U.S. Pat. No. 9,953,482

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a spinning reel game where symbols are selected for a plurality of subsets of symbol display positions. Two or more reels correspond to at least one of the subsets of display positions and symbols are selected for the display positions to which they correspond by independently selecting stopping positions for each reel to determine which symbols of the reels correspond to the subset of display positions. In some embodiments each reel has symbols at each symbol position of the reel and those symbols are combined to form a resultant symbol which will be used in evaluation of the selected symbols of the reel. In some embodiments one reel only has symbols at some of the positions and symbols are combined upon two or more symbols being selected for a display position.

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. 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. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that a touch screen can be used to emulate other input devices, for example, a touch screen can display virtual buttons which a player can “press” by touching the screen where they are displayed.

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 Detail of Gaming System

The player operates the game play mechanism56to specify a wager and hence the win entitlement which will be evaluated for this play of the game and initiates a play of the game. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a player's win entitlement will vary from game to game dependent on player selections. In most spinning reel games, it is typical for the player's entitlement to be affected by the amount they wager and selections they make (i.e. the nature of the wager). For example, a player's win entitlement may be based on how many lines they play in each game—e.g. 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) 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.

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 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 a 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 reels, the active display positions being all display positions of each selected reel and the designated display position of the non-selected reels. As a result for five reels and fifteen display positions there are 243 ways to win.

InFIG. 6, the processor62of game controller60is shown implementing a number of modules based on program code and data stored in memory64. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various of the modules could be implemented in some other way, for example by a dedicated circuit.

These modules include the outcome generator622which operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism56to place a wager and initiate a play of the game and generates a game outcome which will then be evaluated by award evaluator623. In an embodiment, to generate a game outcome, a symbol selector622A of the outcome generator selects symbols from a set of symbols specified by symbol data641using random number generator621. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller624which causes them to be displayed on display54at a set of symbol display positions comprising a plurality of subsets of symbol display positions.

In the embodiment, the symbol data specifies a plurality of spinning reels. For each reel there are a plurality of symbol positions on the reel, for example 20-24 symbol positions. As is known in the art, the symbol positions of a reel have a defined circular sequence with the last symbol position (e.g. symbol position 22) being followed by the first symbol position in the sequence. Accordingly, the symbol selector622A selects all of the symbols for each of the reels by selecting a stopping position in the sequence for the respective reel. For example, if the symbol display positions are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, one row may correspond to the stopping position. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that it is known to use a probability table stored in memory64to vary the odds of a particular stop position being selected.

In the embodiment, at least one subset of display positions is associated with two or more reels. In one example, there are fifteen symbol display positions which are displayed on display54in a matrix made up of five columns and three rows, and two reels correspond to the central column. For each subset of display positions associated with two or more reels, the symbol selector selects stopping positions for each reel independently of the other reel or reels. In the embodiment, two reels are associated with a subset of display positions.

The selected symbols are then combined by symbol combiner622bapplying at least one symbol combination rule642a. The symbol combination rules642amay be related to the nature of the symbols and/or the nature of the reels. For example, in some embodiments, each reel of those which are to be combined has a symbol at each symbol position on the reel. In other embodiments, one of the reels only has symbols at some of the symbol positions. Accordingly, in embodiments where there are symbols on each symbol position on both reels, each pair of symbols which are selected for the same symbol display position will need to be combined. In other embodiments, where one of the reels only has symbols at some of the symbol display positions, symbols will only need to be combined upon two symbols being selected for the same symbol display position.

In one example, the symbols from one reel are base symbols and the symbols from another reel are modifier symbols. Each combination symbol is formed by the modifier symbols being added to the base symbols such that both the symbols originally selected are displayed but they form a composite symbol having both the base symbol and the modifier. In other embodiments, the symbols may be combined based on precedence rules. For example, a special symbol, such as a wild or a scatter symbol may take precedence over other symbols. For example, if a wild symbol is selected for a position (being a symbol which can take the place of any other symbol in the symbol combination) then a modifier symbol is not applied. In other embodiments, other precedence rules may be applied such that only one of two separate symbols selected for the position is displayed.

In one example using base and modifier symbols, the base symbols are the rank symbols of a set of cards (e.g. Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9 etc) and the modifier symbols are the suits: hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the modifier applies a suit to the relevant rank. In this embodiment, different rank symbols may take on different suits from game round to game round. In such embodiments, the composite symbol may be displayed in a number of ways. In one example, the ranking card is transformed depending on the suit. For example, a King of hearts looks different to a King of clubs. In other embodiments, the base symbol may not be altered. In another example, the reel symbols of the base reel may include a combination of ranking symbols and other symbols and only ranking symbols acquire a suit under the combination rule.

