AU5797301A - Gaming machine with multi scatter game - Google Patents

Gaming machine with multi scatter game Download PDF

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Publication number
AU5797301A
AU5797301A AU57973/01A AU5797301A AU5797301A AU 5797301 A AU5797301 A AU 5797301A AU 57973/01 A AU57973/01 A AU 57973/01A AU 5797301 A AU5797301 A AU 5797301A AU 5797301 A AU5797301 A AU 5797301A
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AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
symbols
scatter
gaming machine
reel
reels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
AU57973/01A
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AU775869B2 (en
Inventor
Natalie Bryant
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AUPQ9587A external-priority patent/AUPQ958700A0/en
Application filed by Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd filed Critical Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Priority to AU57973/01A priority Critical patent/AU775869B2/en
Publication of AU5797301A publication Critical patent/AU5797301A/en
Priority to AU2004203045A priority patent/AU2004203045B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU775869B2 publication Critical patent/AU775869B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Description

*a q 1
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
ORIGINAL
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Gaming machine with multi scatter game The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- •••oo o 2 Gaming machine with multi scatter game 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 a game played on such a gaming machine.
Background to the Invention Players who regularly play gaming machines quickly tire of particular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of these machines to develop innovative game features which add interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players amused and therefore willing to continue playing the games as well as to attract new players.
Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine market, there is intense competition between manufacturers to supply various existing and new venues. When selecting a supplier of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will often pay close attention to the popularity of various games with their patrons. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are keen to devise games and/or game features which are popular with the 20 players as a mechanism for improving sales, retaining customers and attracting new customers.
Summary of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided a gaming machine having S 25 a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to S. play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterized in that the display .30 means displays a plurality of spinning reels, each reel carrying symbols from a set of symbols, one of the symbols of the set being a scatter symbol and, in respect of at least one of the reels, the set comprising more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol, the scatter symbols on said at least one reel being arranged on the reel so that more than one scatter symbol is able to be displayed simultaneously when the reels are in a rest condition and, when more than a minimum number of scatter symbols are displayed at any one 3 time, all the displayed scatter symbols contributing to a single paying combination of the scatter symbols.
The display means may be a video display unit and the display of the reels may be constituted by a video simulation of spinning reels.
It will be appreciated that, to achieve a winning combination, a predetermined number of the symbols must be displayed. Normally, at least three symbols constitute a winning combination. Hence, the minimum number of the scatter symbols which must be displayed to constitute a winning combination may be three scatter symbols.
The set of symbols on each of the reels may have more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol. Preferably, the set of symbols of each reel has at least two scatter symbols. The scatter symbols may be positioned on each reel such that up to three scatter symbols are able to be displayed together at any one time. Hence, for a five reel video simulation, a maximum of fifteen scatter symbols may be able to be displayed at once to constitute a fifteen of a kind winning combination.
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is now described by way of example with reference to 20 the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in accordance ~:with the invention; Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming machine; Figure 3 shows a table of reel strips for a game to be played on the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a first example of a screen display the game; and Figure 5 shows a second example of a screen display of the game.
oooo 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 includes a console 12 having a video display unit 14 on which a game 16 is played, in use. The game 16 is a spinning reel game which simulates the rotation of a number of spinning reels 18.
4 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 Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, a control means or control circuit 40 is illustrated. A program which implements the game and user interface is run on a processor 42 of the control circuit 40. The processor 42 forms part of a controller 44 which drives the screen of the video display unit 14 and which receives input signals from sensors 46. The sensors 46 include sensors associated with the bank 22 of buttons and touch sensors associated with the screen 16. The controller 44 also receives input pulses from the mechanism 24 indicating that a player has provided sufficient credit to commence playing. The mechanism 24 may, instead of the coin input chute or the bill collector 24.2, or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown) or any other type of validation device.
20 Finally, the controller 44 drives a payout mechanism 48 which, for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray 30 to make a out to a player when the player wishes to redeem his or her credit.
As indicated above, the game 16 is a spinning reel game which simulates the rotation of a number of spinning reels 18. The controller 44 25 contains, in a memory (not shown), data relating to reel strips. Each position on the reel strip maps to a corresponding position on the reel 18 to be displayed. The controller 44 selects random locations of the reel strips which map to the positions at which the reels 18 will stop.
As illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, each reel strip 50 contains 30 two scatter symbols 52 thereon. The scatter symbols 52 are either arranged adjacent each other on the reel strips 50 or, as shown in respect of reel strips one and three, the scatter symbols are separated from each other by, at most, one other symbol which may be a standard symbol or another special symbol.
Consequently, it is possible for both scatter symbols 52 on each reel 18 to be visible simultaneously in a screen display 54 (Figure 4) if the relevant reel 18 stops in the appropriate position.
Insofar as conventional, standard symbols of a set of symbols of the reels 18 are concerned, normally a minimum number of symbols, preferably three, is required in order for a winning combination to result. The symbols must appear in a predetermined order on an active payline of the game. For example, most gaming machines pay for left-to-right winning combinations appearing on any active payline.
However, with scatter symbols, the appearance of a predetermined number of the scatter symbols, anywhere on the screen 16, results in a winning combination. In other words, scatter symbols need not appear on active paylines to be eligible to contribute to a winning combination.
The set of symbols associated with reels of spinning reel type games normally each only have a single scatter symbol or the symbols are laid out on reel strips of the reels so that it is not possible to get more than one scatter symbol displayed in respect of that reel at the same time. Also, for cases where it may be possible to get more than one scatter symbol displayed on the same reel at any one time, each of the symbols on the same reel is regarded separately when determining winning combinations. For example, two scatter symbols on the same reel will not constitute two scatters towards a single winning combination but rather two separate occurrences that may 20 each contribute to separately paying winning combinations in respect of the scatter symbols. Hence, the maximum number of scatter symbols that can *make up a single paying scatter combination will be equal to the number of reels of the spinning reel game.
The reel strips 50 are set up in such a way so as to allow for two or 25 more scatter symbols to be displayed simultaneously on the screen 16 in respect of each reel 18. When this occurs, each scatter symbol contributes to .a single paying winning combination of scatter symbols.
In respect of the reel strips 50 illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings it will, accordingly, be possible to obtain a winning combination of ten scatter 30 symbols. It will, however, also be appreciated that it is feasible, in respect of a five reel game with a window of three symbols displayed per reel, to have up to fifteen of a kind winning combinations.
In the example of the game shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, it is assumed that the reels 18 stop at positions 5, 4, 16, 9 and 5 of the reel strips 50 to generate the screen display shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. This embodiment will pay a prize for five scatter symbols.
6 Assuming that the reels 18 stop at positions 5, 10, 6, 10, 6 of the reel strips 50, as shown in Figure 5, the maximum scatter prize of ten of a kind scatter symbols will be awarded.
Hence, it is an advantage of the invention that a game is provided which can pay a prize for more scatter symbols than there are reels.
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.
O. *o*o

