AU2019200981A1

AU2019200981A1 - Gaming machine feature

Info

Publication number: AU2019200981A1
Application number: AU2019200981A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stephen Johnson
Original assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-29
Filing date: 2019-02-12
Publication date: 2019-02-28
Also published as: AU2015271885A1; AU2017213543A1

Abstract

Abstract A method in a gaming system comprising an electronic game controller, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether a first prize awarding condition occurs during a play of a game by a player; awarding the player a first number of credits in response to the first awarding condition occurring; determining whether the player wants to wager a portion of the first number of credits in one of a plurality of selectable second games for an opportunity to be awarded a second number of credits, wherein the plurality of second games are each independent of the first game and wherein respective second numbers of credits associated with each of the plurality of second games are different to one another; if it is determined that the player wants to wager the portion of the first number of credits in one of the plurality of second games, determining whether a second prize awarding condition occurs during the play of the second game, wherein a probability of the second prize awarding condition occurring is based on a function of the portion of the first number of credits and the respective second number of credits.

Description

Title

Gaming Machine Feature

Related Application

This application is a divisional application of Australian application no. 2017213543, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2015271885 which, in turn, is a divisional application of Australian application number 2013200844, which, in turn, is a divisional application of Australian application number 2009202890, which, in turn, is a divisional application of Australian application number 2008205425, which, in turn, is a divisional application of Australian application number, which, in turn, is a divisional application of Australian application number 2003257528. The disclosures of each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a gaming machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine and to an improvement to game features played on such a gaming machine.

Background to the Invention

More and more gaming machines are offering games which have bonus features. These bonus game features are, normally, in the form of secondary features resulting from a trigger condition in a 20 base game. The features often have higher payouts than the underlying base game. It is necessary to ensure that a theoretical return to player of a gaming machine incorporating such a feature does not exceed a certain amount which would render the gaming machine unprofitable to an operator of the gaming machine.

Legislation in various jurisdictions provides that a gaming machine must return a predetermined minimum amount, on average, to players. In the jurisdiction of New South Wales, Australia, the minimum return to player is set at 85% of the total amount wagered. Operators of the gaming machines are aware of this value and budget to receive their percentage as operating costs and as a source of revenue.

Where the gaming machines to exceed the minimum return to player, it could become unprofitable for operators of the gaming machines.

Further, certain of the game features offer the player various options where an apparent exercise of skill may be involved. This apparent exercise of skill may give the appearance of affecting the average return to player of the game. However, in reality, to ensure that the machines remain profitable for operators thereof, the exercise of skill by the player cannot affect the average return to player but may affect the outcome of the feature.

Summary of Invention

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According to a method in a gaming system comprising an electronic game controller, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a first prize awarding condition occurs during a play of a game by a player;

awarding the player a first number of credits in response to the first awarding condition occurring;

determining whether the player wants to wager a portion of the first number of credits in one of a plurality of selectable second games for an opportunity to be awarded a second number of credits, wherein the plurality of second games are each independent of the first game and wherein respective 10 second numbers of credits associated with each of the plurality of second games are different to one another;

if it is determined that the player wants to wager the portion of the first number of credits in one of the plurality of second games, determining whether a second prize awarding condition occurs during the play of the second game, wherein a probability of the second prize awarding condition occurring is based on a function of the portion of the first number of credits and the respective second number of credits.

In an embodiment the method further comprising the steps of:

if it is determined that the player wants to wager the portion of the first number of credits, deducting the portion of the first number of credits from the first number of credits; and if it is determined that the second prize awarding condition has occurred, adding to the first number of credits the sum of the portion of the first number of credits and the second number of credits.

In an embodiment the method is such that the function is P_s — P_p/(P_p + P_s) where:

P_s= the probability of the second prize awarding condition occurring;

P_p= the portion of the first number of credits; and

P_s= the second number of credits.

In an embodiment the method is such that the step of awarding the player the first number of 30 credits is such that the first number of credits are randomly awarded during the play of the game, and the value of the number of credits is randomly determined.

In an embodiment, the method is such that the second prize awarding condition is that it randomly occurs during the play of the game, and the value of the second number of credits is randomly determined.

