Patent Application
20190073857
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
In jackpot gaming machines, symbols are selected to present a prize level. The prize level is generally predetermined. The presentation of the prize level is also static. Therefore, a need exists for new gaming systems in order to increase player enjoyment.
An embodiment provides a gaming machine for use by a player to play a base game and a feature game. The gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for establishing a credit balance. The credit balance is increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity. The gaming machine includes a display to present the base game and the feature game for viewing by the player. The base game has a plurality of different base game symbol outcomes. The feature game is triggerable by at least one of the base game symbol outcomes, and the feature game includes a plurality of vertical segments displayable on the display. Each of the vertical segments carries a number visible to the player. The vertical segments are movable laterally across the display, and the carried number of a vertical segment is increasable numerically in response to one of the base game symbol outcomes and visibly showing the increase to the player. One of the vertical segments is selectable to provide a prize having a value in accordance to the number carried by the selected segment. The gaming machine includes a payout mechanism to, in response to determining a prize is to be provided, increase the credit balance based on the prize, and to cause a payout associated with the credit balance.
Another embodiment provides a gaming machine for use by a player to play a base game and a feature game. The gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for establishing a credit balance. The credit balance is increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity. The gaming machine also includes credit meters to monitor the credit balance, and a display including 1) a first display area to display symbols at a plurality of display positions, and 2) a second display area to display a plurality of segments, the segments carrying a plurality of prize identifiers. The gaming machine also includes a memory to store a plurality of symbols. The gaming machine also includes a game controller to, in accord with the established credit balance, visually move the segments at a first speed, select symbols from the memory for display, and to cause the display to display the selected symbols at the display positions, determine if the displayed symbols include a trigger condition, select one of the segments to be upgraded in response to determining that the displayed symbols include a trigger condition, visually move the display segments at a second speed to display the selected one of segments to be upgraded, and upgrade the prize identifier of the selected one of segments to be upgraded. The gaming machine also includes a payout mechanism to, in response to determining an award is to be provided, increase the credit balance based on the award, and to cause a payout associated with the credit balance.
Another embodiment provides a gaming machine for use by a player to play a base game and a feature game. The gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for establishing a credit balance. The credit balance is increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity. The gaming machine also includes credit meters to monitor the credit balance, and a memory configured to store a plurality of symbols and a plurality of prize identifiers. The gaming machine also includes a display having a plurality of display positions and a plurality of prize segments, each prize segment displays a prize identifier. The gaming machine also includes a game controller to, in accord with the established credit balance, select symbols from the memory, cause the display to display the selected symbols at the display positions, visually move the prize segments on the display at a first speed, determine if the displayed symbols include a trigger condition, select one of the prize identifiers to upgrade in response to determining that the displayed symbols include a trigger condition, visually move the prize segments at a second speed on the display to display the selected one of prize identifiers to be upgraded, and visually complete the upgrade of the selected one of prize identifiers on the display while the selected one of the prize identifiers is being displayed. The gaming machine also includes a payout mechanism to, in response to determining an award is to be provided, increase the credit balance based on the award, and to cause a payout associated with the credit balance.
A system and/or method is provided for a pick to reveal jackpot game having randomly determined multipliers awarded for each of a plurality of prize levels, wherein one or more of the multipliers are presented at a display of a gaming machine in association with the corresponding one or more prize levels, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present disclosure, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of a gaming machine having a display to display symbols at a plurality of display positions and to display a plurality of prize identifiers. The gaming machine also includes a game controller to cause a display of a plurality of symbols at the display positions and visually moves a number of a plurality of prize identifiers at a first speed. If a trigger condition occurs with the displayed symbols, the game controller selects a prize identifier to be upgraded while visually moving the selected prize identifier being upgraded at a second speed on the display. The game controller completes the upgrading of the display while the selected prize identifier is being displayed.
The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a standalone 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, 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 standalone 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.
Referring to
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. For example, in some embodiments, credit mechanism 52 may include a credit input mechanism 52.1 to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for establishing a credit balance. The credit balance may be increasable and decreasable based on wagering activities. Based on the established credit balance, the gaming system 1 initiates a game. In some embodiments, the credit mechanism 52 also includes a payout mechanism 52.2 to cause a payout associated with the credit balance. The player interface may also include one or more displays 54, a game play mechanism 56 including one or more input devices that enable a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place a wager), and one or more speakers 58. In some embodiments, each of the displays 54 includes a plurality of display positions. In other embodiments, each of the displays 54 includes a plurality of display areas. Each of the display areas includes a plurality of display positions. In the embodiment shown, the display 54 also includes a credit meter 54.1. In some embodiments, credit meter 54.1 displays credits available, credits bet, and/or credits won.
