GB2119989A

GB2119989A - Amusement machines

Info

Publication number: GB2119989A
Application number: GB08213357A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Barry Noble
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-08
Filing date: 1982-05-08
Publication date: 1983-11-23

Abstract

A micro-processor based amusement machine comprises a video screen 10 on which five sets of twenty symbols (numerals) are displayed to a player. By means of twenty preselection buttons 28 the player can choose any five different symbols to make up a predetermined prize-winning combination for a game. The five selected symbols become displayed in a column 30. Upon depression of a start button 32 a random selector of the machine chooses one symbol from each column, illuminated dots 24 travelling alongside the sets of symbols and coming to rest adjacent the chosen symbols. Should the chosen combination correspond with the combination preselected by the player a prize is awarded by the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Amusement machines This invention is concerned with amusement machines, of the kind to be found in amusement arcades, clubs and public places, arranged to present a variable display to a player in order that a game, involving the display, can be played when the machine has been put into credit. The machine may be put into credit by insertion of one or more coins or tokens, or by remote control from a supervisory control desk. The variable display may be achieved in any of various ways, such as, for example, by means of a row of reels or discs bearing symbols on their peripheries (as in a conventional fruit machine), a video screen, flip-card units, cards or illuminated symbols.

One well-known kind of amusement machine comprises a plurality of reels, mounted side-by-side and presenting on their peripheries a plurality of different symbols, means whereby the reels can be spun, and means whereby the reels can be stopped at random to display to a player a line of symbols made up of one symbol from each reel. Commonly the symbols on the reels include representations of various fruits, giving the name "fruit machine" to that kind of machine. Some possible lines (i.e. combinations of symbols displayed) are predetermined to be winning lines, and the player is rewarded by the machine should a winning line be obtained.

The invention provides in one of its aspects an amusement machine comprising means whereby a plurality of sets of symbols are at least notionally recorded, selecting means whereby in the course of a game one symbol can be selected at random from each set, displaying means whereby the symbols selected in any one game can be presented as a combination to the player, and means whereby the player can be rewarded should a predetermined winning combination be presented, the machine comprising preselection means whereby the player can predetermine a winning combination for each game by selecting as many different symbols as there are sets of symbols.

The invention provides in another of its aspects an amusement machine comprising means whereby a plurality of sets of symbols are at least notionally recorded, selecting means whereby in the course of a game one symbol can be selected at random from each set, displaying means whereby the symbols selected in any one game can be presented as a combination to the player, and means whereby the player can be rewarded should a predetermined winning combination be presented, the machine comprising preselection means whereby any combination which is to be a winning combination in a game can be preselected by the player.

There now follows a description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, of an amusement machine which illustrates the invention by way of example.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a video screen 10 and playing console 1 2 of a microprocessor-based machine.

The machine comprises a memory whereby five sets of twenty symbols are notionally recorded, each set of symbols consisting of the numerals one to twenty. The five sets of symbols are displayed to a player on the screen 10 in five columns 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22.

The machine also comprises selecting means whereby in the course of a game one symbol can be selected at random from each set, and displaying means whereby the symbols selected in any one game can be presented as a combination to the player. The displaying means comprises means whereby an indication can be given to the player as to which symbol in a column is at any tim to be considered as the symbol presented. The indicating means is arranged to present five illuminated dots 24 on the screen 10, each dot being presented adjacent one of the symbols in one of the columns 14, 16, 18, 20 or 22.

The machine comprises also means, of a conventional kind, whereby the player can be rewarded should a predetermined winning combination be presented after operation of the selecting means in a game.

To commence play, the machine is put into credit by a player inserting a coin into a coinentry slot 26 of the console 1 2. By means of twenty preselection buttons 28, labelled appropriately from one to twenty, the player can choose any five different symbols (numerals) to make up a predetermined prize-winning combination for the game. The five symbols selected become displayed in a column 30 down one side of the screen. Upon depression of a start button 32, the machine is seen to consider each symbol in turn in each column of symbols (the illuminated dots 24 travelling down the columns repeatedly) until the dots come to rest adjacent the five symbols randomly selected by the selecting means.

Should the combination of symbols so selected and presented correspond with the preselected combination, which is displayed in the column 30 to the side of the screen, a prize is awarded by the machine.

Provision can be made for lesser prizes to be awarded should one, two, three or four of the symbols preselected by the player appear in the combination selected by the machine.

It will be understood that any five symbols, from the twenty available, can be chosen by the player to be the predetermined winning combination for a particular game. Any combination which is to be a winning combination in a game must be preselected by the player, the machine becoming programmed to treat a combination as a predetermined winning combination only upon preselection of that combination by the player.

The machine comprises also a cancel button 34 on the console 1 2. A single coin insertion puts the machine sufficiently into credit for several games to be played. Between games the player may depress the cancel button to allow him to preselect a fresh prize-winning combination for the next game. Should he choose not to use the cancel button, the next game will proceed on the basis of the same prize-winning combination as for the previous game.

Claims

1. An amusement machine comprising means wbereby a plurality of sets of symbols are at least notionally recorded, selecting means whereby in the course of a game one symbol can be selected at random from each set, displaying means whereby the symbols selected in any one game can be presented as a combination to the player, and means whereby the player can be rewarded should a predetermined winning combination be presented, the machine comprising preselection means whereby the player can predetermine a winning combination for each game by selecting as many different symbols as there are sets of symbols.

2. An amusement machine comprising means whereby a plurality of sets of symbols are at least notionally recorded, selecting means whereby in the course of a game one symbol can be selected at random from each set, displaying means whereby the symbols selected in any one game can be presented as a combination to the player, and means whereby the player can be rewarded should a predetermined winning combination be presented, the machine comprising preselection means whereby a winning combination for a game can be preselected by the player, the machine becoming programmed to treat a combination as a predetermined winning combination only upon preselection of that combination by the player.

3. A machine according to claim 2 in which said preselection means enables the player to predetermine a winning combination for a game by selecting as many different symbols as there are sets of symbols.

4. A machine according to either of claims 1 and 3 which is micro-processor based and comprises a video screen on which symbols can be presented to a player.

5. A machine according to claim 4 which is arranged to present said recorded sets of symbols on the screen, said preselecting means enabling the player to select any of the symbols presented in predetermining a winning combiation.

6. An amusement machine substantially as hereinbefore described.