AU2005100054A4 - Pay ways linked to winning combinations - Google Patents

Description

Description Field of the invention The present invention relates generally to gaming consoles, gaming machines or networked gaming machines and, more particularly, to 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, pokies or EGMs, have proven very popular and for many years have become 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, game creators have to constantly enhance and generally further the entertainment value associated with the likelihood of winning money or other assorted prizes, so as to attract players to their particular machines.

Typically gaming machines of the spinning reels type, and more recently video simulations thereof, provide games where game outcomes display a number of reels with 3 or more symbol locations for each reel and with the player placing wagers on a number of pay ways (such as commonly used pay lines) that typically include one symbol location per reel, and should a winning combination of symbols occur on a wagered pay ways the machine issues an award. One such game is described in United States Patent US 5580053 published 21 December 1994 by Philip Crouch titled "Multi-line gaming machine". Further gaming machines of this type not only require symbol combinations to appear on pay ways but often symbols displayed must conform to game rules in order to be eligible for an award. Such game rules including combinations of symbols being entitled to an award when winning symbols appear left to right with the first symbol in the left most reel and along a pay lines (being a subset of potential pay ways). Thus a combination of symbols is entitled to a prize if all the symbols of the combination appear along a pay way and are ordered according to game rules.

Further such games usually also have at least one symbol type which when appearing in a predefined quantity in a game outcome also allows a win for that combination to be multiplier by the number of pay ways purchased. Such special pay ways are known in the art as scatters.

Commonly, gaming machines of this type usually offer up to 9 pay lines, and more recently up to pay lines or even 50 pay lines.

Nowadays however, gaming developers aspire to create new and exciting games with various methods of introducing unique characteristics to compete for the players attention.

One such attempt to further utilises pay ways in an attempt to attract players can be seen in US patent number 6,261,178 B1 by Nicholas Bennett (178), which provides a mystery pay line to the player. The mystery pay line provides for a random pay line to be created potentially adding additional awards to a player. This method however fails to use existing pay lines in a current game outcome other than in the conventional way of displaying to the player where winning combinations should appear to entitled them to an additional award. Likewise, US patent number 6,186,894 B1 by Jason Mayeroff (894), provides for a secondary game to use the quantity of lines wagered on, and the wagered amount from a first game to also apply to subsequent secondary games, but does not provided for altering a game outcome of the first game by using the game pay ways in a manor other than in an exclusively conventional manor; by indicating where winning combinations should appear.

As such, neither 178 or 894 offer any use of pay lines in a game outcome other than to indicate to the player where pay ways exist, serving as passive instruments to define where wagers have been placed.

It is an object of the present invention to substantially address and alleviate the problems described in the prior art discussed above, by providing a more active role for pay ways beyond simply defining the number of purchased win chances where wagers have been placed on in a game outcome.

The instant invention will now be described herein and is not intended to be limited by the scope of the embodiments provided, as other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure.

Description In the first broad form of the instant invention, A game console of the type including provisions to accept a wager on at least one pay way activating said pay way, at least one display means, and player control means to initiate a game to display an at least partially random selection of selectable game symbols on a matrix of symbol locations creating a game outcome where said active pay ways having winning combinations of said game symbols according to game rules awards at least a chance at a prize to the player, and wherein said game control means utilizes the method of selecting at least one pay way to be a special pay way being used by said game control means to alter said game outcome, awards, or entitlements associated with the said game outcome.

To activate a pay way, the player generally places for example a wager on one or more pay lines, and upon initiating a game by the actual placing of a wager or by some other means, combinations of symbols are generally randomly selected and displayed on a matrix of symbol locations to create a game outcome. Where winning combinations are displayed along active pay lines or other available pay ways such as scatter symbol combinations, the player generally receives an award, or in the alternative, a chance at an award where a further game may be played to determine the award to be won.