Game controller 60 is in data communication with player interface 50 and typically includes a processor 62 that processes game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display(s) 54. Typically, the game play rules are stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. In some embodiments, the memory 64 may also store data indicative of a plurality of symbols, pay tables, images, and other information to be used in games. 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. That is, a processor may be provided by any suitable logic circuitry for receiving inputs, processing them in accordance with instructions stored in memory and generating outputs (for example on the display). Such processors are sometimes also referred to as central processing units (CPUs). Most processors are general purpose units, however, it is also known to provide a specific purpose processor using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
Referring to
As shown in
Display 14 shown in
As shown in
Gaming machine 100 has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, and an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. Input/output (I/O) 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 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, gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. Network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a bonus controller, central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the bonus controller, central controller, server or database. In embodiments employing a player marketing module, communications over a network may be via player marketing module—i.e. the player marketing module may be in data communication with one or more of the above devices and communicate with it on behalf of the gaming machine.
Referring now to
It is also possible for the operative components of gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example, input/output devices 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 may be provided remotely from the game controller 101.
One or more displays 204 may also be connected to network 201. For example, displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. Displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.
In a thick client embodiment, a 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 gaming machines 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 perform accounting functions for 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, 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. Other client/server configurations are possible, and further details of a client/server architecture can be found in WO 2006/052213 and PCT/SE2006/000559, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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 network 201 and the devices connected to the network.
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, game server 205 could run a random number 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.
When credit input mechanism 52.1 (of
Referring to
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that some or all of the components of the game controller 60 could be alternatively implemented. For example, in some embodiments, the game controller 60 and its components are implemented in the form of a dedicated circuit, or an individual application-specific-integrated-circuit (ASIC). In other embodiments, game controller 60 and its components is implemented as an individual ASIC. In other embodiments, some or all of the game controller components may be individually or collectively implemented as software modules, controllers, and/or circuitries.
In the embodiment, game controller 60 includes a display controller 621 which is configured to control display 54, a random number generator (RNG) 622 configured to generate a random number, and a timer/counter 623 configured to time and/or count an amount of time and/or a number of games that a base game has been played, for example, without a win, an upgrade, and/or a trigger event. The timer/counter 623 may also count a number of free spins in a feature game. Game controller 60 also includes a meter controller 624 configured to generate meter data, for example, for display or storage based on game play, and/or to read meter data from the meter memory 64.2.
In the embodiment shown, the processor 62 includes a segment populating controller 625a that communicates with the display controller 621, the RNG 622, the timer/counter 623, and/or the meter controller 624. In some embodiments, the segment populating controller 625a populates a plurality of vertical segments of a vertical feature wheel with a plurality of jackpot prizes. For example, the segment populating controller 625a populates the vertical segments with a plurality of prize identifiers, for example, in the form of a plurality of numbers identifying a number of free games, a plurality of progressive jackpot prizes, mini jackpot prizes, minor jackpot prizes, major jackpot prizes, and grand jackpot prizes. In other embodiments, the segment populating controller 625a populates a plurality of horizontal segments of a vertical feature wheel with the plurality of jackpot prizes.
In the embodiment shown, the processor 62 includes a direction controller 625b that controls directional movements of the vertical segments. For example, the direction controller 625b may control the vertical segments to laterally move from left to right. In other embodiments, the direction controller 625b may control the vertical segments to laterally move from right to left. In yet other embodiments, the direction controller 625b may control the horizontal segments to move down from top to bottom. In still other embodiments, the direction controller 625b may control the horizontal segments to move up from bottom to top. Thus, for example, when the direction controller 625b laterally moves a vertical segment that is not presently displayed, or an invisible vertical segment, into the display 54, the display controller 621 controls the display 54 to animate the invisible vertical segment laterally moving into the display 54, for example, from a left edge of the display 54 into the display 54, while laterally moving a previously displayed vertical segment near a right edge of the display 54 out of the display 54. For another example, when the direction controller 625b vertically moves a horizontal segment that is not presently displayed, or an invisible horizontal segment, into the display 54, the display controller 621 controls the display 54 to animate the invisible horizontal segment vertically moving into the display 54, for example, from a bottom edge of the display 54 up into the display 54, while vertically moving a previously displayed horizontal segment near a top edge of the display 54 out of the display 54.
