EP1302916A2 - Unterhaltungsapparate - Google Patents

Unterhaltungsapparate Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1302916A2
EP1302916A2 EP02257089A EP02257089A EP1302916A2 EP 1302916 A2 EP1302916 A2 EP 1302916A2 EP 02257089 A EP02257089 A EP 02257089A EP 02257089 A EP02257089 A EP 02257089A EP 1302916 A2 EP1302916 A2 EP 1302916A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
machine according
player
game
display
play
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02257089A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1302916A3 (de
Inventor
Michael John Miles
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.)
IGT UK Ltd
Original Assignee
IGT UK 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 GB0124606A external-priority patent/GB0124606D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0208531A external-priority patent/GB0208531D0/en
Application filed by IGT UK Ltd filed Critical IGT UK Ltd
Publication of EP1302916A2 publication Critical patent/EP1302916A2/de
Publication of EP1302916A3 publication Critical patent/EP1302916A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to player-operable entertainment machines, particularly coin-operated amusement with prizes (AWP) machines, such as "fruit” or “poker” machines, of the kind operable for playing a game having a main play feature involving selection and display at a win zone of a combination of symbols with a main display device.
  • ADP amusement with prizes
  • coin is intended also to cover tokens, charge or credit cards or any other means of supplying credit or monetary value.
  • the main display device of a fruit machine may comprise multiple side-by-side reels which are rotatable about a common horizontal axis within a housing behind a window at the win zone.
  • Each reel has symbols at equally spaced positions around its periphery and the reels can be brought to rest with one symbol on each reel displayed through the window on a win line.
  • a panel having sections which can be selectively illuminated to represent movement from location to location along a trail, particularly along a wraparound trail, which may simulate the playing of a board game.
  • Play is transferred from the main reels to the trail of the feature game on a random or predetermined basis and illumination of the panel sections may then be effected by, or in correspondence with, a rotatable subsidiary feature reel, or otherwise, representing the spin of a reel or roll of a dice or other selection.
  • Awards or award possibilities may be made available to the player in dependence on the location on the trail to which play has progressed.
  • supplementary play features which provide the player with a different or supplementary winning opportunity, or the possibility of increasing the value of an attained award, are also well known.
  • a gamble feature whereby for example the player operates a control to arrest movement up and down a 'ladder' as indicated by illumination of successive steps, so that an increased or decreased award is attained depending on the step finally selected.
  • Supplementary play features are also known which influence the course of play by changing the manner in which in existing feature or game play operation functions, or by changing the range of events associated with an existing feature, or by introducing or changing the range of occasional events linked to benefits or awards.
  • the main display device may be operable with one win line, or a plurality of win lines; there may be different ways in which play can transfer from the main play feature to a supplementary feature game; the award structure associated with a feature game or other supplementary feature may be variable; different symbols may have different subsidiary functions (e.g. they may function as transfer symbols, for transfer to a feature game or other supplementary feature, or special award symbol); there may be different random or pseudo random or predetermined events such as mystery awards or benefits.
  • the range of features available on a particular machine is usually predetermined and this may not be wholly to the liking of all players. This may be because, on the one hand, the range may include feature which are, or become, of reduced interest to experienced players, and on the other hand are perceived to be unduly complicated for inexperienced players.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a machine having a range of supplementary play features which can be made available in such a manner as to enhance the interest and entertainment value for individual players.
  • a coin-operated entertainment machine operable for playing a game having a main play feature involving selection and display at a win zone, of a combination of symbols with a main display device, and a plurality of supplementary play features involving modification of the main play feature and/or operation of one or more supplementary display devices, said machine having a player-operable start control for starting the game, characterised in that the start control is operable in a plurality of modes each corresponding to play of the game with a different selection of said supplementary play features.
  • the multi-mode start control comprises a plurality of independently player-operable device such as separate push buttons.
  • the invention is not restricted to this and other devices such as a multiposition switch, or touch screen controls may also be used.
  • the multi-mode start selection may be available for all games or for only some games. In the latter case, availability may be determined on a predetermined, or random, or pseudo - random basis, or as the consequence of the outcome of some game play event.
  • Availability of the multi-mode selection may be signalled preferably visually to the player in any suitable manner e.g. by illumination of the aforesaid separate press buttons.
  • the (or each) supplementary feature corresponding to a selected said start mode may be made available to the player on any suitable basis. Thus, they may be made available such that they only come into play during the game in the event that a further condition is met, which further condition may be of a random or pseudo random nature or as a consequence of the outcome of some game play event. Alternatively they may be made available on a predictable or predetermined basis.
  • Prizes such as monetary pay-outs, may be awarded to players in correspondence with winning outcomes of games, which outcomes may be determined on a random or pseudo-random basis.
  • the odds for winning may be independent of the selected start mode (i.e. the same for each mode), or alternatively they may differ.
  • the stake i.e. the monetary value or credit taken for operation of a game and utilised in conjunction with winning odds for computation of awarded prize value
  • the selected start mode i.e. the same for each mode
  • the selected start mode i.e. the same for each mode
  • the machine is of the fruit machine kind and the main display device comprises actual or simulated rotatable reels, or other device, operable to select and display a combination of symbols (say three or four) along one or more win lines or rows.
