AU2016101003A4

AU2016101003A4 - A method for operating an electronic gaming machine which provides a interface to allow a player to select a subset of game symbols which indirectly determines the number of play lines or ways for that game play by populating a specific number of the same game symbol within a matrix cell.

Info

Publication number: AU2016101003A4
Application number: AU2016101003A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ashkan Soleiman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-07-11
Filing date: 2016-07-11
Publication date: 2016-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-11

Abstract

A gaming machine (Fig 1) for playing a game. The gaming machine (Fig 1) comprises a display (1-a, 1 b) and a game control (Fig 2) configured to control images of symbols (3-b) to be displayed on the display (1-a, 1-b). Symbols are stored for positioning in an array (Fig 3). The symbols are organised in a predetermined mix and number of standard symbols to define a prescribed bonusing scheme for filling fixed positions of the array (Fig 3) at a prescribed time. The bonusing scheme could be lining up same kind or a combination of sybmols on a payline or way ( Fig 7 )The game control (Fig 2) randomly selects portions of the array (3-a) for displaying images of the symbols in a matrix format (Fig 4) on the display during a play of the game, and associates symbols based on their position on the matrix (Fig 4 and 3-a) to provide play outcomes in accordance a paytable (Figs 5) prescribed for the particular game. The game control (Fig 2) is configured to provide play options individually selectable by a player before a play. LL.<Oc diE LQP l ' ~ l -r . - ---- -b L - C / 3 - ------ -----s c ts 2-

Description

TITLE: A method for operating an electronic gaming machine which provides a interface to allow a player to select a subset of game symbols which indirectly determines the number of play lines or ways for that game play by populating a specific number of the same game symbol within a matrix cell.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wagering games for electronic gaming machines. The present invention is applicable, although not exclusively, to electronic gaming machines that have one or more symbols on an array of symbols that are to be displayed on a video screen (1-a) and where prescribed sets of these symbols are randomly selected from the array (Fig 3) and displayed in a matrix (Fig 4) as a result of a play. Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

The term "pseudo-random" is used herein to mean that a selection is made on a random basis from within a limited range.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Players who regularly play gaming machines tire of particular games as the entertainment factor or winning opportunities reduce or become staid.

Therefore it has become necessary for manufacturers of these machines to develop innovative games that differ from previous types of game and have variety and bonuses in the form of features or jackpot awards that add interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players entertained and therefore interested in continuing to play the game, as well as attract new players to the game.

With the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine market, there is intense competition between manufacturers to supply gaming machines to venues that provide for the playing of these machines. When selecting a supplier of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will usually pay close attention to the popularity of various games played by their patrons. Therefore gaming machine manufacturers are continually devising new games and/or bonuses which are popular with players in order to improve sales, retain customers and attract new customers.

One form of gaming machine that has proven to be particularly popular over the years has been the spinning reel machine. These types of machines have now evolved into displaying a number of simulated or virtual reels displayed on video display systems having various symbols displayed at prescribed locations on the reels. Each reel has a prescribed number of positions that correspond to positions in an array whereby the position and sequence in the array may be represented by a symbol bearing some distinctive value in a sequence of symbols in paylines or generally distributed on the display screen of the same or predefined type. 20 The individual reels are simulated to rotate during a play, and stop in a position which may be required to be positioned relative to a predefined pattern within the video display to show one or more rows of symbols, paylines or random distributions from adjacent reels or the totality of reels in a window or in a virtual display. In this manner the reels are usually aligned to form a regular matrix of rows and columns of symbols that are displayed to the player for analysis of winning or losing events by the player or a processor associated with the electronic gaming machine (EGM). A common window configuration is a matrix of 3 rows and 5 columns, but other combinations are also known. By virtue of adopting a regular matrix, it has become common to adopt one or more paylines that are defined across the matrix and can be displayed in the window. For example, the centre row, the top row, the bottom row, and possibly one or more meander lines (e.g., non-linear distributions). A payline identifies the particular combination of positions that symbols are located within the matrix, extending logically across the columns and through rows, that is considered for determining whether a bonus trigger symbol occurrence arises from a play or not. Random distributions of particular symbols (scatter pays) may also be used to provide winning outcomes, bonus triggers and bonus wins. These scatter pay events do not necessarily require the symbols to be adjacent or in any predefined order, but merely appear in sufficient number on the display screen.

In order to increase betting opportunities available to the player, some games have been developed that adopt up to 40 or more paylines. In these and other arrangements, non-linear paylines and "scatter" pays are also known.

Typically, most gaming machines provide for selection of up to 25 paylines.

The player may select (by wagering or purchasing) one or more paylines per game. The paylines are normally automatically selected by a processor in a 15 fixed sequence. For example, if the player selects one payline, this will normally be the central horizontal line. Similarly, selecting two paylines will activate the centre payline and the top horizontal payline. The player may also select the amount wagered per line. A payline is active if the player has wagered sufficient amounts of credits or value so that sufficient amount activates paylines to include a 20 particular payline or specifically selected individual paylines or groups of paylines.

Paylines which are not active are inactive.

It is common knowledge that most gaming machines are designed so that the player has the highest probability of winning and/or triggering a bonus when the maximum number of paylines is selected. This, however, means that the player has to wager a comparatively large amount for each play, compared to the minimum amount that may be wagered for a play of the machine. Volatility is related to the size of the bonus awarded relative to the frequency of winning.

Flaving bonuses awarded less often for comparatively large amounts is known as high volatility, whereas bonuses being awarded more often for comparatively small 30 amounts is known as low volatility.

Multiple line -games ensure that the probability of winning is maintained proportional to the credits bet per play) this also allows the player to choose the particular level of volatility they desire.

Another type of games emerged as the result of demand for more playlines is the "way games" in which any possible line going through the symbols on the reel window array is considered a playline. For example in matrix of 3x5 there are 3Λ5 = 243 ways.

Accordingly, gaming machine manufacturers are constantly designing new and innovative combinations of wagering and bonusing schemes that have more appeal to players.

SUMMARY:OF THE INVENTION

The present invocation provides a method for operating a gaming machine including at least the steps of providing the player an interface requiring player to select a plurality of different game play options, wherein each game play option has an associated subset of game symbols at least some of the subsets associated with the game play options being different from each other.

Upon receiving a game play option selection from the player, initiate a game in accordance with the selected game play option; wherein, following game initiation, a game controller selects a predetermined number of game symbols from the subset of game symbols associated with the selected game play option to appear twice or more in each matrix cell (4-a) refer to Fig 6. This allows the player to win on more (playlines or ways).

Claims

CLAIM: A wagering mechanism which works based on increasing the number of winning ways (equivalent to playlines) by populating subset of game symbols more than once in each matrix cell. Hence, increasing the number of coinciding wins.