GB2278007A - Entertainment machines - Google Patents

Abstract

In a coin-operated fruit machine in which an award is obtained if a winning combination is selected, a regulator is used to maintain a desired ratio of awards to coin input. The regulator operates within a software controlled microprocessor based machine operating system to influence the chance of attaining winning symbol combinations, and applies this influence in relation to each game independently of other games. <IMAGE>

Description

ENTERTAINMENT MACHINES This invention relates to a random-play coin-operated entertainment machine, and is particularly although not exclusively concerned with a fruit machine, i.e. a machine of the kind in which actual or simulated reels (or other random selectors) are operated in the course of a game to display a combination of symbols on a win line. The term random as used herein is intended to cover both true random and pseudo-random operations. The term coin is intended to cover credit means generally, including coins, tokens, notes, credit cards and any other credit means.

Fruit machines are usually designed to give overall a preselected payout ratio i.e. a preselected ratio of the coins paid out in winning games to the coins inserted into the machine and credited for the playing of games. This may be say 80%.

With the aim of ensuring a relatively even distribution of payouts it is known to provide a compensator which historically monitors the actual payout ratio in successive games and initiates action, as necessary, to influence the random selection of wins and thereby attempt to hold the actual ratio at all times close to the preselected level.

It is usual for a fruit machine to have supplementary features, such as hold, nudge, cumulative jackpot, gamble etc. which are made available from time to time and which give the player an enhanced or alternative win possibility.

For example, on attaining two like symbols on the win line in one game, the player may be given the opportunity in the next game of holding these for the improved chance of a third symbol to try to obtain a combination of three symbols on the win line. In this case, with the conventional fruit machine using a historical compensator, there will be an enhanced likelihood of winning.

Problems can arise with this since, depending on the particular jurisdiction, it might be impermissible to carry forward predictably a benefit from one game to the next and, for example in the UK, it is necessary for supplementary features giving an enhanced win possibility to be made available only on a random basis.

Also, having regard to the complex manner of operation of the known compensator in monitoring historically and adjusting different probabilities in relation to different parameters, it may be difficult or inconvenient to implement changes in the predetermined ratio.

An object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment machine with which a predetermined payout ratio can be maintained without need for historical monitoring, whereby apparent benefits can be made available to the player whenever desired and without actual carry forward of predictable win enhancement, and with which changes in the predetermined ratio can be implemented easily and conveniently.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a random-play coin-operated entertainment machine with which a game can be played in which a combination of symbols is selected, with the aim of attaining a winning combination having an award value, the ratio of awarded value to coin input is set to a predetermined level, and a means is provided to influence win likelihood with the aim of maintaining said ratio, characterised in that the said means comprises a regulator which applies said influence in relation to each game independently of other games.

With this arrangement, payout ratio is determined in relation to the game being played in an 'open-loop' manner; historical monitoring in a 'closed-loop' or feed back manner is not utilised. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the predetermined payout ratio can be maintained irrespective of features made available to the player in a game whereby there need be no restriction on the range or frequency of such features. Apparent benefits can be made available to the player whenever desired and can be carried forward from game to game without actually carrying forward any win enhancement since the machine will deliver a consistent payout ratio irrespective of the present circumstances. The entertainment value and the versatility of the machine can therefore be much enhanced.

Thus, during the course of a game, the player can be given the opportunity of using a supplementary feature, such as a 'hold' feature in a fruit machine, whereby the player is given the impression that by holding say two like reel symbols and re-selecting a third there is an enhanced likelihood of obtaining a winning combination of three like symbols, whereas in reality the regulator acts to influence the chance of the third symbol such that the likelihood of attaining the winning combination by selecting the third symbol is not any different, or significantly different, from the likelihood by selecting all three symbols by free running all three reels.

Also, it will be appreciated that cumulative or bonus features can be transferred from game to game also giving the impression that win likelihood is being enhanced whereas in reality the win likelihood is not changed in each game.

Thus in the context of a fruit machine having say a supplementary display of a row of symbols which have to be successively selected over a number of games with the aim of completing the row and attaining a jackpot award, the player is given the impression that the likelihood of winning increases the more symbols have been selected, whereas in reality the regulator correspondingly adjusts the selection probability to maintain the likelihood of completing the row at the same percentage return irrespective of the number of symbols already selected, or of the apparent advantages to the player.

In each game, the regulator can act in relation to each player operation during that game to adjust as necessary the probability of a successful outcome to maintain the predetermined award percentage (percentage payout) . In practice this would conveniently be done by a microprocessor based control system which for example increases or decreases the chance of possible symbols or results from which a selection is to be randomly made. In the case of a fruit machine having symbols around an actual or simulated rotating reel and wherein a symbol is randomly preselected in software and the reel is then moved to display the symbol, the regulator can adjust parameters such as the total number of symbols from which the selection is being made and the individual numbers of different types of symbols within the overall number.

