AU2002100592B4 - Games machine bonus method - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention The present invention relates generally to gaming consoles, gaming machines or networked gaming and, more particularly, to a gaming machines found in casinos or betting environments. In addition the present invention relates to a gaming method.

Background of the invention Gaming machines otherwise known as slot machines, poker machines or EGMs, have proven very popular and for many years have been one of the base elements of the gaming industry. Although there have been many adaptations used in gaming machines to encourage players to invest money in the chance to win substantial prizes, players quickly tier of games, requiring further stimulation to encourage interest. For this reason, games creators have to constantly enhance the entertainment value associated with the likelihood of winning money or other assorted prizes, so as to attract players to their particular machines.

One such enhancement can be directly draw from the features that a game may provide that whilst awarding prizes to a player, also contain such things as wild cards, multiplications of winnings, or animation of a particular nature that accompany the theme of a given game. It should be noted that wild cards, wild symbols, or wilds, are terms for a symbol that can be used to represent all different symbols in a set of symbols.

Generally, such features are a catalyst to extra prizes, and enhance expectations of winnings, and the overall enjoyment of the game, more than standard games alone may provide.

One such gaming machine is described in the US Patent Application No. 391346 (US 6,290,600) where a sprite moves from a first symbol to a second displayed symbol and interacts with such second symbol, but there is no provision for this second symbol to cause additional symbols to change their properties thereby significantly reducing the excitement that a player may draw from such a game. In the intemational Patent WO 01/28647 Al it is described that a sprite interacts with a displayed symbol whereby changing this symbol into a wild. This feature provides the player with only one chance for a wild symbol, this being the displayed symbol with which the sprite interacts. In addition there is a certainty that the symbol with which the sprite interacted will change into a wild. Again, there is no additional excitement that can be provided by a cascading effect, or by an extended play that a chain of transformations can provide, such as causing a number of symbols in a number of steps to participate in a feature initiated by the sprite interacting with a displayed symbol.

We have found that by a sprite interacting one or more times with a special symbol with this interaction triggering each time a feature game that may cause a variety of displayed symbols to change their properties, we provide a significantly furthered degree of entertainment and appeal. Thus having the advantage of providing the player with a number of wild symbols from a single action. In addition, the player is further entertained as in each secondary game, selected symbols may appear to have a chance of changing their properties but after a fanciful animation they may return to their original properties.

We have found that this invention differs considerably to games offered on other gaming machines and will attract potential players because, of the way the trigger condition for the secondary game occurs and for the way symbols are directed to interact on the display. In addition we have found that potential players will enjoy the game of this invention on a conceptual level, due to the sequence of trigger conditions gradually improving the outcome of the primary game.

Because of the great value that features add to a gaming machine in attracting players, there is an obvious need to continue to invent new and improved features to further develop this industry. Further, since there are many gaming options in modem casinos, which compete for the player's attention and which provide generally the same return, there is a need for a game, which provides enhanced entertainment value for the player.

The present invention aims to satisfy this need and relates to a novel game feature.

Summary of the invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, in a first broad form, the present invention provides a gaming console comprising a display, a game controller, a stake selector, and a game initiation means where on initiation by the game initiation means in a primary game the game controller selects a plurality of symbols and displays the selected symbols on said display to produce a game outcome and awards a prize based upon the stakes wagered on winning combinations of the selected symbols.

In certain randomly selected game outcomes the game controller will display a sprite and if the game outcome also contains a special symbol, this will trigger a game feature wherein a number of secondary games will be triggered and played resulting in certain symbols being selected at random or in some scripted manor, and having their properties changed to become for example wild.