In the embodiment shown, the processor 62 includes a speed controller 625c that controls speeds at which the vertical or horizontal segments are moved. For example, the speed controller 625c controls the directional movements of the vertical segments to move laterally at a first speed during an idle time, at a second speed during play of a base game before a trigger event occurs in the base game, a third speed during play of a base game when a trigger event occurs in the base game and when a segment selected to be upgraded is not yet displayed on the display 54, and a fourth speed during play of a base game when a trigger event occurs in the base game and when a segment selected to be upgraded is being displayed on the display 54. The speed controller 625c determines speeds at which the segments are moved based on a number of factors. Exemplary factors include a number of segments to be displayed on display 54, a total number of segments, an amount of upgrade to a segment, and the second speed, the third speed, and the fourth speed. In some embodiments, the first speed is a slow speed that allows a player to visually see the prize identifiers to be won in a feature game while the player is playing a base game.
In embodiments where the segments are vertical and moving left to right, the second speed during play of a base game before a trigger event occurs in the base game may be equal to the first speed. For another example, in embodiments where the segments are vertical and moving left to right, the third speed during play of a base game when a trigger event occurs in the base game and when a segment selected to be upgraded is not yet displayed on the display 54 may depend on whether the invisible vertical segment has moved out of the right edge of the display 54, or whether the invisible vertical segment is about to move into the left edge of the display 54. For another example, in embodiments where the segments are vertical and moving left to right, the third speed during play of a base game when a trigger event occurs in the base game and when a segment selected to be upgraded is not yet displayed on the display 54 may be slower for a large amount of upgrade than that for a small amount of upgrade, thus allowing more time for the display 54 to display the large amount of upgrade.
In some embodiments, the speed controller 625c also controls speeds at which an upgrade is displayed. For example, in embodiments where the segments are vertical and moving left to right, and when the speed controller 625c keeps the third speed constant, the speed controller 625c controls a display speed of an upgrade of a prize identifier. For example, if the display 54 displays ten segments moving with a third speed at 2 segments per second, and an upgrade of 12500 credits on a segment with a prize identifier of 50000 credits, the speed controller 625c also controls to display an upgrade of 12500 credits in 5 seconds, which results in a display speed of 2500 credits per second.
Referring back to
The second display area 706 displays a spinning wheel 710 formed from a plurality of vertical segments 712. As shown, the second display area 706 includes 11 vertical segments 712. Each of the vertical segments 712 carries a prize identifier 714. Only a portion of the spinning wheel 710 is displayed in the second display area 706. As such, although the prize identifiers 714 are shown to carry an amount of credits in numerical forms, the vertical segments 712 that are to be moved into the second display area 706 may have prize identifiers 714 in non-numeral forms, such as, for example, mini jackpot prizes, minor jackpot prizes, major jackpot prizes, grand jackpot prizes, diamonds, and other graphical symbols, described hereinafter. In the embodiment shown, the direction controller 625b continuously laterally moves the vertical segments 712 from a left edge 716 of the second display area 706 to a right edge 718 of the second display area 706. As a vertical segment 712 moves into the second display area 706 from the left edge 716, a displayed vertical segment 712 moves out of the second display area 706 from the right edge 718. The lateral movement continues until a trigger event occurs, discussed hereinafter.
Referring back to
Referring back to
Referring back to
The upgrade controller 625g also determines if the selected segment is currently displayed on the second display area 706. If the upgrade controller 625g determines that the selected segment is not currently displayed on the second display area 706, the speed controller 625c increases the speed at which the segments are displayed such that the selected segment is displayed as entering the second display area 706 from the left edge 716. If the upgrade controller 625g determines that the selected segment is currently displayed on the second display area 706, the speed controller 625c determines a display speed, for example, an increment of number of credits per display frame, or per time unit, at which the amount of upgrade is visually shown to a player before the selected segment moves out of the second display area 706 from the right edge 718. For example, in some embodiments, when upgrading from 2000 credits to 2500 credits on a vertical segment, the speed controller 625c determines a number of credits at a time and thus the display speed, such that the 2000-credit segment incrementally changes to a 2500-credit segment by the determined number of credits at the determined speed. That is, the display controller 621 may control the display 54 to visually display an increment of credits by the determined number of credits at the speed, viewable by a player. In other embodiments, when upgrading from 2000 credits to 2500 credits on a vertical segment, the speed controller 625c determines a speed such that the 2000-credit segment changes to a 2500-credit segment instantaneously.
When a trigger event occurs based on a plurality of predetermined symbols as detected by the trigger controller 625e, the segment selecting controller 625f randomly selects a segment of the plurality of vertical segments 712 to be upgraded. In some embodiments, as discussed above, the segment selecting controller 625f randomly selects a segment of a selected group of vertical segments to be upgraded.
