U.S. Pat. No. 8,758,113

Further aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Also, various embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will be apparent from the appended claims, the following description and/or the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a game, during at least part of which there is a displaying to a player of a potential award and an indicator. The indicator's state and the potential award are changed in response to play of the game. The potential award which is displayed when the indicator state is an award state is awarded to the player.

The gaming system may take a number of different forms. In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components 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 implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components 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 includes 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 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 mechanism56including 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, 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 controller101include 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 based on 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 uses 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 rules and/or guidelines 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 games servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games based on the terminals.

Embodiments of the invention relate to gaming systems for implementing games that involve a display of spinning reels as part of the display of the outcome of the game.

The game controllers of such gaming systems have symbol selection function which includes a stop determining function that determines the stop position for each reel. For example, if there are five reels, each having twenty symbols, the stop determining function might determine that the stop positions are positions: 3, 13, 7, 9 and 17. The spinning of the reels is then controlled so that each symbol comes to a stop in the same row, typically a predetermined row in a “window” corresponding to a “single win line” game. When a reels stops, the symbols will be in one of a plurality of possible symbol positions for that reel relative to the stop position.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to gaming systems that allow a player to select, in non-feature games, how many win lines of a plurality of win lines they will play in each game—i.e. a minimum of one win line up to the maximum number of win lines allowed by the game. Each win line is formed by a set of symbol positions consisting of one symbol position from each reel. That is, a predetermined symbol position of each reel is assigned to a win line. The symbol positions that constitute each of the win lines are usually advertised to the player by markings on the display or diagrams showing the symbol positions that correspond to each win line. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there are other techniques used in the art to enable a player to place a wager.

The game controller of one embodiment is shown in more detail inFIG. 6. The game controller60incorporates a processor62which implements a main game round symbol selector610, main game round outcome determiner630, random number generator650, indicator controller620, award controller622and potential award sequence generator621. Connected to the processor62is a memory64incorporating game instructions644, symbol lists641, symbol set data642, award symbol data64, prize data645and meter data646. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of these components could be provided in other ways, for example by a dedicated circuit.

In an example of a game to which the invention is applied, in a main game round main game round symbol selector610selects symbols for display in the set of display positions, from symbol lists641, and updates symbol set data642with the selected set of symbols and displays the set of symbols in their assigned display positions on the display54. Main game round outcome determiner630determines a game round outcome based on the win lines defining one symbol on each reel, using prize data645and then updates meter data646. In the embodiment, an indicator feature is activated in response to a trigger event but in other embodiments, the indicator may always be active. When active indicator controller620controls the state of the indicator to be displayed on display54(which may be more than one display, for example the indicator may be displayed on a top box). Potential award generator621randomly generates a sequence of potential awards to be displayed on display54by selecting potential awards from a set of potential awards stored in memory64using random number generator650such that a plurality of awards are displayed at any time, one of which is a current award. The other potential awards that are displayed may be past or future awards or a combination of past and future awards. In this embodiment, the potential award sequence is selected dynamically just prior to the award being displayed so that the awards do not become predictable to the player.

The potential awards and indicator state are influenced by outcomes in the main game rounds by communication with main game symbol selector610, that is they change in response to game play. In this embodiment, the potential award sequence is advance by one for each play of the game. In this embodiment, the indicator is advanced randomly. Award controller622controls the granting of the potential award which is displayed when indicator controller620sets the indicator state to an award indicator state.

Now referring toFIG. 7, a flow diagram for an embodiment of the invention is shown. This is an example where an embodiment of the invention is applied to a main game, typically involving the selection of symbols on representations of spinning reels.

