GB2390822A - An entertainment machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An entertainment machine (100) is arranged to provide a game in which a player aims to accumulate one or more symbols (302, 304, 308, 310, 202, 402, 404) within a hand of symbols. There is a desired arrangement of the symbols (302, 304, 308, 310, 202, 402, 404) according to a scale of predetermined arrangements, as, for example, there is a desired arrangement of playing cards in a hand of poker. The machine (100) is arranged to provide at least one hand of symbols to a player and the machine (100) is arranged to give a player a first opportunity to exchange one or more of the symbols (302, 304, 308, 310, 202, 402, 404) in the hand. The machine (100) is further arranged to give a player a second opportunity to exchange one or more of the symbols (302, 304, 308, 310, 202, 402, 404). The game is thus of the double-draw type.

Description

i 2390822 1, 1 AN ENTERTAINMENT MACHINE

This invention relates to an entertainment machine, particularly, but not 5 exclusively, an entertainment machine arranged to provide a simulation of a card game and also relates to related methods. In particular, but not exclusively, the entertainment machine is freed for play by the introduction of coins, notes, tokens, credit cards, or any other form of

credit. Entertainment machines that provide simulations of card and in particular poker games are well known and an example of such a machine is shown in EP 0 893 147. However, as the skilled person will appreciate, there is an ongoing need to provide games that are developments on what has 15 gone before in order to provide new/different challenges for the players of such machines.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an entertainment machine arranged to provide a game in which a player aims 20 to accumulate one or more symbols, within a hand of symbols, having a desired arrangement according to a scale of predetermined arrangements wherein in the machine is arranged to provide at least one hand of symbols to a player and the machine is arranged to give a player a first opportunity to exchange one or more of the hand of symbols and wherein 25 the machine is further arranged to give a player a second opportunity to exchange one or more of the hand of symbols.

Such an arrangement is advantageous because it provides a variation on known games that allow a player to make an alteration on a predetermined 30 set of symbols.

( In the most preferred embodiment the machine is arranged to provide a game based upon the game of poker, or a simulation of a game poker.

Generally, the desired arrangement is the arrangement having the highest 5 possible worth according to the scale of predetermined arrangements.

However, in other embodiments the desired arrangement may have the lowest possible worth according to the scale of predetermined arrangements. For example, in a game of poker a player thereof tries to achieve a hand having the highest value that he/she can.

Generally, the machine is arranged such that the player will be able to see the results of his/her first opportunity to exchange one or more of the symbols before being given the second opportunity to exchange one or more of the symbols.

Further, the machine may be arranged to allow the player to exchange any number of symbols presented to him/her in the hand of symbols at his/her discretion in the first and/or the second opportunity to exchange symbols. For example, the player may be able to exchange anywhere 20 between zero symbols and the number of symbols in the hand.

The machine may be arranged such that a player selects symbols within the hand, and it is the unselected symbols that are exchanged.

Alternatively, the machine may be arranged to exchange the symbols 25 within the hand that have been selected by a player.

The machine may be arranged to provide a player with a predetermined number of symbol selections. The machine may be further arranged such that the symbol selections can be spread across a plurality of symbol 30 exchanges to specify the symbol or symbols to be exchanged. The

machine may be arranged to provide 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more symbol selections.

Preferably, the hand of symbols comprises a hand of cards, which are 5 preferably drawn from a standard set of playing cards (i.e. a set comprising four suits of thirteen cards). Such an arrangement will be well known to the players of entertainment machines.

Alternatively, or additionally, the machine may be arranged to draw the 10 hand of cards from a set of playing cards having one or more additional cards in addition to the standard fifty-two card deck. The one or more cards are typically referred to as "jokers". There may be 2,3,4,5, 6,7,8,9,10, or more jokers present in addition to the standard set of playing cards.

The hand of symbols may comprise five symbols which are preferably cards which are preferably drawn at random, or pseudo randomly, from the deck of playing cards. Again, such arrangements will be familiar to the players of such machines and may therefore be advantageous since 20 they may well be readily accepted by players. It will be appreciated that the hand of symbols may comprise other than five cards and may comprise any of the following 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10.

In a preferred embodiment the machine comprises a display arranged to 25 display the area capable of displaying the hand of symbols. The display may be a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), or the like. Such displays are commonly referred to in the art as video displays.

However, in other embodiments it may be possible to provide a mechanical display means to provide the area capable of displaying the 30 hand of symbols.

( The machine may be arranged to award the player with performance reflecting means arranged to reflect how a player is progressing in a game. The performance reflecting means may comprise points, credits, or the like. In some embodiments the points, credits, or the like may 5 have monetary equivalent, or be capable of being converted into money, or the like. In other embodiments the points, credits, or the like, may be arranged to reflect how a player is progressing in a game and have no monetary equivalent, nor be capable of being converted into a monetary equivalent. Preferably, the machine is arranged such that the player is presented with a second opportunity to change one or more of the set of symbols by exchanging one or more performance reflecting means therefor. Such an arrangement is convenient because it may help to provide a degree of 15 tactics into a game; a player must judge whether it is likely that exchanging performance reflecting means will result in an increase in the player's position (i.e. an increase in the number of performance reflecting means held).