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According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming system comprising an electronic game controller and a memory device comprising data, the electronic game controller and the memory device being arranged such that the electronic game controller can process the data, wherein processing of the data by the electronic game controller causes the electronic game controller 5 to perform the following steps of:

determining whether the player wants to wager a portion of the first number of credits in one of a plurality of selectable second games for an opportunity to be awarded a second number of credits, wherein the plurality of second games are each independent of the first game and wherein respective second numbers of credits associated with each of the plurality of second games are different to one another;

In an embodiment the system is such that processing of the data by the electronic game controller causes the electronic game controller to perform the following steps of:

In an embodiment the system is such that the function is P_s — P_p/(P_p + P_s) where:

P_s= the probability of the second prize awarding condition occurring;

P_p = the portion of the first number of credits; and

P_s = the second number of credits.

In an embodiment the system is such that the step of awarding the player the first number of credits is such that the first number of credits are randomly awarded during the play of the game, and the value of the number of credits is randomly determined.

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In an embodiment the system is such that the second prize awarding condition is that it randomly occurs during the play of the game, and the value of the second number of credits is randomly determined.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming machine.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a gaming machine, including a game, in accordance with the invention. The machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display means in the form of a video display unit 14 on which a game 16 is played, in use. The video display unit 14 may be implemented as a cathode ray screen device, a liquid crystal display, a plasma screen, or the like. The game 16 is a spinning reel game which simulates the rotation of a number of spinning reels 18 and includes a bonus game feature. Typically the bonus game feature is awarded upon the occurrence of a trigger condition in the spinning reel game. A midtrim 20 of the machine 10 houses a bank 22 of buttons for enabling a player to play the game 16. The midtrim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 including a coin input chute 24.1 and a bill collector 24.2.

The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is carried. The artwork 28 includes paytables, details of bonus awards, etc.

A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash payouts from the machine 10.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, a control means or control circuit 32 is illustrated.

A program which implements the game and user interface is run on a processor 34 of the control circuit 32. The processor 34 forms part of a controller 36 that drives the screen of the video display unit 14 and that receives input signals from sensors 38. The sensors 38 include sensors associated with the bank 22 of buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen of the video display unit 14. The controller 36 also receives input pulses from the mechanism 24 to determine whether or not a player has provided sufficient credit to commence playing. The mechanism 24 may, instead of the coin input chute 24.1 or the bill collector 24.2, or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown) or any other type of validation device.

The processor 34 includes a software implemented determining module that governs the awarding of prizes in a feature as will be described in greater detail below.

Finally, the controller 36 drives a payout mechanism 40 which, for example,

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-5 may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray 30 to make a pay out to a player when the player wishes to redeem his or her credit.

In determining the result of game features where player choice is involved, it is necessary for the processor 34 to ensure that the overall, average return to player of the gaming machine 10 on which the game feature is played remains at the chosen percentage. This also simplifies the mathematical calculations involved in determining returns to player as, where results may occur as a result of player choice, it would be necessary to take this into account in calculating the prizes awarded to the player and the return to player.

This invention relates to using the determining module of the processor 34 to ensure that the expected return to player of a gaming machine is unchanged where player choice is involved in playing a game feature. Two embodiments of the invention are described below.

In a first embodiment of the invention, a feature is awarded where, if a player continues playing the feature, a loss of at least a portion of the prize or prizes accumulated up to then in the feature may occur.

In playing the feature, it is assumed that at least one prize is awarded at random. This occurs 20 as an initial step each time the feature is played and no player skill is involved. For ease of explanation, the already won prize or prizes are referred to below as the guaranteed prize.

After obtaining the guaranteed prize, the player is offered an opportunity of continuing to play the feature. The player thus has a prospect of adding to the guaranteed prize but with the risk of losing 25 at least a portion of the guaranteed prize. Thus, if the player were to continue playing after the guaranteed prize had been won, the player risks losing, say, half of the guaranteed prize.

It is to be noted that, in each playing of the feature, the guaranteed prize won by a player need not always be the same amount of credits but varies with each playing of the feature. The value of the 30 guaranteed prize is also determinative of the prospect of success should the player continue playing the feature. In other words, the more the player risks to gain an increased prize, the greater the probability of success to reflect the increased risk. The average return to player remains unaffected by the choice of the player but the specific prize changes with each playing of the feature.

In this embodiment, in each playing of the feature, a guaranteed prize is awarded at random.

Any further prize offered may be known or unknown to the player and the player has the choice to try and win the further prize by risking a portion of the guaranteed prize already won.

