GB2243935A

GB2243935A - Games machine with cash prizes

Info

Publication number: GB2243935A
Application number: GB9024003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lopez Federico Baldo
Original assignee: Sega SA
Current assignee: Sega SA
Priority date: 1990-05-08
Filing date: 1990-11-05
Publication date: 1991-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-05
Also published as: ES1035468Y; NL9002353A; GB2243935B; ES1035468U; DE4100712A1; GB9024003D0

Abstract

A games machine has in addition to a set of main viewers (1, 2, 3) at which symbols are displayed, two auxiliary viewers (11, 12), one of which is closer to the prize line and the other one further away. The symbol present in the auxiliary viewer (12) closest to the prize line can be conveyed to a selected main viewer (1, 2 or 3) to modify the combination of symbols displayed by operation of a corresponding button (17, 18 or 19) and at the same time during this process the symbol present in the auxiliary viewer (15) furthest away is automatically conveyed to the auxiliary viewer closest to the prize line (4), for conveyance to the prize line (4) when one of the buttons (17, 18 or 19) is subsequently pressed. A prize winning scheme of symbol combinations is shown on chart (8). The symbols may be part of a simulated rotatable drum display. <IMAGE>

Description

ROVED GAMES MACHINE WITH CASH PRIZES

SPECIFICATION

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a games machine,, of the sort that awards the player cash prizes, and specifically a machine where, by means of a game of mock drums, a permutation appears for each move that could be prize-winning,, according to a winnings scheme clearly visible on the machine screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION -p Machines of this sort have been known for ages, originating from machines with powered drums that rotated when set in motion by the player and which stopped wholly at random. fitted with stop sensors capable of detecting the permutation of symbols existing in the drums visible through the machine screen, of establishing whether such permutation was prize-winning and giving out the prize through the relevant payment means.

current electronic technology has led these machines to evolve considerably and at the same time the conventional and large-sized mechanical drums have been replaced by small-sized projection or other viewers, and these machines have moreover been provided with a microprocessor allowing, with the suitable operative program, the machine, 's game to be fully controlled,, apportioning and allocating prizes according to any given criterion.

The appeal these machines have is obviously that they provide cash prizes. though on the other hand their problem is that the playerfs involvement in the game is very small,, if any at all.

1 There are machines where in addition to the row of screens making up the prize line, there is a single auxiliary screen that noreover fails to show synbols in a sequence that could be used according to the playeres skill. but a specific and static symbol that the player can change for any of those present in the prize line, in order to enhance the possibilities offered by the machines, at least seemingly.

This solution, albeit requiring the player to think before deciding which of the figures on the prize line it would be best to replace with the auxiliary figure, requires no sort of manual skill in the player, for the said auxiliary figure appearing on the likewise auxiliary screen is solely defined by the machine, i.e., the player is not even outwardly involved in nstopping11 this so-called drum to get the figure that it would be best to use in the prize line.

In an attempt to provide the player with a greater involvement in the game, the actual applicant also filed utility model 8903844, which sets forth a games machine that, starting from a prize line with three screens to view permutations of signs, is provided with two other auxiliary screens operated by the relevant buttons,, so that when the machine offers this other possibility to win a prize, once the permutation has been fixed and established in the relevant line, obviously independent of the winnings scheme, the signs on the complementary screens continue to OrevolvW' until either of the relevant buttons are pressed, such button to initially select the auxiliary screen chosen by the player and hence become involved in the game, moreover causing both mock drums to nstop",, specifically and particularly that corresponding to the button pressed. Next and by means of the set of prize line viewer buttons, the sign chosen is conveyed to the viewer that has also been selected, pressing the relevant button, this procedure being repeated, consecutively changing the permutation in the prize line, until a prize is won or as many times as the machine's game program allows for this additional procedure within a given move.

