AU2003252918B2 - A gaming device and method of operating same - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): IGT (AUSTRALIA) PTY. LIMITED Bruce BEVAN Grant McRAE David Hugh MUIR FRASER OLD SOHN Patent Attorneys Level 6, 118 Alfred Street MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 A GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Australian Provisional Patent No. 2002 952 709 filed 18 November 2002 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 3487A-AU A GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Field of the Invention The present invention relates to gaming devices and, in particular, to those gaming devices known as slot machines, poker machines or fruit machines.

Background Art Such gaming devices have a display which includes a plurality of spinning reels each of which has a plurality of possible stop positions. Traditionally, the reels were mechanical reels. However, of recent times the "reels" are electronically implemented and there is a video or like electronic display which displays a portion of each reel.

The combination of reel stop positions determines the outcome of a game played on the gaming device. The player places a bet and may, or may not, win a prize. The possible prizes are determined by a prize schedule which awards prizes to only some of the possible reel stop combinations. Which reel stop combination is the outcome of any game is electronically determined by a random number generator. The generation of the random number, and thus the determination of the game's reel stop combination, is very much faster than the time taken for the display of rotating reels to come to a halt and thereby display the reel stop combination.

Prizes can be awarded on the basis of the reel symbols displayed across a particular one or more lines of the display, or on the basis of a predetermined number of symbols scattered anywhere on the display, or both.

The bets and prizes are normally units having a monetary value which are electronically recorded. The value of unused bets and the cumulative value of any prizes won is recorded on a credit counter. For each game the credit counter is initially reduced by the value of the bet and, if a prize is awarded at the end of the game, incremented with the value of the prize.

In recent years, in order to stimulate player interest and excitement, a prize in the form of one or more free games has been awarded. For free games the credit counter is not initially reduced but is incremented in the event that the free game results in a prize. An advantage of a free game prize (which effectively has the monetary value of the value of the bet) is that the player is obliged to spend that monetary value with the casino or other gaming venue yet feels that he is getting something for nothing.

There is substantial competition between gaming venues and between gaming device manufacturers. This competition demands a continuing output of new game ideas and innovations. As a result, a recent trend has been an increase in the number of free games able to be won as a prize. This number has progressively increased from 5 to 10 to 15 to and is now currently typically An unintended consequence of this increase is a corresponding increase in player idle time whilst the sequence of consecutive free games is played out, each with its own outcome.

The time taken to play, say, 25 consecutive games is substantial and a player may become distracted during this period and cease playing altogether. Furthermore, during this time the player is not placing new bets and so the turnover of the gaming venue is not being incremented during this period. This loss of turnover multiplied by many gaming devices and over many playing hours can amount to a substantial sum.

The object of the present invention is to continue to stimulate player interest on the one hand by the awarding of prizes in the form of free games but to decrease the loss of turnover on the other hand. Preferably the loss of turnover is reduced as much as possible.

Summary of the Invention Briefly stated, the present invention is based upon the realisation that it is not necessary to display the results of free games which do not win, essentially because there is little player interest in such games, and in this way the time taken to play through a sequence of free games can be reduced.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of operating a gaming device having a display which includes a plurality of spinning reels each of which has a plurality of possible stop positions, the combination of said stop positions determining the outcome of a game played on said gaming device, and a prize schedule which includes for at least one of said possible reel stop positions a free games prize comprising a sequence of a plurality of consecutive free games, said method comprising the step of displaying the reel stop positions of only winning free games on said display following triggering of said free game prize.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a gaming device having a display which includes a plurality of spinning reels each of which has a plurality of possible stop positions, the combination of said stop positions determining the outcome of a game played on said gaming device and a prize schedule which includes for at least one of said possible reel stop positions a free games prize comprising a sequence of a plurality of consecutive free games, wherein following triggering of said free games prize only the reel stop positions of winning free games are displayed on said display.

Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawing and Appendix in which: Fig. 1 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment, and the Appendix is a program listing of code required to implement the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description As seen in Fig. I the initial portion of the play cycle is substantially conventional in that the number of pay lines and the value of the bet for each pay line are selected by the player.

The player then initiates play. If there is sufficient credit in the credit counter, the play or game is commenced. The result of the game is then displayed to the player.

t One possible outcome of the game is that the feature of the preferred embodiment, namely "win 25 free games" is won. In that case, the feature mode is started.