The probability of successfully winning any additional prize, which may be a randomly determined prize or a fixed prize, is determined by the following equation where the probability of success, P_s, is between 0 and 1:

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P_s= number of credits gambled/(number of credits gambled + new credits to be gained).

Equation 1

The average credits after the calculation has been completed is identical to the credits won by the player before the calculation has been completed. Using the example where the player has to risk half the credits comprising the guaranteed prize to gain the additional prize and assuming the guaranteed prize amounted to a total of 60 credits and the additional prize for which the player is playing is 10 credits,

P_s = 30/(30+10) = 0.75 using Equation 1 above. Conversely, the probability of failure, P_F, where the player would only win half the 60 credits, i.e. 30 credits, is:

Pf= 1-R = 1 - 0.75 = 0.25.

It will therefore be noted that, overall, the average credits after the calculation is:

0.75* 70 + 0.25* 30 =52.5+7.5 = 60 credits.

As a second example of this embodiment, assuming the guaranteed prize amounted to 70 credits and half of those credits were then risked to gain another 10 credits:

P_s = 35/(35+10) = 0.77777.

Therefore,

P_F= 1 -0.77777 = 0.22223

Therefore, in this example, overall, the average credits after the calculation is:

0.77777* 80 + 0.22223* 35

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-72019200981 12 Feb 2019 = 62.22223 + 7.77777 = 70 credits.

In a second embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that no guaranteed prize is awarded in the playing of the feature but that a player has a choice of various pathways. Each pathway is made up of a number of steps and each step has a prize associated with it.

It will be appreciated that, in this embodiment of the invention there is no guaranteed prize so that, in the taking of a first step, a player could fail. In other words, moving from a start position may 10 result in failure. Failure at the first step may result in the paying of a consolation prize. This needs to be taken into account in assessing the probability of success. It will also be appreciated that, should the player fail at taking the first step, the feature is regarded as concluded.

To allow a calculation of the probability of successfully taking any step to be determined, a numerical constant, related to an average prize accumulated by players up to that point in the feature, is associated with the taking of each step. As shown in Table 1 below, for the example indicated in that table, numerical constants of 9.9, 14.5 and 16.5 are associated with the taking of the first step, the second step and the third step respectively, in each pathway. It is to be noted that the corresponding step of each pathway has the same numerical constant associated with it. It is further to be noted that, for the first and second steps, the numerical constants need not be the same for each pathway provided they are below the value of the numerical constants for the third step which remains the same for each pathway.

Start	20	20	20	Finish
Start	15	15	15	Finish
Start	10	10	10	Finish
Numerical constant (NC)	9.9	14.5	16.5

Table 1

The numerical constants that are employed will only work on a limited amount of prize numbers and it is necessary to determine the numerical constant within a predetermined range. Further, it is to be noted that Table 1 is a simplified version of the table that will occur in a game feature and is shown in that format for ease of explanation. These numerical constants are, in fact, the average number of credits that are determined to be the average number of credits which have been accumulated by players up to that point of the feature.

It is also assumed that after the player has chosen an initial pathway, the player is not compelled to continue on that pathway. In other words, in taking the first step on a first pathway which results in a successful outcome the player then has the option, in taking the next step, to continue on

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2019200981 12 Feb 2019 the same pathway or at least taking the corresponding step on to an adjacent pathway. Thus, for example, in Table 1 above, if the player starts on the first pathway with prizes of 20 credits for each step then, if the player is successful after the first step, the player has the option of taking the second step on the same pathway for a further prize of 20 credits or taking a second step on to the middle 5 pathway for a prize of 15 credits. If the player had started on the middle pathway and had a successful first outcome, the player would have three options for taking the second step, i.e. to move on to the first pathway, to continue on the second pathway or to move on to the third pathway.

The chance of winning any prize is calculated using the following mathematical formulae:

(Prize 0 * P_so) + Prize 1 * (P_S1 +... +P_Sn) =NCi;

(Prize 0 * P_so) + Prize 1 * (P_S1 +... +P_Sn) + Prize 2 * (P_S2 +... +P_Sn) ⁼ NC2 (Prize 0 * P_SQ) + Prize 1 * (P_S1 +... +P_Sn) + Prize 2 * (P_S2 +... +P_Sn) + Prize 3 * (P_S3 +.... +P_Sn)

+........+ Prize n * P_Sn) = NC_n

Equation 2 and

Pso + Psi + Ps2 + Ps3 +........+ Psn ~ 1 Equation 3 where

Psi to P_Sn are, respectively, the probabilities of success of winning the first to the nth prizes;

P_so is the probability of failure in taking the first step;

Prize 0 is the consolation prize that maybe awarded if the player fails in taking the first step. (It is to be noted that there is no guarantee that a consolation is payable where the player fails in taking the first step. It is at the discretion of the game designer as to whether or not to offer a consolation prize.); and NCi to NC_n are, respectively, the numerical constants associated with the first to nth steps.