20 The machine may be arranged such that a player can insert credits, coins, tokens, or the like, in order to exchange performance reflecting means for the second opportunity to change one or more symbols.

In some embodiments the machine is arranged such that a player can only 25 exchange symbols from the hand of symbols with which they are presented that are additional cards. The player may or may not have to exchange performance reflecting means in order to exchange an additional card. 30 The machine may be arranged to give a player one or more opportunities to exchange one or more of the hand of symbols over and above the first

( and second opportunities. For example, the machine may be arranged to give 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 or more further opportunities.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method 5 of improving the player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising providing a game in which a player aims to accumulate one or more symbols, within a hand of symbols, having a desired arrangement according to a scale of predetermined arrangements wherein the method comprises giving a player a first opportunity to exchange one or more of 10 the hand of symbols and further comprises giving a player a second opportunity to exchange one or more of the hand of symbols.

In the preferred method the symbols comprise playing cards. Further, the method further comprises providing a poker game, poker like game, or 15 simulation thereof. Such methods are convenient because they are readily appreciated by players and therefor likely to be accepted, but the new method is advantageous due to the increased appeal to the players.

The method may comprise providing cards in addition to the standard 20 deck of cards (i.e. in addition to the four suits of thirteen cards) and the method may be arranged to give a player a second opportunity to exchange a symbol if that symbol comprises an additional card.

Conveniently, the method comprises providing a player with performance 25 reflecting means in order to indicate how a player is progressing in the game. Such a method is advantageous because it provides an incentive to the player. The performance reflecting means may comprise points, credits, or the like.

The method may be further arranged to require a player to exchange one or more performance reflecting means in order to be given the second opportunity to exchange one or more symbols.

5 According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause that machine to function as the machine according to the first aspect of the invention.

10 According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause that machine to perform the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

15 The machine readable medium of the third and fourth aspect may be any one or more of the following: a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD ROM/RAM (including +RW/-RW), any form of magneto optical disk, a hard drive, a non-volatile memory, a transmitted signal (including an internal download, ftp transfer or the like), a wire. This list is not 20 intended to be exhaustive and is merely provided by way of example to show the types of medium that is envisaged.

Embodiments of the invention follow by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a typical video game machine; and Figure 2-5 show schematic representations of screen shots of one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a game machine 100 comprising a cabinet 101 in which is housed a screen 102, in this case a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) screen arranged to display a game. The machine also comprises at a convenient, user operable, height a number of player operable input buttons 104 and a 5 coin slot 106. The machine further comprises a coin-retrieval slot 107 from which a player may collect his/her coins should they be rejected by the machine and a pay-out slot 109 from which a player can collect his/her winnings.

10 Such machines are commonly referred to in the art as video machines, although the invention may be applicable to machines that are not video machines. Inside the cabinet there is processing circuitry 108 comprising of a 15 controller 110 and an associated memory 112. The processing circuitry 108 is arranged to provide the game and to control the screen 102 in order to display the game to the player. The processing circuitry 108 is capable of receiving inputs from the input buttons 104, allowing, during use of the machine 100, a player to control the game 20 being played on the machine of Figure 1.

The processing circuitry 108 is arranged to display a hand of symbols 114 on the screen 102. The symbols comprise playing cards, as will be apparent from the remaining Figures.

The screen shots of Figures 2-5 show images from a game as it progresses such as may be displayed on the screen 102 during the playing of the game. The game is a variation of the well-known card game poker, in which a hand of playing cards (the hand of symbols 114) is dealt to two 30 or more players and the 'hands' so dealt are scored according to the combinations of the cards on a pre-arranged scale to establish which is

( superior. Poker is often played as a gambling game, in which the players risk money, tokens with or without associated monetary value, clothes or some other objects on the basis that they suspect their hand to be capable of winning.

The machine 100 of the present invention provides a game using a new manner for finalising a win in a game of poker. As displayed in Figures 25, the game provided is for a single player. In alternative embodiments the game is played against another player or players, 10 possibly playing on further machines networked to the first, or possibly with each player taking control of a single machine 100 in turn.

Alternatively, the processing circuitry 108 could be arranged to provide additional 'players' of the game.

15 In use, the player inserts a coin or token into coin slot 106 as a payment to play the game. If the payment is of sufficient value, the screen 102 will then display an initial display indicating that play is ready to commence. Alternative machines are well known in the art, such as machines that are free to play, or machines in which the payment may be 20 made with a credit card or by some other means. These machines would also suitable to provide the game described below.

