U.S. Pat. No. 11,455,867

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having a game controller having components that enable the implementation of a game where a designated symbol such as a wild symbol can be retained for a further game round such as a game of a series of free games. In an embodiment, the wild symbol is modified to incorporate a multiplier if another wild symbol is selected for the same position.

The components of the game controller also enable the implementation of a re-spin feature where when it is initiated a first subset of the reels (e.g. a first reel) is spun while s second subset of the reels (e.g. the remaining four reels) are spun and re-spun provided an additional designated symbol is added to the selected symbol by virtue of the reels. In the re-spin, each selected designated symbol is held. When no additional designated symbol is selected, the first reel stops spinning and the symbols are evaluated for winning outcomes.

General Construction of Gaming System

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, 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 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.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system has several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface50and a game controller60as illustrated inFIG. 1. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter instructions to play the game and observe the game outcomes.

Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism52to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays54, a game play mechanism56including one or more input devices that enable a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place a wager), and one or more speakers58.

The game controller60is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor62that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play rules are stored as program code in a memory64but 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. 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 know to provide a specific purpose processor using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine10is illustrated inFIG. 2. The gaming machine10includes a console12having a display14on which are displayed representations of a game16that can be played by a player. A mid-trim20of the gaming machine10houses a bank of buttons22for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim20also houses a credit input mechanism24which in this example includes a coin input chute24A and a bill collector24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. Other gaming machines may configure for ticket in such that they have a ticket reader for reading tickets having a value and crediting the player based on the face value of the ticker. A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device. In some embodiments, the player marketing module may provide an additional credit mechanism, either by transferring credits to the gaming machine from credits stored on the player tracking device or by transferring credits from a player account in data communication with the player marketing module that is accessed in response to insertion of the player tracking device.

A top box26may carry artwork28, 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 panel29of the console12. A coin tray30is mounted beneath the front panel29for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine10.

The display14shown inFIG. 2is in the form of a liquid crystal display. The display14may any other suitable video display unit, such as an OLED display. The top box26may also include a display, which may be of the same type as the display14, or of a different type.

FIG. 3shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 2.

The gaming machine100includes a game controller101having a processor102mounted on a circuit board. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor102are stored in a memory103, which is in data communication with the processor102. Typically, the gaming machine100will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters104for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface105for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine100. The input/output interface105and/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 module113generates random numbers for use by the processor102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown inFIG. 3, a player interface120includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller101including one or more displays106, a touch screen and/or buttons107(which provide a game play mechanism), a card and/or ticket reader108, a printer109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism110and a coin output mechanism111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation. For example, while buttons or touch screens are typically used in gaming machines to allow a player to place a wager and initiate a play of a game any input device that enables the player to input game play instructions may be used. For example, in some gaming machines a mechanical handle is used to initiate a play of the game. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that a touch screen can be used to emulate other input devices, for example, a touch screen can display virtual buttons which a player can “press” by touching the screen where they are displayed.

In addition, the gaming machine100may include a communications interface, for example a network card112. The 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.

FIG. 4shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory103. The memory103includes RAM103A, EPROM103B and a mass storage device103C. The RAM103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor102and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor102using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine100to be distributed, for example input/output devices106,107,108,109,110,111to be provided remotely from the game controller101.

FIG. 5shows a gaming system200in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system200includes a network201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines202, shown arranged in three banks203of two gaming machines202inFIG. 5, are connected to the network201. The gaming machines202provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines10,100shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks203of two gaming machines are illustrated inFIG. 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged.

One or more displays204may also be connected to the network201. For example, the displays204may be associated with one or more banks203of gaming machines. The displays204may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server205implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine202and the gaming machine202implements 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 server206may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices202in a database206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server207will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server212may also be provided.

In a thin client embodiment, game server205implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine202and the gaming machine202essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server205provides 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 network200, including for example a gaming floor management server208, and a licensing server209to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal210is provided to allow an administrator to run the network201and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming system200may 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 firewall211.

