AU2004210566A1 - Gaming Machine with Inner Reel Re-Spin Feature - Google Patents

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.10

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: GAMING MACHINE WITH INNER REEL RE-SPIN FEATURE The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 042018 2 GAMING MACHINE WITH INNER REEL RE-SPIN FEATURE The present invention relates to gaming machines for the playing of games of chance and, more particularly, to special features of elements of the display of such machines.

BACKGROUND

Gaming, or poker machines, have become a major source of amusement and diversion in such places as clubs, hotels and casinos in many parts of the world.

Traditionally such machines were mechanical devices where a number of reels marked with a plurality of numbers or symbols could be made to spin randomly by the application of some mechanical input. If the subsequent patterns of numbers or symbols displayed on the reels, when these returned to a rest state, corresponded to predetermined patterns, the machine would provide a prize or payout. Generally such gaming machines have come to be regulated by government authorities as to their number and in the manner in which the machines must return a percentage of the monetary turnover to the players.

The introduction of electronics, computers and electronic graphical displays, has allowed a continual increase in the complexity and variations of gaming machines, games and displays while maintaining the basic concept of the traditional machine.

3 Machines and games that offer novel and stimulating variations on the basic game theme and environment are eagerly sought by the gaming industry and there is consequently intense competition between machine manufacturers to innovate.

Nevertheless the repetitive playing of even modern gaming machines can lead to boredom of the players with a consequent under-utilization of machines and increase in player dissatisfaction.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of theabove disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a gaming machine having a plurality of spinning reels; wherein at an occurrence of a trigger event at end of play of a main game, said main game is completed and any prize is awarded, and (b)a feature game is initiated wherein, a simulated inner reel is caused to be spun in at least one symbol position of said main game.

Preferably, said trigger event is determined by a condition in a game control module of said gaming machine.

4 Preferably, said trigger event is a function of volume of play on said gaming machine.

Preferably, said trigger event is a function of volume of play on a plurality of linked gaming machines.

Preferably, said trigger event causes the appearance of at least one special symbol in a said symbol position as an outcome of said main game.

Preferably, a display of said main game comprises a matrix of m x n elements.

Preferably, said matrix is comprised of elements arranged in vertical columns.

Preferably, said vertical columns are simulated to appear as spinning reels about a common notional axis during play of said main game.

Preferably, symbols of said outcome of said main game in symbol positions of reels other than a reel displaying said special symbol, maintain said outcome of said main game during play of said feature game.

Preferably, at least one symbol position of said reel displaying said special symbol is caused to simulate a spinning inner reel.

Preferably, all symbol positions of said reel displaying said special symbol including said special symbol, are caused to simulate spinning inner reels.

Preferably, said special symbol appears in symbol positions of more than one of said reels.

5 Preferably, said display of said main game comprises an array of N-sided symbol containing fields.

Preferably, said fields are substantially arranged in a plurality of columns.

Preferably, said fields are substantially arranged as a plurality of rows.

Preferably, all symbols of fields of said columns other than a column displaying said special symbol maintain said main game outcome display.

Preferably, all symbols of fields of said rows other than a row displaying said special symbol maintain said main game outcome display.

Preferably, at least one symbol field of said column displaying said special symbol is converted to simulate a spinning reel within said symbol field.

Preferably, at least one symbol field of said row displaying said special symbol is converted to simulate a spinning reel within said symbol field.

Preferably, said spinning inner reel is simulated to rotate about an axis parallel to a spin axis of said spinning reels of said main game.

Preferably, said spinning. inner reel is simulated to rotate about an axis normal to a spin axis of said plurality of spinning reels.

6 Preferably, said spinning inner reel is simulated to rotate about an axis set at an angle to a spin axis of said plurality of spinning reels.

Preferably, said spinning inner reel is simulated to about an axis rotating in a plane parallel to a spin axis of said plurality of spinning reels.

Preferably, each said spinning inner reel is caused to spin sequentially until a display outcome corresponds to a predetermined prize winning display outcome.

Preferably, a display outcome of at least one said spinning inner reel confers a predetermined bonus prize.

Preferably, said display outcome is determined by symbols displayed by said at least one inner reel at an end of a spin sequence.

