U.S. Pat. No. 9,685,030

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system arranged to implement a game wherein symbols at original subsets of the display positions can be copied to form cloned subsets of symbols. 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 controller101and comprises 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 games 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.

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 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 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. The win lines may be for example, horizontal or diagonal lines. The game controller of one embodiment is shown in more detail inFIG. 6. The game controller60incorporates a symbol selector610that selects symbols using random numbers from random number generator650, including possibly a bonus game symbol, to appear on the display54. When activated by a determination that a subset of the symbols should be cloned, cloned symbol controller620operates via original subset controller621and clone subset controller622to obtain from the player via game play mechanism56the original and clone subsets respectively. Clone symbol controller621then copies the symbols from the original subset of display positions to the clone subset of display positions to thereby modify the displayed symbols. That is in this embodiment, the player selects both the subset to be cloned and the position at which the subset is to be cloned. In another embodiment, the clone symbol controller620selects the subset to be cloned and the positions at which they are cloned.

The outcome generator630calculates any prize associated with the current round depending on the game instructions644and updates prize data645and display54on the player interface50.

Now referring toFIG. 12, a flow diagram for an embodiment of the invention is shown. The step of symbol selection1201is to select the symbols for display. The system then performs the step1202of determining whether a subset of symbols should be cloned. If so, the cloned symbol game controller620performs 3 steps1203,1204and1205of determining the original subset, the clone subset and then of copying the symbols from the original subset to the clone subset or subsets. Then the outcome generator630determines in step1206the game round outcome based on the modified symbols. After the conclusion of the current game, the cloned symbol controller620determines in step1207whether there is to be another following game round using the cloned symbols. If so, in step1208the cloned symbols are retained, optionally non-visible symbols on the same reels are also cloned, and the next step1201of symbol selection is noted as one with restricted selection such that the original and clone reels are spun together. If there is not to be a following game round using the cloned symbols, in step1209the cloned symbol locations are returned to their previous values and the normal symbol selection rules will apply.

In an alternative embodiment, the cloning process can occur after it has been decided whether to award a prize such that the cloned symbols only have an effect in a subsequent game round. Such an embodiment is suitable for an arrangement where the game round is part of a series of game rounds, such as is the case of the game round is one of a series of free games or free spins.

Any of the known rules for controlling the occurrence of feature in a game may be used to control when the cloning process may occur, for example, cloning may always occur as part of each game round, the cloning may only occur when certain types of bet are made, or cloning may only occur when a trigger event occurs, such as a particular symbol or combination of symbols, a turnover amount, or an external event. Similar events may control the extent to which there is cloning or they type of cloning, for example how many reels are cloned. Cloning may also only occur during certain parts of the game, for example during a series of free spins.

In one embodiment the clone subset is identical to the original subset, and the symbols of the original subset are duplicated side by side at half-width, fitting in the same display position. In another embodiment, the clone subset is laterally displaced from the original subset (e.g. on another reel) and symbols of the original subset replace symbols previously occupying corresponding display positions of the cloned subsets.

In some embodiments only the visible symbols of one reel are cloned—e.g. those which have been spun to a stop at the display positions used in evaluating a win based on win lines. In another embodiment all of the symbols of a reel are cloned. Intermediate embodiments where one or visible symbols of a reel but less than all the symbols are cloned are also possible. In another embodiment, the original subset and each clone subset are mutually non-overlapping rectangular regions of the display positions.

In an embodiment, cloning is triggered by the appearance of a particular symbol combination in the display positions, by a random event, or by the player purchasing a cloning right or by another event known in the art.

The original subset may be determined by player choice, by a random event, or by the occurrence of a particular symbol or symbol combination. The clone subset may be determined in an analogous fashion. The player choice may include the payment of different wagers to get eligibility for the symbol or symbol combination.

In embodiments which involve retaining the cloned symbols during one or more following cloned symbol game rounds it is advantageous to restrict the symbol selection in the following cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions for reels containing the clone subset and the original subset are fixed relative to each other.

Further embodiments will be apparent from the following examples.

Example 1

Now referring toFIG. 7, the display is divided into 5 reels740ato740enumbered1to5from left to right each displaying 3 symbols in a visible reel window, arranged into top line750a, centre line750band bottom line750c. In this case the system is arranged so that the clone feature can be accessed by player choice. A player has indicated via game play mechanism56the desire to enter into a “clone” feature. The reels spin and stop and the player sees the symbols shown inFIG. 7A. The player is then asked via the action of original subset controller621to select a particular original subset to clone, in this case only all display positions of any one reel are on offer. The player selects reel 2 as the original subset. The player is then asked via the action of clone subset controller622to select a particular clone subset to clone, in this case only all display positions of any one other reel are on offer. The player selects reel 1 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller621now copies the symbols in the original subset, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown inFIG. 7B. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for three “10”s on the centre line using the WILD symbols. Using the clone feature, the player has turned a non-winning game inFIG. 7Ato a winning game.

