Patent Application
20090117987
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
This invention relates generally to a reel spinning game, and more particularly, to a reel spinning game wherein multiple line and/or reels can be held for use in a subsequent game.
In a traditional reel-spinning slot machine, each spin of the reels is typically a separate and distinct game, which has no relationship with any prior or future game played on that machine. As such, there is a need for a game that will increase player excitement and maintain player interest between consecutive games. To address this issue, multiple lines and/or reels can be used in one or more subsequent games to provide the player with another opportunity to win or increase winnings.
Some slot machines allow a player to “nudge” one of the reels so that a displayed symbol is replaced by an adjacent symbol on the reel. The success or failure of the game is then recalculated based upon the new symbol combination appearing after the reel has been nudged. While this nudging feature does address the issue of being one symbol short of a winning combination, it provides only limited relief. Additionally, certain games permit a single line or reel to be held. However, there is a continuing need for alternative slot machine variants that provide at least a “second chance” (or more) for a player to achieve a win, after initially achieving a win or a near win in a prior game, thereby maintaining player excitement between individual games.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a player with options for playing an additional game that maintain some portion of the outcome symbol combination from the previous game. However, such flexibility in gaming must satisfy established payout regulations. Accordingly, those skilled in the art have long recognized the need for a gaming machine that addresses these issues.
Briefly, and in general terms, the present disclosure is directed towards a gaming system and method that permits skill play and incorporates an approach to adjust payout percentages. In one application, a reel spinning or related game including indicia-bearing members is provided which permits multiple lines and/or multiple reels to be held for use in a future game. Such a gaming system or method thus involves a skill component. Accordingly, the present disclosure also addresses potentially decreasing payout percentages that can potentially be associated with skill play.
One embodiment of a game of the present disclosure employs virtual weighted reel strips. Such virtual weighted reel strips can be utilized across all bets. In a contemplated approach, more than one line is used where each paying line combination has an equal number of hits on each line.
Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example, the features of the various embodiments.
The present disclosure is directed towards a gaming system and method which permits skill play in a reel based game through the holding of multiple lines and/or reels. The present disclosure also provides for a method and system to adjust payout percentages to meet gaming regulation criteria. The present disclosure is also applicable to other non-reel games involving similar challenges.
In applications incorporating the present disclosure, it was determined that when X number of credits are bet, it is required that percentage payback of any bet involving greater than X must be greater than or equal to the payback percentage relating to that of bet X. It was also determined that with optimal expected value play strategy, all awards for a game incorporating the present disclosure must be less than 17 million to 1. Thus, the present disclosure contemplates changing pays associated with indicia-bearing members (i.e. symbols) so that for each possible combination, a win value would be greater than or equal to all of the win values at possible lower wages. To arrive at a suitable payout table, all possible holds on all possible window combinations for a cycle are evaluated. Maximum values are summed for each possible window combination to arrive at an overall expected value for each line/credit wagered. Attached hereto as Appendix A are case notes establishing payback percentages within relevant gaming regulations for an approach incorporating the present disclosure.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts throughout the drawings and, more particularly to
Referring back to
As shown in
According to yet another embodiment, the main display 17 is a widescreen display (e.g., 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio display). In one embodiment, the display 17 is a flat panel display including by way of example only, and not by way of limitation, liquid crystal, plasma, electroluminescent, vacuum fluorescent, field emission, LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon), and SXRD (Silicon Xtal Reflective display), or any other type of panel display known or developed in the art. These flat panel displays may use panel technologies to provide digital quality images including by way of example only, and not by way of limitation, EDTV, HDTV, or DLP (Digital Light Processing). The widescreen display 17 may be mounted in the gaming cabinet 12 in a portrait or landscape orientation. In another embodiment, the game display 17 may also include a touch screen or touch glass system (not shown). The touch screen system allows a player to input choices without using any electromechanical buttons 13. Alternatively, the touch screen system may be a supplement to the electromechanical buttons 13.
