Patent Grant
10032339
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.
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to gaming machines and systems, and more particularly to new and improved devices and systems having enhanced symbol upgrade features.
Description of the Related Art
Wager-based gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry with sustained popularity. Gaming entities, such as casinos, appeal to many different audiences and provide one or more of a variety of available different gaming machines. Mechanical and video reel gaming machines are a staple of the gaming industry. During play, a player places a wager, which then causes the gaming machine to rotate reels. Each reel independently rotates and stops to display symbols relative to one or more paylines to reveal predetermined winning or losing combinations of the symbols. If a winning symbol or winning combination of symbols is generated and displayed along a wagered-on payline, an award is provided to the player. If a winning symbol or combination of symbols is not generated and displayed along a wagered on payline, no award is provided to the player for that payline. After any awards are provided for any wagered-on payline or paylines, the play of the game ends.
To attract new players to games of chance and to enhance player enjoyment, gaming manufacturers continuously attempt to improve features of game play. In addition to augmenting the player's visual and audio experience, gaming machines include features that increase a player's chances for winnings or increase the amounts available to a player to be won. For example, some gaming machines feature multiple stacked reel sets (such as three or five reel sets), where each reel set operates as a separate game to provide optional simultaneous play of more than one game. Other gaming machines include different special symbols (e.g., bonus symbols, including by not limited to WILD, multipliers, such as 2× PAY, 3× PAY, 4× PAY, 5× PAY, and the like) that increase an outcome value or improve a chance of winning.
As gaming institutions have a continuing interest in encouraging greater participation by existing players and in enhancing the overall experience offered to existing and new customers alike, stiff competition exists among gaming manufacturers to deliver new and interesting games and gaming machines that entice players to engage in game play. Additionally, as increased game play typically translates to increased revenue, gaming manufacturers strive to design new features to increase player engagement with the gaming machine.
To address the need for game play that prolongs player engagement and entices new players to engage with the gaming machines, in accordance with an embodiment, by way of example only, a system is provided that has an enhanced symbol upgrade feature. The system, includes a housing, at least one display device supported by the housing, at least one input device supported by the housing, at least one processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions. When the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, they cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to at least partially display a play of a game. The game includes rotating a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols, the plurality of reels being part of a first reel set and a second reel set positioned over the first reel set, the plurality of reels of each of the first and second reel sets arranged adjacent each other, the plurality of symbols passing a payline during the rotation of each reel, the plurality of symbols including a plurality of special symbols, and each reel including a plurality of symbol positions associated therewith. The game also includes stopping the rotation of each reel to display one of the plurality of symbols of the reel relative to the payline, and awarding an award, in response to an identification of a predetermined winning combination of symbols being displayed on the payline. The instructions also cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to, if a triggering event occurs in association with the play of the game, the triggering event including a first special symbol of the plurality of special symbols stopping on the payline at a first symbol position on a first reel of the first reel set, superimpose the first special symbol at a symbol position on a second reel of the second reel set corresponding to the first symbol position on the first reel, and continue to rotate the second reel during the superimposition of the first special symbol thereover.
Other systems, methods, and computer program product embodiments are provided and supply related advantages.
The foregoing summary has been provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
In general, gaming machines require a player to place or make a wager to activate a primary or base game. The award may be based on the player obtaining a winning symbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager (e.g., the higher the wager, the higher the award). Symbols or symbol combinations that are less likely to occur usually provide higher awards. In such gaming machines, the amount of the wager made on the base game by the player may vary. For instance, a gaming machine may allow the player to wager a minimum number of credits, such as one credit (e.g., one penny, nickel, dime, quarter or dollar, or for virtual currency, one point, one coin, one credit, or one virtual buck) up to a maximum number of credits, such as five credits. The player may make this wager a single time or multiple times in a single play of a primary game. For instance, a slot game may have one or more pay lines and the slot game may allow the player to make a wager on each pay line in a single play of the primary game. Slot games with 1, 3, 5, 9, 15 and 25 lines may be provided. Thus, a gaming machine, such as a slot game, may allow players to make wagers of substantially different amounts on each play of the primary or base game ranging, for example, from one credit up to 125 credits (e.g., five credits on each of 25 separate pay lines).