  • the supplementary features may be of any suitable kind.
  • the features may comprise nudge or hold features used to influence selection of the symbols on the main display device, or feature games to which play can transfer from the main play feature, or a gamble feature, or the like.
  • supplementary features may also comprise features which influence the course of play, or change events associated with another feature, or introduce or change occasional events as mentioned above.
  • supplementary play features also refers to features which implement, facilitate, enhance, or modify other features.
  • the supplementary features may be applicable before, during or after the main play feature.
  • the different selections of supplementary features for the different start modes may be predetermined or may be selected on a random or pseudo random basis. Where predetermined, the selections may differ in complexity or type. The nature of the selections may be made known to the player in advance, or may be concealed from the player.
  • selections are predetermined and made known in advance to the player, advantageously this enables the player to choose a level of complexity or other factor as desired by the player.
  • the level of complexity of the selections is made known to the player, e.g. visually particularly by back illumination of a printed panel, with qualitative information (e.g. "simple", “usual”, “complex”) or with detailed or quantitative information (e.g. listing the features made available).
  • a rotating reel or disc or other movable member which may be presented to the player, e.g. through a window, and which carries indications of supplementary play feature selections.
  • This movable member may move and then come to rest in correspondence with a player or machine generated selection so as to display when at rest on a portion of the member indications of the supplementary play feature or features corresponding to that selection.
  • the member may move and then come to rest to display when at rest on a portion of the member a plurality of indications from which selections can then be made.
  • Figure 1 shows a fruit machine having a floor-standing box shaped housing 1 having a front wall which includes upper and lower glass panels 2, 3, a number of operating buttons 4, 5, 6, a coin slot 7 and a payout opening 8.
  • the housing 1 there are three axially aligned reels 9 having say 20 symbols at regularly spaced positions around their peripheries.
  • the reels 9 are axially rotatable and are drivably connected to respective stepper motors 10.
  • the reels 9 are arranged behind a window 11 defined by a printed region of the lower glass panel 3.
  • Each reel 9 can be arrested by the respective stepper motor 10 in any of 20 stopping positions in which one symbol is in precise registration with a horizontal win line in the centre of the window 11 and two further symbols are visible above and below the win line.
  • the stepper motors 10 are connected to a microprocessor-based control unit 12. This unit is also connected to a coin-mechanism 13, a pay-out mechanism 14 and the buttons 4, 5, 6.
  • the player inserts coins into the coin mechanism 13 through the slot 7 sufficient to generate credit for one or more games.
  • the amount of credit is shown on an LED or LCD display (not shown) and the machine is actuated so that a main game can now be played.
  • the main game commences after a start button 4 has been pressed and the reels 9 spin and then come to rest so as to select a combination of symbols displayed on the win line.
  • the displayed symbol combination is assessed by the control unit 12 and a win indication- is given in the event that the combination is of a predetermined winning nature.
  • the control buttons 5 can be used to perform 'hold' or 'nudge' functions, when made available to the player, so that the player can seek to influence the outcome of a game, in conventional manner.
  • the upper panel 2 is a transparent glass panel and within this there is a printed display region 15, which can be back-illuminated with a bank of lamps 16, and which provides a conventional supplementary feature game e.g. having a track around which play can progress in conjunction with 'moves' indicated on a feature reel 20.
  • a conventional supplementary feature game e.g. having a track around which play can progress in conjunction with 'moves' indicated on a feature reel 20.
  • an award may be made available to the player and on a random or pseudo random basis the player may be given an opportunity of gambling the award.
  • a gamble ladder 17 having steps corresponding to successively increasing values starting with zero or a low value.
  • the steps are rapidly back illuminated in sequence when the gamble feature is actuated and a gamble button 6 can then be pressed to arrest the sequential illumination on one of the steps-.
  • the gambled award is then increased (or decreased) to the value corresponding to the illuminated step.
  • the player may be given the opportunity of starting the game by pressing any one of the three buttons 4, as signalled by illumination of all buttons 4.
  • This option may be made available to the player for all games, or alternatively for only some games as selected by the control system on a random, pseudo random or other basis.
  • buttons 4 relate respectively to different ranges of supplementary play features, and this is indicated to the player in the display 18.
  • the indication may be of a qualitative nature e.g. simple, usual, complex.
  • the indication may provide details as to the nature of the features for each selection such as “Gamble features available”, “Mystery awards”, “Multiple win line”, “Transfer to feature game using transfer symbols”, etc.
  • the player may be presented with, say, only simple, straightforward supplementary playing features, such as, say, a single win line for the reels, transfer to the feature game solely when transfer symbols appear on the win line, and no gamble feature.
  • the player may be presented with, say, multiple win lines, multiple routes for transfer to the feature game, gamble feature, mystery awards, accumulation of awarded nudge steps arising from special features on the feature game, etc.
  • the machine may operate in the same way with regard to pay-out percentage and stake value. That is, in each case, the same amount of monetary value is utilised to initiate a game and the overall odds are computed with the aim of returning by way of pay out the same overall proportion of game play credit.
  • the player is provided with enhanced entertainment, since the player can select supplementary play features in accordance with his own interests and abilities.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
  • Display Devices Of Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
EP02257089A 2001-10-13 2002-10-11 Unterhaltungsapparate Withdrawn EP1302916A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0124606 2001-10-13
GB0124606A GB0124606D0 (en) 2001-10-13 2001-10-13 Entertainment machines
GB0208531 2002-04-13
GB0208531A GB0208531D0 (en) 2002-04-13 2002-04-13 Entertainment machines