In the embodiment, the reels for a subset of display positions are displayed by a display controller624as spinning independently. For example, by firstly spinning the reel having the base symbols and secondly spinning the reel having the modifier symbols. The display54is controlled by the display controller624.

After the symbols have been selected, outcome evaluator623evaluates the symbols based on the pay table643. In one example, the pay table contains some entries which corresponds to a composite symbol. For example, a winning combination comprised of four Aces including the central reel may have a higher payout in pay table643when the central symbol is a heart than a combination where the central symbol is a club. Alternatively, or in addition, the modifier symbols may modify the function of a symbol, such that a symbol with a modifier can participate in winning certain combinations whereas a symbol without a modifier cannot. In one example, in addition to five of a kind or other “of a kind” type winning combinations in the pay table, other types of winning combinations may be available for symbol combinations which include a modifier symbol. For example, winning combinations made up of symbols having the same modifier.

Once the outcome evaluator623has evaluated the displayed symbols, if there is any win, the outcome evaluator causes the display controller to display the win and updates the win meters of win meter data644.

A method of the embodiment is summarised inFIG. 7. The method700involves determining710stopping positions for a plurality of reels. Determining720whether there are two or more symbols at a display position and upon there being two or more symbols, combining those symbols730. The symbols are then displayed740on display54and evaluated750by the outcome evaluator623. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments where there are expected to be two or more symbols at each display position, it is not strictly necessary to determine whether there are two or more symbols and the method can proceed directly to combining symbols in accordance with the symbol combination rules.

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.

In the embodiment, the game is provided as a base game which is a part of the game which is carried out each time the player makes a wager, typically irrespective of the wager, whereas other parts of the game will only be carried out occasionally for example if a condition is met such as a trigger occurring or if an ante bet is placed (depending on the specific embodiment). In such embodiments, the outcome generator generates additional parts of the game outcome based on game rule data642. For example, a feature game may be provided. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a feature game involves some additional element of game play which usually only occurs when a trigger condition is met. Types of feature games include: those where a series of free game events are awarded such as free games or re-spins (where some reels are held while others are re-spun); games where the symbols on the reel are changed; and “second screen” games where game play is totally different to the base game, for example where the player makes selections in a “pick a box type” game. In another embodiment, the game could be provided as the feature game, e.g. symbols are selected from two or more sets for a reel in a triggered free game series.

The trigger event may be, a symbol combination in the game, occurrence of a specific symbol in the game, purchased, be caused by another connected system, based on turnover, based on a random evaluation, etc.

In some embodiments, the feature of symbols being selected from two or more reels for one or more of the columns of symbol display positions may only be provided if an eligibility criteria is met, for example that the player has made a certain sized wager, made an ante bet, selected all win lines, played sufficient games, or the player is a member of a loyalty program.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that more than two reels could be combined to allow for more permutations of possible composite symbols. Further, any number of subsets of display positions could be associated with two or more reels. In another embodiment, the number of reels associated with a subset of display positions could vary during the game. In another embodiment the number of subsets of display positions associated with two or more reels could vary during the game.

EXAMPLE

FIG. 8ashows an example where there is a base reel810and a modifier reel820which are used to select symbols for a single set of display positions.FIG. 8ashows the two reels having been stopped. The base reel has a Jack symbol at position811, a wild symbol at position812and an Ace symbol at position813. The modifier reel has a diamond symbol at position821, no modifier symbol at symbol position822and a club symbol at position823. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 8b, a composite outcome reel830is then produced having a Jack of diamonds symbol831, a wild symbol832and an Ace of clubs symbol833.

FIG. 9then shows an example of the display900of a plurality of display positions where the composite reel913is displayed at a middle column913of 5 columns911,912,914and915. In the example, there are three pay lines corresponding to respective ones of the rows of symbols901,902,903.

Under the rules of the game, winning combinations are evaluated left to right with the exception that awards for a straight of symbols can be evaluated independently of the order of the symbols if a modifier symbol is applied. Accordingly, in the example, the player receives two awards for the symbol combinations shown inFIG. 9. The player wins a first award for four Aces of clubs because the Ace symbol on win line903has a club symbol applied to it. The player also wins for a straight comprised of the Ace, King, Jack, Queen and 10 on line901because the diamond symbol means that the Jack symbol can be evaluated out of order. That is, absent a diamond symbol this would not have been a winning combination as it would have been evaluated left to right, requiring the Queen and Jack to be reversed.

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, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms 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.