Secondary or bonus games may also be provided in the gaming machines. The secondary or bonus games may provide an additional award to the player and may be activated or triggered upon an occurrence of a designated triggering symbol or triggering symbol combination in the primary or base game. For instance, a bonus symbol occurring on the pay line on the third reel of a three-reel slot machine may trigger the secondary bonus game. When a secondary or bonus game is triggered, the gaming machines may indicate this to the player through one or more visual and/or audio output devices, such as the reels, lights, display units, speakers, video screens, etc. Part of the enjoyment and excitement of playing certain gaming machines is the occurrence of the secondary or bonus game (even before the player knows how much the bonus award will be). In other words, obtaining a bonus play experience is part of the enjoyment and excitement for players.
To further enhance the excitement surrounding the base play and bonus play experience, improved gaming machines are now provided that propagate special symbols, such as bonus symbols, from one reel of a reel set to another to increase a player's chances of winning. In an example in which a gaming machine includes three stacked reel sets and each reel set has a plurality of reels, all of the reels are initially set in motion during game play. After a period of time, a bottommost reel set resolves from left to right, next the middle reel set resolves from left to right, and finally the topmost reel set resolves from left to right. If a special symbol appears during the resolution of one of the bottommost reel set and the middle reel set, the special symbol propagates directly upward from the bottommost reel set to both the middle and topmost reel sets or directly upward from the middle reel set to the topmost reel set to form a column of the special symbols superimposed over the still-spinning reels. After all of the reels stop spinning, the superimposed special symbol, which obscures any symbol at which the reels stop, replaces the obscured symbol. If after the resolution of the middle reel set, the reel stops at another special symbol having a higher value than the superimposing symbol, the higher value special symbol replaces the superimposing symbol and propagates downward to thereby replace the special symbol in the same column on the bottommost reel set.
Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of a gaming machine 10 in which the present invention is implemented is illustrated
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 or CD ROM. A player can use such a removable memory device in a desktop, a laptop personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other computerized platform. The processor and memory device may be collectively referred to herein as a “computer” or “controller.”
In one embodiment, the gaming machine 10 randomly generates awards and/or other game outcomes based on probability data. That is, each award or other game outcome is associated with a probability and the gaming machine generates the award or other game outcome to be provided to the player based on the associated probabilities. In this embodiment, since the gaming machine generates outcomes randomly or based upon a probability calculation, there is no certainty that the gaming machine will provide the player with any specific award or other game outcome.
In another embodiment, the gaming machine 10 employs a predetermined or finite set or pool of awards or other game outcomes. In this embodiment, as each award or other game outcome is provided to the player, the gaming machine removes the provided award or other game outcome from the predetermined set or pool. Once removed from the set or pool, the specific provided award or other game outcome cannot be provided to the player again. In this type of embodiment, the gaming machine provides players with all of the available awards or other game outcomes over the course of the play cycle and guarantees a designated amount of actual wins and losses.
With continued reference to
The display devices 16, 18, 20 may include, without limitation, a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a multi-layer display (MLD), a liquid crystal display (LCD) a display based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), 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, as described in more detail below, 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 16, 18, 20 of the gaming machine 10 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, faces of cards, and the like.
In an embodiment, the symbols, images and indicia displayed on or of the display devices 16, 18, 20 may be in mechanical form. That is, the display devices 16, 18, 20 may include any electromechanical device, such as one or more mechanical objects, such as one or more rotatable wheels, reels, or dice, configured to display at least one or a plurality of game or other suitable images, symbols or indicia.