According to one embodiment, the top box 14 is a separate and distinct component that is affixed to the main cabinet 12. In another embodiment, the top box 14 is an area that is partitioned from the main cabinet 12. Alternatively, the top box 14 and the main cabinet 12 may be contiguous areas with the outward appearance of two distinct components. According to one embodiment, the top box 14 includes a display glass. The display glass may include the name of the game, artwork, game instructions, pay table, or other information relating to the game.
According to another embodiment, the top box 14 includes a secondary display for displaying game information (e.g., name of the game, game marquee, animation, one or more pay tables, game information, one or more help menus, one or more secondary games, progressive jackpot information or tournament game information) or non-game related information (e.g., news, advertisements, messages or promotions). The secondary display 16 may be a flat panel display, dot matrix display, cathode ray tube display, display glass, backlit display glass, diorama, three-dimensional relief, pachinko-style secondary game, one or more wheels, one or more mechanical reels, or a combination thereof. The display 16 may have a wide screen aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9, 16:10 or the like) and the display may or may not include a touch screen or other touch device associated therewith. Optionally, the secondary display is movable (e.g., tilted a few degrees downward or upward) so that the display is more easily viewed by a casino patron. The movement of the display may be done manually or automatically (e.g., motor or linear actuator).
Additionally, as shown in
As shown in
In an alternate embodiment, a cellular phone or other input device (e.g., PDA), separate and apart, from the gaming machine 10 may also be used to input various player choices and information to enhance the player's interactive experience with the gaming machine. Furthermore, inputting information via these devices provides an added level of security as any key presses may be hidden from view. In yet another embodiment, a player may call or send a text message or a short message service (SMS) to the gaming machine.
As shown in
Additionally, the gaming device includes a player tracking system (not shown). The player tracking system allows a casino to monitor the gaming activities of various players. Additionally, the player tracking system is able to store data relating to a player's gaming habits. That is, a player can accrue player points that depend upon the amount and frequency of their wagers. Casinos can use these player points to compensate the loyal patronage of players. For example, casinos may award or “comp” a player free meals, room accommodations, tickets to shows, and invitations to casino events and promotional affairs.
Typically, the player tracking system is operatively connected to one or more input components on the gaming machine 10. These input components include, but are not limited to, a slot 27 for receiving a player tracking card, a keypad or equivalent, an electronic button receptor, a touch screen and the like. The player tracking system may also include a database of all qualified players (i.e., those players who have enrolled in a player rating or point accruing program). Generally, the database for the player tracking system is separate from the gaming devices.
In another embodiment, the gaming device 10 includes an internet connection or other known network connections to link one or more gaming devices together. According to one embodiment, the internet connection is used for web browsing, prize redemption, or access to other gaming or non-gaming information. Additionally, with the various gaming devices in communication with one another (or a system host), the gaming device 10 may participate in a gaming tournament. In one embodiment, the gaming tournament is a competitive gaming tournament having one (or a few) winners. Alternatively, the gaming tournament is a cooperative gaming tournament where all eligible gaming devices win a particular award.
One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that not all gaming devices have all these components and that the gaming devices may have other components in addition to, or in lieu of, those components mentioned here. Furthermore, while these components are viewed and described separately, various components may be integrated into a single unit in some embodiments.
Referring now to
Furthermore, one or more of the gaming devices 10 includes one or more data repositories for storing data. Examples of information stored by the gaming devices 10 include, but are not limited to, accounting data, maintenance history information, short and/or long-term play data, real-time play data, and sound data. The sound data may include, but is not limited to, audio files, sound clips, wav files, mp3 files and sound files saved in various other formats. Furthermore, each gaming machine 10 comprises an audio system (not shown) for outputting sound.
