EP1993080A2 - Fonctionnement d'appareil de jeu ou de loisir - Google Patents

Fonctionnement d'appareil de jeu ou de loisir Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1993080A2
EP1993080A2 EP08251561A EP08251561A EP1993080A2 EP 1993080 A2 EP1993080 A2 EP 1993080A2 EP 08251561 A EP08251561 A EP 08251561A EP 08251561 A EP08251561 A EP 08251561A EP 1993080 A2 EP1993080 A2 EP 1993080A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
machines
machine
group
time
control means
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Withdrawn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
EP08251561A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1993080A3 (fr
Inventor
John Stergides
Andrew Dinning
Robert Troi
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.)
Electrocoin Leisure S Wales Ltd
Original Assignee
Electrocoin Leisure S Wales 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
Application filed by Electrocoin Leisure S Wales Ltd filed Critical Electrocoin Leisure S Wales Ltd
Publication of EP1993080A2 publication Critical patent/EP1993080A2/fr
Publication of EP1993080A3 publication Critical patent/EP1993080A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • 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
    • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
    • G07F17/323—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
    • 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
    • G07F17/3269—Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in methods of operation of amusement or gaming machines.
  • Amusement and gaming machines operate either entirely autonomously, or can be associated in groups. The latter is usually done with the object of enabling players at different consoles to compete with each other, or allow several machines to have independent access to a feature game or bonus.
  • Amusement machines generally differ from gaming machines in that they play for low stakes and correspondingly low prizes and frequently include an element of skill or knowledge so are permitted to be located in arcades and public houses, whereas gaming machines frequently embody games solely of chance with high stakes and correspondingly high prizes, and are restricted to licensed casinos.
  • the invention provides a method of operating two or more amusement or gaming machines in such a way as to give rise to simultaneous occurrence of a feature in each machine, without there being any central control, comprising the steps of establishing an event list, programming each machine so that it is operated in accordance with the event list, establishing a common reference for all machines, and running the machines concurrently so that the feature occurs simultaneously in all machines.
  • the event list may define a series of points in time, for example in terms of calendar date and time, defined preferably to the minute.
  • the common reference may be a standard time signal such as, in the UK, the Greenwich Time signal, and all the machines are preferably synchronised to this standard signal.
  • the intervals between events or points of time in the event list may be determined by the addition of a randomly or pseudo-randomly determined number of minutes to each successive most recent time. This will tend to produce arbitrary sequences of closely spaced events, and longer intervals with no events, in an unpredictable manner.
  • the machines may be grouped and associated with a common top-box which may be operated in accordance with the same event list, and may for example operate a visual or audio-visual display, including flashing lights and alpha-numeric displays featuring prize or other information.
  • the top box does not however control or interact with the machines.
  • the feature in a preferred embodiment may comprise simultaneous payment of a prize from all the machines of a group which are in use at the moment of the event.
  • the machines of the groups are preferably in a common location, but not necessarily within sight of each other.
  • the features could alternatively comprise access to a feature game or higher level game, to be won or lost separately by each individual player.
  • Different features could be offered at different event times, such as a cash payout on some occasions and access to a higher-level or different game on other occasions.
  • the invention also provides a group of amusement or gaming machines, each having control means having input from a timer set by a reference signal to an identical time to the timers in the other machines in the group, means operative in response to the condition of selected parts of the machine, and means responsive to the control means to initiate or carry out an operation which gives effect to a feature, the machines of the group thereby performing the operation, in so far as the condition of the selected parts of each respective machine permit, substantially simultaneously.
  • the conditions of the selected parts may be monitored, and may include whether the individual machine is in play or not, and whether or not a reservoir for coins or tokens contains sufficient coins or tokens to pay the prize prescribed.
  • the operation which is initiated by the means responsive to the control means may comprise the payment of a prescribed sum of cash or tokens from the prize fund reservoir.
  • the group of amusement or gaming machines may further comprise a top-box or display device which is operated by a control means which is also responsive to a timer which is set by the same reference signal to an identical time to the timers of the machines of the group.
  • This top-box or display device may initiate an audio-visual display such as a combination of flashing lights and slogans, and audible signals such as bells, buzzers or hooters or a tune, or any combination thereof.
  • an audio-visual display such as a combination of flashing lights and slogans, and audible signals such as bells, buzzers or hooters or a tune, or any combination thereof.
  • a group of amusement or gaming machines comprises four such machines 10, 11, 12, 13 disposed side-by-side in an arcade or casino.
  • Each machine has a display window 14, for display of an electronically generated image or series of images in accordance with the course of play of the respective games, which may for example be a classic fruit machine game played by electronic simulation.
  • the front of the respective cabinet of each machine also is provided with control knobs or buttons 15, a cash paying in slot 16 and a payment slot 17 for paying out of prize money.
  • the group of machines also features a top box display apparatus 18.
  • the machines 10 to 13 and top box 18 are, in accordance with the invention, adapted to operate so that all the machines will pay out a prize, and the top box 18 provide an audio-visual display at the same moment without being linked to each other, other than by being located adjacent each other, and without being under any central control either from the top box 18, or from anywhere else.
  • FIG. 2 indicates schematically how this is achieved.
  • Each of the machines 10 to 13 and also the top-box 18, includes a control unit 20 which receives a steady input from a timer 21, and an event list 22, which may be embodied in software running in conjunction with the control unit 20.
  • the timer is set by a reference signal input 23 which may receive standard time signals from a service such as, in the UK, the Greenwich Time signal.
  • the timer 21 thus "tells” the control unit 20 what the time is, and when a time indicated on the event list 22 is reached, the control unit is enabled to trigger an event, subject to other conditions being met.
  • control unit also receives inputs from a sensor 24, which indicates whether the respective machine is in use or not, and from a further sensor 25 associated with a cash box 26 which determines whether box 26 contains sufficient coins or tokens to enable a prize payment to be made in accordance with the event list.
  • control unit 21 is enabled to trigger an actuator 27, such as a solenoid controlled slide, to release the required payment from the cash box 26 to the payout slot 17.
  • an actuator 27 such as a solenoid controlled slide
  • This may be effected by a series connected set of switches, which may be electromechanical devices, or bistable circuits, all of which must be in the conductive state to trigger the actuator 27.
  • the top box display device 18 is similarly equipped, except that the actuator operates an audio-visual display, and the sensors 24 and 25 are not required as no actual payment is made from the top box 18.
  • the groups of machines may comprise from three or more, which may be located together in a discrete area, or may be dispersed, and may indeed comprise all the machines in an arcade or casino, or all machines offering a particular game.
  • the feature may instead of a prize payment comprise access to a bonus game, or higher level game, which is won or lost separately by each player.
  • the games concerned may be pure games of chance or may involve an element of skill or knowledge through interaction with the player.
  • the top box display may be visual only, or involve bells, hooters or claxons, or playing of a melody or jingle.
EP08251561A 2007-05-12 2008-04-29 Fonctionnement d'appareil de jeu ou de loisir Withdrawn EP1993080A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0709157A GB2449235A (en) 2007-05-12 2007-05-12 Simultaneous operation of a group of amusement or gaming machines

