GB2292245A

GB2292245A - Entertainment apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2292245A
Application number: GB9515169A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jurgen Schattauer
Original assignee: NSM AG
Current assignee: NSM AG
Priority date: 1994-07-27
Filing date: 1995-07-24
Publication date: 1996-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-24
Also published as: DE4426583A1; GB9515169D0; GB2292245B; DE4426583C2

Description

ENTERTAINMENT APPARATUS Description

2292245 The present invention relates to an entertainment apparatus having a number of rotatable bodies, wherein there is a break-down into win, stake and duration of game.

Such an entertainment apparatus is known from DEA-41 21 984. With this apparatus, a plurality of movements of the rotatable bodies can be effected without exceeding the maximum prescribed total winnings. In addition, the course of the game is divided into N partial games which can be played individually or in groups. The sum of the duration of the game, the sum of the stakes and the sum of the winnings for the N partial games correspond in each case to the set time, the maximum stake and the maximum win. With the known gaming machine, a free-of-charge movement of the rotatable body can also be given as a win.

DE-A-42 32 762 discloses a coin-operated gaming machine, which contains at least two different gaming systems in one and the same apparatus, such systems being self-contained and being independent of each other. These gaming systems may include, for example, roller, card or dice games. The player is supposed to become interested in the apparatus as a result of being offered a selection of completely different games. The facility to change the game therefore increases his excitement. The various games, more especially their function and display panels, are shown on a video display.

The basic object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment apparatus which renders possible a wide variety of games.

According to the present invention there is provided an entertainment apparatus having a number of first rotatable bodies, in which there is a break-down into win, stake and duration of game, wherein the entertainment apparatus includes an additional number of second rotatable bodies, whereby additional facilities for winning are provided when the second rotatable bodies are played in conjunction with the first rotatable bodies.

Because the invention uses additional second rollers, more game variants are rendered possible, which generally increase the excitement of the games and provide the player with more varied and more interesting options than was the case with only one set of rotatable bodies. Furthermore, by selecting the additional rotatable bodies with respect to the intended purpose, the player can adapt his/her game in a more individual manner and, in consequence, can make it subjectively more entertaining. Moreover, he is in a position to prescribe the stake and the win possibilities, so this gives him the feeling of playing a more active role in the course of the game and, in consequence, results in the player having a greater interest in and greater satisfaction with the game.

An advantageous further development of the entertainment apparatus resides in the fact that the number of the additional second rotatable bodies is selectable. In consequence, the player can change his game and its chances of winning via the number of additional rotatable bodies. The player is therefore more involved in the course of the game, so that he becomes more interested in the game.

3 Furthermore, the stake and/or the number of the rotatable bodies required for a winning combination may be selectable. On the one hand, when selecting the maximum number of additional rotatable bodies, the probability of achieving a prescribed solution vector, as defined by the visible symbols of the individual rotatable bodies, may in fact reduce, but this game can thus be more attractive to the player who enjoys taking risks because of a smaller stake or a higher chance of winning. On the other hand, when selecting the maximum number of additional rotatable bodies, the chance of winning may also be increased if the prescribed vector requires only one number of vector inputs which are identical to the solution vector and, in consequence, when selecting the maximum number of additional rotatable bodies, the chances of winning as a result of achieving a winning combination are increased, but the win may then be smaller. In each case, the player increases his interest in the entertainment apparatus since he is hereby given numerous opportunities of fulfilling his creativity and of adapting the requirements for winning to his personal willingness to take risks.

Moreover, if a combination of the attained stop positions of the first rotatable bodies' occurs, it is possible to provide a start for one or more of the additional second rotatable bodies. The additional second set of rotatable bodies is hereby used as a possibility for providing an additional game under special conditions as a win for a specific attained solution vector. These special conditions may be fixed in dependence on the player and include merely playing with the second set under the same playing conditions, but also include a game with the second set of rotatable bodies with a freely selectable tariff, etc. In this way, the player can play, as his reward, a game with a stake of 4. -- DM on the second set of rotatable bodies, and such would not be possible for him on the first set of rotatable bodies. This is particularly welcomed by the player who enjoys taking risks and who can thus increase his kicks considerably.