The gaming devices 10 are connected via a network to a network bridge 120, which is used for networking, routing and polling gaming devices, including slot machines. The network bridge 120 connects to a back end system 112. Optionally, the gaming devices 10 may connect to the network via a network rack 122, which provides for a few number of connections to the back end system 112. Both network bridge 120 and network rack 122 may be classified as middleware, and facilitate communications between the back end system 112 and the game management units 126. The network bridges 120 and network rack 122 may comprise data repositories for storing network performance data. Such performance data may be based on network traffic and other network related information. Optionally, the network bridge 120 and the network rack 122 may be interchangeable components. For example, in one embodiment, a casino gaming system may comprise only network bridges and no network racks. Alternatively, in another embodiment, a casino gaming system may comprise only network racks and no network bridges. Additionally, in an alternative embodiment, a casino gaming system may comprise any combination of one or more network bridges and one or more network racks.
The back end system 112 may be configured to comprise one or more servers. The type of server employed is generally determined by the platform and software requirements of the gaming system. In one embodiment, as illustrated in
Overall, the back end system 112 performs several fundamental functions. For example, the back end system 112 can collect data from the slot floor as communicated to it from other network components, and maintain the collected data in its database. The back end system 112 may use slot floor data to generate a report used in casino operation functions. Examples of such reports include, but are not limited to, accounting reports, security reports, and usage reports. The back end system 112 may also pass data to another server for other functions. Alternatively, the back end system 112 may pass data stored on its database to floor hardware for interaction with a game or game player. For example, data such as a game player's name or the amount of a ticket being redeemed at a game may be passed to the floor hardware. Additionally, the back end system 112 may comprise one or more data repositories for storing data. Examples of types of data stored in the system server data repositories include, but are not limited to, information relating to individual player play data, individual game accounting data, gaming machine accounting data, cashable ticket data, and sound data including optimum audio outputs for various casino settings.
Of course, one will appreciate that a gaming system 100 may also comprise other types of components, and the above illustrations are meant only as examples and not as limitations to the types of components or games used in a casino gaming system capable of presenting a responsible gaming message.
The main cabinet 14 of the gaming machine houses a game monitoring unit (not shown) that includes a CPU, circuitry, and software for receiving signals from the player-activated buttons 13 and/or a handle 15, operating the games, and transmitting signals to the respective game display 17 and speakers 19. The game monitoring unit is a device that is connected to the circuitry of the gaming machine that monitors the game, coin status, player winnings, and other functions of the gaming machine. The game monitoring unit also sends the monitored information to a backend server for processing.
In various embodiments, the game program may be stored in a memory (not shown) comprising a read only memory (ROM), volatile or non-volatile random access memory (RAM), a hard drive or flash memory device or any of several alternative types of single or multiple memory devices or structures.
In one particular approach, the present disclosure is incorporated into a Blazing Sevens Reel Control developed for a S9000C cabinet as a 3 reel 5 line game (See
As previously noted, a game incorporating the present disclosure must satisfy pre-established payout percentage regulations such that when X number of credits are bet, it is required that a percentage payback of any bet involving greater than X credits must be greater than or equal to the payback associated with bet X. It is also necessary that all awards for the game be less than 17 million to 1.
With reference to
Accordingly, each weight 220 indicates the odds of the corresponding symbol 206, 208, 210, 212, 214 appearing on a pay line 230 (See
As shown in
It is further contemplated that a help screen 252 be provided to aid the player. In this regard, as shown in
In one specific approach, S9000C Classic titles using S6000 EPROMs can all use one common game flash ASGS9000C000. Because the physical reels are used for game history, graphic symbols can be omitted from the Game History portion of the software. However, since the contemplated games have a hold feature, the video simulator can be relied upon to display the first and second spin as well as the held reels.
Referring specifically now to
In the example shown in
The game percentages are determined by either the symbol weights on each reel or the pays of each winning combination. Different paytables will determine the values displayed on the glass, the same bringing the gaming systems within relevant gaming regulations. As shown in
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a gaming system and method permitting skill play while incorporating payout percentage schedules which satisfy gaming regulations. In one approach, a multi-line, multi-reel hold and play scheme is contemplated. Thus, a game incorporating the present disclosure facilitates maintaining player excitement between individual games.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claimed invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the claimed invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/985,954, filed Nov. 6, 2007 and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/259,935, filed Oct. 28, 2008.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60985954 | Nov 2007 | US |