Preferably, said display outcome is determined by a combination of symbols displayed by said at least one inner reel and any symbols unchanged from said main game outcome display.

Preferably, said symbols displayed by said at least one spinning inner reel are numerical values corresponding to credit points redeemable for play of said main game.

Preferably, said numerical values are summed to determine a total number of said credit points.

Preferably, a numerical value of multiple recurring ones of said numerical values determines said number of credit points as equal to said numerical value.

7 Preferably, said gaming machine is a stand alone machine with a single display unit.

Preferably, said gaming machine is a stand alone machine with a main display unit and a secondary display unit.

Preferably, said gaming machine is one of a plurality of gaming machines linked to a common jackpot system.

Preferably, said gaming machine is on of a plurality of gaming machines linked to a pay line selection module.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of awarding a bonus to a player of a main game on a gaming machine; said method including the steps of:causing at least one special symbol to appear within a respective symbol location of said main game at a conclusion of said main game, on the occurrence of a trigger event, causing an inner reel spin sequence to occur as a feature game in any said symbol location containing said special symbol.

Preferably, said trigger event is an outcome of said main game.

Preferably, said trigger event is a random number generated within a game controller coinciding with a predetermined value.

Preferably, said trigger event is a random number generated within a game controller falling within a predetermined range of numbers.

8 Preferably, said. trigger event is an accumulated value of bets placed on said machine coinciding with a predetermined value of bets.

Preferably, at a conclusion of said inner reel spin sequence, one of a plurality of symbols is displayed in each said symbol location containing said special symbol.

Preferably, symbols displayed at said conclusion of said inner reel spin sequence determine said bonus.

Preferably, symbols displayer at said conclusion of said inner reel spin sequence in combination with retained symbols displayed at said conclusion of said main game determine said bonus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows an example of a sequence of gaming machine displays according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 shows a further example of a sequence of gaming machine displays, Figure 3 shows yet a further example Of a sequence of gaming machine displays, 9 Figure 4 shows an example of a sequence of gaming machine displays according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 shows a stand-alone gaming machine with a single display unit for displaying any of the display sequences of Figures 1 to 4, Figure 6 shows a stand-alone gaming machine with dual display units, Figure 7 shows an array of gaming machines linked to a jackpot system, Figure 8 shows an array of gaming machines linked to a pay line selection unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Conventionally, electronic gaming machines or poker machines have continued to simulate in some form the spinning reels of their mechanical antecedents. Thus the display (or the main display of a dual display machine), typically shows the progress and final outcome of a game played on the machine, as segmented reels spinning about a notional horizontal axis, coming to rest as a matrix of elements in columns and rows. Some arrangement of predefined symbols displayed in selected ones of the displayed segments may then constitute a pay line or pattern.

10 With increasingly powerful video processors being introduced into gaming machines, increasing complexity of the display is possible, allowing departures from the traditional restrictions inherited from mechanical forbears and older video style machines. While some of the following preferred embodiments of the present invention can only be represented and played on electronic display means such as CRTs, LCDs or plasma screens for example, at least some may still be represented on mechanical stepper motor driven machines.

The present invention provides, in at least some preferred forms, for a secondary feature game to be played subsequent to play of a main game as a result of either an internal condition generated within, or as a result of, the main game, or some event external to the main game or even external to the machine on which the main game has been played.

This secondary feature game comprises the transformation of at least one of the symbol containing fields of a main game display into a simulation of a spinning reel, an "inner reel" having its own plurality of symbols which appear to spin within a symbol field or fields of the main game. The spinning of such an inner reel or reels, if triggered by an appropriate condition, provides an opportunity for a player of the main game to be awarded some special prize depending on the display of the 11 inner reels when come to rest. In at least one preferred form of the invention the inner reel or reels may spin a number of times until a winning outcome is achieved.

The concept of "inner reels" may be applied equally to conventional, rectangular matrix type main game displays, or to displays employing other arrangements of symbol containing fields, such as for example arrays of nested six-sided fields, or indeed to any arrangement of N-sided fields. For machines with a single display unit, the inner reel feature will be displayed on that unit, but for machines with an additional display, the inner reel feature may be played on the secondary display unit. In this case the secondary display unit may show a duplicate of the outcome of the main game on the secondary display and progress the inner reel sequence on the secondary display.