Using Table 1 above as an example, to determine if a player is going to be successful in taking a first step in the feature, a probability of success is calculated based on the first Numerical Constant 35 in Table 1.

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As a first example, the player is assumed to take a step along the first pathway for a prize of credits. There are two possible outcomes which need to be taken into account being 20 credits for a successful outcome and 0 credits for an unsuccessful outcome, it being assumed in this example that no consolation prize is payable. The probability of each occurring can be calculated to lie between 0 and 1. Using Equations 2 and 3 above:

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0*P_SO+ 20 * (P_S1+ /92+/93) — 9.9; and

Pso + /91+ Ps2⁺Ps3⁼ 1

Therefore, solving for (P_S1+ /52+/53), which is the probability of successfully continuing with the feature, gives a value of 0.495 and a probability of failure, P_so, of

0.505.

If, for the succeeding step, the player selects the middle prize of 15 credits, i.e. the second step along the middle pathway, there are two possible outcomes being a prize of 20 credits if the step results in an unsuccessful outcome and a prize of 35 credits if the prize results in a successful outcome. From the preceding calculation the probability of obtaining 0 credits is 0.505. Also, from Table 1 it is to be noted that the Numerical Constant associated with the second column is 14.5.

Therefore, Equation 2 becomes:

0*?5_O + 20* P_sl+35* (/52+/93) =14-5 and Equation 3 becomes

0.505 + /51+ /52+¾ = 1

Solving Equations 2 and 3 for Psi, the probability of successfully taking the first step but then not successfully continuing any further in the feature, and (/52+/93), the probability of successfully continuing beyond the second step in the feature, results in a probability of successfully continuing beyond the second step, (/92+/53), of 0.3067. This results in the probability of successfully taking the first step but then not successfully continuing any further in the feature of 0.1883.

Assuming that the player had been successful in the preceding steps, it is now assumed that, for the following step, it is assumed the player again chooses the top row, i.e., the player attempts to win a further prize of 20 credits when taking the following step.

Applying Equations 2 and 3 again gives the following:

0*0.505 + 20* 0.1883 + 35 * P_S2 +55 * P_S3 =16.5 and

0.505 + 0.1883 + /52+P53 =1

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Solving the two equations gives Ps2 ~ θ .2067. Hence, the probability of successfully completing the second step but then not successfully continuing any further in the feature is 0.2067. From this it can be determined that the probability of successfully completing the third step and, hence, the feature is:

P_S3 = 1 - (0.505 + 0.1883 + 0.2067) = 0.1.

This means that the player has a probability of completing the feature of 0.1.

Considering a second example, if the player starts, initially, at the third pathway in the hope of winning an initial prize of 10 credits there are, once again, two possible outcomes being a successful outcome resulting in a prize of 10 credits or an unsuccessful outcome resulting in a prize of 0 credits (because no consolation prize is payable in this example).

Once again, applying these figures to Equations 2 and 3 results in a probability of successfully continuing with the feature, (P51+ /52+/53), of 0.99 and a probability of failure, P_so, of 0.01.

Assuming, once again, that the player then selects the middle prize of 15 credits in the middle row for the next step, there are two possible outcomes being a prize of 10 credits for an unsuccessful 20 outcome and a prize of 25 credits for a successful outcome.

Once again it needs to be taken into account that some players may have been unsuccessful in taking the first step. Applying Equations 2 and 3 again leads to the following:

0*P_SO+10* P_S1+25* (P52+/53) =14.5

0.01+/^+ /52+/53= 1

Solving the above two equations for (/52+/53), the probability of successfully continuing with 30 the feature is 0.3067 and the probability of successfully taking the first step in the feature but then not successfully continuing any further in the feature, P_S1, is 0.6833.

