U.S. Pat. No. 8,317,595

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 during a feature game a further trigger condition may occur. A number of possible continuations can be accessed from the feature game, one of which is determined upon the further trigger condition occurring. Depending upon the embodiment, the continuation may be selected by the player or the game controller. Exemplary continuations include providing additional game events such as free games or ending the feature game and restarting it.

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.

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 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.

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(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.

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

The player operates the game play mechanism56to place a wager and to specify the win entitlement 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 win entitlement will vary from game to game 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 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.

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 various of the modules could be implemented in some other way, for example by a dedicated circuit.

These modules include a base game module622having an outcome generator623which operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism56to initiate a play of the game and generate a game outcome based on base game data which will then be evaluated by outcome evaluator624. On example, of game which can be employed in the embodiment is a spinning reel type game and in such an example generating a game outcome involves selecting symbols of the reels for display on display54at a set of display positions.

One example of selecting symbols is to select symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets specifying a sequence of symbols for each reel such that symbols are selected by selecting a stopping position in the sequence. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display54. It is known to bias the stopping positions to thereby control the odds of the game. Other techniques can be used to control the odds of particular outcomes occurring to thereby control the return to player of the game.

The outcome evaluator624evaluates the displayed symbols based on the player's wager and outcome data641A (for example, a prize table) to determine whether to make any awards to the player. The outcome evaluator624includes a feature trigger monitor for determining whether a trigger condition is met based on feature trigger data641B. In this embodiment, the trigger condition can be determined from the outcome generated by the outcome generator623. An example of a trigger is that a designated number (e.g. 3) of a designated symbol appear at scattered display positions. In other embodiments, the trigger monitor may not be a sub-component of the outcome evaluator because of the nature of the trigger.

When a trigger condition is met, the feature game is triggered and is conducted by the feature game module625. In the embodiment, the feature game module includes a feature game outcome generator626and a feature outcome evaluator627to indicate that the feature game may involve generation of different outcomes to the base game and/or be subject to a different evaluation, however persons skilled in the art will appreciate that some feature games, for example, those involving free games, and hence the feature game module625need not have its own outcome generator and evaluator but rather can employ those of the base game module622. Similarly, the feature evaluator627is shown including a further trigger evaluator627A to indicate that the further trigger may be different to the feature trigger, however in an advantageous embodiment, the further and feature triggers are the same such that the further trigger is what is usually referred to as a re-trigger. Feature game module625employs feature game data642including outcome data642A and further trigger data642B in an analogous manner to that described above.

When a further trigger is evaluated as having occurred by the further trigger monitor627A, the continuation module628is activated to determine which of a plurality of continuations stored as continuation data642C to apply. That is, there will be at least two continuations which can be applied. Put another way, the continuations are different game play options which can be applied.

The continuations which are available will depend on the embodiment. For example in a feature game where the player receives free games and benefits such as special symbols accumulate to the player during play such that if the player accumulates special symbols early in the free game sequence the outcome is generally better, exemplary continuations may include allocating additional free games (e.g. 5 games) or ending the feature and re-starting the free game sequence (which may be 15 games long). Thus, if the player has accumulated a beneficial number of special symbols when the further trigger occurs the additional free game continuation will be more beneficial whereas if the player has not accumulated any special symbols it will be more advantageous to end the feature and re-start. It will be appreciated that there may be more than two continuations to provide for more alternatives. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the intention of the continuations is to provide some form of more beneficial outcome to the player, for example, by enhancing or extending game play or providing alternative game play. The continuation need not extend play significantly, for example one game play option may be for a player to apply a multiplier to all wins in a series of game rounds, if the re-trigger occurs in the last game of the series, the extent of the continued play may be for the multiplier to be selected and applied to all previously accrued wins.

The illustrated embodiment shows two examples of how the continuations may be determined. In one example, the continuation module628determines which continuation to apply by evaluating the current state of the game with game state evaluator628A to determine which of the continuations to apply based on an evaluation of whether from the current game state, the player is likely to do better with one continuation than another. For example, if the player is well below the median expected return to this point in the feature game, a continuation involving a re-start is selected as this selection is the most optimal.

In another example, the alternative continuations are presented to the player to make a selection using selection buttons56A,56B of game play mechanism56and the continuation which is selected is determined by the continuation module628as the continuation to apply. In a variant of this example, the game state evaluator628A may generate data output by the game controller60on display54, the data indicative of which selection would be more favourably to assist the player in making a selection.

Once, the continuation is selected it is applied by the feature game module625.

The exemplary trigger condition described above is of the type where a number of symbols at scattered positions triggers the feature game. Similar triggers include where the symbols must be on a win line played by the player. Such triggers may include variants which affect the manner in which the feature is carried out, for example where a number of free games is awarded, the number of free games awarded may depend on how many symbols triggered the free game sequence. In an analogous manner, there may be variants on at least one of the continuations which are related to the nature of the trigger. For example, different numbers of free games in one of the continuations.

Rather than trigger conditions being of the type based on game outcomes described above, other triggers known in the art could be employed, for example triggers based on turnover or external triggers from a connected bonus controller.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a feature game involves some additional element of game play which only occurs when a trigger condition is met. Types of feature games include: those where a series of free game events are awarded such as free games or re-spins (where some reels are held while others are re-spun); games where the symbols on the reel are changed; and “second screen” games where game play is totally different to the base game, for example where the player makes selections in a “pick a box type” game. The continuations can be designed to fit with the nature of the feature game, for example, in a pick a box type game the player may be given the choice of an extra selection or undoing a previous selection.

It is possible for the feature trigger to be based on a counter visible to the player which increments based on game outcomes or turnover. Accordingly, one continuation may be to increase the counter so that the feature will re-trigger sooner. Other continuations include: adding special symbols to the game such as wild symbols, multipliers, bonus symbols or the like; and applying a modifier to the outcome of the feature game such as a multiplier or fixed amount of credits.

FIG. 7shows a summary of the method700of the embodiment, which involves: initiating play by conducting a base game710in response to receipt of a wager705and determining720whether a feature trigger occurs. If no trigger occurs, the game controller waits to receive705a further wager. When a feature trigger occurs, the feature is conducted730. It is determined740at appropriate points in the feature game, whether a further trigger conditions is met. If a further trigger does not occur, conduct730of the feature game continues. When a further trigger condition is met, it is determined750which continuation to apply and play is continued760with the applied continuation.

Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the gaming system. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a tangible 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 downloading it from a server).

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.

For example, there may be eligibility requirements such as are known in the art to be eligible for one or both of the triggers, for example, the player may have to make an ante bet or a maximum bet or play a certain number of play lines or reels.

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.