U.S. Pat. No. 8,932,126

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 subsets of symbols selected by the game controller for display on a display are compared to determine whether they match based on one or more matching rules. If there is a match, the game controller takes a designated action. The designated action may be to modify the displayed symbol or to make an award.

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 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 controller101comprise one or more displays106, a touch screen and/or buttons107, a card and/or ticket reader108, a printer109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism110and a coin output mechanism111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation.

In addition, the gaming machine100may include a communications interface, for example a network card112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.

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

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

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

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

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

In a thin client embodiment, game server205implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine202and the gaming machine202essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server205provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components.

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

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

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

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).

Further Detail of Gaming System

FIG. 6illustrates an embodiment where the action that the gaming system takes in response to determining that there is a match between first and second sets of symbols is to modify the initially displayed symbols.

To play the game, the player obtains credits with credit mechanism and operates game play mechanism56to make a bet of an amount of credits and to indicate that they want to play a game. The game rules642allow the game controller to determine that the player's operation of mechanism56entitles the player to the symbol set matching feature.

The outcome generator622operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism56to generate 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 the random number generator621. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller624which causes them to be displayed on display54at a set of display positions.

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 display54under control of display controller624which may incorporate a relevant graphics driver. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other numbers of display positions may be employed, for example twenty display positions.

The match evaluator622B then determines whether the selected symbols displayed on the display54meet the match rules644stored in memory. The match rules644specify the nature of symbol sets which are to be compared and what is required for a match. In the embodiment, the match rules644specify that two symbol sets of the same type are to be compared.

The nature of the symbol sets and the matching will vary from embodiment to embodiment and may vary depending on the implementation chosen by the game designer and/or the nature of the bet made by the player—i.e. in some embodiments the symbol sets and/or match rules applied may depend on the bet placed by the player with game play mechanism56.

The nature of the symbol sets is specified by the number of symbols in each symbol set, the relative orientation of symbols within the set, whether the symbol set may take more than one orientation, and whether the symbol set may take any position relative to the display positions or whether the positions it can take are limited. There may be two to seven symbols in a set in an embodiment where fifteen symbol are selected for display by symbol selector. Four to six symbols are some suitable examples.

Relative orientation of the symbols may mean, for example, that a symbol set having four symbols may be arranged in a square or in a pair of overlapping but offset lines where each symbol is contiguous with one other symbol. This can also be understood as a pattern of symbols. Further examples, of orientation can be found in the examples set out below.

Where the relative orientation of symbols is not completely symmetrical, for example, in the case of five symbols, the rules644may specify whether the sets can take more than one orientation relative to the display positions.

The rules644may also specify whether the sets correspond to fixed ones of the display positions such that a match must be, in effect, between designated display positions or can be varied relative to the display positions such that a match may be provided by finding two matching sets of symbols anywhere within the display positions.

The match rules644can also specify different rules for determining whether a match exists. In one example, a matching rule may be that the same symbols are found within two sets of symbols of the same pattern. A further rule may require the symbols to be in the same relative orientation to one another within symbol sets. A further rule may be that a transformation such as a rotation or reflection of symbol can bring the symbols into the same relative orientation.

In this embodiment, match evaluator622B determines whether first and second sets of symbols match based on the rules644. If there is a match, symbol modifier622C modifies the symbols based on modification rules646stored in memory64and the modification is displayed on display54under control of display controller624. One example of a modification is to move the matching symbol sets, for example, by rotating them. Another example of modification is to change all of the matched symbols into the same symbol, for example a symbol having an additional play characteristic such as a wild symbol or a high value symbol. In another example, all symbols not in the matching symbol sets may be changed into the same symbol.

Prize evaluator623then determines whether to award any prizes from prize table643based on the modified symbols. In some embodiments, the prize evaluator may evaluate prizes both before an after the modification.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment shows processor62implementing the random number generator621, outcome generator622, prize awarder623and display controller based on software routines stored in memory64. It will be appreciated that one or more of the above modules may be implemented in other ways, for example, a dedicated circuit could implement random number generator621.

In the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 7, like numbers are used where elements perform the same functions as inFIG. 6. In this embodiment symbols are selected by symbol selector622A of outcome generator722in the same manner as described above. However, rather than determining whether to modify the symbols, the match evaluator723A is arranged to determine whether to award match awards as part of evaluation by the prize evaluator723. In other respects, the symbol sets and matching rules may take the same form.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that not just prizes such as credits may be awarded by the match evaluator in such an embodiment. For example, a match may result in the award of a series of free games, trigger a feature game, a jackpot game or a hyperlink game as well as other prizes known in the art.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the above game, may itself be a feature game triggered from a base game or available only if certain conditions are met such as a prescribed turnover or bet amount.

The method800implemented by the gaming system is shown inFIG. 8. After a game starts810, symbols are selected820and displayed. It is then determined830whether to take an action such as modifying the symbols. Prizes are then evaluated840(noting that at step830prizes may be evaluated for matching symbol sets).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the above method can be a way of providing additional opportunity's for a player of a game and hence can provide an additional win entitlement to a player's normal entitlement to win in a game. For example, wins by matching sets of symbols may be available for an ante bet. A player's normal win entitlement will vary from game to game and may or may not be 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 player's 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. The win entitlement is not always purchased—e.g. a series of free games may be awarded.

EXAMPLES

Further variations on the above embodiment will be apparent from the following examples. Referring toFIGS. 9A to 9Fthere is shown in each of the figures a set of 15 display positions910which can be formed, for example, by 5 spinning reels with 3 symbols displayed for each reel.

FIGS. 9A to 9Feach show an example of matching square symbol sets having four symbols. Each ofFIGS. 9A to 9Fillustrate examples where a match can occur if a set of four symbols are in the same relative orientation displaced from one another at two different locations within the display positions910. InFIG. 9A, a first set of symbols920is next to an identical. set of second set of symbols921. InFIG. 9Ba first set of symbols920is next to a second set of symbols922displaced downwardly relative to the first set920. InFIG. 9Ca first set of symbols923is next to a second set of symbols924in the upper two rows of the display positions910. InFIG. 9Da first set of symbols920and a second set of symbols925are displaced laterally of one another. InFIG. 9Ethe symbols are displaced laterally and downwardly920,926of the two symbol sets. InFIG. 9Fboth symbols sets922,925are towards the right hand side of the set of display positions.

FIGS. 10A to 10Dshow other examples where there are 15 display positions1010.FIG. 10Ashows an example where there are five display positions in each set of symbols1021,1022. In this example the matching rule is that each of the symbols be the same and in the same relative orientation to one another as can be perceived from this example.

FIG. 10Bshows an alternative example where there are six symbols in each symbol set1023,1024and a match is allowed if when the entire symbol set1024is rotated, the symbols are in the same orientation as symbol set1023.

FIG. 10Cshows an example where first and second symbol sets1025,1026contain the same symbols in mirror reflection to one another.

FIG. 10Dshows a further example where the symbols are the same but the symbols in symbol set1027are rotated within the set relative to the symbols of the first symbol set1025.

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.

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.