In the feature mode the first of 25 random numbers is selected. Then a test is made to evaluate whether the first random number selected is a winning combination. If it is not, the next random number is selected without any display of the losing combination being made. Only if the random number selected is a winning combination is the normal prize awarded and the normal display made of the winning combination. Then the next random number is selected. This procedure is followed until all 25 random numbers have been selected and tested to see if they are winning combinations. This then completes the feature mode and control of the gaming device then passes to "start play cycle" for the next regular game.

If the time required to select a random number and determine that it is not a winning combination is, say, 0.01 seconds and the time required to display a winning combination is, say, 2 seconds then the time taken to play 25 games with, say, 5 winning games and losing games is (5 x 2) (20 x 0.01) 10.2 seconds.

This is to be compared with the prior art in which the time taken to play and display all free games is 50 seconds. It follows that the time during which there is no increase in turnover has been reduced from 50 seconds to 10.2 seconds yet player interest has been stimulated by the excitement of winning 5 games in 10.2 seconds which appears to the player to be equivalent to a consecutive winning streak of 5 games.

In addition to the above described basic embodiment, various variations are also contemplated by the present invention. Firstly, instead of merely winning a predetermined number 25) of free games, the player can win a predetermined number of free winning games. If the number of winning free games is, say, 10 then the flow chart as described above is modified so that the feature mode continues until the requisite number of free winning games has been completed. Since the time taken for a losing game to be completed is so short, even a long losing sequence does not occupy much playing time.

Thus the variable number of free games (required to produce the predetermined number of free winning games) can be quickly completed.

Secondly, instead of permitting a predetermined number 25) of free games to be played, a variable number of free games can be played until a prize has been won, or prizes to (or in excess of) a combined predetermined value have been won.

Thirdly, instead of displaying each winning free game result, only the highest paying, say, 3 winning free games can be displayed. In this embodiment, the prize for any winning free game which was not displayed would still be incremented to the credit counter. Again this reduces the time taken to play free games.

Fourthly, if the player has played a specified sequence of regular games without a winning combination occurring, then a number, e.g. one, of free winning games can be awarded. In this embodiment, the feature mode is triggered by the predetermined losing sequence.

Also the number of random numbers tested is variable until the first winning combination is selected. However, since the losing games occupy so little time, to the player it appears as if the winning free game appears almost instantaneously.

Fifthly, during the feature mode, random numbers representing reel stop combinations can be discarded until a prize of a specific value or higher will be awarded, for example on at least one pay line for the selected reel stop combinations. Thus the player can win back at least an initial bet, or a prize which triggered the free game feature, or the like.

Sixthly, during the feature mode, reel stop combinations can be discarded until the total of all prizes for the current reel stop combination is greater than a given value. Again a player can win back at least an initial bet, or a prize which triggered the free game, or the like.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the present invention.

The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'.

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APPENDIX

The following computer program listing sets forth the actual code required to implement one embodiment of the present invention. The program listing is the subject of copyright and is not to be reproduced in part or in whole without the express prior written authority of the patent applicant (or eventual patent owner) unless that reproduction is a consequence of reproduction of the patent specification of which this Appendix forms a part.

Actual Implementation Code.

format public static void main final mnt free game -count= FeatureGameData.GetFeatureData(Game.FD_-FREEGAMECOUNT); int feature-state FeatureGameData.GetFeatureData(Gaine.FDFEATURESTATE); Feature has been triggered..

switch (feature-state) case Game.FEATURESTART: Game.VOLUMEFEATURE, Game.DUPNORESET, Gamne.HIGH); 1Trigger Bell Game.PlaySound(2, Game.HIGH); Remove the explain message..

Title.RemoveGraphicFromGameMsg(0, Game.RESOURCE); /Press START FEATURE Button, Congratulations..

Strings.FormatFromResource(0, Game.TEMP, Game.STR1NG_-PRESS_-START_-FEATURE, 0); Strings. FormnatFromResource( 1, Game.TEMP, Game.STRING_-CONGRATULATIONS, 0); Title.AddToGameMsg(1, Game.TEMP, Game.FLASH); Title.AddToGameMsg(0, Game.TEMP, Game.FORCE I Game.FLASH); final boolean bail !Util.WaitStartFeatureo; Title.RemnoveFromGameMsg(O, Game.TEMP); Title.RemoveFromGameMsg( 1, Game.TEMP); for (int reel 0; reel Game.REELS; reel++) if (FeatureGameData.GetFeatureData(Game.FDREELXTRIGGER+reel) 0) Animation. Stop(reel, Game. STATIC); i Animation.Delete(reel, Game.STATIC); if (bail) return; Feature Intro..