As a further possible variation, the secondary display may only show those symbol fields determined by the main game as eligible to progress the inner reel feature.

It will be understood that for an electronic display, the rotation of the inner reel need not be about a notional horizontal axis; it may equally be about a vertical axis or an inclined axis. It may further not be restricted to any one axis of rotation for the duration of the spin sequence, but could "precess", that is, the axis of inner reel spin itself may rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of the display.

12 In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to Figures lA-IC, a conventional matrix display of a single display unit machine (not shown) is made up of a five column, three row array of rectangular symbol containing fields. During a main game, each of the columns 12 is simulated to "spin" as a reel about a notional horizontal axis. At the conclusion of a main game, the display will be that of 5 x 3 symbols. One of these, 14, may display a special symbol indicating to the player that a special feature is to be awarded in the form of one or more inner reel spins.

In this embodiment as shown in Figure 1B, the inner reel spins occur in each of the symbol fields of the column in which the special symbol appeared, to give an outcome as shown in Figure 1C. As an alternative variation, inner reel spins could occur in each of the symbol positions of the row in which the special symbol appeared.

In a second example of this embodiment, as shown in the sequence of Figures 2A-2C, it is only the symbol field 16 in which the special symbol occurred at the end of the main game, which is transformed into an inner reel spin as indicated in Figure 2B.

In each of these examples, those symbol fields not set to perform an inner reel spin, retain the symbols that were displayed at the end of the main game.

13 The symbol, or symbols displayed when the inner reel or reels come to rest may in themselves deliver an outcome of the special feature, that is, the conferring of a prize is determined by the inner reel or reels alone.

Alternatively, the symbol or symbols displayed as a result of the inner reel spin/s may be combined with the retained symbols of the outcome of the main game to determine a prize outcome. Thus in the sequence of Figures lA-IC the inner spins of all three symbol fields of the middle column in which the special symbol occurred, now has a winning combination of In the second example of the sequence of Figures 2A-2C, the inner spin of only that symbol field in which the special symbol occurred brings up a matching symbol for combination with the retained row of symbols of the main game, to complete a winning payline combination of "hearts" The conferring of the special feature need not be restricted to the appearance of one special symbol in a single symbol field. Thus, as shown in Figures 3A-3C, special symbol may appear in several symbol field locations. After one or more inner reel spins of the indicated symbol fields, the symbols then displayed within them may be combined with adjoining symbols to form a winning payline pattern as shown in Figure 3C.

In at least one preferred embodiment of the invention, players may select, before the commencement of a main game, 14 the number and/or locations of symbol fields, which are to convert to inner reel spins, (should the trigger event occur) from a number of options. The choices available may be displayed on a front panel of the machine, or on the secondary display of a dual display machine. The number of fields made available and selectable by a player, may be a function of the value of bets placed on the main game for example, and with the prize or number of credits to be won increasing with the number of fields.

As alluded to above, inner reel conversions may also be applied to non-conventional symbol fields. Thus in Figures 4A-4C, N-sided symbol fields where N 6, form an array within a gaming machine display 20. In this example of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the six-sided symbol field elements are nested or abutted but still form a discernable five columns, which may be "spun" to simulate five reels. As for a conventional rectangular field matrix of the examples above, a special symbol may be displayed within one or more of the six-sided elements, and those elements converted to spin as inner reels.

Inner reels may display particular winning arrangements of symbols but may also indicate by means of numerical values, credits accruing to a player, for example. In Figure 4A, the outcome of the main game has indicated by a number of symbol fields which will take part in the inner reel spin feature. In Figure 4C the inner 15 reels have come to display the numbers 50, 50, 50, 40 and to confer upon a player the total of 210 credits.

Alternatively, a credit point value may be awarded upon a player according to that value appearing in more than one symbol position. Thus as a result of the sample sequence above, the credit points awarded would be In yet other forms of displays on inner reels, nonmonetary or credit prizes could be shown. Where the prize awarded as outcome of inner reel spins is a credit point prize, the credits may be redeemed as free main games for example.

Particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to various arrangements of gaming machines.