With the invention, changes in the predetermined payout ratio can be made as required easily and conveniently. It is possible for the profile of payouts to be completely changed from game to game, or periodically between series of games. Thus, a fruit machine may run for a series of games biased to give a high proportion of high wins (e.g.

jackpots) and a low proportion of low wins, and then can be changed to run for a series of games biassed to give a high proportion of low wins and a low proportion of high wins, all without affecting the actual payout percentage, and without carry forward of predictable actual benefits.

Preferably the machine of the invention is a fruit machine as described above, and preferably -also, the award value is made available to the player as a coin pay-out.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic front view of one form of a fruit machine according to the invention.

The machine shown has three reels 1, 2, 3 which are rotatable within a housing 4 behind a window 5 in a front panel 6.

Each reel 1, 2, 3 has pictures of fruit (designated A, B, C) at 20 positions around its periphery, and rotation of each reel is effected and also arrested by a microprocessor-controlled stepping motor, the arrangement being such that the reel always comes to rest in precise registration with the window. Each stopping position is identified by the microprocessor control circuitry in known manner.

In use, the machine is actuated by a player by insertion of one or more coins or tokens into a coin mechanism 7 and a starter button 8 is pressed to cause the three reels 1, 2, 3 to rotate for different random periods of time before coming to rest. When the reels 1, 2, 3 come to rest, their stopping positions are known and a win indication is produced 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) at predetermined positions in the window 5 (e.g. on a horizontal win line passing through the middle of three displayed fruit for each reel).

The usual player-operable 'nudge' and 'hold' buttons 9, 10, 11 are provided for each reel.

After attaining a win, a payout of coins or tokens can be made to the player.

The microprocessor control circuitry within the machine includes in software a payout regulator which maintains a predetermined payout ratio, i.e. the ratio of coins paid out to coins inserted into the machine, say 80%.

The random selection of symbols occurs within the microprocessor control circuitry and the reels simply act as display devices which are moved to positions. at which the preselected symbols are displayed. The probability of a selection is determined in accordance with the predetermined payout ratio.

Supplementary play features, namely the 'nudge' and 'hold' features, and any other additional features such as 'gamble' or 'cumulative jackpot' are made available on a random basis and this availability can also be determined by the predetermined ratio.

With known machines the actual payout ratio is monitored historically over successive games by a compensator and the above probabilities are increased or decreased to hold the actual payout ratio as close as possible to the predetermined ratio at all times.

In accordance with the present invention, the payout regulator operates in relation to each game independently to adjust the probability of each operation in the game to maintain overall for that game the predetermined ratio.

Thus, for example a game which is played with all three symbols randomly selected (i.e. without any 'hold' feature) might have a 1 in 300 chance of obtaining a jackpot combination of three special symbols paying 6 against a 20p game - and more favourable odds for other lesser winning combinations giving an overall 80% payout ratio.

In a subsequent game the player may be given the opportunity of holding two of the special symbols on the win line and selecting the third symbol with the aim of attaining all three special symbols. In this case, the regulator would act automatically to adjust the odds of obtaining the third special symbol, so that it is less likely than would normally be the case (e.g. 1 in 37.5), thereby to maintain the payout ratio at the 80% level irrespective of the hold feature.

With this arrangement it will be appreciated that the 'hold' feature, and other supplementary features can be made available in such a manner as to give the impression of an enhanced win possibility without this actually being the case.

Accordingly, supplementary features can be made available as frequently as desired. Indeed, if desired they can be made available on a regular, predictable basis instead of randomly. Also, the features can be apparently carried forward from game to game without any benefit actually being carried forward.

Moreover, having regard to the simple mode of operation of the regulator, changes in the predetermined payout ratio can be made easily and conveniently when required. Indeed, the payout profile of the machine can be completely changed to shift the bias towards jackpot wins, or towards frequent low wins, or in any other manner, as and when desired all without actually changing the payout ratio or carrying forward any predictable actual benefit.

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 (12)

1. A random play coin-operated entertainment machine with which a game can be played in which a combination of symbols is selected, with the aim of attaining a winning combination having an award value, the ratio of awarded value to coin input is set to a predetermined level, and a means is provided to influence win likelihood with the aim of maintaining said ratio, characterised in that the said means comprises a regulator which applies said influence in relation to each game independently of other games.

2. A machine according to claim 1 which is a fruit machine having actual or simulated reels which are operated in the course of a game to display a combination of symbols on a win line.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the player is given the opportunity of using a supplementary game feature in the course of play.

4. A machine according to claims 2 and 3 wherein the supplementary feature is a hold feature whereby the player can hold reel symbols.

5. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein cumulative or bonus features are transferred from game to game.

6. A machine according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 2 or on any claim dependent thereon wherein there is a supplementary display of a row of symbols which have to be successively selected over a number of games with the aim of completing the row and attaining a jackpot award.

7. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the regulator acts in relation to each player operation during a game.

8. A machine according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the symbols are around an actual or simulated rotating reel, a symbol is randomly preselected in software, and the reel is then moved to display the symbol.

9. A machine according to claim 8 wherein the regulator adjusts the total number of symbols from which the selection is made.

10. A machine according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the regulator adjusts the individual numbers of different types of symbols within an overall number.

11. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the award value is made available to the player as a coin pay-out.

12. A machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.