Game.PlaySound(1, Game.HIGH); Move to feature screen..

for (int i i<=34;

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FeatureGameData.SetFeatureData(Game.FDTRANSITIONSCREEN, i); Screen.SetGameLayoutlndex(i); Screen. Shutdowno; Screen.DrawGamneScreeno; Screen. Startupo; Reset Reel Trigger Data..

for (mnt reel 0; reel Game.REELS; reel++) FeatureGameData.SetFeatureData(Game.FDREELXTRIGGER+reel, 0); FeatureGameData.SetFeatureData(Game.FDTRANSITIONSCREEN, 0); Game.DisplayFreeGameMsg(free gamne -count); Reeler.ChangeReelLayoutslndex(Game.FREEREELSET); feature -state Game.FEATUREINFREEGAMES; break; case Game.FEATUREINFREEGAMES: Game. DisplayFreeGameMsg(free game -count); Reeler.ChangeReelLayoutslndex(Game.FREEREELSET); break; default: Reeler.ChangeReelLayoutslndex(Game.MAINREELSET); Explain feature message..

Title.RemoveGraphicFromGameMsg(0, GameRESOURCE); Title.AddGraphicToGameMsg(0, Game.RESOURCE, Game.FORCE); break; /Ensure a 'Winning Free Game'..

if (feature-state Game.FEATURE_[NFREEGAMES) mnt reel; while (!WinChecko) for (reel 0; reel Game.REELS; reel++) ReelerSymbols. SetFinal(reel, Random.Number(STOPS PERREEL)); FeatureGameData.UpdateFeatureData(Game.FDFEATURESTATE, feature-State); Termination of the feature...

IIOnly do at the end of each free game.

if (GameEngine.GetFeatureActiveo 1) IDecrement free_game count winning free games only..

free game-count--; HI Check if the free games have be completed.

if (free game-count 0)

Claims (19)

1. A method of operating a gaming device having a display which includes a plurality of spinning reels each of which has a plurality of possible stop positions, the combination of said stop positions determining the outcome of a game played on said gaming device, and a prize schedule which includes for at least one of said possible reel stop positions a free games prize comprising a sequence of a plurality of consecutive free games, said method comprising the step of displaying the reel stop positions of only winning free games on said display following triggering of said free game prize.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the step of ensuring that at least a first predetermined number of said free games are winning games as determined by said prize schedule.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 including the step of awarding said free games prize if there has been no winning game outcome within a second predetermined number of consecutive games.

4. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 comprising the step of displaying the reel stop positions of only a third predetermined number of the highest paying ones of said winning free games.

The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said third predetermined number is one.

6. The method as defined in any one of paragraphs 1-3 comprising the step of displaying the reel stop positions of only those winning free games having a prize in excess of a first predetermined value.

7. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 comprising the step of displaying a reel stop position only after the total of the prizes of all winning free games exceeds a first predetermined value.

8. The method as claimed in claims 6 or 7 wherein said first predetermined value is the initial bet.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein said first predetermined value is a multiple of the initial bet.

A method of operating a gaming device, said method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing and/or the Appendix.

11. A gaming device having a display which includes a plurality of spinning reels each of which has a plurality of possible stop positions, the combination of said stop positions determining the outcome of a game played on said gaming device and a prize schedule which includes for at least one of said possible reel stop positions a free games prize comprising a sequence of a plurality of consecutive free games, wherein following triggering of said free games prize only the reel stop positions of winning free games are displayed on said display.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least a first predetermined number of said free games are winning games as determined by said prize schedule.

13. The device as claimed in claims 11 or 12 wherein said prize schedule awards said free games prize if there has been no winning game outcome within a second predetermined number of consecutive games.

14. The device as claimed in any one of claims 11 13 wherein the reel stop positions of only a third predetermined number of the highest paying ones of said winning free games are displayed.

The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said third predetermined number is one.

16. The device as claimed in any one of claims 11 13 wherein the reel stop positions of only those winning free games having a prize in excess of a first predetermined value, are displayed. I

17. The device as claimed in any one of claims 11 13 wherein a reel stop position is displayed only after the total of the prizes of all winning free games exceeds a first predetermined value.

18. The device as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein said first predetermined value is the initial bet.

19. The device as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein said first predetermined value is a multiple of the initial bet. A gaming device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing and/or the Appendix. Dated this 10th day of October 2003 IGT (AUSTRALIA) PTY LIMITED By: FRASER OLD SOHN Patent Attorneys for the Applicant