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1302916A2 true EP1302916A2 (de) 2003-04-16
EP1302916A3 EP1302916A3 (de) 2004-01-02

Family

ID=26246657

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02257089A Withdrawn EP1302916A3 (de) 2001-10-13 2002-10-11 Unterhaltungsapparate

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1302916A3 (de)
GB (1) GB2383175A (de)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8147319B2 (en) 2005-02-11 2012-04-03 Wms Gaming Inc. Wagering game with parlay feature for winning payouts

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2098778A (en) * 1981-04-02 1982-11-24 Questenco Ltd Game-playing machines
EP0148001A2 (de) * 1983-12-19 1985-07-10 Arthur Edward Thomas Ltd Spielvorrichtungen
EP0388076A1 (de) * 1989-03-17 1990-09-19 Bell-Fruit Manufacturing Company Limited Spiel- und Unterhaltungsmaschinen
GB2291997A (en) * 1994-07-27 1996-02-07 Nsm Ag Entertainment apparatus
EP0898253A2 (de) * 1997-08-13 1999-02-24 Barcrest Limited Unterhaltungsautomat
GB2335066A (en) * 1998-12-24 1999-09-08 Igt Uk Limited An entertainment machine with user selectable enhancement factors
WO2001015055A1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2001-03-01 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd Gaming machine with buy feature games
US20010024971A1 (en) * 1998-02-19 2001-09-27 Jean Brossard Audio visual output for a gaming device

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2349494B (en) * 1999-03-02 2003-04-09 Igt Uk Ltd Entertainment machines

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2098778A (en) * 1981-04-02 1982-11-24 Questenco Ltd Game-playing machines
EP0148001A2 (de) * 1983-12-19 1985-07-10 Arthur Edward Thomas Ltd Spielvorrichtungen
EP0388076A1 (de) * 1989-03-17 1990-09-19 Bell-Fruit Manufacturing Company Limited Spiel- und Unterhaltungsmaschinen
GB2291997A (en) * 1994-07-27 1996-02-07 Nsm Ag Entertainment apparatus
EP0898253A2 (de) * 1997-08-13 1999-02-24 Barcrest Limited Unterhaltungsautomat
US20010024971A1 (en) * 1998-02-19 2001-09-27 Jean Brossard Audio visual output for a gaming device
GB2335066A (en) * 1998-12-24 1999-09-08 Igt Uk Limited An entertainment machine with user selectable enhancement factors
WO2001015055A1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2001-03-01 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd Gaming machine with buy feature games

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0223670D0 (en) 2002-11-20
EP1302916A3 (de) 2004-01-02
GB2383175A (en) 2003-06-18

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