U.S. Pat. No. 8,764,547

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system arranged to implement a game where symbols are selected and displayed at a plurality of display positions on a display. During game play, for example, during a feature game comprising a series of free games, a modification rule is repeatedly applied to one or more of the symbols immediately upon a determination that the displayed symbols do not include any winning symbol combination.

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 to play the game and observe the game outcomes.

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

The game controller60is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor62that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play rules are stored as program code in a memory64but can also be hardwired. Herein the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. That is a processor may be provided by any suitable logic circuitry for receiving inputs, processing them in accordance with instructions stored in memory and generating outputs (for example on the display). Such processors are sometimes also referred to as central processing units (CPUs). Most processors are general purpose units, however, it is also know to provide a specific purpose processor using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

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

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

The gaming machine has hardware meters104for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface105for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine100. The input/output interface105and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module113generates random numbers for use by the processor102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

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

In addition, the gaming machine100may include a communications interface, for example a network card112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a bonus controller, central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the bonus controller, central controller, server or database. In embodiments employing a player marketing module, communications over a network may be via player marketing module—i.e. the player marketing module may be in data communication with one or more of the above devices and communicate with it on behalf of the gaming machine.

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

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

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

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

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

In a thin client embodiment, game server205implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine202and the gaming machine202essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server205provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components. Other client/server configurations are possible, and further details of a client/server architecture can be found in WO 2006/052213 and PCT/SE2006/000559, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network200, including for example a gaming floor management server208, and a licensing server209to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal210is provided to allow an administrator to run the network201and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming system200may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server205could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals.

Further Details of Gaming System

FIG. 6shows the functional components of an embodiment of the gaming system having a game controller60comprising a processor62arranged to implement a number of modules based on game code646and data stored in memory64. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the modules are typically implemented using a processor based on code and data stored in memory but that one or more of the modules could alternatively be implemented in some other way, for example by a dedicated circuit.

In the embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to conduct a base game and a feature game. In the embodiment, the feature game is a free game series (that is, a series of free games) and the feature game is initiated or awarded upon a trigger condition being met in the base game. In this respect, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the base game is a part of the game which is carried out each time the player makes a wager and initiates a play of the game whereas a feature game is a part of the game which will only be carried out occasionally upon a trigger condition being met. That is, a feature game involves some additional element of game play which only occurs when a trigger condition is met. Here, the feature game is in the form of “free games” which in the art means that a series of games like the base game are carried out for the player before the player needs to place a further wager and initiate play of the gaming machine again. In the embodiment, the game is a spinning reel game, and the free games are conducted by spinning each reel again, and evaluating the displayed symbols when then reels stop to determine whether the player is entitled to an award. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of “free games” can include games where there is some modification to the game rules relative to the base game, for example, a multiplier is applied to awards, a symbol performs an additional function, the symbol set is changed etc.

Depending on the embodiment, the base and feature games can be line-based games or reel-based games. In a line-based game, a player's win entitlement is based on how many win lines the player plays in each game (for example, a minimum of one win line up to the maximum number of win lines allowed by the game) and how much they wager per line. Such win lines are typically formed by a combination of symbol display positions, one from each reel, the symbol display positions being located relative to one another such that they form a line. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in some line-based games, the player's win entitlement may not be strictly limited to the lines they have selected, for example, “scatter” pays can be awarded independently of a player's selection of pay lines and can be an inherent part of a win entitlement. In such games, a winning symbol combination must fall on a win line selected by the player (or otherwise be part of the win entitlement) for the player to be awarded the corresponding award.

In a reel-based game, a player obtains a win entitlement by selecting a number of reels to play and an amount to wager per reel. Such games are marketed under the trade name “Reel Power” by Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd. The selection of the reel means that each displayed symbol of the reel can be substituted for a symbol at one or more designated display positions. In other words, all symbols displayed at symbol display positions corresponding to a selected reel can be used to form symbol combinations with symbols displayed at designated, symbol display positions of the other reels. For example, if there are five reels and three symbol display positions for each reel such that the symbol display positions comprise three rows of five symbol display positions, the symbols displayed in the centre row are used for non-selected reels. As a result, the total number of ways to win is determined by multiplying the number of active display positions of each reel, the active display positions being all display positions of each selected reel and the designated display position of the non-selected reels. Thus, for a 5×3 spinning-reel type game having five reels and fifteen display positions, there can be 243 ways to win, such that a player wins an award if a winning combination is covered by any one of these ways to win.

As discussed above, in the embodiment, both the base game and the free games are spinning-reel type games where during game play, symbols of reels are selected for display at a plurality of columns of display positions on a display54. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the spinning-reel type game may vary in terms of the number of columns or the number of display positions per column. For example, the game may be a 4×6 spinning-reel type game having four columns, each column having six vertically adjacent display positions; a 5×3 spinning-reel type game having five columns, each column having three vertically adjacent display positions etc.