Description Typically, games played on gaming consoles of this invention may be displayed on a video display, which is controlled by the game controller, and which in turn is controlled by a set of instructions processed by the CPU. Recently gaming consoles have been simulated by networked electronic equipment where the various elements typically found on a gaming console may be distributed over the network and the said display, game controller, stake selector and game initiation means may be shared and hosted by any of the machines of the network. It is to be understood that when referring to a gaming console it is intended to include such networks that simulate gaming consoles. In addition multipurpose machines such as personal computers have been used to simulate gaming consoles and this present invention equally applies to such multipurpose machines or multitasking machines or any other machine that comprises physically or virtually of the elements typically found on a gaming console that is adapted to play a game of this invention. The preferred embodiments of the invention allows for the display to show a typical 5 reel video game as found in most casinos, however it is to be understood that the invention may equally be used in games, such as Kino, Draw Poker, Bingo, or any other game where some sort of symbols are selected or displayed.

In one embodiment of the present invention it is disclosed a game feature where a trigger condition being in the form of a sprite randomly appearing from behind displayed symbols whilst a special symbol (a catalyst symbol) is also present on the display of a game outcome, provides for the game controller initiating a game feature wherein the game controller directing one or more times the sprite to interact with the special symbol by which establishing trigger conditions for secondary games that may cause a variety of displayed symbols to change their properties. It is important to note that although sprites or moving symbols have been used in gaming machines in the past, the present invention provides a sprite that interacts with defined targets that appear on the screen in the form of scripted special symbols selected among the symbols of the game outcome to provide a game feature where the sprite's interaction establishes trigger conditions to secondary games. Thus each such interaction causes a trigger condition to start a secondary game feature which consists of at least the steps of: one or more symbols from the symbols of the game outcome being animated to indicate that their properties may change; and (ii) changing the properties of some of the said animated symbols in Within the game feature the trigger condition to the secondary game can be repeated should the sprite further interact with the special symbol. The game feature terminating upon the occurrence of a terminating condition.

The said special symbol is one of the symbols displayed in the outcome of the primary game where the game outcome is obtained by the game controller randomly selecting symbols from a data structure and displaying the selected symbols on the display. Such symbols may also include blank symbols represented by blank areas when used on the display. The said sprite may be in the form of any identifiable graphic. The said sprite interaction may preferably be in the form of a visual interaction with the special symbol, but the said interaction may not necessarily require the sprite to directly touch the said special symbol, but may simply be the sprite causing a reaction in the special symbol, which cause may also include the sprite's existence. In the said secondary game the game controller may select at least one of the said symbols of the said game outcome as a target symbol and change its properties to then be regarded by the game controller for example as a wild symbol. As a target symbol changes properties in the secondary game, the symbol may be controlled to change shape or be displayed in a fanciful animation. The said target symbols that change properties may be chosen at random among the symbols of the game outcome or their selection may be scripted. During a secondary game there may be a number of symbols selected as target symbols but not all such symbols may be directed to change their properties. Thus some of the target symbols may be part of a fanciful animation although their properties will remain unchanged. The trigger condition of the said sprite interacting with the said special symbol may be repeated a number of times until a secondary game termination condition occurs. Each time that the trigger condition is repeated, a secondary game is initiated wherein some of the said symbols of the game outcome may have their properties changed. The said termination condition of the game feature may for example be the sprite interacting with the said special symbol resulting in some symbols of the game outcome being selected as target symbols but none of the said target symbols changing their properties a trigger condition producing no results). Alternatively the terminating condition for the game feature may be that after a trigger condition no symbols are selected as target symbols or any other suitable terminating condition as known in the art.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the said sprite may be for example a figure in the form of a person that appears on the screen during randomly chosen game outcomes, and is displayed by initially peeking out from behind any of the symbols of the reels displayed in a game outcome. Upon the game controller also identifying the presence of a special symbol in the game outcome that looks for example like a lever, the game controller initiating a game feature and displaying an animation where the said sprite person may be displayed moving from behind symbols towards the special symbol lever and the controller proceeding to make the sprite interact with the special symbol whereby the game controller proceeding to animate the sprite to interact with the special symbol and sensing the trigger condition for a secondary game. Visually, the sprite could be seen to move the special symbol lever whereby the game controller sensing the said trigger condition and initiating an animated sequence of the secondary game where selected target symbols of the game outcome are controlled to change their characteristics, values or properties. For example after moving the lever, the said selected target symbols may appear to fall into a trap door and re-emerge from the trap transformed. The transformed target symbols may have acquired the properties of being wild. Some of the selected target symbols may re-emerge unchanged re-appear without having their property altered). Thus not all said selected symbols change properties. In an alternative embodiment some of the selected symbols may be displayed disappearing behind a said trap door and not reappear at all or reappear during successive said trigger conditions and secondary games. Thus there may be multiple trigger conditions of the secondary games before a new outcome of the primary game is displayed, and the transformation of properties of said selected symbols may be delayed across a number of said secondary games.