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1993080A2 true EP1993080A2 (fr) 2008-11-19
EP1993080A3 EP1993080A3 (fr) 2009-02-11

Family

ID=38219296

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08251561A Withdrawn EP1993080A3 (fr) 2007-05-12 2008-04-29 Fonctionnement d'appareil de jeu ou de loisir

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1993080A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2449235A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013045276A1 (fr) * 2011-09-26 2013-04-04 Novomatic Ag Dispositifs de jeu et leurs procédés de fonctionnement
US9747752B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2017-08-29 Novomatic Ag Method of and device for generating true random numbers and a gaming system

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5533727A (en) * 1991-10-11 1996-07-09 Williams Electronics Games, Inc. Audit and pricing system for coin-operated games
WO2000017825A2 (fr) * 1998-09-18 2000-03-30 Mikohn Gaming Corporation Systeme de bonus pour machines de jeu raccordees a un controleur
GB2350715A (en) * 1999-03-27 2000-12-06 Igt Uk Ltd Games system with common display device
US20010055990A1 (en) * 1994-10-12 2001-12-27 Acres Gaming Incorporated Method and apparatus for controlling the cost of playing an electronic gaming device
US20040235551A1 (en) * 2003-03-03 2004-11-25 Walker Jay S. Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game
US20050085300A1 (en) * 2003-10-20 2005-04-21 Sam Johnson Closed-loop system for displaying promotional events and granting awards for electronic video games
US20060019744A1 (en) * 2004-07-26 2006-01-26 Mickey Roemer Timed gaming event
US20070026935A1 (en) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-01 Igt Methods and devices for managing gaming networks
WO2007032881A1 (fr) * 2005-09-09 2007-03-22 Wms Gaming Inc. Repartition de appareils de jeux reconfigurables

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7427236B2 (en) * 2004-09-01 2008-09-23 Igt Gaming system having multiple gaming devices that share a multi-outcome display

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5533727A (en) * 1991-10-11 1996-07-09 Williams Electronics Games, Inc. Audit and pricing system for coin-operated games
US20010055990A1 (en) * 1994-10-12 2001-12-27 Acres Gaming Incorporated Method and apparatus for controlling the cost of playing an electronic gaming device
WO2000017825A2 (fr) * 1998-09-18 2000-03-30 Mikohn Gaming Corporation Systeme de bonus pour machines de jeu raccordees a un controleur
GB2350715A (en) * 1999-03-27 2000-12-06 Igt Uk Ltd Games system with common display device
US20040235551A1 (en) * 2003-03-03 2004-11-25 Walker Jay S. Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game
US20050085300A1 (en) * 2003-10-20 2005-04-21 Sam Johnson Closed-loop system for displaying promotional events and granting awards for electronic video games
US20060019744A1 (en) * 2004-07-26 2006-01-26 Mickey Roemer Timed gaming event
US20070026935A1 (en) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-01 Igt Methods and devices for managing gaming networks
WO2007032881A1 (fr) * 2005-09-09 2007-03-22 Wms Gaming Inc. Repartition de appareils de jeux reconfigurables

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013045276A1 (fr) * 2011-09-26 2013-04-04 Novomatic Ag Dispositifs de jeu et leurs procédés de fonctionnement
US9697696B2 (en) 2011-09-26 2017-07-04 Novomatic Ag Gaming devices and methods of operating them
US9747752B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2017-08-29 Novomatic Ag Method of and device for generating true random numbers and a gaming system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1993080A3 (fr) 2009-02-11
GB0709157D0 (en) 2007-06-20
GB2449235A (en) 2008-11-19

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