GB2383669A

GB2383669A - Enhanced gaming machine

Info

Publication number: GB2383669A
Application number: GB0127190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Short; Steve Murray; David Painter
Original assignee: JPM International Ltd
Current assignee: JPM International Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-13
Filing date: 2001-11-13
Publication date: 2003-07-02
Also published as: GB0127190D0

Abstract

A first section of a gaming machine 2 can be operated successfully to result in the indication of a prize outcome on a main display 3. A gamble feature (5,6,7) can be operated to achieve one of two outcomes, the first of which causes loss of the prize outcome whilst the second allows exchange of said indication to a new predetermined or selected alternative location on the main display 3, which may or may not indicate a new prize outcome. The machine also incorporates a guaranteed prize display area 10 which will illustrate prizes of values increasing after every successful gamble operation by the user. The guaranteed prize will be paid out regardless of the final outcome of play on the main part of the machine.

Description

"Enhanced Gaming Machine" This invention is concerned with gaming machines and has the objective of providing added interest to the user in terms of the prizes awarded.

One type of gaming machine is referred to as an amusement-with-prizes machine, particularly known as a fruit machine. Machines of this type have a number of reels or drums, or equivalents such as endless bands, which are spun and stop in a random manner to reveal a combination of symbols in display windows. Certain combinations result in prizes, usually monetary, being awarded. Such machines will be referred to generally as AWP machines.

Another type of gaming machine in use comprises what is known as a"Rolling Road"unit, which will hereinafter be referred to generally as an RR unit. Such a unit comprises a rectangular grid/array of lamps with a flexible transparent/translucent"band"which can be driven/rotated between different stopping positions to introduce different display regions in front of the array of lamps, whereby prizes can be indicated.

According to the present invention there is provided a gaming machine, operation of which can result in the indication of a prize outcome on a main display, the machine also incorporating a gamble feature with two outcomes, the first of which causes loss of the prize outcome whilst the second allows exchange of said

indication from said one position to a predetermined or selected alternative location on the main display, which may or may not indicate a new prize outcome, the machine also incorporating a guaranteed prize display area which will illustrate prizes of values increasing after every successful gamble operation by the user which does not result in the indication of a new prize outcome on the main display, which guaranteed prize will be paid out regardless of the final outcome of play on the main part of the machine.

In using such a gaming machine, if the user achieves a "WIN" condition on the main section, then the gamble feature enables the user to try to improve the outcome represented on the main display from a low award to an increased award or some special feature which might, for example, allow the results shown on the main display to be modified in certain ways. This would be, for example, by spinning the reels or by nudging the reels by increments on an AWP machine or incrementing the band on an RR unit. The manner in which the result shown on the main display is modified is by the user gambling on producing an event which will move the win position indicated on the main display to a better location by one or more increments, possibly by employing more than one gamble operation. In some instances, the incremental movement may result in the indication on the display illustrating no win outcome.

Nevertheless a winning gamble which does not result in a

new prize outcome will increase the indication of a prize to be awarded on the guaranteed prize display area. Once the user has reached an optimum situation, he can then decide whether or not to take the winning outcome displayed on the main display rather than gamble any further. Regardless of his level of success as indicated on the main display the user will however receive the prize finally indicated on the guaranteed prize display area.

The gaming machine could be designed to operate such that a successful gamble operation which actually does result in the indication of a new prize outcome on the main display also results in an increase of value in the illustrated prizes on the guaranteed prize display.

The gamble feature itself could incorporate a set of reels with sections visible at locations associated with each of the columns of an RR unit, and a gamble operator allowing the user to predict an option of a visible higher or lower value result relative to a value currently illustrated at one location on said set of reels after those reels have been indexed to a new condition. Said set of reels could comprise reels of an AWP machine carrying said values in addition to the standard symbols on the reels. In this case said values could be carried by a reel of the AWP machine which is separate from the reels carrying the standard symbols.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred example thereof will now be described, with

reference to the accompanying diagrammatic Figure 1, which illustrates features displayed on a gaming machine of this invention.

In the arrangement shown the user, on achieving a win condition on a central line of a set of reels 1 of an AWP machine section 2, can then select a preferred one of the three columns of an RR unit 3 by pressing a chosen one of the three WIN buttons 4. A set of reels 5 carry numerals and the user can select an associated high (HI) or low (LO) gamble button 6 or 7, relative to the chosen WIN column. This causes the relevant reel 5 to spin to indicate a new numeral. If the gamble is successful in that the user has correctly chosen the right higher or lower value for the numeral indicated, then the symbols 8 illustrated on the band of the RR unit will be incremented downwards to display a new line of symbols, some of which will offer a prize of some nature. There is also the possibility of the user swapping from one column to another. This is done by pressing the relevant HI or LO button in the desired column. If the gamble is successful, then the"WIN"light 4 will be illuminated for that column.

It will be noted that the band of the RR unit incorporates a number of symbols 9 which do not indicate any form of prize. Nevertheless, a user may wish to cause the winning position to move to one of these"blank"areas 9 during the course of a stepped progress towards a preferred prize symbol 8. An added feature of this machine

is that a move to one of the"blank"areas 9 nevertheless causes a win indication to be made on one of a sequence of prize winning areas 10. A further move to another"blank" area 9 will cause incrementation to the next prize area 10.

When a game is completed (by the operator choosing to take an illustrated prize on the main display, or when the operator fails with a gamble operation) then the prize finally indicated on one of the areas 10 will be dispensed regardless of the outcome from the main section of the machine. As a modification movement of the sequence of guaranteed prize 10 could be after every successful gamble operation by the operator regardless of whether this results in a move on the band of the RR unit to a"blank" area 9 or an area carrying a symbol 8 illustrating a prize of some nature.

As a variation on the manner in which the equipment operates, the band carrying the symbols 8 could be caused to move by more than one increment (either deliberately at the choice of the user or randomly) to locate the second or third row above (for example) down to the position adjacent to the"WIN"lights 4.

It will be appreciated that the symbols and decorative features shown in the example of Figure 1 can be modified as desired and that the concepts described can be extended to other implementations or layouts and could also be created using video technology.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A gaming machine, operation of which can result in the indication of a prize outcome on a main display, the machine also incorporating a gamble feature with two outcomes, the first of which causes loss of the prize outcome whilst the second allows exchange of said indication from said one position to a predetermined or selected alternative location on the main display, which may or may not indicate a new prize outcome, the machine also incorporating a guaranteed prize display area which will illustrate prizes of values increasing after every successful gamble operation by the user which does not result in the indication of a new prize outcome on the main display, which guaranteed prize will be paid out regardless of the final outcome of play on the main part of the machine.
2. A gaming machine according to Claim 1, designed to operate such that a successful gamble operation which results in the indication of a new prize outcome on the main display also results in an increase of value in the illustrated prizes on the guaranteed prize display.
3. A gaming machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the gamble feature incorporates a set of reels with sections visible at locations associated with each of the columns of an RR unit, and a gamble operator allowing the user to predict an option of a visible higher or lower value result relative to a value currently illustrated at

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one location on said set of reels after those reels have been indexed to a new condition.
4. A gaming machine according to Claim 3, wherein said set of reels comprise reels of an AWP machine carrying said values in addition to the standard symbols on the reels.
5. A gaming machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
6. Any novel combination of features of a gaming machine as described herein and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.