Patent Grant
8469795
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
The present invention relates to a method of gaming and a gaming system.
Current gaming machines employ a fixed number of reels. 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:
conducting at least one first game round, each first game round comprising selecting symbols of a plurality of normal first reels for display and evaluating the selected symbols; and
conducting at least one second game round in response to a trigger event occurring, each second game round comprising fewer reels than in each first game round and being conducted by selecting symbols of at least one second reel for display and evaluating the selected symbols.
In an embodiment, the method comprises removing at least one reel from the set of first reels in response to the trigger event occurring such that each second reel corresponds to one of the first reels.
In an embodiment, the method comprises substituting the at least one second reel for the plurality of first reels in response to the trigger event occurring, each second reel different to the first reel.
In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting a plurality of second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the method comprises varying the number of second reels during the plurality of second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting each first game round with five reels.
In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting at least one second game round with three reels.
In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting at least one second game round with one reel.
In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting each first and second game round with a game controller.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:
conduct at least one first game round, each first game round comprising selecting symbols of a plurality of normal first reels for display and evaluating the selected symbols; and
conduct at least one second game round in response to a trigger event occurring, each second game round comprising fewer reels than in each first game round and being conducted by selecting symbols of at least one second reel for display and evaluating the selected symbols.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises a trigger evaluator arranged to determine that a trigger event has occurred.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises at least one symbol selector arranged to select symbols in the first and second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises a reel controller arranged to control the reels from which symbols are selected in at least each second game round.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises at least one award evaluator arranged to evaluate selected symbols in the first and second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the game controller is constituted at least in part by a processor executing program code stored in a memory.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to remove at least one reel from the set of first reels in response to the trigger event occurring such that each second reel corresponds to one of the first reels.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to substitute the at least one second reel for the plurality of first reels in response to the trigger event occurring, each second reel different to the first reel.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to conduct a plurality of second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to varying the number of second reels during the plurality of second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to conduct each first game round with five reels.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to conduct at least one second game round with three reels.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to conduct at least one second game round with one reel.
In a third aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:
a display; and
a game controller arranged to:
conduct at least one first game round, each first game round comprising selecting symbols of a plurality of normal first reels and evaluating the selected symbols; and
conduct at least one second game round in response to a trigger event occurring, each second game round comprising fewer reels than in each first game round and being conducted by selecting symbols of at least one second reel for display and evaluating the selected symbols.
In an embodiment, the display forms part of a player interface further comprising a game play mechanism operable by the player to play the game.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises a trigger evaluator arranged to determine that a trigger event has occurred.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises at least one symbol selector arranged to select symbols in the first and second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises a reel controller arranged to control the reels from which symbols are selected in at least each second game round.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises at least one award evaluator arranged to evaluate selected symbols in the first and second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the game controller comprises a processor executing program code stored in a memory.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to remove at least one reel from the set of first reels in response to the trigger event occurring such that each second reel corresponds to one of the first reels.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to substitute the at least one second reel for the plurality of first reels in response to the trigger event occurring, each second reel different to the first reel.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to conduct a plurality of second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to varying the number of second reels during the plurality of second game rounds.
In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to conduct each first game round with five reels.
In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to conduct at least one second game round with three reels.
In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to conduct at least one second game round with one reel.
In a fourth aspect the invention provides a gaming system comprising:
display means for displaying game outcomes to a player; and
means for conducting at least one first game round, each first game round comprising selecting symbols of a plurality of normal first reels for display;
means for evaluating the selected symbols of each first game round;
means for conducting at least one second game round in response to a trigger event occurring, each second game round comprising fewer reels than in each first game round and being conducted by selecting symbols of at least one second reel for display; and
means for evaluating the selected symbols of each second game round.
In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a gaming machine comprising:
a cabinet;
a display mounted within the cabinet for displaying play of a game to a player; and
at least one input device mounted to the cabinet at a position where the player can view the display while operating said at least one input device, said at least one input device operable to input an instruction to initiate a play of a game; and
a game controller comprising a processor and a memory storing game instructions, the game controller in data communication with said at least one input device and operating in response receipt of the instruction to initiate a play to initiation of a play to conduct at least one first game round by selecting symbols of a plurality of normal first reels for display on the display and evaluating the selected symbols, and to conduct at least one second game round in response to a trigger event occurring, each second game round comprising fewer reels than in each first game round and being conducted by selecting symbols of at least one second reel for display on the display and evaluating the selected symbols.
In a sixth aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed implements the above method.
In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a computer readable medium comprising the above program code.
In an eight aspect, the invention provides a data signal comprising the above program code.
In a ninth aspect, the invention provides transmitting and receiving the above program code.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention will flow be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a game where initially a plurality of reels are spun in each game round but, if a trigger event occurs, at least one game round is carried out with a smaller number of reels.
Herein, the term “first game round” is used to refer to a game round conducted with a normal number of reels. A “second game round” is one in which the number of reels are reduced and the term may apply game round with varying numbers of reels provided they are less than in a first game round.