In the embodiment, the gaming system includes a player interface50and the player interface50comprises a game play mechanism56arranged to allow a player to input game instructions and to place wagers, and a display54arranged to display the games to the player.

The modules implemented by the processor62include a symbol selector623, a symbol evaluator625and a symbol modifier626.

The symbol selector623is arranged to select a symbol for display at each of the display positions on the display54during the free games and during the base game. In the embodiment, each symbol of a reel is part of a predetermined sequence of symbols specified in symbol sets642of memory64. During game play, the symbol selector623selects the symbols for display at a column of display positions by selecting a stopping position in the sequence. In the embodiment, the stopping position is determined based on pseudo-random numbers generated by a Random Number Generator (RNG)622. In the embodiment, the reels are implemented in software as virtual reels and a display controller629communicates to the player interface50to control the display54to display the selected symbols to the player. However, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reels may alternatively be electromechanical reels controlled by a stepper motor.

In the embodiment, the symbol evaluator625comprises a trigger monitor628arranged to determine whether a trigger condition is met in the base game. In the embodiment, the trigger condition is that there is a scatter combination in the base game. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the trigger condition may not be the occurrence of a scatter combination, for example, the trigger combination may alternatively be the occurrence of another symbol combination or be simply the occurrence of a specific symbol in the base game. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that a trigger condition may be purchased, be caused by another connected system, based on a random evaluation, etc.

In the embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to, upon a determination that a trigger combination is met in the base game, initiate a feature game by conducting a first one of a series of free game. That is, upon the determination that there is a scatter combination in the base game, the symbol selector623selects a new set of symbols for display at each of the display positions for the first free game. In the embodiment, the symbols that may be selected for the free games are specified in symbol sets642and are the same as those for the base game. However, as discussed above, it is envisaged that the symbols for the free games may be different to those for the base game in an alternative embodiment. In the embodiment, the number of free games can vary based on the number of symbols in the scatter combination. However, it is envisaged that in another embodiment, there may be only one trigger condition and the number of free games may be fixed. It is also envisaged that in an embodiment, the feature game may comprise only one free game.

In the embodiment, the symbol modifier626is arranged to, in each of the free games, repeatedly apply a modification rule to one or more of the sets of symbols displayed on the display54upon a determination by a non-win determiner627of the symbol evaluator625that the displayed symbols do not include any winning symbol combination which entitles the player to one of the awards specified in pay table648. Thus, the symbol modifier626only acts when there is no winning symbol combination in the feature game. In the embodiment, the symbol modifier626is arranged to repeatedly apply a modification rule based on a plurality of modification rules stored in modification rules644of memory64until symbol evaluator625determines that the player has a winning combination, entitling the player to an award. In the embodiment, the awards are in credits and thus each award is added to a win meter stored in memory64. The symbol modifier626in the embodiment can apply different modification rules in different games.

The modification rules may differ in terms of which columns of symbols (that is, the symbols displayed at different columns of display positions) may be modified. For example, according to one modification rule, the symbol modifier626may only modify the symbols displayed at the left-most column of display positions while according to another modification rule, the symbol modifier626may modify the symbols displayed at not only the left-most column of display positions but also at the right-most column of display positions.

Depending on which modification rule is applied, the manner in which symbols of a column are modified may also be different. For example, according to one modification rule, a column of symbols may be modified by rotating the reel associated with the column upward by one symbol. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that different columns of symbols may be modified differently, for example, a first column of symbols may be modified by rotating the reel associated with the first column downwards by two symbols while a second column of symbols may be modified by rotating the reel associated with the second column upwards by one symbol.

In the embodiment, the symbol modifier626is arranged to select the modification rule from modification rules644of memory64randomly based on pseudo-random numbers from RNG622. However, this need not always be the case, for example, in another embodiment, the symbol modifier626may be arranged to select the modification rule based on a predetermined sequence. It is also envisaged that in another embodiment, there may be only one modification rule and the same modification rule is always applied.

As discussed above, the symbol modifier626is arranged to apply a modification rule upon a determination that the displayed symbols do not include any winning symbol combination in each of the free games. In the embodiment, the symbol evaluator625comprises a no-win determiner627arranged to carry out this determination (of whether the displayed symbols do not include any winning symbol combination) during each free game. As indicated above, each award is added to the win meter.

In the embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to either continue on to the next free game (that is, by having the symbol selector623proceeding to select a new plurality of sets of symbols for display on the display54) or, if all the free games have been played, transfer credits to the credit meter when the player starts another play of the game or cashes out (assuming no gamble feature).

FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method of gaming. At step710, immediately upon a trigger condition (for example, a scatter combination) being met in a base game, a series of free games is awarded to the player. In the embodiment, the number of free games can vary based on the number of symbols in the scatter combination.

Steps720to770show the steps carried out in each free game. At step720, a free game is initiated and a plurality of symbols is selected by the symbol selector623for display at the plurality of columns of display positions on the display54. In the embodiment, the symbol selector623selects the symbols by selecting stopping positions for a plurality of reels having a predetermined sequence of symbols specified by symbol sets642of memory64. As discussed above, this selection may be carried out based on pseudo-random numbers from the RNG.

At step730, the symbols selected by the symbol selector623for the free game are displayed at the plurality of columns of display positions on the display54.

At step740, the symbol evaluator625determines whether the symbols displayed on the display54do not include any winning symbol combination. As discussed above, this may be done by evaluating whether the displayed symbols include any of the possible winning symbol combination stored in a paytable.

If the symbol evaluator625determines that the displayed symbols include a winning symbol combination, it immediately makes an award based on prize data648corresponding to the winning symbol combination770.

Alternatively, if the symbol selector625determines that the displayed symbols do not include any winning symbol combination, the symbol modifier626immediately applies a modification rule to at least one of the sets of symbols750. Accordingly, the symbol modifier626applies a modification rule only upon a determination that the displayed symbols do not include any winning symbol combination. In the embodiment, the modification rule applied by the symbol modifier625is selected based on modification rules644stored in memory. As discussed above, the modification rule may be rotating one or more reels, replacing the predetermined sequence of symbols of one or more reels etc.

After modifying the sets of symbols, the symbol evaluator625again determines whether the modified symbols displayed on the display54include a winning symbol combination760. If the symbol evaluator625determines that the modified symbols include a winning symbol combination, it immediately makes an award based on prize data648corresponding to the winning symbol combination770.

If the symbol evaluator625determines that the modified symbols do not include a winning symbol combination, the symbol modifier626immediately applies a modification rule again750. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the modification rule may be the same as the one applied previously, or it may be different.

Steps750and760are repeated until the modified symbols displayed on the display54include a winning symbol combination. Thus, the symbol evaluator625makes an award based on prize data648corresponding to the winning symbol combination only upon a determination that the modified symbols include a winning symbol combination.

After step770, the gaming system determines whether all the free games have been played780. If all the free games have been played, the gaming system reverts back to the base game. Otherwise, the gaming system initiates the next free game in the free game series and a new set of symbols is selected for the new free game720.

Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the system. It will be appreciated that at least part of the method will be implemented digitally by a processor. 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 storage 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). Persons skilled in the art, will appreciate that program code provides a series of instructions executable by the processor.

EXAMPLE

FIGS. 8A and 8Billustrate an example of the gaming system applying a modification rule to the sets of symbols displayed on display54in a free game of the feature game. In the example, the game is a 3×5 spinning-reel type game.

FIG. 8Ais an illustration of the fifteen display positions of the feature game. The figure also shows the symbols initially selected by the symbol selector623for display at each of the fifteen display positions on the display54in the free game.

In the game, the displayed symbols are selected by selecting a stopping position in each one of five reels, each reel having a predetermined sequence of symbols specified in the symbol set642of memory64, and the displayed symbols are evaluated by the symbol evaluator623to determine whether the displayed symbols include a winning symbol combination. In the example, the displayed symbols initially selected by the symbol selector623(as illustrated inFIG. 8A) do not include a winning symbol combination.

In the game, the symbol modifier626immediately, upon the determination by the symbol evaluator625that the displayed symbols do not include any winning combination during the game, applies a modification rule to the symbols. In the example, the modification rule is that four of the five reels of the game are rotated upwards by one symbol (the only reel that does not rotate is the left-most reel).

InFIG. 8A, the greyed-out area shown under the second to fifth columns of display positions illustrate the symbols that are next in sequence.

FIG. 8Billustrates the symbols displayed at the fifteen display positions on the display64after the symbol modifier625has applied the modification rule. As illustrated, the symbols displayed at the second to fifth columns of display positions has been modified after the application of the modification rule and only the symbols displayed at the left-most column of display positions were not changed.

In the example, the modified symbols displayed at the fifteen display positions include a winning symbol combination (i.e. the two “PIC1” symbols on line8as illustrated inFIG. 8B). Accordingly, in the game, the symbol evaluator625immediately makes an award corresponding to the winning symbol combination based on prize data648stored in memory64once the symbol evaluator623determines that the modified symbols include is the winning symbol combination.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent that certain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to form further embodiments.

It is to be understood that any reference to prior art made herein does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms or formed 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.