 win lines. Persons, skilled in the art, will appreciate that in other embodiments, the player may select a number of reels to play. Each win line is formed by a set of symbol positions having one symbol position from each reel. That is, a symbol position of each reel is assigned to a win line. The symbol positions that constitute each of the win lines are usually advertised to the player by markings on the display or diagrams showing the symbol positions that correspond to each win line. A game outcome is determined based on the symbols on the win lines and a prize table that specifies awards.
The game controller 60 of the embodiment is shown in more detail in
The symbol selector 622 selects symbols from symbol data 641 using the random number generator 621 in accordance with techniques known in the art and as described generally above. That is, the symbol selector in the case of a reel type game will select a stop position for each reel to thereby select the symbols which will appear on a plurality of display positions. In a typical embodiment there will be five reels and three display positions for each reel giving a total of fifteen display positions. Game rules 642 specifies the implications of particular selections, for example, if a feature is to be triggered. After the symbols are selected, they are displayed at the plurality of display positions under control of display controller 625.
A prize awarder 626 has a first award evaluator 623 determines where any “anys” prizes should be awarded based on “any” prize data 643A of prize data 643. “Anys” prizes are prizes awarded based solely on the number of a symbol in a winning combination on a win line played by a player, for example, three, four or five of a particular symbol. If a first prize is awarded, the second award evaluator 624 determines whether to make a second award based on the arrangement of the designated symbols along the win line as specified in pattern prize data 643B. Depending on the embodiment, these arrangements may be relative arrangements of display positions (e.g. three in a row) or absolute arrangements of display positions (e.g. the first three display positions). Depending on the embodiment, the second award may be a modification of the first award (e.g. a multiplier, in which case it will be appreciated that the player is in effect made a single award of a prize amount), an additional award amount, or a separate award (e.g. in the form of a jackpot contribution).
Depending on the embodiment, the awards may be displayed to the user as a single prize or separate prizes. In one example, the player may be advised that they have won 50 credits for three Aces and separately advised that the prize is multiplied by three because the Aces are next to one another. In another example, the player could just be displayed a total award of 150 credits.
An example of a pattern is the paying symbols all being adjacent to one another or occupying reels one, two and three.
While it is described above, that the winning combination occurs on a win line, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments other winning combinations may be identified based on a number of designated symbols and the second award may be made based on the arrangement of the symbols within the winning combination.
The method 700 of the embodiment is summarized in
In an example, all pays in a game are any type pays. A player plays three lines for a total cost of three dollars. A player presses a spin button and the symbol selector of the game controller selects stop positions for the reels. When three or more of any symbol appear on a win line in any order, a pay is awarded. A secondary evaluation is then made based on the positions/patterns of the paying symbols. In this example, if the paying symbols are all adjacent to each other then the pay is tripled. If the paying symbols are all adjacent and on reels one, two and three, the pay is multiplied by five. Further, each picture symbol may represent a stand alone or link jackpot such that when a pay occurs on a picture symbol, an award is made by incrementing a jackpot meter by an arbitrary amount in addition to the player winning the tripled pay amount.
It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007905577 | Oct 2007 | AU | national |
