EP0060018A1 - Unterhaltungsapparate - Google Patents
Unterhaltungsapparate Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0060018A1 EP0060018A1 EP82300467A EP82300467A EP0060018A1 EP 0060018 A1 EP0060018 A1 EP 0060018A1 EP 82300467 A EP82300467 A EP 82300467A EP 82300467 A EP82300467 A EP 82300467A EP 0060018 A1 EP0060018 A1 EP 0060018A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- machine according
- control facility
- machine
- player
- combination
- 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
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/326—Game play aspects of gaming systems
- G07F17/3262—Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
- G07F17/3265—Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding
Definitions
- This invention relates to entertainment machines of the kind, hereinafter referred to as the kind defined, which can be operated by a player at the start of a game, after actuation of a coin or token mechanism of the machine, to initiate performance of first machine operations represented by visual displays of a moving or changing nature at a plurality of display regions on the machine, such first operations terminating at random at the end of the game in a combination of fixed visual displays at such regions, and which is arranged to perform further operations resulting in a win indication in the event that said combination of fixed displays at the end of the game is of a predetermined nature.
- an entertainment machine of the kind defined which is a fruit machine and utilises a plurality of rotatable reels with symbols (such as pictures of fruit) around the periphery of same to provide the visual displays
- symbols such as pictures of fruit
- "nudge" controls which are rendered operable at the end of some (randomly selected) games and can then be actuated by the player to effect limited indexing of one or more of the reels such as to change the symbols displayed therewith. In this way the player can try to convert a losing combination of symbols into a winning combination by the exercise of skill.
- This known nudge feature is generally popular. However, in some cases, especially where a player is not specially skilful in the use of the nudge controls the known nudge feature may present little attraction or may even detract from the entertainment value of the machine in so far as the player may not feel able to take full advantage of the opportunity for improving his position with which he is presented.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the kind defined with which the player can be provided with an opportunity of improving the combination obtained without requiring such player to exercise special expertise or skill.
- a machine of the kind defined having a control device which is operable to provide a control facility to cause fixed displays at at least one said display region to change to a different fixed display as selected automatically by the machine with the aim of improving the combination of fixed displays at said display regions.
- the player may be provided with an opportunity of improving the combination obtained, particularly by converting a non-winning combination into a winning combination, without requiring the exercise of special expertise or skill on behalf of the player. Accordingly, the provision of the said control in the machine of the invention can appreciably contribute to the entertainment value thereof.
- the said control facility may become available at the end of a game i.e. after performance and termination of said first operations and before performance of said further operations. However, it is also possible for the said control facility to be made available at the start of a game i.e. after actuation of the coin mechanism but before performance of said first operations (or even wholly or partially in substitution therefor).
- the machine of the invention is a fruit machine utilising a plurality (usually three or four) rotatable reels with symbols (such as pictures of fruit) around the periphery of same to provide the moving visual displays, and in this case winning combinations may require the presence of a plurality of symbols of the same kind and the said control may be arranged to change the fixed display at one or some of the display regions to symbols thereat of like kind to the symbol displayed at a first one of the said display regions.
- the invention is not intended to be restricted to this kind of machine, and the machine of the invention may utilise moving members other than reels, or may utilise a changing display not involving moving members such as a changing pattern of illuminated lamps or a changing vdu display.
- the display may involve symbols other than fruit and may involve any kind of winning combination thereof.
- the said control facility is made available in a predetermined and/or random manner at the start or end of some games only.
- the said control facility may be brought into operation automatically at the appropriate stage.
- the player is provided with some degree of choice in that, for example, the control facility comes into operation only after initiation thereof by a player-operable switch, or a player-operable cancel switch is provided to enable the player to cancel the control facility if desired.
- the machine may be provided with additional player-operable control devices such as nudge controls which can be used by the player at the end of the game as an alternative to the said control facility.
- control facility is arranged to come into operation after initiation by a player-operable control switch and additional player-operable controls, such as nudge controls are provided for initiation of an alternative facility, the arrangement being such that operation of the said control switch renders inoperable the additional player-operable controls and vice versa.
- the machine is a fruit machine having three reels la, lb, lc, which are rotatable within a housing behind a window 2 in a front panel 3 thereof.
- Each reel 1 has pictures of fruit (designated A, B, C) at 20 positions around the periphery of same, and rotation of each reel is initiated and also arrested by a solenoid device 4 having a pawl engageable with teeth around the edge of the reel.
- Actuation of the solenoid 4 causes the pawl to be withdrawn from engagement with the teeth and to cause the reel 1 to rotate freely, and deactuation of the solenoid causes the pawl to drop back into engagement with the teeth to arrest the reel in one of 20 stopping positions thereof in which one of the pictures of fruit on the periphery of same is in precise registration with the window 2.
