AU2019201107A1 - A method of providing a player interface in a gaming system - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract An electronic gaming machine comprising a memory storing game rule data and prize data for each of a plurality of 5 games, each game comprising a base game and a feature game in which symbols are selected, the gaming machine configured to determine game outcomes using the game rule data and prize data of a selected one of the games, the gaming machine comprising a player interface comprising: 10 a display displaying a three-dimensional object comprising more than two faces to a player such that at least one face is visible, each face of the object associated with a respective one of the plurality of games and initially having an image thereon corresponding to the 15 base game of the respective game; and a view controller comprising a) a rotation function operable by the player to rotate the object to view each face of the object so as to view the respective images of the base games when making a selection of a 20 game, and b) pan and zoom functions operable by a player when viewing a respective face of the object so as to view an image of a feature game of the game associated with the respective face when making the selection of the game, whereby the player can view an image of the feature game 25 associated with a respective base game prior to entering a game selection input. 11086215_1 (GHMaters) P72028.AU.5

Description

A METHOD OF PROVIDING A PLAYER INTERFACE IN A GAMING

SYSTEM

Related Application

This application is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2017200770, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2015200171, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2011205225, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2008202315, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Field

The present invention relates to a method of providing a 20 player interface in a gaming system, a method of providing a display of game play in a gaming system, a player interface for a gaming system and a gaming system.

Background of Invention

Traditionally electronic gaming machines such as slot machines have been programmed to offer a single game to players. More recently, with reduction in the cost of the memory and general computing advances, it has been practical to offer gaming machines where a player can choose from a plurality of different games.

Similarly there is a move towards downloadable gaming, where a player can select a game to be downloading to a 35 gaming machine from one of a plurality of games available via a gaming server. Both of these developments indicate that there is a requirement for a new player interface and

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 display techniques .

Summary of Invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides an electronic gaming machine comprising a memory storing game rule data and prize data for each of a plurality of games, each game comprising a base game and a feature game in which symbols are selected, the gaming machine configured to determine 10 game outcomes using the game rule data and prized data of a selected one of the game, the gaming machine comprising a player interface comprising:

a display displaying a three-dimensional object comprising more than two faces to a player such that at 15 least one face is visible, each face of the object associated with a respective one of the plurality of games and initially having an image thereon corresponding to the base game of the respective game; and a view controller comprising a) a rotation function operable by the player to rotate the object to view each face of the object so as to view the respective images of the base games when making a selection of a game, and b) pan and zoom functions operable by a player when viewing a respective face of the object so as to view an image of a feature game of the game associated with the respective face when making the selection of the game, whereby the player can view an image of the feature game associated with a respective game prior to entering a game selection input.

Thus, a player can be provided with a view of each base game and its associated feature game prior to making a game selection.

In an embodiment, the view controller is operable to alter the point of view of the display relative to the object.

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In an embodiment, the view controller is arranged to alter the perspective of display of the face of the object that corresponds to the selected game prior to commencing the game in response to receipt of a game selection instruction.

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In an embodiment, the object has three faces.

In an embodiment, the object has four faces.

In an embodiment, the player interface is configured to add game play data to the display in response to receipt of a game selection instruction from a player.

In an embodiment, the display initially displays two faces of the object.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:

a display for displaying a three dimensional object comprising more than two faces to a player such that at least one face is visible, each face of the object associated with a game and having an image thereon corresponding to the respective game;

a view controller comprising a) a rotation function operable by the player to rotate the object to view each face of the object when making a selection of a game, and b) pan and zoom functions operable by a player when viewing a respective face of the object so as to view an image of a feature game of the game associated with the respective face when making the selection; and a game controller arranged to implement each of the games .

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In an embodiment, the view controller is operable to alter the point of view of the display relative to the object.

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In an embodiment, the view controller alters the perspective of display of the face of the object that corresponds to the selected game prior to commencing the game in response to receipt of a game selection instruction from a player.

In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to add game play data to the display in response to receipt of a game selection instruction from a player.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a gaming system.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stand alone gaming machine;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the functional components 20 of a gaming machine;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional components of a memory;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a network gaming system;

Figure 6 is a functional block diagram of further components of the gaming system in particular showing detail of the game controller.

Figure 7 shows detail of the data stored in respect of each game;

Figure 8 is a flow chart of the method of the embodiment;

Figure 9 is a first exemplary display;

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Figure 10 is a second exemplary display;

Figure 11 is a third exemplary display;

Figure 12 is a fourth exemplary display;

Figure 13 is a fifth exemplary display;

Figure 14 is a sixth exemplary display; and

Figure 15 is a seventh exemplary display;

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system arranged to implement a game having a player interface adapted to present a plurality of games to a player. The gaming system can take a number of different forms.

In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine.