In this embodiment, the segment selecting controller 625f selects a segment carrying a prize identifier of 50000 credits is to be upgraded. However, the upgrade controller 625g determines that the selected segment carrying the prize identifier of 50000 credits is not displayed in the second display area 706. As such, the speed controller 625c moves to assume the third speed such that the vertical segments 712 move faster so as to display the previously hidden segment carrying the prize identifier of 50000 credits entering the second display area 706. For example, in some embodiments, prize identifiers move at a first speed during general game play, until a trigger event occurs. The prize identifiers also move at the first speed in a continuous fashion so that at all times whilst the gaming machined 10 (of
In the embodiment shown, the upgrade controller 625g determines the amount of upgrade to be 12500 credits. Thus, the upgrade controller 625g also determines an upgrade speed for the change in value of the selected segment 734 to assume an upgrade from 50000 credits to 62500 credits before the selected segment 734 moves out of the second display area 706.
When the meter controller 624 determines that a credit has been established, for example, when the credit input mechanism 52.1 (of
The upgrade process 800 at block 816 animates an upgrade flame with text “BONUS INCREASE” indicative that an upgrade is initiated, via the display controller 621, and at block 818 determines an amount of upgrade to be applied to the selected segment. At block 820, the upgrade process 800 determines if the selected segment is being displayed in the second display area 706, via upgrade controller 625g. If the upgrade process 800 determines that the selected segment is not being displayed in the second display area 706, the speed controller 625c increases the speed as determined in block 822, in block 824, such that the selected segment is displayed in second display area 706. If the upgrade process 800 determines that the selected segment is being displayed in the second display area 706, at block 820, the upgrade controller 625g determines an upgrade speed for the selected segment to assume, at block 826, and the selected segment is displayed and being upgraded at block 828.
At block 830, the upgrade process 800 determines if the displayed symbols displayed at block 810 include any winning combination of symbols. If upgrade process 800 determines that the displayed symbols include a winning combination of symbols, the meter controller 624 increments the credit meter 54.1 (of
Referring back to
When a player actuates the game play mechanism 56 to play the feature game 900, the speed controller 625c initially increases the feature speed to accelerate the lateral movements of the vertical segments 712, and controllably slows down the lateral movements to a complete stop. While the vertical segments 712 are moving laterally across the second display area 706, the symbol selecting controller 625d randomly selects a plurality of symbols to fill the empty tubes 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970. In the embodiment shown, the empty tubes 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970 have a “Spin-It-Grand” background. In other embodiments, the empty tubes empty tubes 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970 may have different backgrounds, or no background at all.
When a player actuates the game play mechanism 56 as determined at block 1008, the feature game 1000 proceeds to select symbols, at block 1010, to fill the empty tubes 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970 via the symbol selecting controller 625d. Although not shown, in some embodiments, the feature controller 625i randomly selects which of the tubes 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970 to fill. At block 1014, the feature controller 625i fills the selected tubes 952, 954, 956, 960, 962, 964, 968, 970 with the selected symbols. The trigger controller 625e then determines whether the filled tubes include predetermined symbols at block 1016. In some embodiments, only tubes 952, 954, 956, 960, 962, 964, 968, 970 are filled with predetermined symbols 918.
When the trigger controller 625e determines that the filled tubes include predetermined symbols at block 1016, the speed controller 625c accelerates the lateral movements of the vertical segments 712 at block 1017. At block 108, the speed controller 625c effectively slows down the spinning wheel to align the vertical segments 712 with the tubes 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970. At block 1020, the award controller 625h then awards the player with the prize identifiers 714 that are aligned with the filled tubes 952, 954, 956, 960, 962, 964, 968, 970.
Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the system. It will be appreciated that at least part of the method will be implemented electronically, for example, digitally by a processor executing program code such as in the above description of a game controller. In this respect, in the above description certain steps are described as being carried out by a processor of a gaming system, it will be appreciated that such steps will often require a number of sub-steps to be carried out for the steps to be implemented electronically, for example due to hardware or programming limitations. For example, to carry out a step such as evaluating, determining or selecting, a processor may need to compute several values and compare those values.
As indicated above, the method may be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a tangible computer readable storage medium, such as a disc or a memory device, e.g. an EEPROM, (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from a server). Further different parts of the program code can be executed by different devices, for example in a client server relationship. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that program code provides a series of instructions executable by the processor.
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 particular, it will be apparent that certain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to form further embodiments.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.
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.