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 server205could 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 the game play mechanism56to specify a wager which will be evaluated for this play of the game and initiates a play of the game. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a player's wager can be varied from game to game dependent on player selections. In most spinning reel games, it is typical for the player's wager to be made up of a selection as to how the game outcome will be evaluated by specifying what parts of the game outcome will qualify for winning outcomes and a multiplier that will apply to each winning outcome. For example, a player's wager may be based on how many lines they play in each game—e.g. 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) and an amount per line—e.g. one, two or five credits. Winning outcomes on an activated win line may be evaluated based on a pay table that specifies the amount awarded for a one credit per line wager multiplied by the amount wagered per line.

Such win lines are typically formed by a combination of symbol display positions, one from each reel, the symbol display positions being located relative to one another such that they form a line.

In many games, the gaming machine may award winning outcomes which are not strictly limited to the lines they have selected, for example, “scatter” pays are awarded independently of a player's selection of pay lines.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the player may select a number of reels to play. Games of this type are marketed under the trade name “Reel Power” by Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd and are also known as “ways” to win games. The selection of the reel means that each displayed symbol of the reel can be substituted for a symbol at one or more designated display positions. In other words, all symbols displayed at symbol display positions corresponding to a selected reel can be used to form symbol combinations with symbols displayed at a designated, symbol display positions of the other reels. For example, if there are five reels and three symbol display positions for each reel such that the symbol display positions comprise three rows of five symbol display positions, the symbols displayed in the centre row are used for non-selected reels. As a result, the total number of ways to win is determined by multiplying the number of active display positions of each reel, the active display positions being all display positions of each selected reel and the designated display position of the non-selected reels. As a result for five reels and fifteen display positions there are 243 ways to win.

In the embodiment described below, the display positions of the symbol display are arranged in a rectangular matrix comprising a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows. However, other arrangements are known in the gaming industry and could be employed in embodiments of the invention. For example, in some arrangements there are more symbols in some columns than others, such as 3-4-3-4-3 arrangement of seventeen display positions corresponding to respective ones of five reels. In such arrangements, the columns of four symbols can be arranged so that they are off-set or staggered relative to the columns having three symbols so that the middle two symbols in the columns of four symbols share boundaries with two symbols of each neighbouring reel.

InFIG. 6, the processor62of game controller60is shown implementing a number of modules based on program code and data stored in memory64. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the modules could be implemented in some other way, for example by a dedicated circuit.

These modules include the outcome generator622which operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism56to place a wager and initiate a play of the game and generates a game outcome which will then be evaluated by award evaluator623. In the embodiment, the first part of forming the game outcome is for a symbol selector622A to select symbols from a set of symbols specified by symbol data641using random number generator621. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller624which causes them to be displayed on display54at a set of display positions.

One example of selecting symbols is for the symbol selector622A to select symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets defining reel strips641corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels. The reel strips641specify a sequence of symbols for each reel. In an embodiment, the symbol selector622A selects the symbols for display by selecting a stopping position in the sequence. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels are displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display54. It is known to use a probability table stored in memory64to vary the odds of a particular stop position being selected. Other techniques can be used to control the odds of particular outcomes occurring to thereby control the return to player of the game.

Once the symbols are selected, they are evaluated by outcome evaluator623which determines whether the selected symbols include any winning outcomes based on pay table643. If the selected symbols include one or more winning outcomes, a win meter of meters644is updated with the value and credit is determined based on the pay table and the player's wager. That is, in accordance with the player's win entitlement. The outcome evaluator63also includes a trigger monitor623A which determines whether the selected symbols meet one of the trigger conditions646stored in memory64.

In the embodiment, there are separate trigger conditions which result respectively in the award of a free game series feature and a re-spin feature.

When the trigger monitor623A determines that the trigger condition646for the free games feature is met, the free games controller625initiates a series of free games. In this respect, a free game involves a spin of the reels for which a player does not place an additional wager. As such, a free game can also be understood of as a game round of an overall game upon which a player has placed a wager. That is, the single game can be made up of a number of separate game rounds. Depending on the implementation, the reel strips used in the free games may be the same or different to those used in the base game.