The repetition of the said trigger condition and the fact that not all symbols of the said selected target symbols will change properties in the respective secondary game will create further excitement for players, and extend their gaming experience. The game controller may proceed to evaluate the game outcome displayed and award prizes after each secondary game or may evaluate the outcome only after the game controller senses a terminating condition for the said game feature the end of secondary games). The terminating condition for the game feature may be scripted or dependent on the game outcome or trigger condition outcome. For example a trigger condition resulting in no displayed symbols having their properties changed may be used as the terminating condition. A specific example of the terminating condition for the secondary game may be, and continuing on the above example, none of the said selected target symbols after re-emerging from behind trap doors having their characteristics changed or alternatively the re-trigger condition of the said sprite moving the said lever resulting in no said target symbols being selected (no symbols disappearing through trap doors).

In a further embodiment of this invention, the special symbol may be a radio that when used by a randomly appearing sprite in the form of a disc-jockey, prompts the game controller of the trigger conditions for the secondary games, and in the secondary game selected target symbols of the said game outcome being shown as dancing and being designated by the game controller as wild.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the sprite may be in the form of a gardener and the special symbol may be displayed as a valve. The game controller sensing the presence of the sprite and the special symbol on the display during a game outcome, initiating an animation and directing the said sprite to interact with the special symbol, being the gardener turning the valve, whereby the game controller senses a trigger condition for the secondary game. In the secondary game from a subset of symbols shown on the display, which may be in the form of seeds, the game controller may select target symbols and displaying the target symbols having a water spring appearing next to them. The target seed symbols with the said water spring, being displayed to grow into plant symbols and where the transformed target plant symbols may reward the player with a higher payout on the pay table, or the game controller may display the said plants as producing fruits that are in the form of prizes awarded to the player, or the said plant symbols may simply act as wild symbols with awards being paid to the player accordingly.

Alternatively, in the example given above, the gardener sprite may turn the valve several times, each time having activating the trigger condition and initiating secondary games allowing the said water springs next to the plants to repeatedly spray the said target seed symbol, allowing the seeds to germinate and transform into plant symbols. Further, due to the extra water created in successive trigger conditions, some randomly selected transformed target plant symbols may in turn change into plants with flower symbols.

The plants with flower symbols may be considered by the game controller to act as prize multipliers (the multiplier being the number of flowers displayed), and the plant symbols without flowers as wild symbols. Alternatively some of the said flowers appearing on the said target plant symbols may mature into fruits (with or without the aid of a bee symbol that may be part of the symbols of the game outcome or being an additional sprite appearing at random) whereby the fruits may be presented to the player in the form of prizes awarded to the player by the game controller. The game feature terminating when the game controller senses that a secondary game trigger condition produced no improvement to the displayed game outcome and for example no said water springs spraying occurring next to said target seed symbols.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings and examples in order to illustrate the present invention. The drawings and examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention described herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming console according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a screen showing the operation of the method of one embodiment of the present invention where the first sprite and the special symbol first appear.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a screen showing the operation of the method of one embodiment of the present invention where the first sprite moves towards a special symbol.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a screen showing the operation of the method of one embodiment of the present invention where the secondary game has been triggered.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a screen showing the operation of the method of one embodiment of the present invention where some target symbols have had their characteristics altered.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a screen showing the operation of the method of one embodiment of the present invention where the secondary game trigger is repeated.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a screen showing the operation of the method of one embodiment of the present invention where the secondary game has been terminated and the final game outcome is evaluated.

