U.S. Pat. No. 8,602,886

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a where when a trigger event occurs, a plurality of game rounds are awarded and at least two of the awarded game rounds are carried out in separate display areas.

General Construction of Gaming System

The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thick client” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system comprises several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player 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 mechanism56comprising one or more input devices that enable 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, and in some embodiments may be 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 controller101comprise 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.

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. 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 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 outcome generator622which operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism56to initiate a play of the game and generates a game outcome which will then be evaluated by prize evaluator623. 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 display54A at a set of display positions. This display of the outcome and its evaluation constitutes a base game outcome.

One example of selecting symbols is for the symbol selector622A to select symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels. The symbol sets641can specify a sequence of symbols for each reel such that the symbol selector622A can select a symbol 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 game controller60of this embodiment is arranged to implement a feature game involving an award of a plurality of game rounds if a trigger condition is met during the base game. To this end, the outcome generator622incorporates a trigger monitor622C which monitors the symbols selected by symbol selector622A to determine whether they correspond to a trigger condition642A. If they do not, the play of the game is over, if they do, the feature game is triggered, a plurality of game rounds are awarded and the plurality of game rounds are conducted under control of the feature controller622B. In the embodiment ofFIG. 6, feature game controller instructs symbol selector622A to select a set of symbols for each of the plurality of game rounds specified by game rules642. For example, for ten game rounds. In this embodiment, the symbols are selected in the same manner as in the base game and are evaluated in the same manner by the outcome evaluator623and the trigger monitor622C so that they may re-trigger the feature. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other triggers known in the art may be employed, for example random triggers or turnover based triggers.

All of the outcomes and their evaluations are advised to the display controller624. Concurrent display module624A controls display of the outcomes on two displays54A,54B so that the plurality of game outcomes are divided between the two display, such that at least two game round outcomes are displayed concurrently, advantageously at the normal size of display of a game round outcome. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in some games the display of an outcome may vary in length, for example, a win on a large number of pay lines will take longer to display than no win. Accordingly, when it is said that game round outcomes are displayed concurrently, it will be understood that it is not intended to imply that the game rounds are coterminous. In some embodiments, the concurrent display module624A may be arranged to determine an optimized division of the game rounds such that the total display time for game rounds on each display is as close to coterminous as possible. In one embodiment, the concurrent display module624A may be arranged to adjust the speed of display of each game outcome so they display at the same rate irrespective of the outcome or at the same total rate across two displays. It will also be appreciated that in some embodiments, for example where there are an odd number of game rounds awarded, the game rounds may be divided unevenly between the two displays. It will be appreciated that concurrent display module may employ other rules to divide the display of game round outcomes between displays, for example, to ensure winning outcomes are split evenly between the two displays.

Gaming systems conventionally employ two displays, but if more displays are provided, more than two games could be displayed concurrently. In other embodiments, the game round can be displayed in separate display areas of the one display.

FIG. 7shows an alternative embodiment of a gaming system, where the components operate essentially as described in relation toFIG. 6, the same number is used. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7a plurality of game rounds are awarded by awarding at least one game round of two feature games.

As shown inFIG. 7, the outcome generator722has a symbol selector722A and a trigger monitor722B which perform functions the same as described above based on symbol data641and trigger data742B to implement the base game specified by base game rule data742A, which is evaluated by base game evaluator723A. When a trigger event occurs, two feature games are initiated under control of first feature controller722C and second feature controller722D. First feature data742C and second feature data724D specifies how the feature games are carried out. The feature games may be any known feature games, for example, one feature game may correspond to free game rounds of the base game while the other has totally different rules such as a so-called second screen game or be a modification of the base game, for example with a different pay table or added wild symbols etc. The feature games may have different numbers of game rounds. In another example, both features have different rules to the base game and are different to one another. The outcome evaluator723includes separate first feature evaluator723B and second feature evaluator723C modules. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, the outcome evaluator723includes a combined feature evaluator723D arranged to determine whether to make an additional award based on the combined outcome of the two feature games. For example, the feature evaluator may multiply the total prize or award an additional prize if it determines that the total prizes awarded by the two feature games satisfy one or more rules such as being within a designated range.

The method800of an embodiment is summarized inFIG. 8and involves playing a base game810until it is determined820that a trigger event has occurred. When the trigger occurs, a plurality of game rounds are awarded830. At least two game rounds are conducted840in separate display areas.

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 downloading it from a server).

An advantage of some embodiments of the invention is that multiple game rounds can be carried out concurrently allowing more game rounds to be displayed in a defined period of time. This can either shorten the time required to display the awarded games or allow more games to be awarded. An advantage of some embodiments of the invention is that multiple feature games can be played concurrently. An advantage of some embodiments of the invention is that a combined outcome can be determined from multiple feature games.

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 combined to form further embodiments.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in 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.