2 1 f From this basic idea of the said utility model 8903844, the applicant is also the holder of utility model 9000861 which is a simplification, from both the structural standpoint of the machine and the standpoint of handling by the player. More specifically, this model envisaged removal of the buttons that in the previous case operated the additional viewers,, and replacing the buttons that operated the prize line viewers with double buttons,, so that depending on the key the player pushed in these double buttons, either of the symbols existing on the auxiliary viewers was conveyed to the in viewer,, i.e., the procedure took place pressing a single button a single time, instead of having to push two buttons consecutively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The games machine subject hereof implies a new step forward in this process of structural and operative simplification, so that from the existence of two auxiliary viewers, as in utility models 8903844 and 9000861. neither the former's auxiliary buttons nor the latter's double buttons are required.

more specifically, and in order to achieve the above, of these two auxiliary viewers,, one is operative in a given move, so that the sign or symbol that appears therein can be conveyed to any one of the main viewers in the prize line, by pushing the latter's relevant button, while the second auxiliary viewer acts as stand-by element, and its symbol is conveyed to the other auxiliary viewer at the same time as the latter is conveyed to the prize line, thus allowing the player to know the sign that will be available for use in the second change, before making the first one. i.e., the player will be better informed to make the most suitable changes in the prize line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to provide a fuller description and contribute to the complete understanding of the characteristics of this invention, a

3 single set of drawings is attached to the specification which, while purely illustrative and not fully comprehensive, shows, in its only figure, a diagrammatic and partial front elevation view of a games machine with cash prizes provided with the improvements subject of this invention.

PIMFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In the light of this figure it can be observed that the games machine set forth herein is provided with a row of viewers or mock drums (1), (2) and (3), three in the embodiment of the figure, but which may vary in number without this affecting the essence of the invention, at any rate forming a prize line (4) where,, upon conclusion of each move., respective signs (5),, (6) and (7) shall appear to determine a specific permutation, that may be prize-winning according to a winnings scheme set forth on a chart (8) clearly visible on the machine front (9).

As is also usually the case, the machine will in some games grant an additional option to a prize and this option may be single or multiple, depending on the number of Oadvances" that the relevant indicator,, not shown in the figure, shows after each move.

Now then,, from this basic and conventional structure, the improvements of the invention rely on the fact that the machine is provided with a pair of additional viewers or mock rollers (11) and (12) that as is the case of the main viewers (1), (2) and (3), and according to a preferred embodiment, will comprise multiple projectors, such additional viewers (11) and (12) being designed to be the base supplying another sign, comprising one of the signs forming part of the various permutations, and that can be conveyed to the prize line (4) to replace any one of signs (5),, (6) and (7) appearing therein after a move.

4 1 More specifically, only sign (16) appearing on one of these auxiliary viewers, specifically number (12), can be conveyed to any one of the viewers in the prize line (4), by pushing any one of buttons (17),, (18) or (19) to the main viewers (1) f (2) or (3) in such prize line, while the other auxiliary viewer, number (11), plays the role of "stand-by" element. whose symbol (15) will move on to the viewer (12) when the latterfs symbol (16) moves on to the prize line (4).

Therefore,, and as aforesaid,, when at the final stage of a move no prize is obtained in the line (4) and the machine offers the possibility of modifying the resulting combination. the player not only sees what sign can be moved first of all to the main permutation, specifically sign (16), , but also knows which sign (15) may be conveyed at a second Oadvancen in case of having more than one,, thus allowing the player to have a fuller and more suitable opinion as to how to go about replacing signs.

Thus the player not only gets more involved personally in the machine.'s game, but is also better informed for such involvement to take place in a position to obtain the best results.

We feel that the device has now been sufficiently described for any expert in the art to have grasped the full scope of the invention and the advantages it offers.

The materials, shape, size and layout of the elements may be altered provided that this entails no modification of the essential features of the invention.

The terms used to describe the invention herein should be taken to have a broad rather than a restrictive meaning.

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Claims

1. A games machine with cash prizes, of the sort equipped with a p] ural i ty of mock drums (1) ' (2) and (3), comprising respective viewers forming a prize line (4), and through which a given permutation of s i g n s (5), (6) and (7) appears at the end of each move, prizewinning or otherwise, in which machine one of these signs may optionally and from time to time be replaced with another sign, obtained separately, with the assistance of buttons (17), (18) and (19) whose number and operation correspond to the main viewers, characterized in that the said main viewers are assisted by two auxiliary viewers (11) and (12), one of which is closer to the prize line and the other one further away, with the peculiarity that each one of the aforesaid buttons determines conveyance of the sign present in the auxiliary viewer closest to the relevant main viewer (6) and that at the same time during this process the sign existing in the auxiliary viewer (15) furthest away is conveyed to the auxiliary viewer closest to the prize line (4), which sign will be in a position to be conveyed to the said prize line (4) when one of the buttons (17), (18) or (19) assisting such line is subsequently pushed.

2. A games machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at 7be Patent Office. Concept House, Cardiff Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 111H. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray, Kent.