Stand-alone Gaming Machines As shown in Figure 5 any of the above described embodiments for use on electronic display machines may be incorporated into a stand-alone gaming machine 100 provided with a single display unit 102. In this configuration, the triggering event for display of a symbol indicating that an inner reel sequence is to be offered at the end of a main game, may be determined by a random number generating sequence coinciding with a predetermined value or falling within a predetermined range of values for example. Other examples of a trigger may be the reaching of a particular 16accumulating value of play on the machine, or particular outcomes of play of the main game.

Examples of possible pay line results or preferred pay line selections 110, may be displayed on a front panel of the machine.

Stand-alone Gaming Machines with Secondary Display Unit As shown in Figure 6 a gaming machine 120 equipped with a primary display 122 and secondary display 125 may incorporate a main game on the primary display and show the outcome of any inner reel sequences on the upper secondary display 125.

Gaming Machines Linked to Progressive Jackpot System In a further preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 7, a plurality of gaming machines 300 are arranged side by side in a line or arc so as to allow each of the players (not shown) of the machines to view a common jackpot prize display unit 313. Each individual machine is provided with at least a main game display unit 302 for the playing of a main game with inner reel spin features as described above. In this embodiment also, the outcome of a main game or some other trigger event may confer the playing of a sequence of inner reel spins.

Each of machines 300 of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 is electronically linked to a jackpot control module 311 which monitors the volume of play on each of the linked machines and displays an incrementing jackpot value 17 312 determined according to the combined volume of play on the linked machines.

A win of the jackpot prize may be triggered in a number of ways. For example, one or more particular configurations of a pay line may be indicated on the.front panel of each of the machines as jackpot triggering pay lines. Alternatively, the triggering of the jackpot prize may be dependent on the outcome of inner reel spins conferred on the player of a particular machine. In this example, players on adjoining machines may be made aware by means of the common display that a potential triggering of the jackpot is to commence on the machine offered the inner reel spins, thus adding interest for all the players.

Gaming Machines Linked to Pay Line Selection Unit In still a further preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 8, a plurality of gaming machines 400 are linked to a pay line selection module 410.

Individual main games on each machine 430 are played as before and may confer inner reel spin events. However in this preferred embodiment, the particular pay line pattern inherent in the. outcome of the inner reel spins, or that outcome. of the inner reel spins which combines with retained symbols of the main game, is selected at random from a selection of possible pay lines by the pay line selection module 410.

18 The pay line selection module 410 may cause this pattern to be displayed on the secondary display unit 420 of each of the linked machines 430 until one of the machines progresses an inner reel spin sequence which achieves the winning pattern. The pay line selection module then determines a new winning pay line pattern and displays the new pattern in the secondary display units 420.

It will be appreciated that either of the linked embodiments described above may form part of Local Area Networks (LAN) or Wide Area Networks (WAN).

Claims (35)

1. A gaming machine having a plurality of spinning reels; wherein at an occurrence of a trigger event at end of play of a main game, said main game is completed and any prize is awarded, and a feature game is initiated wherein, a simulated inner reel is caused to be spun in at least one symbol position of said main game.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said trigger event is determined by a condition in a game control module of said gaming machine.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said trigger event is a function of volume of play on said gaming machine.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said trigger event is a function of volume of play on a plurality of linked gaming machines. gaming machine of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said trigger event causes the appearance of at least one special symbol in a said symbol position as an outcome of said main game.

6.The gaming machine of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein a display of said main game comprises a matrix of m x n elements. 20

7. The gaming machine of claim 6 wherein said matrix is comprised of elements arranged in vertical columns.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7 wherein said vertical columns are simulated to appear as spinning reels about a common notional axis during play of said main game.

9.The gaming machine of any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein symbols of said outcome of said main game in symbol positions of reels other than a reel displaying said special symbol, maintain said outcome of said main game during play of said feature game. The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein at least one symbol position of said reel displaying said special symbol is caused to simulate a spinning inner reel.

11. The gaming machine of claim 9 or 10 wherein all symbol positions of said reel displaying said special symbol including said special symbol, are caused to simulate spinning inner reels.

12. The gaming machine of any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein said special symbol appears in symbol positions of more than one of said reels.

