GB2327794A

GB2327794A - Amusement with prizes apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2327794A
Application number: GB9715667A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Henry Stanley
Original assignee: Showcase Projects Ltd
Current assignee: Showcase Projects Ltd
Priority date: 1997-07-24
Filing date: 1997-07-24
Publication date: 1999-02-03
Also published as: GB9715667D0

Abstract

An amusement with prizes apparatus comprises a housing 1 having at least two games sets on a face of the housing, each game set having rotary reels P1, P3 with symbols on them and the reels being mounted in alignment. A coin or token acceptor 5 and a prize dispensing mechanism 6 is common to the game sets. Preferably, a single processor operates all the game sets, the coin or token acceptor 5 and the prize dispenser mechanism. The processor may offer play on the two sets of games alternately and the prizes presented from each game set may be according to a programme independent of the other set. Preferably the apparatus are arranged as follows; two sets of reels in horizontal alignment, with respective control buttons below, the game sets spaced apart, a control selection button to choose which game set to play and a panel which shows prizes for both sets.

Description

AMUSEMENT-WITH-PRIZES APPARATUS The invention relates to amusement-with-prizes apparatus of the type in which the player causes one or more reels of a set of reels to rotate, symbols being present along the edge of each reel, the objective being to stop the reels with the same symbol in alignment in order to win a prize. Such apparatus is usually located in an arcade or hall run by an operator who pays a licence duty or tax according to the cost of the play charged to the player and the value of the prize awarded. Machines which are cheap to play are however tax exempt; at the moment no duty is charged on machines where the play costs 5p and the prize does not exceed 4 cash; in contrast a machine for which play costs 25p will attract an annual duty of 535. The operator needs to fill his site with machines to attract custom, even in the dark or uninviting comers, and this represents a substantial capital investment. It is one object of this invention to provide apparatus which is particularly attractive to use and keeps the annual duty to a minimum or in certain formats makes the machine tax exempt, while still retaining the earning potential of a taxable machine.

In one aspect the invention provides an amusement-with-prizes apparatus comprising a housing having at least two game sets on a face of the housing, each set comprising rotary reels having symbols along their edge, the reels being mounted in alignment, a coin acceptor mechanism arranged to accept a coin or token and common to the sets for play; play means for each of the sets; and a prize dispensing mechanism arranged to dispense a prize according to the outcome of play of the played set.

Preferably a single processor is arranged to control the common coin or token acceptor, the prize dispensing mechanism; and the game sets. Preferably the processor is arranged to offer play on the two sets in an altemating sequence. Most preferably the processor is arranged so that each of sets of reels presents a prize according to a programme independent of the other set.

It is preferred that the two sets are arranged in horizontal alignment on the front face of the housing, with respective control buttons below, the sets being spaced apart, a prize award panel being present in between, and a control selection button for the player to select which game set he wants to play next.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of illustration only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one amusement-with-prizes apparatus of the invention.

The apparatus comprises a housing 1 of a width slightly greater than the usual amusement-with-prizes machine. The front face 2 of the housing presents a number of panels. The left hand panel P1 is a glass window having a horizontal line 3 and behind which are three reels 3 each with symbols on their edges to define a set for a game. All reels are mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis by means not shown. The glass is silk-screened to obscure the workings of the machine and on its surface are depicted various instructions for playing the game; and also attractive artwork to embellish the machine. The structure of the right hand panel P3 is the same.

Below each set of reels is a horizontal panel set into which are various buttons.

Undemeath each reel is a button with the legend "HOLD OR NUDGE" then "cancel/collect", a button with the legend "START" A LED light L is present to show the number of credits.

Between the two sets of game reels is a middle panel P2 depicting the awards available to the player should he, during play, come up with the winning combination. Below the panel is a game select button 4 by which the player can choose to play the game set of panel P1 or P3.

The housing has only one coin acceptor 5; a common pay-out mechanism (not shown); and a single payment tray 6. The means for playing both sets of reels, controlling both sets of odds and paying out are controlled by one processor within the housing and not shown.

In use, the player inserts a coin in the slot 5 to obtain credit to play the machine. On the machine of this invention 1 gives 8 credits, ie each game costs 12.5p; 4 games on each set of reels P1 and P3. The machine will automatically start the left hand set of reels when the start button is pressed, then the right hand set, altemating between the two sets until all credits are exhausted. However, when credit is displayed the player may choose between the banks of reels by pressing buttons "game 1" or "game 2". While both sets of reels, and as such two separate games, are controlled by one processor, this is arranged so that the outcome of one game cannot influence the outcome of the other games.

By letting the player choose which set of reels he wants to play, i.e. say 8 on the left, 8 on the right or alternatively 4 on each set, the player may feel he can influence the outcome on either game.

The apparatus of the invention is attractive in appearance because of the second game set, and will lighten up an otherwise dark comer in an arcade or shop.

Because the price of play on each game is 12.5 p, upon insertion of a 1, the player will receive credits for eight games. The operator would have to pay licence duty of 535 per annum, effectively the cost of one game set, although the arrangement of the game and the way the reels are located in the cabinet, the appearance of the machine looks like two separate machines in one cabinet. If the operator sets the software in the machines processor to give 20 games per 1 inserted or 2 games per 10p, ie 5p per play, the machine would not attract any licence duty at all.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. Each game set may have 4 reels instead of 3; the sets may be arranged vertically or horizontally; more than two sets may be present.

Claims

1. An amusement-with-prizes apparatus comprising a housing having at least two game sets on a face of the housing, each set comprising rotary reels having symbols along their edge, the reels being mounted in alignment, a coin acceptor mechanism arranged to accept a coin or token and common to the sets for play; play means for each of the sets; and a prize dispensing mechanism arranged to dispense a prize according to the outcome of play of the played set.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a single processor is arranged to control the common coin or token acceptor, the prize dispensing mechanism; and the game sets.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the processor is arranged to offer play on the two sets in an altemating sequence.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the processor is arranged so that each of sets of reels presents a prize according to a programme independent of the other set.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the two sets are arranged in horizontal alignment on the front face of the housing, with respective control buttons below, the sets being spaced apart, a prize award panel being present in between, and a control selection button for the player to select which game set he wants to play next.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the prize panel shows prizes for both sets.