For example, a thick client architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a thin client architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 receive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, thick client mode or thin client mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system has several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in Figure 1. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter instructions and play the game.

Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 54 and a game play mechanism 56 that enables a player to input game play instructions .

The game controller 60 is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired.

Herein the term processor is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in Figure 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which is displayed representations of a game 16 that can be played 10 by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin input 15 chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example 20 as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 electromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display 14, or of a different type.

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine of Figure 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown in Figure 3, a player interface 120 includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101 has one or more displays 106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107, a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additional

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM

103A, EPROM 103B and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM

103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device

103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101.

Figure 5 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in Figure 5, are connected to the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10,100 shown in Figures 2 and 3, or may have

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks 203 of two gaming machines are illustrated in Figure 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. The displays 204 may, for example, be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to display representations 10 associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements 15 part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine

202 and the gaming machine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to carry out the accounting functions for a Jackpot game. A further server 212 may provide a loyalty program.

In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming 30 machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming network 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, 15 for example through a firewall 211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a 20 plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single engine on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run a random generator engine.

Alternatively, a separate random number generator server 25 could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of games servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals .

In the embodiment, the gaming system as illustrated in Figure 6 is arranged so that a plurality of games can be displayed to a player for the player to make a selection of the game they wish to play. Accordingly, the game controller 60 incorporates a game selector 660 implemented by a processor 62. The game selector obtains object data 647 which defines the shape of the object to be displayed

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 and the number of faces of the object. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the nature of the face will depend on the object and can be shown as smooth, rough or having a number of segments. The game selector also accesses the game data 641 for each game that is offered on the gaming machine which is stored in memory. The game data 641 of each game includes image data 643 including face data 643a to be displayed on the face of the object.

The game selector 660 provides the face data to the display controller 620 to cause its display an object having at least two faces and on the display 54 of the player interface 50. The initial display can be performed in a number of different manners but is preferably arranged, where there are more than two faces, such that at least two faces are initially displayed to assist the player to understand that a three dimensional object is being displayed. If there are only two faces, one face will be displayed at a time. In some embodiments an object may have one or more empty faces which does not have a corresponding game.

The player operates the instruction input mechanism 56 in order to control the display of the object. Specifically, the player is able to alter the view. Accordingly, the 25 instruction mechanism 56 includes a view control portion

56a. The view control portion 56a is used by the player to access functions of the view controller 622 of the display controller. These functions include a pan function 623 a zoom function 624 and a rotate function

625.

Accordingly, depending on the embodiment, the player's access to the functions of the view controller 622 may be limited, for example to a rotate function 625 and the other functions may be carried out under control of the game selector 660. In such an embodiment, the player operates the view controls 56a to rotate the three

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 dimensional object displayed on the display 54 to view the games that are on offer on the gaming machine. Once the player has selected a game the game selector 660 controls the zoom function of the view controller 622 to zoom in on 5 the face corresponding to the selected game and to add to the display, game play data required for playing the game.

For example, win line data, bet amount data and typically an initial set of symbols which may be the symbols of a set of reels, dice, balls, or the like.

The game selector 660 also passes to the outcome determiner the game that has been selected so that the outcome determiner 650 knows which game data 641a, 641b or 641c to access to carry out the game. The outcome determiner 650 then requests the symbol selector to select symbols for the symbol data 642 using the random number generator 640 in accordance with the game rule data 644 and displays the game results by passing data to the display controller 620 to enable it to control the display 20 54. Game outcomes are determined based on the game rule data 644 and prize data 645 in accordance with the normal techniques used in the art.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the image 25 data 643 includes both the image to be displayed on the face of the objects during selection 643a and the overlay data 643b which is added to the display once the view controller has zoomed in on the relevant part of the object.

The embodiment is intended to be provided in relation to objects which have a number of levels and accordingly in addition to specifying the number of faces of the object and other characteristics of the object, the object data 35 647 also specifies how many levels are to be populated.

In a typical embodiment the object will have two levels, a first level which is initially displayed and corresponds

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 to a base game 644a and a second level which corresponds to a feature game 644b. When the outcome determiner 650 determines that the player has qualified for the feature game, the outcome determiner 650 controls the pan function

623 of view controller 625 to pan from a first level to a second level and zoom in on the second level in order to display image data 643 corresponding to the feature game 644. The outcome determiner 650 then calculates a game outcome based on the feature rule 644b. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a player can qualify for (or trigger) the feature game in a number of ways known in the art including based on a game outcome, a bet amount over time, or a number of games played.

