AU2005202783B2 - Jackpot Awarding Feature - Google Patents

Description

P001 Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Jackpot Awarding Feature The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: O JACKPOT AWARDING FEATURE C TECHNICAL FIELD SThe present invention relates to gaming machines, and in particular to means for awarding a player jackpot.

c 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Linked jackpot gaming machines have been widely implemented in the 00 Australian and international markets. These linked progressive products join c together a number of machines for the purposes of offering large jackpot prizes to c people playing them over and above what is possible within a standard individual 0 10 slot machine. To provide this jackpot, from each wager made by a player, a c preset contribution is deducted which is allocated to the pool of jackpots.

There are two different types of linked progressive jackpots. The first type is the mystery linked progressive. Under this arrangement, the system randomly presents a jackpot to one of the players based on a set of predetermined parameters. For example, the jackpot may be awarded to the player whose contribution takes the jackpot over a certain level, that level being reset to a random value in a certain range each time the jackpot is won. Once the jackpot is won, the prize is generally downloaded to the machine's credit meter.

A second type of linked progressive is the symbol driven linked progressive. In this system, the jackpot is awarded after one of the players has achieved a particular symbol combination or other similar prerequisite. In this type of progressive, the player in some implementations is taken to a second bonus feature which will determine (or appear to determine) the level of jackpot which they have won.

The present invention relates in particular to this type of bonus feature, whether implemented for mystery or symbol driven jackpots.

In both types of linked progressive, there is generally more than one level of jackpot available. The game is arranged in this way so that larger potential prizes can be offered to players, but smaller amounts are continually won so as to keep players interested. The chance of winning each of these different levels is weighted so that the larger amounts are less likely to be won, and the smaller amounts are won most often.

O It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bonus Sfeature for progressive jackpot games.

;Z SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In broad terms, the present invention provides a bonus feature in which a 5 player selects in turn particular objects on the screen. Behind each of the objects is either a symbol indicating a win, or another symbol. Depending on how many rn 00oo objects with win symbols behind them are selected before another symbol N appears, the level of jackpot won by the player can be determined.

N According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method of 10 operating a bonus feature in a gaming machine, the method including the steps N of: providing a plurality of jackpots having different levels of award; displaying a predetermined number of selectable objects on a screen; permitting a player to sequentially select objects, the selection of each object causing either a winning symbol or one or more other symbols to be revealed, wherein the revelation of a winning symbol does not directly result in, nor provides a prize contribution to, a prize outcome; wherein following, and not before, the revelation of one of said other symbols, selecting one of said jackpots to be awarded to said player, the selection of which of the jackpots is to be awarded being dependent upon the number of winning symbols revealed before any of the other symbols is revealed; and awarding said selected jackpot to said player.

In other aspects, the present invention related to a gaming machine adapted to carry out the method, or to a progressive jackpot system adapted to carry out the method.

This arrangement allows the player to participate in determining the size of their jackpot in an alternative way. Each successful selection will increase the anticipation of the player, and increase player enjoyment of the game.

The present invention may be applied to a stand alone game, or to linked progressive games. It is applicable as a bonus feature on mystery or symbol driven games.

8 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS c The present invention will be further described with reference to the ct accompanying figures, in which: SFigure 1(a) shows an illustrative selection table; C 5 Figurel(b) shows a selection table with some winning symbols displayed; and 00 o'- (Nq O Figure 1(c) shows a selection table in which a non-winning symbol has Sbeen displayed.

SDETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention will be described with reference to a particular c 5 implementation. It will be appreciated that game designers could implement the present invention in many different ways to satisfy the demands of their particular 00 games and systems.

SThe present invention provides a bonus feature that allows the player to C select from a number of pre-determined positions on a screen with no weighted 0 10 index involved.

c After a jackpot has been won in the normal way, for example by attaining a predefined symbol combination, the player is presented with a jackpot awarding feature.

In the example provided in Figure there are 30 boxes. 15 of these boxes have a symbol, and 15 have an symbol. In the case of our example, a symbol will allow the player to continue on, while the symbol will end the jackpot feature. The player, of course, is not aware which symbol will be revealed when he makes his selection. The further a player goes without selecting a 'X' symbol, the higher up the ladder they will climb. In our example, at figure the player has made five box selections, and all have symbols behind. At figure the player has next selected a box with an X symbol behind it, and accordingly the feature game is completed, with 5 symbols selected.

The table below illustrate the underlying mathematics of selection according to the present example.

