GB2386457A

GB2386457A - Gaming apparatus providing multiple choices for a higher or lower indicium selection

Info

Publication number: GB2386457A
Application number: GB0306036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Falcon Caddy
Original assignee: DYNAMITE DESIGN AND MARKETING
Current assignee: DYNAMITE DESIGN AND MARKETING
Priority date: 2003-03-17
Filing date: 2003-03-17
Publication date: 2003-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-17
Also published as: GB2386457B; GB0306036D0; HK1056421A1

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game includes randomiser means for generating indicia, 21, 22, 23 in each turn of play. The player of the game selects whether one of the indicia will be higher or lower in the next turn of play. The apparatus allows variable stakes to be gambled at each game play and the winnings may reflect the odds of the particular indicium selected changing in the higher or lower direction selected. The indicia may be numbers, as shown, or playing cards.

Description

- 1 - 2386457

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A GAME

The present invention relates to apparatus for playing a game and in particular to apparatus for 5 playing an automated game of chance requiring a stake to be gambled.

Automated games of chance where money is staked, commonly referred to as gaming machines or fruit 10 machines, are well known in the art. In playing such games a player typically faces in each turn of play odds over which he has little control, save perhaps for features of 'hold' and 'nudge' provided by the machine. Thus the game play is limited and can become 15 tedious over time. It is a problem to provide a more engaging game play.

The present invention provides apparatus for playing a game comprising: 20 randomiser means for generating in each turn of play a plurality of indicia forming a set of indicia for the turn of play, each indicator in each set of indicia indicating a numerical value; display means for displaying in each turn of play 25 the plurality of indicia generated by the randomiser means in a manner such that each indicator of each set of indicia appears as a successor to an indicator of the set of indicia of the previous turn of play; and indicia selection means enabling selection of one 30 indicator from each set of displayed indicia and also selection of whether the successor indicator for the selected indicator will be higher or lower in numerical value than the selected indicator; wherein in each turn of play a player uses the selection 35 means to select an indicator from a displayed set of indicia and also whether the successor indicator will be higher or lower in numerical value, then the

- 2 randomiser means generates a fresh set of indicia and the apparatus determines that the player wins if the player has correctly selected whether the successor indicator in the fresh set of indicia is higher or 5 lower in numerical value.

The apparatus of the present invention provides a game which is more engaging for a player than the games of the prior art because it facilitates a choice

10 of odds in each turn of play.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows dedicated game apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a personal computer configured to function as game apparatus of the Figure 1 first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a variant of the game apparatus of figure It and Figure 4 shows a persona:! computer configured to function as game apparatus of the Figure 3 variant.

In figure 1 there can be seen game apparatus 9 30 having a screen 10, a coin/note receiver 11,control buttons 12-19 and a dispensing output tray 20.

On the screen 10 there are displayed three reels' 21-23, a balance total 24, a start stake 35 amount 25, an accumulated win amount 26, a win/loose display 27 and odds displays 28-33. The reels 21-23 each can display numbers in the range 1 to 13.

To commence play a player deposits stake money, in the illustrated example ú100, using the coin/note receiver 11. The deposited stake money total is then displayed as a balance total at 24.

In his first turn of play the player choses a stake amount, in the illustrated example ú1, and this is displayed as the start stake at 25. The stake amount will be set to a default level of e.g. ú1.00, 10 but can be increased in increments of e.g. L1.00 by depression of the control button 18. It would be possible to provide another control button (not shown) to allow the stake amount to be decreased in preset increments. The player chases the stake amount in each turn of play having regard to the offered odds displayed on the screen 10 at 28-33. In each turn of play the player must select one of the reels 21-23 having 20 regard to the number displayed and then bet on whether the next number will be higher or lower than the displayed number. With a low number such as 2 (see reel 23) it is far more likely that the next number displayed will be a higher number than a lower number 25 and accordingly a payout of ú1. 18 for a ú1.00 stake is offered at 30 for the next displayed number being higher than a 2 and a payout of ú13.00 for a ú1.00 stake is offered for the next displayed number being lower than a 2. The reels 21-23 will typically display 30 numbers different to each other (although the reels 21-23 could display the same numbers in some turns of play) and thus the offers of odds will be different for each of the reels 21-23.

35 Once a stake amount has been selected the player will chose a reel to play and will also chose whether he wishes to bet that the next number displayed by the

- 4 reel will be higher ox lower than the displayed number. He will see the odds of each eventuality displayed in association with each reel and thus will be able to make an informed judgement. A pair of 5 buttons is provided associated with each reel 21-23. A pair of buttons 12,15 is associated with the reel 21, a pair of buttons 13,16 is associated with the reel 22 and a pair of buttons 14,17 is associated with the reel 23. By pressing any of the buttons 12,13,14 the 10 player selects a reel and bets that the next number displayed by that reel is higher than the number currently displayed by the reel. By pressing any of the buttons 15, 16,17 the player selects a reel and bets that the next number displayed by the reel is 15 lower than the number currently displayed by the reel.