The disclosed instant invention includes to the distinction of other games known in the art the possibility to select at least one or more offered pay ways to be considered special pay ways. Such pay ways may include pay lines, scatter win patterns, or any other pay method used to place bets for a chance to win in a game outcome, or used to indicate the path where winning symbols are to occur. Preferable the selection of which pay ways are to be considered special pay ways is performed at random by the game console, however the selection may also be partially random, scripted, or selected by the player. After the special pay way has been selected, the special pay way may alter the game outcome in accordance with the special pay ways intended action, such as to: 1) Increase a pay way award; 2) provide a game outcome award multiplier; 3) provide a future game outcome multiplier; 4) enhance a bonus game; change symbols attributes for symbols along or in the special pay way; 6) award one or more tokens towards a prize; 7) alter the pay table in relation to game symbols; 8) award at least a chance at a jackpot; 9) award at least a chance at a promotional prize; alter the game outcome to force a wining game outcome; 11) alter the game outcome to increase the chances for improved awards; 12) rearrange the symbols of the game outcome relative to a pay way; 13) reselect the symbols relative to a pay way; i 14) holding the symbols of a pay way to persist into a subsequent game; 0 S 15) cause the symbols of a pay way to duplicate into other symbol positions of the matrix; 16) cause the symbols of a pay way to co-exist with other game symbols in the same symbol Slocation; S17) holding one or more symbols of the game outcome to persist into at least one subsequent game outcome, whereby replacing or coexisting with symbols that would other ways be displayed in such location of said matrix; 18) offer one or more free games or additional free games; 19) Award credits; Offer a promotional prize; 21) or a combination thereof.

By providing special pay ways that may be selected during a game outcome and allowing pay ways such as though pay lines to interact with the game outcome to provide added benefits to the player the instant invention provides additional entertainment to the player. For example, were a special pay way has been identified, and that special pay way contains a winning pay way that offers a prize to the player, the prize because being awarded on the special pay way may be enhanced to offer a more advantageous outcome, such as free games, or an enhanced prize. A further example of the benefits of the instant invention can be found in the use of multipliers. Where the special pay way selected is a pay line, any winning combinations of symbols that appear on the special pay line may be enhanced to offer a multiplier thereby increasing the win on that pay line by the amount of the multiplier itself. Alternatively all pay lines that contain symbols that coincide with a special pay line my have the awards of their win combinations multiplied, thereby providing a potential multiplier for a number of pay lines.

In a further embodiment, symbols appearing in the special pay way may be altered upon a game outcome; such as exchanging a game symbol attribute from one value to another, or changing one or more symbols along the pay combination to become wild symbols that can substitute for other game symbols thereby altering the game outcome. For example all the symbols along the special pay way may be considered as substitute symbols for all other pay ways that may intersect with the special pay way of the current game outcome or for a number of subsequent game outcomes.

Likewise, changing the pay table, offering a promotional prize or offering a chance at a jackpot to the player should also be considered as affecting the game outcome. In an alternative embodiment, an altered game may be in the form of one or more tokens being awarded to the player. When a set number of tokens have been collected the player may win a major prize (or a chance to a prize), such as a jackpot, feature game, or other prize as described herein. Tokens collected by such a method would preferably be taken away once an award is won, allowing the player to recommence the token collection process if at all. The tokens may also be invisible to the player, adding suspense to the game play, or so as to provide a simple method of calculating if the player has activated a set sequence of game results to win a prize; such as 3 consecutive special pay ways coinciding with 3 active pay way wins over 3 or more separate games. Where the incorrect sequence of game wins has occurred the tokens collected may be removed or in a further embodiment reduce in quantity.

In a preferred embodiment, the game console compares said selected special pay way with any of the said active pay ways having winning combinations, and where said combinations coincide, the gaming console awards at least a chance at a bonus prize to the player.

Preferably, for a special pay way to coincide with any active pay way having a winning combination of symbols, both the special way and the active pay way need only: 1. Share at least one of the same symbols; 2. share at least one common symbol location; 3. have the same combination of symbol locations; 4. or a combination thereof It is to be appreciated that the selection of the special pay way may occur before the game outcome is produced, or after the game outcome is known.