A game round involves at least one of the reels being “spun”—e.g. new symbols of the reels are selected for display at the display positions and the reel is either physically or virtually spun to a stop. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be more than one game round in a play of a gaming machine such as is the case when a series of free spins is awarded. The outcome of a game round may be no win, a win (for example from a winning combination of symbols), a contribution towards a win accrued over a plurality of game rounds, a trigger condition occurring etc.
General Construction of Gaming System
The gaming system can take 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 comprises 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 comprising one or more input devices that enable a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place bets), and one or more speakers 58.
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. For example, the displays 204 may 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 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, 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. 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 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.
Further Detail of Gaming System
The player operates game play mechanism 56 to establish the win entitlement which will be evaluated for this game. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a player's win entitlement will vary from game to game and may or may not be dependent on player selections. In most spinning reel games, it is typical for the player's entitlement to be affected by the amount they wager and selections they make (i.e. the nature of the wager). For example, a player's win entitlement may be based on how many lines they will play in each game—i.e. a minimum of one line up to the maximum number of lines allowed by the game (noting that not all permutations of win lines may be available for selection. Such win lines are typically formed by a combination of displayed symbol positions, one from each reel, the symbol positions being located relative to one another such that they form a line.
In many games, the player's win entitlement is not strictly limited to the lines they have selected, for example, “scatter” pays are awarded independently of a players selection of pay lines and are an inherent part of the win entitlement.
Persons skilled in the art, will appreciate that in other embodiments, the player may obtain a win entitlement by selecting a number of reels to play. Such games are marketed under the trade name “Reel Power” by Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd. The selection of the reel means that each symbol of the reel can be substituted for a symbol at one or more designated display positions. In other words, all displayed symbol positions of a selected reel can be used to form symbol combinations with designated, displayed symbol positions of other reels.
In other embodiments a player win entitlement may be affected by purchasing access to particular pay tables—e.g. a first bet amount entitles the player to wins including cherries and a second amount entitles them to wins including plums. The win entitlement is not always purchased—e.g. a series of free games may be awarded.
In this embodiment, a series of modules are shown as implemented by processor 62 executing program code stored in memory 64. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, one or more modules could be implemented by a dedicated circuit.
The outcome generator 622 operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism 56 to conduct game rounds. Each game round involves selecting symbols of the reels employed for that game round which are evaluated by symbol evaluator 623. In a first game rounds, the symbol selector 622A selects symbols from sets of symbols corresponding to a plurality of reels specified by reel data 641. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller 624 which causes them to be displayed on display 54 at a set of display positions.
The reel data 641 specifies a sequence of symbols for each reel such that, in one exemplary embodiment, the symbol selector 622A can select the symbols to appear at the stopping positions by selecting a stopping position in the sequence employing random number generator 621. Such selection may be weighted as is known in the art. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display 54. Evaluator 623 evaluates the symbols for any awards 623A specified by award data 644 and, in this embodiment, to see whether any triggers 623B specified by trigger conditions 643 are met. In other embodiments, the trigger conditions may be independent of the symbols, for example, based on turnover or an external trigger from a connected bonusing system.
When a trigger condition is met, at least one second game round is conducted: for example a series of free second game rounds may be conducted. The reel controller 622B determines based on game rule data which reels are to be employed. In some embodiments, this will be a subset of the reels used in the first game rounds. In other embodiments a further set (or sets) of reels may be specified for use. The symbols comprising these reels are stored as reel data 641. The symbol selector 622A then selects symbols in the manner describe above and these are evaluated by evaluator 623. The awards that apply to this evaluation may be the same or different to those used in evaluation of the first game rounds. In one example, the pay table which applies to the first game rounds may also apply in the second game rounds but the player may only be required to obtain a starting portion of a combination to collect the prize. For example, if there is a prize for five a kind in the five reel first game round, the same prize might be awarded for three of a kind in a three reel second game round. Alternatively, different win lines or different win rules may apply in the second game rounds, for example a different pay table might apply.
The second game rounds continue until an end condition is met, for example a fixed number of free spins being exhausted. During the second game rounds, the number of reels may be reduced again, either in response to a further trigger event occurring or at a defined place in a free game sequence. For example, the number of reels could reduce first from five to three then from three to one.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there could, for example be only one second game round. Further more, even if a second game round is awarded, an additional bet may be required before it proceeds. Further, an additional bet may be required for eligibility to obtain second game rounds. Other eligibility criteria known in the art may apply, for example, the player may be required to play a certain number of lines or place a certain sized bet to be eligible.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments the number of reels can decrease and increase dynamically a number of times. For example, there may be specific triggers which subtract or add reels. In one exemplary embodiment certain symbol combinations may result in subtraction of reels and others may result in addition of the reels. In some embodiments the total number of reels may at some stage exceed the initial number of reels. In some embodiments, the initial alteration of the reels is always a subtraction of reels.
The method 700 of an embodiment is summarized in
Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of the embodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal which can be transmitted and received (for example, by downloading it from a server).
An advantage of embodiments of this invention is that it presents a game where a reduced number of reels in a second game round. A further advantage is that the player can have a dynamic reel display which changes based on the outcome of the game. A further advantage is that the number of reels can decrease from the normal number of reels more than once.
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 the above exemplary embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments.
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 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.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/050,418 having a filing date of May 5, 2008 and 61/079,657 having a filing date of Jul. 10, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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