13. The gaming machine of any one of claims 6 to 12 wherein said display of said main game comprises an array of N-sided symbol containing fields. 21

14. -The gaming machine of claim 13 wherein said fields are substantially arranged in a plurality of columns. The gaming machine of claim 13 wherein said fields are substantially arranged as a plurality of rows.

16. The gaming machine of claim 14 wherein all symbols of fields of said columns other than a column displaying said special symbol maintain said main game outcome display.

17. The gaming machine of claim 15 wherein all symbols of fields of said rows other than a row displaying said special symbol maintain said main game outcome display.

18. The gaming machine of claim 16 wherein at least one symbol field of said column displaying said special symbol is converted to simulate a spinning reel within said symbol field.

19. The gaming machine of claim 17 wherein at least one symbol field of said row displaying said special symbol is converted to simulate a spinning reel within said symbol field. The gaming machine of any one of claims 10 to 19 wherein said spinning inner reel is simulated to rotate about an axis parallel to a spin axis of said spinning reels of said main game. 22

21. The gaming machine of any one of claims 10 to 19 wherein said spinning inner reel is simulated to rotate about an axis normal to a spin axis of said plurality of spinning reels.

22. The gaming machine of any one of claims 10 to 19 wherein said spinning inner reel is simulated to rotate about an axis set at an angle to a spin axis of said plurality of spinning reels.

23. The gaming machine of any one of claims 10 to 19 wherein said spinning inner reel is simulated to about an axis rotating in a plane parallel to a spin axis of said plurality of spinning reels.

24. The gaming machine of any one of claims 10 to 23 wherein each said spinning inner reel is caused to spin sequentially until a display outcome corresponds to a predetermined prize winning display Outcome. The gaming machine of any one of claims 10 to 24 wherein a display outcome of at least one said spinning inner reel confers a predetermined bonus prize.

26. The gaming machine of claim 25 wherein said display outcome is determined by symbols displayed by said at least one inner reel at an end of a spin sequence.

27. The gaming machine of claim 25 wherein said display outcome is determined by a combination of 23 symbols displayed by said at least one inner reel and any symbols unchanged from said main game outcome display.

28. The gaming machine of any one of claims 25 to 27 wherein said symbols displayed by said at least one spinning inner reel are numerical values corresponding to credit points redeemable for play of said main game.

29. The gaming machine of claim 28 wherein said numerical values are summed to determine a total number of said credit points. The gaming machine of claim 28 or 29 wherein a numerical value of multiple recurring ones of said numerical values determines said number of credit points as equal to said numerical value.

31. The gaming machine of any one of claims 1 to wherein said gaming machine is a stand alone machine with a single display unit.

32. The gaming machine of any one of claims 1 to wherein said gaming machine is a stand alone machine with a main display unit and a secondary display unit.

33. The gaming machine of any one of claims 1 to wherein said gaming machine is one of a plurality of gaming machines linked to a common jackpot system. 24

34. The gaming machine of any one of claims 1 to wherein said gaming machine is on of a plurality of gaming machines linked to a pay line selection module. A method of awarding a bonus to a player of a main game on a gaming machine; said method including the steps of:- causing at least one special symbol to appear within a respective symbol location of said main game at a conclusion of said main game, on the occurrence of a trigger event, causing an inner reel spin sequence to occur as a feature game in any said symbol location containing said special symbol.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said trigger event is an outcome of said main game.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said trigger event is a random number generated within a game controller coinciding with a predetermined value.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein said trigger event is a random number generated within a game controller falling within a predetermined range of numbers.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein said trigger event is an accumulated value of bets placed on said machine coinciding with a predetermined value of bets.

40. The method of any one of claims 35 to 39 wherein at a conclusion of said inner reel spin sequence, one 25 of a plurality of symbols is displayed in each said symbol location containing said special symbol.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein symbols displayed at said conclusion of said inner reel spin sequence determine said bonus.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein symbols displayer at said conclusion of said inner reel spin sequence in combination with retained symbols displayed at said conclusion of said main game determine said bonus. DATED: 10 September 2004 KONAMI AUSTRALIA PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys: is WALLINGTON-DUMMER