Fig 8. is a schematic flow chart that demonstrates the procedures and implementation of one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the drawings Figure 1 shows a gaming console 10. The gaming console 10 has an operating panel on which there is disposed a coin slot 22, a banknote slot 24, stake selectors 26, and a game initiator 28. The gaming console also has a display 30 that displays the outcome of the game. The display 30 shows the reels 36 (typically of a 3, 4 or 5-reel machine) aligned to form at least one betting row. The reels 36 include a plurality of symbols 32.

Line indicators 34 illuminate to display those lines on which the player has wagered a stake. A further display 40 shows the prize table for winning combinations of displayed symbols and the game rules.

Figure 2 is the first figure of the sequence of figures from Figure 2 to Figure 7 that illustrate an example of steps of the game feature of one embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 shows a game outcome displayed on the display 30 where the sprite 52 represented by a person peering over a randomly selected symbol 32 on the first reel 36a.

The special symbol 50 represented by a valve is also present on third reel 36c. Upon both the sprite 52 and the special symbol 50 appearing at the same time the game controller 12 (also referred to as game control means) detects the start of the game feature 86 (shown in Figure and starts an animation that will start the trigger condition for the feature (shown in Figure 4).

Figure 3 shows the display 30 with the sprite 52 represented by the person, moving from behind the second reel 36b onto the third reel 36c to the special symbol 50 represented by the valve. The sprite 52 will then be animated so as to appear to be turning the special symbol 50 valve providing the trigger condition for a secondary game as shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 4, subsequent to Figure 3, after the sprite 52 has reached the special symbol the sprite 52 begins to visually interact with the special symbol 50. In this combined drawing 53, the person being the sprite 52 begins turning the valve special symbol which is the trigger condition that starts a secondary game. During this secondary game as displayed in this Figure 4 some symbols 32 are selected as target symbols and are animated and displayed in an animated sequence where the symbol 32 (target symbol) is displayed with an image of a spring 54.

Figure 5, subsequent to Figure 4, shows two target symbols (the symbols 32 where the animation of the symbol 54 took place) having their characteristics altered and been transformed into plant symbols 56 with the new characteristics of being wild.

In Figure 6, continuing from Figure 5, the sprite 52 begins again to visually interact with the special symbol 50, by which triggering again a secondary game. During this second secondary game instance (the first one was displayed in Figure 4) an additional symbol 32 is selected as a target symbol and is animated and displayed in an animated sequence where the symbol 32 (the target symbol) is displayed with an image of a spring 54.

In Figure 7, subsequent to Figure 6, the said target symbol of Figure 6 (the symbol 32 that was part of the animated sequence with the spring 54) is displayed as a transformed plant symbol 56 now having the characteristics of being wild. The sprite 52 is displayed as terminating the sequence of interactions with the special symbol 50 as the game controller 12 has sensed a scripted terminating condition whereby the sequence of secondary games is terminated (end of the game feature 86). The gaming console 10 is controlled to award a prize for the win combination formed along one of the bet lines awarding a prize for the combination of four Jacks (four symbols) being represented by (from left to right) the plant symbols 56, a symbol, another symbol, and another plant symbol 56. Since the symbol 56 is regarded by the game controller 12 as Wild, the gaming console awards a prize for 4 Jacks.

