U.S. Pat. No. 8,317,593

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a game where symbols are selected for each position in a grid of display positions, the grid having two pairs of opposing sides. Prizes are awarded if a line is completed between either of the pair of opposing sides.

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 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 and play the game.

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 mechanism56that enables a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place bets), 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 instructions 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.

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. 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.

The display14shown inFIG. 2is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display14may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box26may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display14, or of a different type. Artwork and/or information, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game may be provided on a front panel29of the console12. A coin tray30is mounted beneath the front panel29for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine10.

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 processor102. 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, 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.

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 central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.

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.

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

In the below embodiment, the gaming system is described as being arranged in a manner to implement the game as a secondary, feature game which runs in a top screen of a top box26while, another game, referred to as the base game runs simultaneously in the bottom screen14. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate the game could also be provided as a feature game triggered from a base game, for example, in response to a particular symbol combination or could be provided as a stand alone game. In the embodiment, where the feature game runs concurrently with the base game, the gaming system effectively provides a dual game round where for each play made by the player, an outcome is generated for each of the base and feature games.

It will also be appreciated that even when provided as a secondary game which runs simultaneously with a base game, separate displays need not necessarily be provided. This is illustrated in the functional block diagram ofFIG. 6which shows a first display area54A and a second display area54B as forming part of the one or more displays54of the player interface50and could be implemented on a single display or two displays. In the embodiment, the secondary game is conducted each time the base game is conducted. However, there need not necessarily be one correspondence between the number of base and secondary games which are conducted.

Referring now toFIG. 6, a player operates credit mechanism52to establish a credit on the game controller which is stored as meter data644. A player than operates game player mechanism56to place a bet. The bet which is placed will depend on the nature of the base game and how bets placed in the base game are related to the secondary game. In the embodiment, the player's bet in the base game is used to determine the player's prospects in the secondary games. In an alternative embodiment, the player may place specific bets in base and secondary games.

In the embodiment, the base game is a spinning reel type game where a player selects a number of lines to play which are known as “pay or” “win” lines and an amount to bet per line. These amounts are provided to the base game controller621which carries out a base game in accordance with base game rules645including determining whether to award the prizes. The base game controller controls the first display area54A to display the outcome by means of display controller625and updates meters644to reflect the deduction of credit for the bet and any wins by virtue of the outcome of the base game. The base game controller621also advises the secondary outcome generator of the amount bet per line. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the secondary outcome generator622could also obtain this data in another way, for example by retrieving it from a defined place in memory64.

Secondary outcome generator622implements the secondary game in accordance with secondary game rules642. In this embodiment, the secondary outcome generator622is arranged to determine whether to award a player the current value of the jackpot prize specified by jackpot data643.

In the embodiment, the secondary game rules642specify a grid made up of display positions. One pair of opposed sides of the grid are assigned to a major jackpot prize and the other pair of sides of the grid are assigned to a minor jackpot prize. The number of display positions in the grid can be set in accordance with the requirements of the game designer. In one example, there may be five display positions along one axis and seven display positions along another axis. The longer axis being the one linking the two sides associated with the major jackpot prize such that it is harder to win the major jackpot prize than the minor jackpot prize.

In the embodiment, a wild selector662B determines how many of the display positions in the grid display positions are to be filled with wild symbols which can substitute for any other symbol, based on the amount bet per line received from the base game controller621and the number of wild symbols specified for the amount bet per line in the secondary game rules642. The wild selector622B then selects positions for these wild symbols. Depending on the embodiment, grid positions may be filled in accordance with fill rules, for example such that the wild symbols are arranged in designated patterns, selected randomly using values obtained from the random number generator623or selected randomly with some constraints, for example, constraints which cause the symbols to be spread across the grid. Thus, it will be appreciated that the selection of positions for the wilds forms part of the symbol selection for the symbols which will be ultimately displayed in the grid. Once the wild symbols have been selected, the symbol selector622A selects which symbols of the symbol set specified by symbol data641will be displayed in the remaining grid positions. In the embodiment, the symbol selector622A selects which symbol will appear at each display position independently of each other display position. (It will be appreciated that the wild symbols form part of the symbol data641.) In another embodiment, there may be no wild symbols.