Further to the embodiments provided above the game console may where a bonus was not awarded increase the value of the bonus prize in accordance with the game rules; such as increasing a potential jackpot, a multiplier to be applied to a winning combination, or any other prize as provided above. It should further be appreciated that any increase in prizes may be increased over a given period of time or game outcome iterations.

In a further embodiment the game console may award to the player a special bonus prize if the player either wins or misses out on winning a bonus prize in connection with the selection of special pay ways, for 2 or more games in a set order according to game rules. For example where a special pay way may consecutively coincide with active pay ways over multiple game outcomes, a bonus prize of a jackpot maybe awarded. Alternatively, a combination of wins and losses (in relation to special pay ways) may trigger the bonus prize being awarded.

Typically, games played on gaming consoles suited to this invention may be displayed on a video display, which is controlled by the game controller, which in turn is controlled by a set of instructions processed by a 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 a network, where various displays, game controller, stake selector, game initiation means and credit acceptance and redemption 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, the term gaming console 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, to which this present invention equally applies. Likewise, multipurpose machines or multitasking machines or any other machine that comprises physical or virtual elements typically found on a gaming console and that are adapted to play a game of this invention are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention. Additionally, a credit meter is typically displayed so as to indicate to the player the amount of games the player may play in relation to the amount of money that has been deposited to play the game hosted by the gaming consol. 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 displaying any number of reels or games such as Keno, Draw Poker, Bingo, or any other such game where a multitude of symbols are selected from and displayed in given locations of a dimensional matrix which also incorporate pay ways.

Symbols of game reels are commonly developed as pictorial images of real world items, items of the imagination, or may include letters, numbers, hieroglyphics, or characters of some sort to define indicia. Preferably, each symbol displayed on said matrix of symbol locations and hold certain properties, such as a given rank or worth to a player when appearing in a certain combination on said display (such as appears in a pay line) or as scattered symbols (where a symbol does not have to appear in a pay line but can appear anywhere in a game outcome to be evaluated), or has been provided for a certain purpose upon it being displayed in a given location. Collectively any combination of symbols, which may pay an award according to certain games rules, can be referred as being win combinations.

Additionally, symbols my also work in conjunction with trigger conditions to perform specific tasks contemplated in the game rules. The symbols may be displayed in part or in full, in a translucent state, being hidden then revealed at a latter date (if at all), made to animate, to move from one location to another, or to interact with other symbols on the display. Thus symbols may have a number of properties such as in-built values, the ability to impart one or more values to other symbols or to a group of symbols, or have a mutating affect such as to alter game rules, their own property or the property of other symbols for a certain length of time or for a number of subsequent games.

Typically symbols on reels in spinning reel games appear on the display means in a two dimensional matrix, where reels represent the columns of the matrix. Game reels are generally constructed from a number of set symbols placed in a specific order and reels now days are often or move symbols in length. Each symbol of a base game or similar feature game may appear on any of the game reels a multiple of times to allow for certain odds of game combinations to appear.

Typically each column of the displayed matrix contains three symbol locations which will display 3 symbols from a corresponding reel for that column. Thus in a typical 5 reels game there are symbol locations on the matrix at a given time; that is to say, 3 locations on each of the 5 reels are displayed at any one time whilst the reels are in a static position and are not spinning so as to display a game outcome. Should more than 5 reels creating the columns be displayed or more symbols than 3 symbols per reel be displayed, the said matrix size and the number of symbol locations of said matrix is generally increased proportionally, though this is not to say that certain reels may not display more symbols than any other reel if so required, or that displayed portions of reels should be limited to 3 symbols or even the quantity of symbols on each displayed portion of the reels should be the same.

Any set of symbol locations of the said matrix can be considered a pay way. The game rules define the symbol locations that form any pay way. It should also be appreciated that a single symbol location may also constitute a pay way. Further pay ways instead of being defined by symbol locations may be defined by the portion of reels displayed on the matrix. For example in scatters pay ways the symbols of win combinations are included in the scattered pay way if they appear in any location of the visible portions of reels that according to the game rules form the pay way.