The gaming machine 10 includes at least one payment device in communication with the processor 12. As seen in
The gaming machine 10 further includes at least one and preferably a plurality of input devices 30 in communication with the processor 12. The input devices 30 can include any suitable device, which enables the player to produce an input signal, which is received by the processor. In one embodiment, after appropriate funding of the gaming machine, the input device is a game activation device, such as a play button or a pull arm 32, which is used by the player to start any primary game or sequence of events in the gaming machine. The play button can be any suitable play activator such as a bet one button, a max bet button, or a repeat the bet button. In one embodiment, upon appropriate funding, the gaming machine begins the game play automatically. In another embodiment, upon the player engaging one of the play buttons, the gaming machine automatically activates game play.
According to an embodiment, one input device 30 is a bet one button. The player places a bet by pushing the bet one button and can increase the bet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button. In response to receiving input associated with the player pushing the bet one button, the number of credits shown in the credit display preferably decreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the bet display preferably increases by one. In another embodiment, one input device 30 is a bet max button (not shown), which enables the player to bet the maximum wager permitted for a game of the gaming machine.
Additionally or alternatively, one input device 30 is a cash out button 34. 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, a payment device, such as a ticket, payment, or note generator 36 prints or otherwise generates a ticket or credit slip to provide to the player. The player receives the ticket or credit slip and may redeem the value associated with the ticket or credit slip via a cashier (or other suitable redemption system). In another embodiment, when the player cashes out, the player receives the coins or tokens in a coin payout tray. It should be appreciated that any suitable payout mechanisms, such as funding to the player's electronically recordable identification card or smart card, may be implemented in accordance with the gaming machine disclosed herein.
As noted briefly above, the gaming machine 10 includes a touch-screen 42 coupled with a touch-screen controller 44 or some other touch-sensitive display overlay for player interaction with the images on the display. The touch-screen 42 and touch-screen controller 44 are connected to a video controller 46, which allows a player to make decisions and input signals into the gaming machine by touching the touch-screen 42 at the appropriate locations. One such input device is a conventional touch-screen button panel.
The gaming machine 10 may further include a plurality of communication ports 47 for enabling communication of the processor with external peripherals, such as external video sources, expansion buses, game or other displays, a SCSI port, or a keypad.
With continued reference to
The gaming machine 10 further includes a sensor, such as a camera, in communication with the processor 12 (and possibly controlled by the processor), that is selectively positioned to acquire an image of a player actively using the gaming machine and/or the surrounding area of the gaming machine. In an embodiment, the camera may be configured to selectively acquire still or moving (e.g., video) images and may be configured to acquire the images in an analog, digital, or other suitable format. The display devices may be configured to display the image acquired by the camera as well as to display the visible manifestation of the game in split screen or picture-in-picture fashion. For example, the camera may acquire an image of the player and the processor may incorporate that image into the primary and/or secondary game as a game image, symbol or indicia.
The gaming machine 10 can incorporate any suitable wagering game as the primary or base game. The gaming machine or device 10 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, such as slots, or other games 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 one embodiment, as illustrated in
As noted above, each reel 44, 54 eventually stops so that one or more of the symbols lands on, one or more paylines. The paylines may be horizontal, vertical, circular, diagonal, angled or any combination thereof. In another embodiment, one or more of the paylines each include a plurality of adjacent symbol display positions on a requisite number of adjacent reels. In one such embodiment, one or more paylines are formed between at least two symbol display positions which are adjacent to each other by either sharing a common side or sharing a common corner (i.e., such paylines are connected paylines). In these embodiments, the gaming machine enables a player to wager on one or more of such paylines to activate such wagered on paylines.
In another embodiment in which one or more paylines are formed between at least two symbol display positions, which are adjacent to each other, the gaming machine enables a player to wager on and thus activate a plurality of symbol display positions. In this embodiment, one or more paylines which are formed from a plurality of adjacent active symbol display positions on a requisite number of adjacent reels are activated.