When the free games are started, the free games controller625sets a counter645in memory. As the games are conducted, the counter is adjusted by counter adjuster625A of free game controller625. When all of the free games have been conducted (and hence the counter has reached zero) the series of free games ends. During the free games, the symbol selector622A selects symbols for display on the display positions from each of the respective reels. When the selected symbols include a designated symbol, which in an embodiment is a WILD symbol which can substitute for all other symbols, the designated symbol is held for future games by symbol holder622B which updates memory64to define the positions that are occupied by held symbols642.

In this respect, the embodiment departs from the conventional use of the held symbols. In a conventional game involving held symbols, new symbols are not selected for the display position at which the held symbol is displayed. In the embodiment, after a symbol has been held, in a subsequent free game a new symbol is selected for display at the symbol display position and if a further WILD symbol is selected for a symbol display position already occupied by a held WILD symbol, the held WILD symbol is modified, or “upgraded” by incorporating a multiplier. For example, if a second WILD symbol lands at a position occupied by a first WILD symbol, the WILD symbol attracts a times two (“×2”) multiplier. When a third symbol lands at the same position, the WILD symbol attracts a times three (“×3”) multiplier. In an embodiment, as described in further detail below, if a WILD symbol lands on a symbol which is already a ×3 multiplier, the multiplier is not adjusted. That is, in this embodiment, there is a cap on the value which a multiplier can reach. In other embodiments, there may not be a cap on the multiplier. In other embodiments, the multipliers can be modified in a different way provided at least some further occurrences of a designated symbol result in an increased multiplier. For example, when a second designated symbol lands on a position occupied by a designated symbol, the multiplier can be set to ×3 and when a further multiplier lands, the multiplier can be set to ×4. In another example, the multiplier may change from ×2 to ×4.

In each of the embodiments, the changes are implemented by a symbol modifier622C which updates the data associated with the relevant held symbols642to indicate the multiplier that currently applies.

During each round of the free game series, the selected symbols are evaluated by outcome evaluator623using pay table643. For each winning outcome, the award is multiplied by the multipliers associated with any WILD symbols that substitute as part of the winning outcome.

FIG. 7shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a method700for conducting a free game series. As indicated, at step705it is determined whether a scatter symbol (“SCAT”) lands on each of reels 1, 2, and 3. That is, the occurrence of scatter symbols on each of reels 1-3 is the trigger condition. The trigger monitor623A causes the free game series to start. The method then involves awarding a spin and indicating710to the player that free games have been triggered. The method then involves changing the reels and pay tables715to apply during the free game series and starting the free games. At step720, the method involves spinning the reels. That is, selecting stopping positions using the random number generator621to determine the symbols that will appear at the symbol display positions corresponding to respective ones of the reels. In this example, there are 5 reels. The method then involves a number of steps which can result in a symbol being held, or a held symbol being modified. At step721, it is determined whether a WILD symbol has landed on an empty location. For each location at which a WILD symbol has landed and which it is empty, the location of that WILD is saved as part of held symbol642and that symbol becomes a “sticky” WILD which will be retained at that symbol position in subsequent games of free games series.

The method also involves determining723whether a WILD has landed on another WILD symbol. If it has, the WILD at that location is upgraded to be a “WILD ×2”. That is, a ×2 multiplier is added to the WILD symbol. Similarly, if a WILD lands725on a WILD ×2, the WILD ×2 symbol at that location is upgraded to a WILD ×3 symbol726. Finally, in this embodiment, there is a cap on the size to which a WILD symbol can grow and hence if a WILD lands727on a WILD ×3 symbol, nothing is done728.

The method then involves calculating730which win lines played by the player have winning outcomes on them taking into account the usual function of a WILD symbol as a substitute symbol. Wins containing WILD ×2 are multiplied by 2 for each WILD ×2 symbol730. Wins containing WILD ×3 are multiplied by 3 for each WILD ×3. Independently of the wins on active win lines played by the player, it is determined whether there are any scatter wins735.