Thus pay ways may be represented by a set of individual symbol locations making up a set of visible portions of reels where the symbols locations having been occupied by a set class of symbols are accumulated in a predefined order or pattern within a game outcome to provide win combinations which in turn are used to assess the value of an award offered to the player. The most well know pay ways for reels games are pay lines, nowadays for 5 reel games having 3 symbols in each reel and having up to 243 pay lines. Other well known pay ways are scatters pay ways, with some more recent games offering exclusively scattered pay ways. Alternative pay ways may be defined instead of a set of symbol locations, as a set of pairs of symbol locations, where a win combination to be part of a pay way, has to have the winning symbols in any of the 2 location of the pairs. Further in less common games in the art, require symbols to appear over imposed other symbols or co-share symbol locations with other symbols. Such as in a game outcome having a sprite land on the reels where a particular symbol is located to form a winning pay way.

Alternatively symbol locations may be layered, where the reels may appear imposed over various other reels in a 3 dimensional approach to forming pay ways. In such cases, the pay ways may include one or more level or layers of symbols. It is to be appreciated that there may be a number of ways to define a pay way, and the instant invention equally refers to all such ways.

It should further be appreciated that the instant invention equally applies to most casino style games such as spinning reel games, card games, keno, bingo, roulette or other like casino games where symbols are used in winning combination to represent an award. Commonly, irrespective of the kind of game being played a single game play cycle that does not trigger a feature, comprises of at least one wager being made, preferably with the player activating the game initiation means such as though the direct placing of a wager prompting the game console to activate a game with a game outcome being displayed. The game console then analyses the display and awards prizes in accordance to combinations of symbols displayed with the game requiring a new wager for the next game to take place. Such types of game plays are commonly referred to as base games. It is from base games that upon a trigger condition, the base game is not terminated but continues into a feature game to enhance the players' excitement and enjoyment of the game.

For the purpose of convenience, the game described in anyone of the above embodiments will be referred to a base game having equal application to any free games or other bonus games provided or to any parts of the game that are to be played by a player with the hope of winning an award.

in The present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings and

O

O examples in order to illustrate the disclosure of this invention. The drawings and examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention described Sherein.

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 the display showing a grid of symbol locations and a game outcome where a sequence of symbols form a win combination along a possible pay way shown as an active pay line; Fig. 3 this figure indicates one ore more potential special pay ways.

Fig. 4 is a game outcome of a display showing an active pay way containing a winning combination of symbols and the selected special pay way which does not match with the winning pay way.

Fig. 5 shows a winning pay way matching a selected special pay way and a bonus prize in the form of a multiplier having been awarded to the player.

Fig. 6 shows a game with an active pay way where the game outcome displays a winning combination and the selected special pay way does not match with the winning pay combination, with the game not allowing the bonus prize in form of a multiplier, and missing out on increasing the value of a potential bonus award.

Detailed description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a preferable embodiment of a gaming console 10 including an operating panel 20 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 a game. The display shows a set of reels 36 (typical of a three, four or five-reel machine) where each reel has three symbol locations displayed, thus defining a matrix 41 of symbol locations. The reels 36 include a plurality of symbols 32 displayed in a preferably stationary position on the matrix 41 to define game outcomes. A further display 40 preferably shows a prize table derived from a pay table 67 (indicated in figure 2) for winning combinations of displayed symbols 32 and game rules (indicated in figure 2).

Figure 2 is the first figure of a group of related figures that illustrate one of the preferred embodiments of this invention. Figure 2 shows an input device to place a wager 16 and a game outcome displayed on the display 30 with symbols 32 displayed across five reels (36a to 36e) at various symbol locations as indicated by the stationary position of the symbols 32. An active pay way such as an active pay line 34b depicts a winning symbol 32 combination along pay line one 34b, which when according to game rules 70, the game controller 12 will issue an award 14 to the player. Further figure 2 shows a pay table 67 used to contain various values of prizes (not shown) for various symbol 32 combinations. The game controller 12 may correlate all the required information to be used in evaluating game outcomes and in the selection of any one or more special pay ways. It should be appreciated that while only one special pay way is required to make use of the invention, multiple special pay ways may also be used. It should also be appreciated that the stored pay tables 67 may also be further governed by interaction with the games rules 70, wagers made as controlled by inputted wagers 16 and the data structure 66 of the game being played.