Stake money can be deducted from the balance displayed at 24 once one of the buttons 12-17 is depressed, however this will occur only if the accumulated stake at 26 is zero.

The depression of one of the buttons 12-17 results in the activation of a xandomiser associated with the selected reel and a new number is randomly selected for display by the reel. Each reel 21,22,23 25 has an individual randomiser associated therewith, each randomiser working completely independently from the other randomisers. If the player has made a correct choice then the player wins an amount of money calculated as the product of the stake money 30 multiplied by the applicable odds. In the illustrated examples if the player selects reel 23 and correctly bets a t1.00 stake on the next displayed number being higher than the '2' displayed then the player wins a payout of ú1.18 (0.18 win plus the ú1.00 stake). If 35 the player selects reel 23 and correctly bets a ú1.00 stake on the next displayed number being lower than the '2' displayed then the player wins a payout of

ú13.00 (12.00 win plus the ú1.00 stake).

At the end of each turn of play any prize money won is displayed at 26. A win or a loss is indicated 5 by the display 27.

The player can choose to gamble his win money in the next turn of play. Indeed win money will be accumulated with the accumulated sum displayed at 26 10 and bet each time until the player selects payout of the balance displayed at 26 by depression of the button 19. Pressing the button 19 once transfers the win money to the balance displayed at 24. Pressing the button 19 twice causes the balance money to be 15 dispensed to the dispensing output tray 20.

If a successor number to a selected number is of the same numerical value then the player loses his stake money. Alternatively, a third button could be 20 provided associated with each reel to allow selection of the possibility that the successor number is the same as the displayed number.

In the above embodiment the apparatus of the 25 invention comprises a stand alone amusement machine.

However, the applicant also envisages that the game could be played at home using a personal computer communicating by a telecommunications network with a remote server. For instance a personal computer 30 running web browser software could be used to communicate via the Internet with a remote server run by a game administrator. This possibility is illustrated in figure 2.

35 When playing the game via the Internet a player will first use web browser software installed on his computer to connect with a site run by the game

6 - administrator. When initial contact is made the player will have to set up an account by giving identification and credit card details. Then the player will be given a User ID and a password which 5 can be used in subsequent visits. Once the player has got through the log-in formalities then the player will be presented with a screen 41 as illustrated in figure 2, which is identical to the screen illustrated in figure 1 (although it need not be identical). The 10 game play is then exactly as previously described with reference to the figure 1 embodiment, save that the keys of a standard keyboard 42 and/or a mouse 43 will be used in place of the buttons 12-19 of the dedicated apparatus. A touch screen arrangement could 15 also be used to provide an input to the system. Stake money is transferred to the game balance from a credit card account of the player and when a player decides to chose a payout of a balance then the balance is paid out as a credit to the player's credit card 20 account. The money transfer will be conducted electronically by a computerized payment system run by the game administrator.

Instead of being implemented via a personal 25 computer connected to the Internet, the game could be implemented by an interactive digital television system or via a dumb terminal of e.g. a betting shop electronic betting system. A mobile telephone system could be used to implement the invention with the 30 mobile telephone handset screen displaying the game screen and with the buttons of the handset used to play the game.

Whilst in the above embodiments the display has 35 comprised three reels, the numbers could be presented in many different ways. For instance, figure 3 shows an embodiment 100 with numbered disks 51,52,53 and

7 - three associated display slots 54,55,56. The player would select between the slots 54,55,56 and then bet on whether the next number displayed in the slot is higher or lower than the currently displayed number.

5 The disks 51,52,53 would then spin and when they come to rest then new numbers would be seen through the display slots 54,55,56. The disks 51,52, 53 could be real or images of disks could be shown on a screen.

In the embodiment lOO, the buttons 112-117 correspond 10 to the buttons 12-17 of the Figure 1 embodiment, the cash receiver 111 corresponds to cash receiver 11, the stake selector button 118 corresponds to the button 18 and the collect button 119 corresponds to the button 19. Similarly the displays 124, 125, 126 and 127 15 correspond respectively to the displays 24, 25, 26 and 27 of the Figure 1 embodiment and the dispensing tray 120 corresponds to the Figure 1 dispensing tray 20.

The odds are displayed at 128-133. A version of the Figure 3 game implemented via personal computer is 20 shown in Figure 4.

Whilst numerals are shown in the attached figures, indicia indicating numerical values could be chosen instead. For instance playing cards could be 25 depicted, with each reel showing a different suit.