Example 2

Now referring toFIG. 8, a player has purchased the right to clone 2 reels in advance, on the future occurrence of a trigger event. The reels have spun, showing the arrangement of symbols inFIG. 8A. An offer to use the right to clone 2 reels in this game round has been generated by cloned symbol controller620as a result of the occurrence of particular symbol, namely a WILD symbol, on one of the reels, which automatically becomes the original subset. The player indicates via game play mechanism56the desire to accept the offer. The original subset is the reel with the WILD symbol, reel 2. The player is then asked via the action of clone subset controller622to select a particular clone subset to clone, in this case only all display positions of two other reels are on offer. The player selects reels 1 and 3 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller621now copies the symbols in the original subset, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown inFIG. 8B. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for three Kings on the top line, four Kings on the centre line using the three WILD symbols, and three 9s on the bottom line.

The game rules specify that the player may keep the cloned reels for a following cloned symbol game round so that the reel positions for reels containing the clone subset and the original subset are fixed relative to each other. In this case, even the non-visible symbols on the original reel are also copied to corresponding non-visible positions on the clone reels, so that the original and clone reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in the following cloned symbol game round. The reels spin resulting in the arrangement shown inFIG. 8C, with all three reels identical. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for three 9s on the top line, three 8s on the centre line, and four 7s on the bottom line.

Example 3

Now referring toFIG. 9, a player has won from the action of the game rules the right to three successive games each with a separate cloning action using reel 3 as the original subset. The player may clone 3 reels in each game. The starting arrangement of symbols is shown inFIG. 9A. For the first game, the player is asked via the action of clone subset controller622to select a particular clone subset to clone, in this case up to three other entire reels. The player selects reels 1, 2 and 4 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller621now copies the symbols in the original subset, reel 3, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown inFIG. 9B. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for four Jacks on the top line, four 10s on the centre line, and four SCATTER (SCATTER is a symbol which can be combined across lines, irrespective of its position, for a win).

The reels then spin in normal fashion and show the arrangement shown inFIG. 9C. For the second clone game, with the original subset fixed by the game rules at reel 3, the player selects again reels 1, 2 and 4 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller621now copies the symbols in the original subset, reel 3, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown inFIG. 9D. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for four Aces on the top line, five 9s on the centre line, and five Kings on the bottom line.

The reels then again spin in normal fashion and show the arrangement shown inFIG. 9E. For the third clone game, with the original subset again fixed by the game rules at reel 3, the player selects again reels 1, 2 and 4 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller621now copies the symbols in the original subset, reel 3, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown inFIG. 9F. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for four Queens on the top line, five Jacks on the centre line, and four SCATTERs.

In this example there are no following cloned symbol game rounds with the reels in fixed relationship.

Example 4

Now referring toFIG. 10, a player has won from the action of the game rules at random the right to clone a 2 by 2 rectangular region to another non-overlapping region. The starting arrangement of the symbols is shown inFIG. 10A. The gaming system determines the original subset and highlights it as shown inFIG. 10B. The player is then asked via the action of clone subset controller622to select another non-overlapping 2 by 2 region as the clone subset. The player selects the region on reels 3 and 4 shown inFIG. 10C. The cloned symbol controller621now copies the symbols in the original subset, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown inFIG. 10D. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for four Aces on the top line using the WILD cards and three SCATTERs.

In this example there are no following cloned symbol game rounds with the reels in fixed relationship.

Example 5

Now referring toFIG. 11, a player has purchased by choice the right to clone a reel. The starting arrangement of the symbols is shown inFIG. 11A. The player chooses the original subset as reel 1 and the gaming system highlights it as also shown inFIG. 11A. The player is then asked via the action of clone subset controller622to select this reel or another reel as the clone subset. The player selects reel 1, so that the original and clone subsets are identical. The cloned symbol controller621now copies the symbols in the original subset to the clone subset at the same display position resulting in the “split reel” display shown inFIG. 11Bwhere two symbols are displayed within each symbol position. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for four Kings on the top line and four Jacks on the centre line. The pays being paid, in this example, irrespective of the position of symbols on the line—i.e. the symbols do not have to be contiguous. In other embodiments, pays may be left to right, right to left or either left to right or right to left or in accordance with other evaluation techniques known in the art, such as those used in games where players select reels rather than pay lines.

The game rules in this example specify that the player may keep the cloned reels for a following cloned symbol game round so that the reel positions for reels containing the clone subset and the original subset are fixed relative to each other. Even the non-visible symbols on the original reel are also copied to corresponding non-visible positions on the clone reels, so that the original and clone reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in the following cloned symbol game round—i.e. the whole reel is cloned. The reels spin resulting in the arrangement shown inFIG. 11C, with the split reels identical. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator630and the player is paid for four Aces on the top line and four 7s on the bottom line.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the method of the preferred 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 of the above embodiments and examples may be employed to make further embodiments.

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.

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.