Several features are included to enhance player experience, for example, by building anticipation for a player during the period between the initiation of reel spin and just prior to the display of an outcome of symbol combinations on the one or more paylines. Specifically, the gaming machine 10 displays a play of a game where different trigger events cause special symbols to propagate from one reel in one reel set to another reel in another reel set. The various embodiments of the events that trigger an enhanced symbol upgrade feature are described in conjunction with
Generally, the first trigger event is initiated when reels in either bottom or middle reel sets reveal a special symbol. In particular, in an embodiment in which a reel in the bottom reel set reveals a special symbol, the same special symbol is propagated upwardly along the column in which the reel is positioned to the topmost reel set and the special symbol superimposes a corresponding symbol on reels of the middle and topmost reel sets. The reels of the middle and topmost reels sets continue to spin until resolution of each occurs.
In an example, turning to
Similar to the embodiment described above, in an embodiment in which a reel in the middle reel set reveals a special symbol, the same special symbol is propagated upwardly along the column in which the reel is positioned to the topmost reel set. For example,
In a second type of trigger event, a special symbol having a high value replaces a superimposing special symbol having a lower value. More particularly, the second type of trigger event initiates when a spinning reel behind a superimposed low value special symbol stops at a higher value special symbol at the payline. The superimposed low value special symbol is then replaced with the higher value special symbol. For example, with reference to
In an embodiment, bottom reel set 502 includes a special symbol. For example, reel 512c of bottom reel set 502 stops to display a 2× Multiplier special symbol 520 at the payline, as illustrated in
After or substantially concurrently with the replacement of the obscured symbol on middle reel set 504 with 2× Multiplier special symbol 520, reel 514d then stops spinning and displays another special symbol (e.g., a 5× Multiplier special symbol 524), which is propagated upward to reel 516d on top reel set 506 with top reel set 506 continuing to spin. In this embodiment, because bottom reel set 504 has already resolved and 5× Multiplier special symbol 524 appears in a reel position in which a corresponding reel on bottom reel set 524 did not include a previously propagated special symbol, 5× Multiplier special symbol 524 only propagates upward.
Top reel set 506 then resolves, as illustrated in
Although the embodiments illustrated above depict display areas including three reels sets with five reels each, it will be appreciated that fewer or more reel sets and/or reels are included in other embodiments. Additionally, in alternate embodiments, special symbols are revealed not only on the middle reels of the reel sets, but also on the outermost edge reels of the reel sets.
To further improve gaming pleasure for the player, several visual effects may be implemented to maximize player anticipation and build excitement. For example, one or more of the special symbols each may be associated with a corresponding special color, and thus, when a special symbol propagates upward or downward in a column from reel to reel, any white space previously showing in the column changes to the corresponding special color. In a particular example, 2× Multiplier is associated with a gold color and 3× Multiplier is associated with a green color. When a 2× Multiplier on a reel stops at a bottom reel set payline, the gold color is propagated either upward or downward along with the special symbol. If at a top reel set, a reel superimposed with the 2× Multiplier stops at a 3× Multiplier, the 2× Multiplier is replaced with the 3× Multiplier and as the 3× Multiplier propagates downward, the green color associated with the 3× Multiplier follows. It will be appreciated that other colors and color associations are implemented in other embodiments and each special symbol is associated with a different color to thereby create a synergistic viewing effect when adjacent reels have both resolved to their respective high value special symbol. In another example, lights (provided by LEDs mounted to the gaming machine 10) or sounds may accompany the occurrence of one of the trigger events.
According to another embodiment, the gaming machine 10 includes multi-layer displays to provide visual depth during gaming. In such case, the special symbols are displayed on a foreground display, while the spinning reel is displayed on a background display. In another embodiment, the gaming machine 10 includes a transmissive reel type display and a physical reel spins in a background, while a display screen disposed in front of the physical reel displays the special symbol.
Although anticipation for winning the game is increased due to the possibility for higher payouts, wins are not guaranteed and odds of winning are not changed. As with previous gaming machines, the gaming machine awards prizes after the reels of the primary game stop spinning if specified types and/or configurations of indicia or symbols occur on an active payline or otherwise occur in a winning pattern, occur on the requisite number of adjacent reels and/or occur in a scatter pay arrangement.