In step1201, in a main game round the main game symbols are selected and in step1202a main game round outcome is determined based on the selected main game symbols. In step1203it is determined (depending on the embodiment), on the basis of a feature of the main game round, a random event, player selection or other reason, whether an “indicator game round” should occur”. If not, in step1204any previous display from an indicator game round is erased and the next main game round is conducted normally, control returning to step1201. If so, additional features are introduced in parallel with the main game. In particular, in step1205a changing potential award is displayed, which may be in the form of a moving strip. The set of potential awards is dynamically created by randomly selecting the awards. The awards can be adjusted to meet market or regulatory requirements. Hence if a market has a limit to the value of top prizes and a player is placing large bets, then rather than increasing the value of prizes, the number of large prizes can increment. What is displayed to the player is at least the current potential award, and may include several other future or past potential awards in a strip. In step1205, the indicator state is set. This may be, for example, an increment of the indicator, which may be a minute hand, to a new slightly later time, or a jump of the indicator to a completely new time. In some cases, the indicator may not change. For example, the indicator may be associated with one or more game evens which must occur for the indicator to change, such as the appearance of a symbol in the main game. In step1207, it is determined whether the indicator state is the award indicator state. This may for example be the minute hand pointing to or passing a specific time such as the “hour” in the ‘12’ clock position. If not, control returns to the next main game round, step1201. If so, the current potential award is made to the player. This may be displayed by an image of a cuckoo appearing and pointing with its beak to the current potential award on the display54. The current potential award may be cash, jackpot or non-cash prizes, free games, feature games or other awards known in the art.

In embodiments, where an increment is applied, the increment can be determined in a number of ways, for example it can be fixed, randomly calculated when a designated symbol appears, each occurrence of a designated symbol may have an associated increment (e.g. one symbol might move the minute hand by 10 minutes when it appears whereas another moves the minute hand by 25 minutes).

In the case, where symbols jump to specific times, specific times may be associated with specific designated symbols on the reels.

Other indicators may be employed such as a gauge or other graphic representation of progress.

EXAMPLE 1

Now referring toFIGS. 8A,8B and8C, an example of one embodiment of the method of the invention is shown.

FIG. 8Ashows a display according to an embodiment of the invention where an indicator game round has been activate during a main game round. At the lower half of the display, five spinning reels820ato820eare shown, which when stopped will show visible symbols on rows810ato810cas shown as is known in the art. Typically, one or more of the rows810ato810cis used as a “win line” to determine a main game outcome on the basis of the symbols on that row. On the upper part of the display is shown aspects of an embodiment of the invention. An indicator includes clock face830, minute hand835and cuckoo window840. Initially the indicator state is at midnight and starts moving as the reels spin. Potential awards are displayed on a strip850, and in this figure the current potential award, which will be the one immediately below the cuckoo window when the reels stop, is in transition.

FIG. 8Ashows the display one the reels have stopped. The minute hand has stopped at in between 4 and 5 on the clock and the strip of potential awards has also stopped. The potential award850blocated in the current potential award position below the cuckoo window is a points or cash prize of 10 units, and potential awards850aand850cwhich appear to have just missed being selected are “25” points and “10 Free Games” as shown. On the main game section a special main game symbol822in the form of a key has appeared. In the absence of the symbol, the indicator would remain in the non-award position shown between 4 and 5, and the next main game round with its indicator embellishment would begin.

However the presence of the special symbol changes the situation, as shown inFIG. 8C, where the key822is shown turning and forcing the minute hand822to the award indicator position at the midnight or “12” position. Cuckoo841then emerges from cuckoo window840to signify the award of the current potential award850b, and 10 points are added to the player's meter. In other embodiments the special symbol may simply increment the indicator by an amount, which may or may not place the indicator state in the award indicator state. In still other embodiments the appearance of more than one special main game symbol can have different effects, such as two different increments of the indicator state.

In reality the probability of the potential awards such as850aand850cor other awards on the strip being awarded is not necessarily equal to the potential award which is actually selected, as the outcome may be predetermined before the spin starts, and adjusted according to game, market or regulatory requirements.

Return to non-indicator game rounds may be caused by the elapse of a fixed number of indicator game rounds, a random event or other trigger.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the invention resides in the exciting nature of the changing indicator state and potential award, and any other visual representation of such changing states, and any underlying probabilities on which the actual awards depends, are within the scope of the invention. Also, the main game can be absent or replaced by a card game or keno game. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the amount of the award which is available can be controlled based on factors such as the amount bet or the number of lines played.

Persons skilled in the art will 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).

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that many variations may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, features described herein can be sued to form further embodiments.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of certain embodiments of the invention, except where the context indicates 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.

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.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments and/or aspects without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments and aspects are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

The present invention contemplates methods, systems and program products on any electronic device and/or machine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations. Certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwired system, for example.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.