Figure 3 depicts 5 pay ways as pay lines (34a to 34e) that may have wagers placed on them creating active pay lines for a chance at winning prizes as indicated by symbols appearing on the matrix 41 of symbol locations. The amount of potential prize winning pay ways may vary in accordance with game rules 70, and may include pay lines (34a to 34 e) indicating combinations of symbols 32 of the matrix 41, that are part of a game outcome in consequence to the spanning of one or more of the reels (36a to 36e), pay ways may include scatter type symbols 32, symbols from various classes that form pay combinations (such as in poker), or any other combination of symbols that are require a set combination to form winning combinations of symbols 32 to provide an award.

11- The Special pay way may be selected by the game controller 12 prior to the selection of symbols 32 for a game outcome, or after the game outcome has been displayed. The game controller may further select the special pay way in a random, partially random, scripted or by manually instructed to do so. The selection process may be instant, or selected by a sequential method, such as the selection of the special pay requiring the game controller to sequentially lighting in turn each possible pay line 34a to 34e (or its line tag) and coming to rest on one of the pay lines in a similar fashion to a light wheel selects an outcome (as is commonly used in the art), whereby the pay line remaining lit at the end of the selection process is to be consider as the selected special pay way.

During these selection process the game controller 12 may also utilise special audio, animation, or flashing affects as known in the art.

Special pay ways that may alter the game outcome are preferably one of the potential pay ways that the player may place wagers on, and in the example provided in figure 3, would be pay ways depicted as pay lines 34a to 34e. It should be appreciated however that the payer may need to purchase specific pay ways as not all pay ways may become special pay ways.

Where the special pay way coincides with an active winning pay way this may signal to the game controller 12 for an extra award or to alter the current game outcome, where for example any awards won in accordance with the pay table 67 may be altered thereby altering the game outcome.

Alternative, the game outcome may be altered by having one of the properties of a symbols 32 on the matrix 41 being changed in same manner, such as to incurring a symbol 32 to become a wild symbol in the current game outcome or a future game. In one embodiment, a special pay way selection may be selected by the game controller 12, however special pay ways may also be selected independently by a special pay way selection device (not shown) located locally or in a remote location to the game controller operating via a network connection such as a central server.

The selection of special pay ways would preferably be random, however may also be partially random, scripted, based on previous games, the amount of wagers made, be affected by promotions, or be manually selected by the player.

Figure 4 shows a game outcome of a display with three active pay ways (pay lines 34a to 34c) with one active pay way 34b having a winning combination of symbols. In accordance with the pay table 67, one hundred credits as shown on a winning credits meter 39b having been awarded to the player. In the game outcome of figure 4, where the game outcome shows a winning combination and the selected special pay way 43 does not coincide with the winning pay way 34b (the special 12pay way 43 having been selected by the game controller 12 and being pay line two 34a), the game outcome was not altered, with no bonus prize being awarded to the player. For a bonus to be awarded pay line one 34b should have been selected as the special pay way.

Figure 5 shows a game outcome where an active pay way 34b also having a winning pay combination, coincides with the special pay way 43 selected by the game controller. In this example provided each of the locations along pay way 34b coincide with the special pay way 43, however only a portion of the special pay way 43 and an active winning pay way. The game controller 12 awards a bonus prize in the form of a multiplier 35 to the player changing the original prize that was awarded of one hundred credits as dictated by the pay table 67 to two hundred credits once the bonus prize has been applied. The bonus prize in this instance being in the form of a multiplier 35 may be displayed in a special form such as by an enlarged graphic of a multiplication symbol followed by a number and/or presented with accompanying audio and flashing affects when it is applied. Alternatively, any bonus awarded may also be moved towards the credit meter so as to clearly indicated any alterations to the game outcome. It should be appreciated that any of the methods used in the art are suitable ways to indicate the multiplier 35 or an additional bonus being awarded.