An additional advantageous further development of the present invention is seen to reside in the fact that the start of one or more of the additional second rotatable bodies which have not yet started is provided in the event of a fresh occurrence of a predetermined combination of the attained stop positions of the first rotatable bodies. The player is hereby given the opportunity of starting one or more rotatable bodies of the second set of rotatable bodies after finishing playing with the first set of rotatable bodies and after a no-win game has occurred, for example, and of achieving additional wins on the second set of rotatable bodies via these solutions which occur. After a no-win game, the player can be given the opportunity of., for example, using one of, say, three rotatable bodies of the second set of rotatable bodies, in order to be able to achieve an additional chance of winning on the second set of rotatable bodies by the solution vector then determined after three no- win games. Despite the frustrating experience of three successive no-win games, the player thus becomes gripped by the entertainment apparatus, since he keeps on being given the additional chance of winning after three no-win games.

With one embodiment of the entertainment apparatus, an additional stake is preferably provided for starting the additional second rotatable bodies. Because of this stake, which may be a fraction of the regular stake, it can be even more exciting for the player to play-off the rotatable body of the additional second set of rotatable bodies, because he gains even greater interest through the calculated stake at the end of the game with the second set of rotatable bodies. By raising a stake, and because of the associated risk of losing this stake, the feeling of excitement and, hence, the incitement to play are increased for the player.

With the present invention, the provision of an input device for releasing a start for the second additional rotatable bodies is also advantageous. The player can control the playing-off of the additional rotatable bodies more actively by this input device, which is configured as a button, for example. This arrangement renders possible an interactive participation in the course of the game, so that the player can introduce his instinctive timing into the game and derives even more satisfaction from communicating with the entertainment apparatus. In consequence, the player can play a more active part when playing with the entertainment apparatus and can therefore participate much more in the course of the game and become selffulfilled.

Furthermore, an automatic start release for the additional second rotatable bodies may be provided. After an above-described, extremely active phase, this arrangement permits the player to have the opportunity of relaxing somewhat, without having to lose the fun of playing with the entertainment apparatus, which now takes over for him the starting and stopping of the rotatable bodies. Because of this type of recreational phase, the player is soon in a position again to take an active part and comes through such a period of play more refreshed and in better health without running the risk of wearing himself out on the entertainment apparatus. Other players who want to take a less active part in the course of the game may also prefer this type of start release.

By way of example, the present invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to two embodiments and the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an entertainment apparatus according to a first embodiment; and Fig. 2 is a front view of an entertainment apparatus according to a second embodiment.

The entertainment apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to a first embodiment.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a housing 5 for an entertainment apparatus 1 having rotatable bodies. Said housing includes a first set of rotatable bodies 15 and an additional second set of rotatable bodies 20 behind a front panel 10, said second set being disposed in an offset manner relative to the first set of rotatable bodies 15. The additional second set of rotatable bodies 20 is mechanically independent of the first set of rotatable bodies 15. Symbols and/or numbers 25 of the rotatable bodies 26 are visible behind windows 12 on the rotatable bodies 15 and 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the number 7 is shown each time for the symbol of the rotatable bodies 15, and apples are shown for the symbols of the second set of rotatable bodies 20. Different symbols 25 may also be visible, of course, in one set of rotatable bodies 15 and 20.

In the top left-hand corner of the front panel 10 of the entertainment apparatus 1, a coin slot 40 and a magnetic card slot 42 are illustrated for the insertion of coins or respectively for the introduction of a magnetic strip card or a memory card, by means of which the credit stored in the entertainment apparatus can be increased. Moreover, an end button 50 is illustrated there, by means of which the game can be terminated and the actual credit can be paid-out. Furthermore, a credit display 60 is illustrated in the upper region of the front panel 10 of the entertainment appara tus 1.

A risk button 52 is provided in the lower region of the front panel 10 of the housing 1 for playing the special games on the special game display 62, which is illustrated at the right-hand side of the front panel 10 of the entertainment apparatus 1. Furthermore, the start/stop buttons 54 and 56 are situated here, and the first set or the additional second set of rotatable bodies 15 or 20 respectively can be. manually operated by said buttons.

A dispensing dish 70 is illustrated in the lower region of the front end of the entertainment apparatus 1, and the credit amount can be dispensed in coins within said dish in the event of a win or in the event of the game being terminated. Alternatively thereto, the win can also of course be stored in a credit memory (not shown), and the amended credit is then indicated in the credit display 60.

The mode of operation of the first embodiment of the entertainment apparatus is described hereinafter.