At step740, it is determined whether a re-trigger has been awarded. In this example, the re-trigger is the same as the original trigger requiring a SCAT symbol to land on reels 1, 2, 3. If a re-trigger has not previously been awarded and there is a scatter win, 5 additional free games are awarded745. Thus, in this example, counter adjuster625A updates the free games counter adjuster625by adding a further 5 free games. In this example, the re-trigger can only occur once. At step750, it is determined whether this was the last free game (i.e. the counter has reached 0) and if so, the feature has ended. Otherwise, the method continues by spinning the reels again720to conduct the next free game.

If the trigger condition determined by the trigger monitor623from a game outcome is the re-spin feature, the re-spin feature controller626controls the conduct of the re-spin feature. Unlike the free games feature, the re-spin feature does not involve the conduct of a defined number of games but rather is conducted until an end condition is met. To this end, the re-spin feature controller contains an end condition monitor626A which determines whether an end condition has been met in relation to the re-spin feature. In this example, the end condition is that a re-spin of a subset of the reels does not result in the addition of an additional designated symbol to the displayed symbols as described in further detail below.

In this respect, when the re-spin feature is initiated, re-spin feature controller626causes the symbol selector622A to select symbols for all of the reels621and all of the reels are initially displayed as spinning towards the stop positions selected by the symbol selector622A in accordance with the technique described above. A first subset of the reels are displayed as continuing to spin while the second subset of reels are displayed as stopping at stop positions. In one example, the first subset is reel 1 and the second subset is reels 2, 3, 4 and 5. If the selected symbols of the second subset include a designated symbol, again a WILD symbol, symbol holder622B retains the symbol as a held symbol642for a further re-spin. In each re-spin, the symbol selector622A selects symbols for the symbol positions of each of the reels of the second subset of reels that are not already occupied by held symbols. The process continues until the symbol selected by the symbol selector622A includes no further designated symbols. At this point, the end condition monitor626determines that an end condition has occurred in respect of the re-spin feature and causes the reels of the first subset to stop at the selected position. The symbols which are then displayed are evaluated by outcome evaluator623based on pay table643to determine whether they include any winning outcomes on active win lines and any awards are made by updating the win meter of meters644.

FIG. 8shows a flow chart800of a method of an embodiment of such a re-spin feature. InFIG. 8, it is shown that the method involves determining whether a WILD symbol lands on reels 2, 3, 4 and 5. This is the trigger condition for the re-spin feature game. If a WILD symbol lands on those reels, the method involves awarding the re-spin feature and indicating to the player that a re-spin has triggered820. The method then involves holding the triggering WILDS at the positions at which they were displayed, loading the reels that are used for the re-spin games as well as updating the pay table643to be the one used for a re-spin game830.

The method then involves starting spinning840all of the reels. At step850, the method involves stopping reels 2, 3, 4 and 5. It is then determined whether a WILD has landed in a position where there was previously no WILD. If the answer is Yes, the method involves holding870the additional WILDS and repeating the step840of spinning the reels in respect of reels 2, 3, 4 and 5. If the answer is No, then the method involves stopping880reel 1. That is, the method involves repeating the steps of spinning the reels of the second subset (reels 2, 3, 4 and 5) until such time as no additional WILDS are held at which time the first reel is stopped. The method then involves evaluating the selected symbols based on the pay table643for the re-spin feature and making any awards by updating the meters644.

In some embodiments, an eligibility criteria may be applied for the player to be eligible for the free game series game or the re-spin feature, for example that the player has made a certain sized wager, made an ante bet, selected all win lines, played sufficient games, or the player is a member of a loyalty program.

The trigger event may be, a symbol combination in the game, occurrence of a specific symbol in the game, purchased, be caused by another connected system, based on turnover, based on a random evaluation, etc.

Typically, a winning outcome will result in some form of award being made such as an award of credits. Such an award may never actually be physically received by a player. For example, many gaming systems provide a player with a double or nothing gamble feature, where the player can double or forfeit their credits before commencing another play of the game or cashing out. Further, as credits are fungible, once credits have been added to the credit meter it is not possible to distinguish between credits which exist because the player has input cash or the like and credits resulting from an award.

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 memory103) 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.