1 15 30 50.00% Mini 2 14 29 48.28% 24.14% Mini 3 13 28 46.43% 22.41% Mini 4 12 27 44.44% 20.63% Mini 11 26 42.31% 18.80% Mini 6 10 25 40.00% 16.92% Mini 7 9 24 37.50% 15.00% Mini 8 8 23 34.78% 13.04% Mini 9 7 22 31.82% 11.07% Mini 6 21 28.57% 9.09% Major 11 5 20 25.00% 7.14% Major 12 4 19 21.05% 5.26% Major 13 3 18 16.67% 3.51% Major 14 2 17 11.76% 1.96% Major 1 16 6.25% 0.74% 00 If the player selects between 0 and 9 boxes with behind it, they will win the 'Mini Jackpot' that is the lowest. If they select 10 to 14 correct boxes, they will win the 'Major Jackpot', and if 15 will win the highest jackpot- 'Mega Jackpot'. In 88.93% of events, the player will win the 'Mini Jackpot'.

It will be understood that the example is only one approach. A larger or smaller table could be used. The chances of winning each jackpot level can be determined by increasing or decreasing the number of choices available to choose and the number of boxes without a terminate symbol.

The boxes to be selected could be replaced with character images, or a variety of selectable symbols on a screen display, which change state when selected to a win or terminate indication. The display could be a table or similar ordered arrangement as shown, or could be an image with selectable objects scattered around.

The term symbol as used in the specification and claims may indicate a character, image, or change of colour or appearance, and is not limited to any particular form the point is that a change occurs which indicates to the player that a successful selection has been made, or not.

A particular advantage of the present invention is that it introduces a player skill element to win a jackpot. All players, regardless of their stake level are even once they enter this bonus jackpot feature, and they all have the same chance of picking 15 correct boxes. The feature will allow players to see where all the 'X' and symbols were once the feature is complete.

The present invention is most readily implemented using a touch screen.

However, it could be implemented in any other desired way, for example with a suitable button selection approach, or scrolling cursor which travels across the selectable symbols.

The present invention is preferably implemented so that the feature game 0is controlled by the central controller of the linked jackpot system, as is the case

(N

for existing jackpot features in such games. Although the present invention is most advantageously implemented for symbol driven linked progressive games, it N 5 could be implemented for jackpots on stand alone machines, or other forms of linked jackpots. It could also be applied to on-line games.

0 The present invention is also applicable to communal games. In such c games, a common game outcome for example the result of a simulated reels c game is shared by all players. However, the players make individual wagers, 0 10 pay line selections, and the like. In the event that a jackpot is awarded, many or 0 N even each player is likely to be able to participate in the feature game, as the outcome is shared although player selections may, for example, not include the jackpot winning payline). In this instance, it is preferred that a different set of underlying symbols is generated for each player, so that their selections are independent and not potentially advantaged by watching neighbouring players.

Although the present invention is presently envisaged as implemented with simulated reel and similar slot games, it could be applied as a feature game on any electronic gambling game or machine.

It will be understood that many variations and additions are possible to implement the present invention but still falling within the broad scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. A method of operating a bonus feature in a gaming machine, the method including the steps of: providing a plurality of jackpots having different levels of award; displaying a predetermined number of selectable objects on a screen; permitting a player to sequentially select objects, the selection of each object causing either a winning symbol or one or more other symbols to be Srevealed, wherein the revelation of a winning symbol does not directly result in, Snor provides a prize contribution to, a prize outcome; N 10 wherein following, and not before, the revelation of one of said other symbols, selecting one of said jackpots to be awarded to said player. the selection of which of the jackpots is to be awarded being dependent upon the number of winning symbols revealed before any of the other symbols is revealed; and awarding said selected jackpot to said player.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the objects are presented in a table.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each object has an even chance of revealing a winning symbol when selected.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bonus feature becomes available after a predetermined event in a game. A method according to claim 4, wherein the gaming machine is a system of linked progressive jackpot machines, and the predetermined event is the occurrence of a predetermined symbol combination.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein predetermined event is randomly selected time, machine or wager. b 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the chance of the event occurring c for a particular player is proportional to the wager made by the player.

8. A controller for a linked progressive jackpot gaming machine system, said 0controller being operatively adapted to implement the method according to any one of the preceding claims. tc, 00

9. A progressive jackpot system, including a controller for operating at least Sthe jackpot and bonus feature, and a plurality of gaming machines, wherein the 1 system is operatively adapted to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 7. A software product operatively adapted to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 7.

11. A communal gaming system, including a controller for providing game play, jackpots and said bonus feature, and a plurality of gaming machines adapted to accept player wagers and selections, each machine accepting wagers against a shared communal game outcome, said system having a jackpot feature, wherein the system is operatively adapted to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 7. STARGAMES CORPORATION PTY LIMTED WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P24102AU00