Assuming that the player now chooses the lowest pathway and had been successful in the previous steps, Equations 2 and 3 become:

* 0.01 + 10 * 0.6833 + 25 * P_S2+ 35 * P_S3= 16.5 and

0.01+0.6833 + /52 + /53 ⁼ 1

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-11 2019200981 12 Feb 2019 which gives P_S2 = 0.1067 and P_S3 = 0.200

To determine if the player is going to be successful, prior to commencement of the feature, the controller 36 selects a random number in the range from 1 to 100. The probabilities at each step are summed and compared with the selected number. If the selected number falls within the range, the player is unsuccessful and the feature concludes.

Using the first example of the second embodiment described above, if, for example, the number selected is 72, then, in the case of the first step, the range is 1 to 50.5. Because the selected number falls outside the range, the player is successful and the feature continues. In the case of the next step, the range is 1 to 69.33 (1 to (50.5 + 18.83)). The player is again successful and the feature continues. In the following step, the range is 1 to 90 (1 to (69.33 + 20.67)). Because the selected number falls in this range, the player is unsuccessful does not complete the third step and the feature concludes.

In both embodiments above, it will therefore be noted that in determining the probability of success of any subsequent step in a feature the value of an earlier prize is taken into account.

Accordingly, although pseudo skill is involved in that the player is offered the possibility of making selections, the controller 36 uses Equation 1 or Equations 2 and 3 in ensuring that the expected return to player remains the same independently of any selection made by the player. As a result, it is an advantage of the invention that the expected return to player of the gaming machine is not affected by any player choice.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A method in a gaming system comprising an electronic game controller, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a first prize awarding condition occurs during a play of a game by a player;

awarding the player a first number of credits in response to the first awarding condition occurring;

determining whether the player wants to wager a portion of the first number of credits in one of a plurality of selectable second games for an opportunity to be awarded a second number of credits, wherein the plurality of second games are each independent of the first game and wherein respective second numbers of credits associated with each of the plurality of second games are different to one another;

if it is determined that the player wants to wager the portion of the first number of credits in one of the plurality of second games, determining whether a second prize awarding condition occurs during the play of the second game, wherein a probability of the second prize awarding condition occurring is based on a function of the portion of the first number of credits and the respective second number of credits.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

if it is determined that the player wants to wager the portion of the first number of credits, deducting the portion of the first number of credits from the first number of credits; and if it is determined that the second prize awarding condition has occurred, adding to the first number of credits the sum of the portion of the first number of credits and the second number of credits.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function is P_s — P_p/(P_p + P_s) where:

P_s = the probability of the second prize awarding condition occurring;

P_p= the portion of the first number of credits; and

P_s= the second number of credits.
4. The method as claimed in claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of awarding the player the first number of credits is such that the first number of credits are randomly awarded during the play of the game, and the value of the number of credits is randomly determined.

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5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second prize awarding condition is that it randomly occurs during the play of the game, and the value of the second number of credits is randomly determined.
6. A gaming system comprising an electronic game controller and a memory device comprising data, the electronic game controller and the memory device being arranged such that the electronic game controller can process the data, wherein processing of the data by the electronic game controller causes the electronic game controller to perform the following steps of:

determining whether a first prize awarding condition occurs during a play of a game by a player;

awarding the player a first number of credits in response to the first awarding condition occurring;

determining whether the player wants to wager a portion of the first number of credits in one of a plurality of selectable second games for an opportunity to be awarded a second number of credits, wherein the plurality of second games are each independent of the first game and wherein respective second numbers of credits associated with each of the plurality of second games are different to one another;

if it is determined that the player wants to wager the portion of the first number of credits in one of the plurality of second games, determining whether a second prize awarding condition occurs during the play of the second game, wherein a probability of the second prize awarding condition occurring is based on a function of the portion of the first number of credits and the respective second number of credits.
7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein processing of the data by the electronic game controller causes the electronic game controller to perform the following steps of:

if it is determined that the player wants to wager the portion of the first number of credits, deducting the portion of the first number of credits from the first number of credits; and if it is determined that the second prize awarding condition has occurred, adding to the first number of credits the sum of the portion of the first number of credits and the second number of credits.
8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the function is P_s — P_p/(P_p + P_s) where:

P_s= the probability of the second prize awarding condition occurring;

P_p = the portion of the first number of credits; and

P_s = the second number of credits.

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9. The system as claimed in claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of awarding the player the first number of credits is such that the first number of credits are randomly awarded during the play of the game, and the value of the number of credits is randomly determined.
10. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second prize awarding condition is that it randomly occurs during the play of the game, and the value of the second number of credits is randomly determined.