- Each stopping position is identified by a respective coded arrangement of holes in a side wall of the reel and the codes are read by a bank of photosensitive devices 5 which receive light from a light source or sources through the holes.
- the machine In use, the machine is actuated by a player by insertion of one or more coins or tokens into a coin mechanism 6, and a starter button 7 is pressed to operate a control unit 8 which causes the three reels 1 to be set in rotation for different random periods of time.
- the stopping positions thereof are identified by the photosensitive devices 5 in conjunction with data processing circuitry 9 and a win indication is produced which may enable a pay-out mechanism lO to be actuated by a pay-out button 13 in the event that the identified stopping positions correspond to the display of a predetermined winning combination of fruit (say three fruit of the same kind) through the window 2.
- Coins or tokens paid out are delivered to the player through an outlet 14.
- buttons 12a, 12b, 12c are arranged respectively beneath the reels 1 on the front panel and at the end of some games, as selected on a random basis, one or more such buttons are rendered operable and are illuminated to indicate such operability to the player.
- These buttons 12 perform a conventional nudge function that is, the player can press the illuminated buttons one at a time to effect indexing of the associated reels with the aim of converting a non-winning combination into a winning combination.
- the arrangement may be such that the reels are movable stepwise one position at a time (or alternatively in a freely rotating manner) either in one direction only or selectively in either direction (in which case pairs of nudge buttons for forwards and backwards movement may be required) with an overall limitation being imposed on the scope of such movement (in terms of time period or overall number of reel positions changed).
- buttons 12 In addition to the nudge buttons 12 the machine has on the front panel thereof an automatic adjustment button 15. This is rendered operable (and is illuminated whenever the nudge facility is made availablel.
- the button 15 and the buttons 12 are available for use optionally by the player. If the player decides to use the buttons 12 in the manner described above the button 15 is deactuated. Similarly operation of the button 15 deactuates the buttons 12.
- an automatic adjustment mechanism 16 causes the position of one or more of the reels to be adjusted with the aim of changing the displayed combination of symbols on the winning line from the original losing combination to a new, winning combination, such change being effected automatically and without the involvement of the player.
- the operation of the mechanism 16 may be such that the attainment of a winning combination is guaranteed and this may be achieved in any suitable manner for example by moving one or two of the reels to positions at which a winning combination is completed with the displayed symbol of the or each other reel.
- the attainment of a winning combination however need not be guaranteed and instead it is possible for there to be some limitation on the scope of adjustment of the reel positions (as by time period or overall number of positions adjusted) whereby such adjustment mechanism attempts to attain a winning combination but in some cases may not be capable of doing so.
- Adjustment of the reel positions with the adjustment mechanism may be achieved in any suitable manner.
- one or more of the reels (say the middle and last reel lb, lc) may be set in rotation and may continue rotating until the pertaining banks of photosensitive devices 5 determines that such reels lb, lc are at positions (or are about to attain positions) at which the fruit on same as displayed through the window 2 are the same as the displayed fruit of the first reel la.
- the reels lb, lc can then be arrested in this position.
- the reels may be indexed stepwise through predetermined numbers of stopping positions with the aim of attaining the nearest or the highest value winning combination within a predetermined maximum number of index steps.
- the arrangement may be such that the adjustment feature when available comes into operation automatically after allowing a short period of time for the player to cancel the automatic adjustment by operating the nudge buttons (or by operating a cancel button which replaces the button 15).
- Such Application describes a coin- or token-operated entertainment machine having a plurality of display regions and which can be operated by a player to produce a display of one or more symbols at each of said regions with the aim of attaining a winning combination thereof, said display regions being defined by regions of a vdu screen, characterised in that the machine has a control which is operable, preferably, by a player, to effect replacement of at least one symbol displayed at at least one display region with a symbol displayed on said screen other than at said display region.
- the replaced symbol may re-appear in or move across the screen to the position previously occupied by the replacement symbol.
- the entire content of the display region (which may be a vertical group of three or more symbols simulating a section of a reel periphery) may be interchanged together or otherwise replaced.
- adjustment feature is not restricted to the end of a game as described above. Instead it is possible for the adjustment feature to be made available at the start of a game possibly in conjunction with a "hold" facility.
