GB2253931A - Entertainment machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A coin-operated entertainment machine comprises a microprocessor-based control unit (10), multiple memory devices, such as PROM devices (11) connected to the control unit (10) so as to provide information for playing different games, and between each memory device (11) and the control unit (10) a respective coding device, such as a Programmable Array Logic (PAL) device (13). <IMAGE>

Description

ENTERTAINMENT MACHINES This invention relates to entertainment machines, particularly coin-operated entertainment machines. As used herein the term coin-operated is intended to cover operation by coins, tokens or any other monetary or credit-bearing elements.

Modern coin-operated entertainment machines of the skill (SWP) or amusement (AWP) kind commonly use a microprocessor-based control system.

For example, a modern coin-operated entertainment machine of the fruit machine kind would usually have a microprocessor-based control system which is actuated by insertion of sufficient monetary value into a coin mechanism and which can then be operated, e.g. with press buttons, to cause the control system to produce a random output which is used to change an indicating device, e.g. by rotation of reels, to cause a combination of symbols to be selected. The control system assesses the selected combination in relation to a win table and responds accordingly. Commonly various supplementary game features will be provided such as jackpot, nudge, hold, gamble features, and the control system is adapted to accommodate these.

With a fruit machine of this known kind, the control system may incorporate a main control unit and one of more pre-programmed memory devices containing instructions and data relating to the operation of the machine and to the features of the particular game to be played. In this way manufacture can be much facilitated in that it is possible to use a standardised control unit for different machines, differences in the machines or the games to be played being accommodated by the use of differently programmed memory devices. Also, it is possible to change the game to be played with a particular machine by changing the programmed memory device, or by using multiple, differently programmed memory devices within the same machine with provision being made for switching between such devices.

For security reasons, i.e. to restrict unauthorised copying of, or tampering with the software, it is known to use a coding device, namely a programmable array logic device (PAL), in combination with the aforementioned memory devices. The PAL is interposed between the memory devices and the microprocessor control unit whereby correct operation can only be effected if the appropriately programmed PAL is used in relation to the particular memory devices.

This security arrangement is effective, and is particularly convenient to use in the case where the entertainment machine is intended to be used for playing only one predetermined game, since it is then only necessary to provide a PAL having predetermined characteristics adapted to the memory device used for the particular game in the machine in question. However, problem arises in the case where the entertainment machine is intended to be used for playing different games. In this case, it is possible to provide a PAL having characteristics adapted to all of the different memory devices for the different games but this means either that the memory devices must have a common coding, which is unacceptable for security reasons, or that the PAL should be capable of dealing with different codings, which is complicated and inconvenient.

An object of the present invention is to avoid or at least minimise the above mentioned problems.

According to the invention therefore there is provided an entertainment machine of the kind having a control system incorporating a microprocessor-based control unit, at least one programmed memory device containing information relating to a game to be played with the machine, and a coding device for interpreting said information for use by the control unit, characterised in that there are multiple said memory devices containing information relating to different respective games to be played with the machine, and there are multiple different said coding devices respectively for use with the different said memory devices.

With this arrangement, different games can be readily accommodated without compromising security.

The invention is preferably applied to a coin-operated entertainment machine and this may be of the fruit machine kind (as described above) or of any other suitable kind or combination of kinds (whether AWP or SWP) for playing any suitable kind of game or combination of games. In particular, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to fruit machines but may be used for other kinds of machines such as other types of random (or pseudo random) selection machines, or question and answer machines or the like.

It is visualised that the invention will find particular application in the context of a coin-operated player-operable visual display type of machine which has a housing containing the control system, a slot or other means providing access to a coin mechanism, player operable controls, and a visual display region (such as a screen or window) where the player can visually monitor the progress and/or outcome of the game.

With regard to the memory devices these may be integrated circuit devices such as PROMs or the like.

With regard to the coding devices these may be integrated circuit devices such as PALs or the like.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic external view of one form of an entertainment machine according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the machine of Fig. 1.

The machine is for use in playing random selection games and comprises a floor-standing housing 1 having a front wall 2 with an upper VDU display screen 3, player operable controls 4 (press buttons), a coin slot 5, and a pay-out outlet 6.

Within the housing there is a control system connected to a VDU 7 having the screen 3, to a coin mechanism 8 which receives coins from the slot 5, to a pay-out device 9 leading to the outlet 6, and to the controls 4.

The control system has a microprocessor-based control unit 10 and a plurality of PROMs 11 plugged-in on a printed circuit board 12. Five PROM's are shown and these are connected to the control unit 10 respectively via five PALs 13 which are also plugged in on the printed circuit board 12.

The machine is adapted for playing four different games (which may be of different kinds, or which may be generally of the same kind but which differ in respect of e.g. games features).

The games may be random selection games in which the player starts the machine (by inserting coins and then pressing one of the buttons 4) so that a combination of symbols is selected at random and displayed on the screen 3, a payout being made available in the event that the combination is of a predetermined winning nature.

Alternatively or additionally, the games (or one, or some of them) may be of a question and answer kind whereby the player has to select answers to a displayed question by pressing an appropriate one of the buttons.

Other kinds of games may also be used.

One of the PROMs 11 contains instructions and data relating to general machine operation (e.g. interpretation of signals from the coin-mechanism, operation of the VDU etc), whereas each of the other four PROMs 11 contains instructions and data relating to the four different games (e.g. the course of the game, win requirements, game features etc).

The information in each PROM 11 cannot be read directly by the control unit 10 due to 'coding' differences between the PROM information and the control unit information-reading protocol. It is necessary to interpret or de-code the information and this is done by the PALs 13. In each case (i.e. for each PROM 11) a different interpretation or decoding operation is required and the PALs 13 are appropriately differently programmed. Thus, each PROM 11 has to be matched with the correct respective PAL 13 before the system can operate correctly.

With this arrangement, a high degree of security is ensured. If an unauthorised person wishes to copy, or modify the operation of, one of the PROMs 11, he also has to reproduce correctly the operation of the associated PAL 13.

With the arrangement described four different games are available. These may be presented for selection by the player. Alternatively, the machine may be pre-set to play only one of the games whereby selection of a different one of the games can only be effected by an authorised person.

Also there is the possibility of changing the range of games available for selection by replacing one or more of the PROMs 11 with differently programmed PROMs 11, the pertaining PAL or PALs 13 being correspondingly replaced with a differently programmed PAL or PALs 13 at the same time.

In this way it will be appreciated that a wide range of games can be made available in a particularly simple and convenient manner and without compromising security.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims (8)

1. An entertainment machine of the kind having a control system incorporating a microprocessor-based control unit, at least one programmed memory device containing information relating to a game to be played with the machine, and a coding device for interpreting said information for use by the control unit, characterised in that there are multiple said memory devices containing information relating to different respective games to be played with the machine, and there are multiple different said coding devices respectively for use with the different said memory devices.

2. An entertainment machine according to claim 1 which is a coin-operated entertainment machine.

3. An entertainment machine according to claim 2 which is a coin-operated fruit machine.

4. An entertainment machine according to claim 2 which is a coin-operated player-operable visual display machine which has a housing containing the control system, means providing access to a coin mechanism, player operable controls, and a visual display region where the player can visually monitor the progress and/or outcome of the game.

5. An entertainment machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the memory devices are integrated circuit devices.

6. An entertainment machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the coding devices are integrated circuit devices.

7. An entertainment machine according to claim 6 wherein the coding devices are PAL devices.

8. An entertainment machine according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.