Figure 6 shows the same game outcome as indicated in figure 4 displaying an active pay way 34b where the game outcome is shows a winning combination along the second pay line 34b, however the selected special pay way 43 as selected by the game controller 12 appears on the second pay way 34a having no winning combination. As the special pay way does not coincide with a winning combination along an active pay line, the multiplier 35 is not awarded to the player as a bonus prize, but is increased in value allowing the player to win a larger bonus in a future game. The prize multiplier 35 has increased from 2 as shown in figure 4 to a multiplier of 3 indicating that where the bonus was not awarded, the bonus may increase in value.

It should be appreciated, that where bonus prizes have been won or lost in a certain succession of game outcomes due to the special pay way selection, a further special bonus prize may be awarded such as a jackpot. For example, where a special pay way does not coincided with a winning active pay way for 50 consecutive games, a jackpot may be awarded. By the same token, for example, were 10 or more games have an active pay way coinciding with an active pay way containing a winning combination, a special prize may be awarded. Where the bonus prize is a token towards a further prize, this invention would be particularly suited to games played in quick succession, or in 13feature games that have been awarded to the player. For example if the bonus prize due to a match between a special pay way and a pay way containing a win combination is in the form of a token, the game may award a sequence of free games after a certain number of tokens has been collected.

Alternatively the method of this invention of special pay ways may be used only during a sequence of free games with collected tokens being used to award a prize to the player after a certain number have been accumulated, or when the free games conclude. It is to be understood that the prize due to the special pay way satisfying the criteria that prompts the game controller altering the original award of the game outcome could be any prize or favorable condition that provides additional chances towards awards in the current game, or in future game outcomes.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that this invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (1)

14- Claims We Claim: 1) A game console of the type including provisions to accept a wager on at least one pay way activating said pay way, at least one display means, and player control means to initiate a game to display an at least partially random selection of selectable game symbols on a matrix of symbol locations creating a game outcome where said active pay ways having winning combinations of said game symbols according to game rules awards at least a chance at a prize to the player, and wherein said game control means utilizes the method of, Selecting at least one pay way to be a special pay way being used by said game control means to alter said game outcome, awards, or entitlements associated with the said game outcome. 2) The game console of claim 1 wherein if said at least one special pay way is also an active pay way having a winning combination of said game symbols in accordance with said game rules awarding at least either a chance at a bonus prize to the player, an improved chance to prizes in subsequent games, or altering the said game outcome favourably for the player. 3) The game console of claims 1 to 2 wherein if said bonus prize was not awarded after selection of said special pay way, said bonus prize increases in value. 4) The game console of claims 1 to 3 wherein winning said bonus prize further requires at least one additional selection of a special pay way coinciding with a said active pay way having either a winning or loosing game combination before said bonus prize is awarded to said player. The game console of claims 1 to 4 wherein said bonus prize consists of at least one of the following: a) Increasing a pay way award; b) providing a game outcome award multiplier; c) providing a future game outcome multiplier; d) enhancing an existing bonus game; e) changing symbols attributes for symbols along or in the special pay way; f) awarding of one or more tokens towards a prize; g) altering the pay table in relation to game symbols; h) awarding at least a chance at a jackpot; i) awarding at least a chance at a promotional prize; j) altering the game outcome to force a wining game outcome; k) altering the game outcome to increase the chances for improved awards; 1) rearranging the symbols of the game outcome relative to a pay way; m) reselecting the symbols relative to a pay way; n) holding the symbols of a pay way to persist into a subsequent game; o) causing the symbols of a pay way to duplicate into other symbol positions of the matrix; p) causing the symbols of a pay way to co-exist with other game symbols in the same symbol location; q) holding one or more symbols of the game outcome to persist into at least one subsequent game outcome, whereby replacing or coexisting with symbols that would other ways be displayed in such location of said matrix; r) offering one or more free games or additional free games; s) Awarding credits; t) Offering a promotional prize; u) or a combination thereof.