In an alternative embodiment, rather than determining any outcome to provide to the player by analyzing the symbols generated on any wagered upon paylines as described above, the gaming machine determines any outcome to provide to the player based on the number of associated symbols which are generated in active symbol display positions on the requisite number of adjacent reels (i.e., not on paylines passing through any displayed winning symbol combinations). In this embodiment, if a winning symbol combination is generated on the reels, the gaming machine provides the player one award for that occurrence of the generated winning symbol combination. For example, if one winning symbol combination is generated on the reels, the gaming machine will provide a single award to the player for that winning symbol combination (i.e., not based on the number of paylines that would have passed through that winning symbol combination). It should be appreciated that because a gaming machine that enables wagering on ways to win provides the player one award for a single occurrence of a winning symbol combination and a gaming machine with paylines may provide the player more than one award for the same occurrence of a single winning symbol combination (i.e., if a plurality of paylines each pass through the same winning symbol combination), it is possible to provide a player at a ways to win gaming machine with more ways to win for an equivalent bet or wager on a traditional slot gaming machine with paylines.
In one embodiment, the total number of ways to win is determined by multiplying the number of symbols generated in active symbol display positions on a first reel by the number of symbols generated in active symbol display positions on a second reel by the number of symbols generated in active symbol display positions on a third reel and so on for each reel of the gaming machine with at least one symbol generated in an active symbol display position. For example, a three reel gaming machine with three symbols generated in active symbol display positions on each reel includes 27 ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel ×3 symbols on the second reel ×3 symbols on the third reel). A four reel gaming machine with three symbols generated in active symbol display positions on each reel includes 81 ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel ×3 symbols on the second reel ×3 symbols on the third reel ×3 symbols on the fourth reel). A five reel gaming machine with three symbols generated in active symbol display positions on each reel includes 243 ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel ×3 symbols on the second reel ×3 symbols on the third reel ×3 symbols on the fourth reel ×3 symbols on the fifth reel). It should be appreciated that modifying the number of generated symbols by either modifying the number of reels or modifying the number of symbols generated in active symbol display positions by one or more of the reels modifies the number of ways to win.
In another embodiment, the gaming machine enables a player to wager on and thus activate symbol display positions. In one such embodiment, the symbol display positions are on the reels. In this embodiment, if based on the player's wager, a reel is activated, then each of the symbol display positions of that reel will be activated and each of the active symbol display positions will be part of one or more of the ways to win. In one embodiment, if based on the player's wager, a reel is not activated, then a designated number of default symbol display positions, such as a single symbol display position of the middle row of the reel, will be activated and the default symbol display position(s) will be part of one or more of the ways to win. This type of gaming machine enables a player to wager on one, more than one or all of the reels and the processor of the gaming machine uses the number of wagered on reels to determine the active symbol display positions and the number of possible ways to win. In alternative embodiments, (1) no symbols are displayed as generated at any of the inactive symbol display positions, or (2) any symbols generated at any inactive symbol display positions may be displayed to the player but suitably shaded or otherwise designated as inactive.
In one embodiment wherein a player wagers on one or more reels, a player's wager of one credit may activate each of the three symbol display positions on a first reel, wherein one default symbol display position is activated on each of the remaining four reels. In this example, as described above, the gaming machine provides the player three ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel ×1 symbol on the second reel ×1 symbol on the third reel ×1 symbol on the fourth reel ×1 symbol on the fifth reel). In another example, a player's wager of nine credits may activate each of the three symbol display positions on a first reel, each of the three symbol display positions on a second reel and each of the three symbol display positions on a third reel wherein one default symbol display position is activated on each of the remaining two reels. In this example, as described above, the gaming machine provides the player twenty-seven ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel ×3 symbols on the second reel ×3 symbols on the third reel.times.1 symbol on the fourth reel ×1 symbol on the fifth reel).