Accordingly, one process for providing the player interface involves defining an object having plural faces and plural levels 805, associating a game with a face 810, displaying the object to the player, the player manipulating the object 820, the player selecting a game

830, the game zooming to the selected game rate 835, the game starting 840, the outcome determiner determining whether the player is qualified for a feature 845 and entering a wait state 850 until the player qualifies (the player may not qualify), and if the player has qualified panning relative to the object to the feature level 855 and starting 860 the feature game.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments the player may engage in further control of the view of the object. For example, the player may wish to view the feature game associated with a base game prior to entering a game selection input 56b. In such embodiments, the view controls 56 allow the player to access the pan 623 and zoom 624 functions. The player can pan up the object and zoom into the feature game to view the feature game.

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A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of different objects will be suitable to displaying the multiple games. For example, if there are two games an object such as coin having two faces can be used for the 5 object. For three or four games a three-sided or foursided pyramid is appropriate (typical pyramids having three or four faces and a base). A pyramid is particularly advantageous as its tapered nature gives a clear indication of rising to different levels but a tapered object such as a pyramid need not necessarily be employed. In the example of a pyramid, the base may not correspond to a game. Other objects such as cubes may be appropriate, for example such that each of the six faces of a cube corresponds to a game, all that is required is that number of parts of the surface of the object can provide a face.

A person skilled in the art will also appreciate that while the technique of combining both rotating an object 20 and moving up or down an object when a player activates a feature game is advantageous, a three dimensional display of objects can be used without panning between levels and vice versa.

Further while typically, the second level will be placed above the first level as moving upwards is more typically associated with progression. However, in some games, for example, a devil or dungeon themed game it may be appropriate for the player to descend as the progress to the second phase.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of the embodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 downloading it from a server).

Various other modifications and additions will be apparent to a person skilled in the art and should be considered as falling within the scope of the invention described herein. In particular, it will be appreciated that various features described herein can be combined to form further embodiments .

Example

The example illustrates the invention in relation to a 3D structure in the form of an Incan pyramid with four sides representing four different games, there being no game on 15 the base. On all four sides there is a set of stairs on which dice roll down or appear once a game selected. Once the dice are in place a transparent bevel or overlay appears which includes game data and the dice start to roll. Once the feature is won, the camera can move up the 20 stairs to the top of the pyramid where the feature is located. Referring to Figure 9 there is shown a display of a pyramid where a first face 900 relates to the game TIKI Torch is viewable. The game is identified by a name 910 and graphics 920 that correspond to the game.

The feature game for this game is viewable 930 at the top of the pyramid. Referring to Figure 10, the pyramid has been partially rotated by a player so that a first face 900 corresponding to the game TICKI TORCH visible and a second game face 1000 corresponding to the game Money

Bee is also visible. It can also be seen that the feature games 930, 1030 of both games are visible.

Once the player chooses a game, the camera zooms in on the pyramid. In this embodiment on the second level. Figure

11 shows a camera that is partially zoomed in. Figure 12 shows that after the camera is completely zoomed in, a set of dice 1210 appear on the display. Figure 13 shows that

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2019201107 15 Feb 2019 after the dice 1210 appear, game data including a transparent overlay 1300 having information about win lines 1310, information about credits for playing the game 1320, and a credit bet and win meter 1330 is added. If the player wins the feature or otherwise qualifies for the feature by techniques known in the art, the camera moves up the pyramid. A position half way up the pyramid is shown 1400 in Figure 14. Figure 15 shows that the feature screen 1500 is displayed at the top of the pyramid.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word comprise or variations such as comprises or comprising is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.

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Claims (7)

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising a memory storing game rule data and prize data for each of a

5 plurality of games, each game comprising a base game and a feature game in which symbols are selected, the gaming machine configured to determine game outcomes using the game rule data and prize data of a selected one of the games, the gaming machine comprising a player interface

10 comprising:

a display displaying a three-dimensional object comprising more than two faces to a player such that at least one face is visible, each face of the object associated with a respective one of the plurality of games 15 and initially having an image thereon corresponding to the base game of the respective game; and a view controller comprising a) a rotation function operable by the player to rotate the object to view each face of the object so as to view the respective 20 images of the base games when making a selection of a game, and b) pan and zoom functions operable by a player when viewing a respective face of the object so as to view an image of a feature game of the game associated with the respective face when making the selection of the game,

25 whereby the player can view an image of the feature game associated with a respective base game prior to entering a game selection input.

2 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein

30 the view controller is operable to alter the point of view of the display relative to the object.

3. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the view controller is arranged to alter the perspective 35 of display of the face of the object that corresponds to the selected game prior to commencing the game in response to receipt of a game selection instruction.

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4 . A gaming machine as claimed in any one of claims

1 to 3, wherein the object has three faces.

5 5. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of claims

1 to 3, wherein the object has four faces.

6. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of claims

1 to 5, configured to add game play data to the display in

10 response to receipt of a game selection instruction from a player.

7. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of claims

1 to 6, wherein the display initially displays two faces

15 of the object.