Claims (3)

1. A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterized in that the display means displays a plurality of spinning reels, each reel carrying symbols from a set of symbols, one of the symbols of the set being a scatter symbol and, in respect of at least one of the reels, the set comprising more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol, the scatter symbols on said at least one reel being arranged on the reel so that more than one scatter symbol is able to be displayed simultaneously when the reels are in a rest condition and, when more than a minimum number of scatter symbols are displayed at any one time, all the displayed scatter symbols contributing to a single paying combination of the scatter symbols.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the display means is a video display unit and the display of the reels is constituted by a video simulation of spinning reels. 2 3. The gaming machine of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the set of symbols 20 on each of the reels has more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol.
9. The gaming machine of claim 3 in which the set of symbols of each reel has at least two scatter symbols. The gaming machine of claim 3 or claim 4 in which the scatter symbols are positioned on each reel such that up to three scatter symbols are able to be displayed together at any one time. 6. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described .herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this tenth day of August 2001 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO
AU57973/01A 2000-08-22 2001-08-10 Gaming machine with multi scatter game Expired AU775869B2 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU57973/01A AU775869B2 (en) 2000-08-22 2001-08-10 Gaming machine with multi scatter game
AU2004203045A AU2004203045B2 (en) 2000-08-22 2004-07-06 Gaming machine with multi special symbol game

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPQ9587A AUPQ958700A0 (en) 2000-08-22 2000-08-22 Gaming machine with multi scatter game
AUPQ9587 2000-08-22
AU57973/01A AU775869B2 (en) 2000-08-22 2001-08-10 Gaming machine with multi scatter game

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2004203045A Division AU2004203045B2 (en) 2000-08-22 2004-07-06 Gaming machine with multi special symbol game

Publications (2)

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AU5797301A true AU5797301A (en) 2002-02-28
AU775869B2 AU775869B2 (en) 2004-08-19

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AU2004203045A Expired AU2004203045B2 (en) 2000-08-22 2004-07-06 Gaming machine with multi special symbol game

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8187080B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2012-05-29 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited Gaming system and a method of gaming

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070287541A1 (en) 2001-09-28 2007-12-13 Jeffrey George Tracking display with proximity button activation
AU2005232302B2 (en) 2005-02-14 2011-08-18 Konami Australia Pty Ltd Gaming Machine with runs of symbols
US7690984B2 (en) 2005-02-14 2010-04-06 Konami Australia Pty Ltd. Feature game with random population feature
US7850520B2 (en) 2005-04-26 2010-12-14 Konami Australia Pty. Ltd. Gaming machine with multiple reel matrix
CA2514156A1 (en) 2005-07-12 2007-01-12 Konami Australia Pty Ltd Symbol enhancement method
AU2009201743B2 (en) 2008-05-02 2012-05-10 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited A gaming system and a method of gaming
AU2011239259B2 (en) 2010-11-04 2013-04-18 Bally Gaming, Inc. Systems, methods and devices for playing wagering games with randomized clumping of symbols
US9361763B1 (en) 2012-09-28 2016-06-07 Bally Gaming, Inc. Wagering game having reels with dynamic growing-symbol feature
US9098982B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2015-08-04 Wms Gaming Inc. Systems, methods, and devices for playing wagering games with symbol clumps and non-uniform weighting of reel positions
US9607476B2 (en) 2013-09-16 2017-03-28 Bally Gaming, Inc. Wagering game having mystery-symbol reveal scheme
AU2014201983B9 (en) 2013-10-11 2014-08-21 Konami Gaming, Inc. System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having reel overlays
US9728049B2 (en) 2013-10-11 2017-08-08 Konami Gaming, Inc. System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having multiple reel sets
US10147281B2 (en) 2014-07-24 2018-12-04 Igt Gaming system and method having matching symbol stacks and additional award opportunities

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6358147B1 (en) * 1999-06-23 2002-03-19 Wms Gaming Inc. Gaming machine with multiple payoff modes and award presentation schemes
JP2004024529A (en) * 2002-06-25 2004-01-29 Aruze Corp Game machine

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8187080B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2012-05-29 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited Gaming system and a method of gaming
US9011237B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2015-04-21 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited Gaming system and a method of gaming

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU775869B2 (en) 2004-08-19
AU2004203045B2 (en) 2006-04-27
AU2004203045A1 (en) 2004-07-29

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MK14 Patent ceased section 143(a) (annual fees not paid) or expired