In one embodiment, to determine any award(s) to provide to the player based on the generated symbols, the gaming machine individually determines if a symbol generated in an active symbol display position on a first reel forms part of a winning symbol combination with or is otherwise suitably related to a symbol generated in an active symbol display position on a second reel. In this embodiment, the gaming machine classifies each pair of symbols, which form part of a winning symbol combination (i.e., each pair of related symbols) as a string of related symbols. For example, if active symbol display positions include a first cherry symbol generated in the top row of a first reel and a second cherry symbol generated in the bottom row of a second reel, the gaming machine classifies the two cherry symbols as a string of related symbols because the two cherry symbols form part of a winning symbol combination.
After determining if any strings of related symbols are formed between the symbols on the first reel and the symbols on the second reel, the gaming machine determines if any of the symbols from the next adjacent reel should be added to any of the formed strings of related symbols. In this embodiment, for a first of the classified strings of related symbols, the gaming machine determines if any of the symbols generated by the next adjacent reel form part of a winning symbol combination or are otherwise related to the symbols of the first string of related symbols. If the gaming machine determines that a symbol generated on the next adjacent reel is related to the symbols of the first string of related symbols, that symbol is subsequently added to the first string of related symbols. For example, if the first string of related symbols is the string of related cherry symbols and a related cherry symbol is generated in the middle row of the third reel, the gaming machine adds the related cherry symbol generated on the third reel to the previously classified string of cherry symbols.
On the other hand, if the gaming machine determines that no symbols generated on the next adjacent reel are related to the symbols of the first string of related symbols, the gaming machine marks or flags such string of related symbols as complete. For example, if the first string of related symbols is the string of related cherry symbols and none of the symbols of the third reel are related to the cherry symbols of the previously classified string of cherry symbols, the gaming machine marks or flags the string of two cherry symbols as complete.
After either adding a related symbol to the first string of related symbols or marking the first string of related symbols as complete, the gaming machine proceeds as described above for each of the remaining classified strings of related symbols which were previously classified or formed from related symbols on the first and second reels.
After analyzing each of the remaining strings of related symbols, the gaming machine determines, for each remaining pending or incomplete string of related symbols, if any of the symbols from the next adjacent reel, if any, should be added to any of the previously classified strings of related symbols. This process continues until either each string of related symbols is complete or there are no more adjacent reels of symbols to analyze. In this embodiment, where there are no more adjacent reels of symbols to analyze, the gaming machine marks each of the remaining pending strings of related symbols as complete.
When each of the strings of related symbols is marked complete, the gaming machine compares each of the strings of related symbols to an appropriate paytable and provides the player any award associated with each of the completed strings of symbols. It should be appreciated that the player is provided one award, if any, for each string of related symbols generated in active symbol display positions (i.e., as opposed to a quantity of awards being based on how many paylines that would have passed through each of the strings of related symbols in active symbol display positions).
In one embodiment, in addition to winning credits or other awards in a base or primary game, the gaming machine may also give players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus or secondary game or in a bonus or secondary round. In one embodiment, the disclosed enhanced symbol implementation is employed in a bonus or secondary game. The bonus or secondary game enables the player to obtain a prize or payout in addition to the prize or payout, if any, obtained from the base or primary game. In general, a bonus or secondary game produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than the base or primary game because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the base or primary game, and is accompanied with more attractive or unusual features than the base or primary game. In one embodiment, the bonus or secondary game may be any type of suitable game, either similar to or completely different from the base or primary game.
In one embodiment, a bonus triggering event or qualifying condition may be a selected outcome in the primary game or a particular arrangement of one or more indicia on a display device in the primary game, such as the number seven appearing on three adjacent reels along a payline (e.g., the payline 52) in the primary slot game embodiment seen in
In another embodiment, the gaming machine the processor 12 or central controller 56 randomly provides the player one or more plays of one or more secondary games. In one such embodiment, the gaming machine does not provide any apparent reason to the player for qualifying to play a secondary or bonus game. In this embodiment, qualifying for a bonus game is not triggered by an event in or based specifically on any of the plays of any primary game. That is, the gaming machine may simply qualify a player to play a secondary game without any explanation or alternatively with simple explanations. In another embodiment, the gaming machine (or central server) qualifies a player for a secondary game at least partially based on a game triggered or symbol triggered event, such as at least partially based on the play of a primary game.