In Figure 8, the flow diagram of one embodiment of this invention is shown, where after prompting the game controller 12 with a wager at 60 and initiating a game at 62, the game controller 12 selects outcome symbols for the base game 88. At 68 the game controller 12 detects if the sprite 52 is displayed on the display concurrently to the special symbol 50. If both the sprite and the special symbol are present when the reels 36 have finished spinning as required, at 78 the game controller 12 initiates the game feature 86 where at 80 causing the sprite 52 to interact with the special symbol 50 determining the trigger condition for a secondary game. In the secondary game at 82 the game controller 12 selecting certain displayed symbols 32 as target symbols to be controlled to alter their value at 84. The game controller may cause the sprite 52 to further interact with the special symbol 50 and thereby triggering a further secondary game repeating the steps 82 and 84. The game controller 12 may terminate this sequence of steps 80, 82 and 84 depending on the way the sprite 52 or the special symbol 50 are displayed when interacting, or on the value assigned/not assigned at 84 to a symbol 32, or by repeating the sequence 80, 82 and 84 a predetermined number of times, or any other terminating condition for the game feature 86 according to programmed instructions (not shown) of the game controller 12. Continuing in the flow diagram of Figure 8 at 72 the game controller 12 evaluates the displayed game outcome and awards prizes at 76 according to game rules 70. It is to be understood although not shown, that the game controller may award prizes a number of times during the steps from 60 to 84, by evaluating intermediate game outcomes as displayed at the time on the display 10 and according to game rules While we have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that it is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. A gaming console having display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means in response to a wager amount, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein a plurality of symbols are arranged in an array on a plurality of contiguous reels, the reels being rotated and stopped to display the game outcome, the console awarding any prizes according to the game rules if symbols of the game outcome form one or more combinations also according to game rules, the game being charactenzed in that a game feature is provided where at least one sprite randomly appearing from behind at least one symbol displayed whilst the symbols displayed in the game outcome include at least one special symbol, the game controller commencing an animated sequence and the game controller means initiating a trigger condition for a secondary game by doing one of the following: a) visually moving the said sprite behind the reels towards the special symbol, and then displaying the said sprite interacting with the special symbol; b) controlling the said sprite to appear to interact with the special symbol; c) controlling the said sprite to appear to interact with a visually modified or not modified special symbol whilst appearing to share or not share at least part of the area where the special symbol appears; d) visually moving the said sprite in front of the reels and the said sprite appearing to interact with the special symbol; e) not visually moving or whilst visually moving the said sprite, the said sprite appearing to interact with the special symbol; or f) a combination thereof, the game control means initiating the said secondary game by sensing the said trigger condition where the secondary game being: the game controller means randomly selecting at least one symbol displayed in the game outcome as a target symbol and assigning the said target symbol an alternate value; or (ii) the game controller means selecting according to said game rules at least one symbol displayed in the game outcome as a target symbol and assigning the said target symbol an alternate value, and the gaming console awarding prizes for combinations of symbols according to said game rules and having regard for the said alternative value of the target symbol.

2. A gaming console according to claim 1 wherein the said trigger condition of the secondary game is sensed by the said game controller means by controlling the said sprite to appear to interact with the said special symbol.

3. A gaming console according to claim 1 wherein the said trigger condition of the secondary game is sensed by the said game controller means by controlling the said sprite to be displayed to interact with a visually modified or not modified special symbol whilst appearing to share or not share at least part of the area where the special symbol appears.

4. A gaming console according to any of the claims from 1 to 3 wherein the said secondary game is the game controller means randomly selecting at least one symbol displayed in the game outcome as a target symbol and assigning the said target symbol an altemrnate value. A method of gaming comprising the steps of: in a primary game rotating a plurality of reels with symbols on the reels and stopping the reels to display a plurality of symbols on the display as the game outcome and awarding any prizes as permitted by game rules; (ii) initiating a game feature if a sprite appears from behind at least one of the symbols of the reels of the game outcome and if the symbols on the reels displayed include at least one special symbol; (iii) in the game feature triggering at least one secondary game for each time the said sprite interacts with the said special symbol; (iv) selecting in each said secondary game at least one of the said symbols displayed as a target symbol and assigning the said target symbol a value; and awarding prizes according to game rules and having regard for the said value of the one or more said target symbols. Dated this 2 6 th day of July 2002 Vision Growth Pty Ltd