- the arrangement may be such that the adjustment feature can be used at the start of a game and, in the event that a winning combination is thereby obtained this can be held to guarantee a pay-out. If a winning combination is not obtained the player can then play the game in the normal manner.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT82300467T ATE24363T1 (de) | 1981-02-06 | 1982-01-29 | Unterhaltungsapparate. |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8103754 | 1981-02-06 | ||
GB8103754 | 1981-02-06 | ||
GB8110547 | 1981-04-03 | ||
GB8110547 | 1981-04-03 | ||
GB8136411 | 1981-12-02 | ||
GB8136411A GB2092797B (en) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-12-02 | Entertainment machines |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0060018A1 true EP0060018A1 (de) | 1982-09-15 |
EP0060018B1 EP0060018B1 (de) | 1986-12-17 |
Family
ID=27261110
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19820300467 Expired EP0060018B1 (de) | 1981-02-06 | 1982-01-29 | Unterhaltungsapparate |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0060018B1 (de) |
DE (1) | DE3274775D1 (de) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0181158A2 (de) * | 1984-11-02 | 1986-05-14 | Kabushiki Kaisha Universal | Geldspielautomat |
AU624999B2 (en) * | 1989-09-26 | 1992-06-25 | Aruze Corporation | A game machine |
US9552704B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2017-01-24 | Bally Gaming, Inc. | Wagering game having multi-array symbol placement feature |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8764547B2 (en) | 2010-08-10 | 2014-07-01 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Method of gaming, a gaming system, and a game controller |
US8888582B2 (en) | 2012-05-08 | 2014-11-18 | Wms Gaming Inc. | Wagering game having symbol transfer from feeder array to primary array |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1292712A (en) * | 1970-01-20 | 1972-10-11 | Carfield Engineers Ltd | Improvements relating to coin-operated gaming or amusement machines |
US3733075A (en) * | 1970-05-07 | 1973-05-15 | Waukegan Electronics | Device for displaying randomly selected symbol combinations and randomly operative player operated symbol changing means therefor |
US3918716A (en) * | 1972-07-20 | 1975-11-11 | Clarion Co Ltd | Game apparatus for trying coincidence between randomly selected characters |
GB1471866A (en) * | 1974-06-27 | 1977-04-27 | Shaw A | Gaming machine |
GB1535095A (en) * | 1977-06-03 | 1978-12-06 | Bell Fruit Mfg Co Ltd | Gaming machine |
DE2756361A1 (de) * | 1977-12-17 | 1979-06-21 | Paul Gauselmann | Muenzspielgeraet |
GB2033638A (en) * | 1978-10-31 | 1980-05-21 | J P M Automatic Machines Ltd | Improvements relating to coin- operated gaming or amusement machines |
US4241920A (en) * | 1979-10-25 | 1980-12-30 | Bally Manufacturing Corporation | Amusement apparatus |
-
1982
- 1982-01-29 DE DE8282300467T patent/DE3274775D1/de not_active Expired
- 1982-01-29 EP EP19820300467 patent/EP0060018B1/de not_active Expired
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1292712A (en) * | 1970-01-20 | 1972-10-11 | Carfield Engineers Ltd | Improvements relating to coin-operated gaming or amusement machines |
US3733075A (en) * | 1970-05-07 | 1973-05-15 | Waukegan Electronics | Device for displaying randomly selected symbol combinations and randomly operative player operated symbol changing means therefor |
US3918716A (en) * | 1972-07-20 | 1975-11-11 | Clarion Co Ltd | Game apparatus for trying coincidence between randomly selected characters |
GB1471866A (en) * | 1974-06-27 | 1977-04-27 | Shaw A | Gaming machine |
GB1535095A (en) * | 1977-06-03 | 1978-12-06 | Bell Fruit Mfg Co Ltd | Gaming machine |
DE2756361A1 (de) * | 1977-12-17 | 1979-06-21 | Paul Gauselmann | Muenzspielgeraet |
GB2033638A (en) * | 1978-10-31 | 1980-05-21 | J P M Automatic Machines Ltd | Improvements relating to coin- operated gaming or amusement machines |
US4241920A (en) * | 1979-10-25 | 1980-12-30 | Bally Manufacturing Corporation | Amusement apparatus |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0181158A2 (de) * | 1984-11-02 | 1986-05-14 | Kabushiki Kaisha Universal | Geldspielautomat |
EP0181158A3 (de) * | 1984-11-02 | 1987-07-01 | Kabushiki Kaisha Universal | Geldspielautomat |
EP0398767A2 (de) * | 1984-11-02 | 1990-11-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Universal | Geldspielautomat |
EP0398767A3 (en) * | 1984-11-02 | 1990-12-19 | Kabushiki Kaisha Universal | Slot machine |
AU624999B2 (en) * | 1989-09-26 | 1992-06-25 | Aruze Corporation | A game machine |
US9552704B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2017-01-24 | Bally Gaming, Inc. | Wagering game having multi-array symbol placement feature |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0060018B1 (de) | 1986-12-17 |
DE3274775D1 (de) | 1987-01-29 |
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