In one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a program, which will automatically begin a bonus round after the player has achieved a triggering event or qualifying condition in the base or primary game. In another embodiment, after a player has qualified for a bonus game, the player may subsequently enhance his/her bonus game participation through continued play on the base or primary game. Thus, for each bonus qualifying event, such as a bonus symbol, that the player obtains, a given number of bonus game wagering points or credits may be accumulated in a “bonus meter” programmed to accrue the bonus wagering credits or entries toward eventual participation in a bonus game. The occurrence of multiple such bonus qualifying events in the primary game may result in an arithmetic or exponential increase in the number of bonus wagering credits awarded. In one embodiment, the player may redeem extra bonus wagering credits during the bonus game to extend play of the bonus game.
In one embodiment, no separate entry fee or buy-in for a bonus game is needed. That is, a player may not purchase entry into a bonus game; rather they must win or earn entry through play of the primary game, thus encouraging play of the primary game. In another embodiment, qualification of the bonus or secondary game is accomplished through a simple “buy-in” by the player—for example, if the player has been unsuccessful at qualifying through other specified activities. In another embodiment, the player must make a separate side-wager on the bonus game or wager a designated amount in the primary game to qualify for the secondary game. In this embodiment, the secondary game-triggering event must occur and the side-wager (or designated primary game wager amount) must have been placed to trigger the secondary game.
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 machine. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of such gaming machines communicates with the central server or controller. Upon a player initiating game play at one of the gaming machines, the initiated gaming machine 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 stores and utilizes program code or other data similar to the processor and memory device of the gaming machine.
In an alternative embodiment, the central server or controller maintains one or more predetermined pools or sets of predetermined game outcomes. In this embodiment, the central server or controller receives the game outcome request and independently selects a predetermined game outcome from a set or pool of game outcomes. The central server or controller flags or marks the selected game outcome as used. Once a game outcome is flagged as used, it is prevented from further selection from the set or pool and cannot be selected by the central controller or server upon another wager. The provided game outcome can include a primary game outcome, a secondary game outcome, primary and secondary game outcomes, or a series of game outcomes such as free games.
The central server or controller communicates the generated or selected game outcome to the initiated gaming machine. The gaming machine 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, is also determined by the central server or controller and communicated to the initiated gaming machine 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 another embodiment, one or more of the gaming machines are in communication with a central server or controller for monitoring purposes only. That is, each individual gaming machine randomly generates the game outcomes to be provided to the player and the central server or controller monitors the activities and events occurring on the plurality of gaming machines.
In one embodiment, the gaming network includes a real-time or on-line accounting and gaming information system operably coupled to the central server or controller. The accounting and gaming information system of this embodiment includes a player database for storing player profiles, a player tracking module for tracking players and a credit system for providing automated casino transactions.
In one embodiment, a plurality of the gaming machines connects 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 machines 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 machines are in communication with at least one off-site central server or controller. In this embodiment, the plurality of gaming machines 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 machine 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 machines in each system may vary relative to one another.
In another embodiment, the data network is an Internet or intranet. In this embodiment, the operation of the gaming machine can be viewed at the gaming machine with at least one Internet browser. In this embodiment, operation of the gaming machine 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 the 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.
In another embodiment, a plurality of gaming machines at one or more gaming sites are networked to the central server in a progressive configuration, wherein a portion of each wager to initiate a base or primary game may be allocated to one or more progressive awards. In one embodiment, a progressive gaming system host site computer is coupled to a plurality of the central servers at a variety of mutually remote gaming sites for providing a multi-site linked progressive automated gaming system. In one embodiment, a progressive gaming system host site computer may serve gaming machines distributed throughout a number of properties at different geographical locations including, for example, different locations within a city or different cities within a state.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.
Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that may contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the internet using an internet Service Provider).
Aspects of the present invention have been described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, may be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that may direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the above figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block might occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
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