After coins have been fed into the coin slot 40 or after a memory card or magnetic strip card has been introduced into the slot 42, a corresponding credit is indicated in the credit display 60. By actuating the start/stop button 54, or after a predetermined time has passed, the in rotation. A storage unit.

f irst set of rotatable bodies 15 is set stake is thereby debited from the credit As a result of a fresh actuation of the start/stop button, the rotatable bodies 15 of the f irst set are stopped one after the other or together. If the button 54 is not actuated, the rotatable bodies of the first set stop automatically after a predetermined playing period. The solution vector, which is defined by symbols visible through the windows 12 of the f irst set of rotatable bodies 15 is then determined. If this solution vector is identical with a vector from a predetermined quantity of win vectors, the player is offered a win. This win can be an increase in his stored credit in display 60, the offer of special games or, however, the offer of an additional game on the second set of rotatable bodies 20. The player can freely select the tariff or stake, crucial for this game on the second set of rotatable bodies, via a tariff button 57. correspondingly modified chances of winning are then also compared with this selected stake.

If the solution vector, which is visible through the windows 12 of the first set of rotatable bodies 15, does not coincide with a predetermined win vector, a rotatable body 26 on the second set of rotatable bodies 20 can be set in rotation by the actuation of the start/stop button 56. As a result of the start/stop button 56 being actuated again, or respectively after the prescribed playing period has expired, this rotatable body 26 is stopped. The solution vector, which is now visible on the second set of rotatable bodies 20, is compared again with the predetermined win vectors. if identical, a win is ensured. A fraction of the stake, which is debited for playing with the first set of rotatable bodies 20, is debited by the credit storage unit for setting in rotation the rotatable body 26 from the second set of rotatable bodies 20.

In an alternative variant of the entertainment apparatus, the solution vector from the second set of rotatable bodies 20 is only compared with the quantity of predetermined win vectors when, after three such games, all of the rotatable bodies of the second set of rotatable bodies 20 had been set in rotation once and stopped again. After such an interesting and varied game has been terminated, the player can terminate the game by actuating the end button 50, and he receives his credit via a dispensing dish 70, or a corresponding amount is credited to his memory card or magnetic strip card.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 2. In addition to a f irst set of rotatable bodies 15, this second embodiment has a second set of two rotatable bodies 20. A selector button 55 is additionally provided in the lower region of the front panel 10 of the entertainment apparatus 1. There is no tariff button 57, which is provided in the entertainment apparatus of the first embodiment. otherwise, the second embodiment of the entertainment apparatus is constructed externally in accordance with the first embodiment.

The mode of operation of the second embodiment of the entertainment apparatus is described hereinafter. After coins have been inserted into the coin slot 40 or a memory card or magnetic strip card has been introduced into the slot 42, a corresponding credit is shown in the credit display 60. By actuating the selector button, the player decides how many additional rotatable bodies 20 of the second set he intends to play with. He then sets the selected rotatable bodies of the second set of rotatable bodies 20 in rotation, in addition to the rotatable bodies 15 of the first set 15, by actuating the start/stop button 54 or 56 respectively. A stake, which is dependent on the number of the additionally selected number of rotatable bodies 20, is thereby debited by the credit storage unit 6. For example, a start of two additional rotatable bodies 20 corresponds to a stake of a total of 10 Pf, and the start of only one additional rotatable body corresponds to a stake of 20 Pf, etc. As a result of a fresh actuation of the start/stop button 54 or 56 respectively, the rotatable bodies 15 and 20 of the first or second set 15 are stopped one after the other or together. If the button 54 is not actuated, the rotatable bodies 15 and 20 of the first and second sets automatically stop after a predetermined playing period. The win is now determined according to the solution vector, which is visible through the windows 1 of the first and second sets of rotatable bodies. This can occur in such a manner that only three of the five maximum selected symbols have to be identical or, however, that all five of five symbols have to be identical. The stakes for the individual games are then also adapted in such manner.

11 -

Claims

1. An entertainment apparatus having a number of f irst rotatable bodies, in which there is a break-down into win, stake and duration of game, wherein the entertainment apparatus includes an additional number of second rotatable bodies, whereby additional facilities for winning are provided when the second rotatable bodies are played in conjunction with the first rotatable bodies.

2. An entertainment apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the additional second rotatable bodies is selectable.

3. An entertainment apparatus as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the stake and/or the number of the rotatable bodies required for a winning combination are selectable.

4. An entertainment apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein, if a combination of the attained stop positions of the first rotatable bodies occurs, a start is provided for one or more of the additional second rotatable bodies.

5. An entertainment apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the start of one or more of the additional second rotatable bodies which have not yet started is provided in the event of a fresh occurrence of a predetermined combination of the attained stop positions of the first rotatable bodies.

6. An entertainment apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein an additional stake is provided for starting the additional second rotatable bodies.

7. An entertainment apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein an input device for releasing a start for the second additional rotatable bodies is provided.

8. An entertainment apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein an automatic start releasefor the additional second rotatable bodies is provided.