U.S. Pat. No. 9,984,537

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a game where selectable symbols include modifiable symbols adapted to receive a modifier. If a modifiable symbol is selected it may be modified by a corresponding modifier and awards evaluated based on the selected symbols as modified.

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 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 for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components 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 includes several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface50and a game controller60as illustrated inFIG. 1. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components for the player to enter instructions and play the game.

Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism52to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays54, a game play 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 controller101, including one or more displays106, a touch screen and/or buttons107, a card and/or ticket reader108, a printer109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism110and a coin output mechanism111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine100, or hardware may be omitted based on the specific implementation.

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 based on the terminals.

Further Detail of Gaming System

Referring toFIG. 6, it is illustrated that the game controller60is implemented by a processor62executing code stored in memory64to provide a plurality of modules621-624. 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 player's operation of the game play mechanism56will be to specify their win entitlement for the game. Typically by placing a bet.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a player's 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 displayed symbol of the reel can be substituted for a symbol at one or more designated display positions. In other words, all displayed 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.

Once, the player's win entitlement has been established, the first part of forming the game outcome is for a symbol selector622A of outcome generator622to select symbols from a set of symbols specified by symbol data641. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller624which causes them to be displayed on display54at a set of display positions. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the display controller624may incorporate an appropriate graphics driver for the display.

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 randomly selecting a stopping position in the sequence using random number generator621. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display54. In some embodiments, different weightings can be assigned to stop positions to control the odds of various outcomes.

In the embodiment, the selected symbols may include one or more modifiable symbols641A. Each modifiable symbol has the characteristic that it can receive at least one modifier specified by modifier data642which is used in evaluating awards. Depending on the embodiment, some modifiable symbols may be adapted to receive more than one modifier or indeed be able to receive all modifiers. Similarly, some modifiers642may modify more than one modifiable symbol. Depending on the embodiment, the addition of a modifier to a modifiable symbol may result in an additional possible award evaluation in respect of the modifiable symbol, may be required for their to be any award evaluation in respect of the symbol, or may result in an alternative award evaluation. For example, a symbol portion of the modifiable symbol may indicate what evaluation is made in the absence of a modifier.

In the embodiment, the outcome generator622has a modifier selector622B for selecting one or more modifiers642to be displayed on display54by display controller624. The number of modifiers selected is determined by game rules643. In one example, one modifier is selected for each reel specified by symbol data641and displayed in association with that reel while the reel spins. In this example, each modifier is only associated with one reel and hence is only available to modify symbols of that reel. In another example, one or more modifiers may be selected in advance and displayed separately from the reels on display54and may be available to modify any modifiable symbol irrespective of the reel. The modifiers may be selected randomly using random number generator621, supplied in a designated order specified by modifier data642or in some other manner.

Modifier controller622C then determines whether an available modifier matches a modifiable symbol based on match rules643A. The match rules may specify, for example, that the modifiable symbol needs to be in a specific symbol position or that there needs to be a specific correspondence between the modifiable symbol and the modifier. In one example, a modifier needs to fit into a defined space in a modifiable symbol that is adapted to receive the modifier. In another, example certain modifiable symbols may be adapted to receive more than one modifier. In some embodiments, more than one modifier may be available to modify a symbol, whether because the modifiable symbol is adapted to receive more than one modifier or because two or more matching modifiers are available. Where more than one modifier can modify a modifiable symbol, match rules may specify how the modifiable symbol is selected, e.g. by the player or to provide the largest award. In another example, if more than one modifiable symbol is available to modify a modifiable symbol, each is evaluated in turn.

Once any symbols have been modified by modifier controller622C, award evaluator623, determines whether the symbols as modified correspond to any prizes specified by prize data644, for example by looking up a table of all possible prize outcomes, and advises the player of any awards via display54. In some embodiments, award evaluator623may also make awards prior to any modifications being made such that there is a first award without the modifier.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the usual eligibility rules may apply, for example, modifiers may only be available in response to a trigger event, in a feature game sequence such as free games or re-spins, or for certain bets (e.g. an ante bet), or if the right to modify is purchased, for example after a modifiable symbol has been displayed.

The method700is summarised inFIG. 7which shows that after the game starts710, symbols are selected720independently of selection of modifiers725. The method then involves determining730whether there are any modifiable symbols. If there are modifiable symbols, the method involves determining whether a modifier is available and matches740. Matched modifiable symbols are then modified750and awards evaluated760before the game ends770.

In an alternative embodiment, the modifier may be selected by modifier selector622B using random number generator621after a modifiable symbol is selected and displayed. In one example of such an embodiment, whenever a modifiable symbol is selected, modifier controller622C controls modifier selector622B to selects a modifier randomly from modifier data, such that it is not necessary to determine whether the modifier matches the modifiable symbol. (The selection being restricted to those modifiers which will modify the modifiable symbol if this is necessary.)

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).

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Referring toFIG. 8there is shown an exemplary display800of a first example where there are five reels811to815and three positions821to823are displayed of each reel such that 15 symbols are selected in total. The displayed symbols include a “holey power” symbol830. The holey power symbol830is a modifiable symbol which has a hole831to indicate that it is modifiable. When the holey power symbol830appears, the game controller selects a modifier from the set of modifiers911to913as shown inFIG. 9and places it in the holey power symbol. Game outcomes are evaluated based on that modified holey power symbol. In this example, the modified holey power symbol acts a wild symbol to substitute for all other symbols in combinations and also carries the additional prize of either 200 credits911, 100 credits912or 50 credits913if it is involved in a winning combination. In this example, the modifiable symbol can receive any modifier.

Example 2

FIG. 10shows an alternative display1000of a second example where the game is otherwise described in relation toFIG. 8but the modifiable symbol850also includes a normal symbol portion, in this case a king symbol “K” which can form part of other win outcomes. In this case, the symbol prize is additional. Hole851indicates that the modifiable symbol is adapted to receive a modifier.

Example 3

FIG. 11shows an exemplary display1100having the same number of reels811to815with again three symbols being displayed on three rows821to823for each reel such that there are 15 display positions in total. In this example, a modifier is selected for each reel in the form of a block861to865which is displayed at the bottom of each reel811to815respectively. If a block will fit into the space of a modifiable symbol of the reel to which it belongs, that symbol will be modified by adding the modifier to the symbol and displaying the modifiable symbol as modified by the modifier. This can be implemented by match rules643A including a look up table of modifiable symbols and the modifiers which fit each modifiable symbol.

In the example, none of the blocks fit specifically into the symbols of the reels with which they are associated. However, in this example, the holey power symbol870is able to receive any symbol irrespective of its shape and hence will receive block863of the third reel. In another embodiment, the holey power symbol870may only be able to receive round blocks. In one example, the blocks may only be allowed to modify modifiable symbols which stop in the bottom row823of the display positions. In other examples, the blocks may fit into any symbol on that reel. A person skilled in the art will appreciate, for example, that the block862will fit into hole871of the king symbol on the first reel811. Block863would also fit into this spot. Depending on the specific match rules643A, block863may be required to correspond exactly to the hole871or may be allowed to modify the modifiable symbol provided it fits into the hole871as would be the case with symbol863.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the shapes of the blocks including the protuberances on those blocks can be used to control the probability any modifiable symbol being modified. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in other examples each of the modifiers861to865maybe available for modification of a symbol on any reels. In such embodiments, rules may be defined which specify the order in which modifiable symbols are modified, for example, left to right across the reels811to815or by determining which modifications would result in the highest award to the player.

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, features of the above embodiments may be used to form other embodiments.

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 indicates otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods, systems and program products on any electronic device and/or machine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations. Certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwired system, for example.

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