In one example, there may be two different symbols such that each display position of the grid will either have a wild symbol, or one of the two available types of symbols.

In the embodiment, either of the symbols is able to form a line across the grid—i.e. between two opposing sides. That is, one of the symbols in combination with wild symbols may traverse the entire grid.

Accordingly the line evaluator624determines based on game rules642whether a line has been formed. The nature of a line may vary from embodiment to embodiment. In some embodiments it will need to be a straight line along one on the horizontal or vertical axis. In another embodiment, a line may be formed by a set of contiguous symbols from one or more horizontal or vertical lines. If the line evaluator624determines that a line has been formed in accordance with game rules642it makes an award of the minor or major jackpot specified by jackpot data643depending on which sides the line joins. Thus, an award may be made of either of the jackpot prizes. In another embodiment, the award is an eligibility to the jackpot such that it is awarded if another condition is met by the base game, for example, if a specific symbol combination occurs concurrently in the base game.

It will be appreciated that the secondary outcome will be displayed under control of the display controller625in second display area54B. The display may be enhanced by highlighting any completed line or indeed by highlighting the nearest to completed line. In this embodiment, the secondary, feature game thus falls under the broad category of second screen feature games.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variations may be made to the above embodiment, for example additional symbols could be added to award different prizes or to trigger different features.

In an alternative embodiment, symbols of one type may act to form lines while symbols of another type act to block lines. In another embodiment, one symbol may be assigned to each jackpot such that only symbols of one type can complete a horizontal axis line and symbols of another type can complete vertical axis lines such that the lines act to block each other. In some embodiments it may be possible for both jackpots to be awarded simultaneously. In others, such is that described above where one symbol is allocated to each jackpot, only one jackpot can ever be awarded at once. In another embodiment, only lines completed between a specific pair of sides result in an award. In a variation of such an embodiment, a rotation or a random determination may be made to determine which pair of sides is active at any time.

In an alternative embodiment, the grid is formed by a hexagon having three pairs of opposing sides. Other grids could also be employed.

The method700is summarized inFIG. 7. A bet is received for a base game710and the base game is conducted based on the bet and any prizes are awarded720. Concurrently the method involves determining how many wilds should be added731to the grid based on the amount bet. Positions are selected for the wilds732and symbols are selected for the other positions733such that symbols are selected for all of the display positions. It is then determined734whether a line has been completed and hence whether a jackpot should be awarded. If a jackpot is not awarded the method proceeds to the next game otherwise a jackpot award is made and the jackpot is reset735.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiment could be used with other base games, for example, rather than a spinning reel type base game, the base game could be a poker game, another card game, a dice game, a ball draw game, a pin and ball game or the like.

EXAMPLE

Referring toFIG. 8, there is shown in exemplary display800of a grid formed by five rows831to835and seven columns821to827such that there are thirty five display positions in total in the display800. Completing a line along the vertical axis is assigned to a minor jackpot such that the upper and lower opposing sides802A,802B are displayed as being related to the minor jackpot and the left and right opposing sides801A,801B are displayed as relating to the major jackpot. In this example, a jackpot is awarded if a straight line is completed vertically or horizontally. That is if one row831to835or one column821to827is completed by the same symbol including substitution by a wild symbols.

It will be seen inFIG. 8that there are three types of symbols, a wild symbol811, a cross symbol812and a nought symbol813such that the game is styled after the game of noughts and crosses or “tic-tac-toe”. In the exemplary grid800ofFIG. 8, ten wild symbols have been placed in the grid at random locations in proportion to the amount bet per line in the base game. For example, either one wild per credit per line bet in the base game or two wilds per credit would work with the examples of a ten credit bet or a five credit bet respectively. The remaining display positions are filled randomly. It will be seen that the symbols take the form of tiles. The tiles can be displayed as either flipping or spinning each time a new game is conducted. It will be seen that in this example, row831has been completed by noughts and wild symbols and accordingly that a major jackpot will be awarded. All the symbols in row831would be lit up in order to indicate awarding of a prize. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that many other symbols could be used.

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 memory103) or as a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from a server to a gaming machine).

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, features of the above example and embodiments can be employed 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 the art, in Australia or any other 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.