Claims

- 8 CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for playing a game comprising: randomiser means for generating in each turn of 5 play a plurality of indicia forming a set of indicia for the turn of play, each indicator in each set of indicia indicating a numerical value; display means for displaying in each turn of play the plurality of indicia generated by the randomiser 10 means in a manner such that each indicator of each set of indicia appears as a successor to an indicator of the set of indicia of the previous turn of play; and indicia selection means enabling selection of one indicator from each set of displayed indicia and also 15 selection of whether the successor indicator for the selected indicator will be higher or lower in numerical value than the selected indicator; wherein in each turn of play a player uses the selection means to select an indicator from a set of displayed 20 indicia and also whether the successor indicator will be higher or lower in numerical value, then the randomiser means generates a fresh set of indicia and the apparatus determines that the player wins if the player has correctly selected whether the successor 25 indicator in the fresh set of indicia is higher or lower in numerical value.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the randomiser means operates such that the numerical 30 value of each indicator in each set of indicia is not influenced by the numerical values of the other indicia of the set.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 35 comprising additionally odds display means which for each displayed indicator displays the odds of the successor indicator being higher in numerical value.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising additionally odds display means which for each displayed indicator displays the odds of the successor indicator being lower in 5 numerical value.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein in each turn of play the player bets a stake on the selection made by the player.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 which has win calculation means which for each correct selection by the player calculates a win from the displayed odds for the selection.

c 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising additionally stake selection means which allows the player to chose an initial value for the stake.

20 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the win calculation means calculates the win from both the displayed odds for the selection and from the value of the stake for a particular turn of play. 9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 which comprises additionally receiver means for receiving payment of stake money and dispensing means for dispensing accumulated win money.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the display means comprises a visual display unit connected to a computer, the indicia selection means comprises a keyboard and/or a mouse 35 connected to the computer and the randomiser means comprises processing means running a program, the processing means being situated in the computer or

- 10 being remotely located and connected to the computer by a telecommunications network.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 5 to 8 comprising a personal computer and a remotely located server connected to the personal computer via the Internet, wherein the display means is provided by a visual display unit of the personal computer, the indicia selection means is provided by a keyboard 10 and/or a mouse of the personal computer and the randomiser means is provided by a combination of the personal computer and the remote server working together by communicating over the telecommunications link. 12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the display means comprises a visual display unit connected to electronic communication means, the indicia selection means comprises input 20 means of the electronic communication means and the randomiser means comprises processing means running a programme, the processing means being situated in the electronic communication means or being remotely located in apparatus connected to the electronic 25 communication means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the electronic communication means comprises an interactive digital television system.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the electronic communication means comprises an electronic betting system with dumb terminals.

35 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the electronic communication means comprises a mobile telephone.

16. Apparatus for playing a game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Apparatus for playing a game comprising: randomiser means for generating in each turn of 5 play a plurality of indicia forming a set of indicia for the turn of plays each indicium in the set of indicia generated in each turn of play indicating a numerical value; display means for displaying in each turn of play 10 the plurality of indicia generated by the randomiser means in a manner such that each indicium of each set of indicia appears as a successor to an indicium of the set of indicia of the previous turn of play; and indicia selection means enabling selection of one 15 indicium from each set of displayed indicia and also selection of whether the successor indicium for the selected indicium will be higher or lower in numerical value than the selected indicium wherein in each turn of play a player uses the selection 20 means to select an indicium from a set of displayed indicia and also whether the successor indicium will be higher or lower in numerical value, then the randomiser means generates a fresh set of indicia and the apparatus determines that the player wins if the 25 player has correctly selected whether the successor indicium in the fresh set of indicia is higher or lower in numerical value.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the 30 randomiser means operates such that the numerical value of each indicium in the set of indicia generated in each turn of play is not influenced by the numerical values of the other indicia of the set.

35 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising additionally odds display means which for each displayed indicium displays the odds of the successor indicium being higher in numerical value.

i t? 4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising additionally odds display means which for each displayed indicium displays the 5 odds of the successor indicium being lower in numerical value.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein in each turn of play the player bets a stake 10 on the selection made by the player.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 which has win calculation means which for each correct selection by the player calculates a win from the displayed odds 15 for the selection.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising additionally stake selection means which allows the player to chose an initial value for the stake.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 r wherein the win calculation means calculates the win from both the displayed odds for the selection and from the value of the stake for a particular turn of 25 play.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 which comprises additionally receiver means for receiving payment of stake money and dispensing means 30 for dispensing accumulated win money.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the display means comprises a visual display unit connected to a computer, the indicia 35 selection means comprises a keyboard and/or a mouse connected to the computer and the randomiser means comprises processing means running a program, the processing means being situated in the computer or

1: being remotely located and connected to the computer by a telecommunications network.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 5 to 8 comprising a personal computer and a remotely located server connected to the personal computer via the Internet, wherein the display means is provided by a visual display unit of the personal computer, the indicia selection means is provided by a keyboard 10 and/or a mouse of the personal computer and the randomiser means is provided by a combination of the personal computer and the remote server working together by communicating over the telecommunications link.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the display means comprises a visual display unit connected to electronic communication means, the indicia selection means comprises input 20 means of the electronic communication means and the randomiser means comprises processing means running a programme, the processing means being situated in the electronic communication means or being remotely located in apparatus connected to the electronic 25 communication means.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the electronic communication means comprises a mobile telephone.

11 Wi - -