Figure 2 shows a screenshot of the game before play commences. The processing circuitry 108 causes the screen 102 to display an arrangement 25 of representatives of five playing cards 302,304,308,202,310 providing the hand of symbols 114. The representations of playing cards, henceforth described simply as 'cards', will be distributed randomly or quasirandom1y, the effect mimicking, at least in the player's perception' dealing such an arrangement from a physical single deck of cards that has 30 been disordered by shuffling.

lithe player of the game may chose to retain the hand shown or may chose to gamble on exchanging cards for a higher win. Hands in poker are judged according to the table shown below which outlines a scale of how predetermined arrangements are ranked against one another: Name Description

1 Royal Flush Ace, king, queen, jack, ten in the same suit.

2 Straight Five sequential cards in the same Flush suit. 3 Four of a Four cards of the same face value.

kind 4 Full House Three cards of one face value, two cards of another face value.

5 Flush Five cards of the same suit.

6 Straight Five cards with sequential face value. 7 Three of a Three cards of the same face kind value. 8 Two Pairs Two pairs (see below).

9 Pair Two cards of the same face value.

10 High Card No matching cards, highest card wins. The processing circuitry 108 ascertains the level of a win according to the scale shown in this table. The hand shown in Figure 2 includes a Joker 202, which counts as a 'wild card', which in this embodiment is an 10 additional symbol over and above the cards contained in a standard deck of cards (four suits of thirteen cards). As is well known to poker players, a wild card can count as any card in the pack. In this case, the

best hand is achieved if the Joker 202 counts as a Spade, so that the hand is a flush.

In the game of the present invention, the Joker serves a further purpose.

5 If a winning hand is dealt containing a Joker, the player can choose to take the win or to exchange if for a number of 'draws' (a 'draw' in poker is the re-dealing of a selected number of the cards in the player's hand) in the hope of improving the hand. A draw may be thought of as an opportunity for a player to exchange one or more of the cards for other 10 cards. In this example, having drawn a joker the player is awarded a maximum of three further draws.

In the present example, the player chooses to exchange some of the cards in the hand. The player uses input buttons 104 to select the cards they 15 wish to retain, or 'Hold', as it is known in the art. The held cards the Ace of Spades 302, the Jack of Spades 304, and the Joker 202, have their displays altered by the processing circuitry 108 to display an H. as is shown in Figure 3. The processing circuitry 108 then replaces the other two cards, the Nine of Spades 308 and the Three of Spades 310, with new 20 cards dealt randomly or quasi-randomly as if from the disordered deck used to deal the original hand.

Figure 4 shows the hand after the first draw. The new cards are the Six of Diamonds 402 and the Ace of Clubs 404. The player has noticed that 25 two of the cards, are Aces. In choosing to take a further draw, the player holds both Aces, and the Joker 202. Thus, the player has changed his/her strategy as to the predetermined arrangement that they are trying to achieve. Previously the player was trying to achieve a flush and now the player is aiming at a full house, which as will be appreciated from the 30 table above is rated higher than a flush.

i Figure 5 shows the hand after the second draw. The hand now contains two Aces, two Fives and a Joker 202 forming a 'full house', with the Joker 202 counting as an Ace. The hand is improved over the initial hand. The player chooses not to take the third available draw as he/she 5 has played successfully and improved his/her win. The processing circuitry 108 will determine what award is made to the player.

In this embodiment, a hand below a predetermined standard, e.g. worse than three of a kind will be a loss, and a loss by the player will end the 10 game a winner will be rewarded with a number of points and the processing circuitry 108 will allow the player to play again. If, therefore, the player had lost, the screen 102 would be cleared of cards.

In this example, the screen 102 would be cleared of cards before being caused to display a new selection of cards and the game would be ready to 15 play again. Should the player win again, the points will be added to the points from any preceding game. It may be that the machine records a list of the highest scores and allows a player to enter his/her name next to the score should it be high enough to be recorded on this list. Such 'High Score Tables' are well known in the art and it can be the ambition of a 20 player (and therefore an incentive for them to play the game) to see his/her name displayed on such a table.

Thus, the machine provides a game that requires a degree of tactics; the player must decide whether it is best for them to attempt to gain an 25 improved hand, or to take the points available for the original win.

There are, however, several conceivable variations on the game described above. By way of example only, and without limiting the invention to these embodiments only, suggested variations are described below.

f A version of the game described above could involve betting according to known poker rules. For example, the value of the coins or tokens inserted into the coin slot 106 could be used as a stake in a game. In a similar manner to 'stud' poker, a reasonably well-known variation on the 5 standard game of poker (the standard game is sometimes known as 'draw' poker), a round of betting could occur after each card contributing to a hand is dealt. The rules for betting could be the traditional rules (as are described in any of the many books on the subject) or could be a system devised for the machine. In brief, however, betting in poker commonly 10 comprises a player gambling a portion of the stake on the fact that their eventual completed hand will be the winning hand. In multi-player game, it is usually possible to respond to an opponent's bet by matching it or making a larger bet, to which they may in turn respond and this may repeat a set number of times. It is also usually possible to 'fold', i.e. a 15 player can choose to end their participation in the game at any time, although the portion of the stake already bet will be won by the eventual winner of the game. In this way, money or tokens with an associated value inserted into coin slot 106 could be used as a stake in the hope that the computer would bet and lose. Any winnings could then be collected 20 from the pay-out slot 107.

Alternatively, the game could be arranged to be played in a different manner, or indeed, several variations of the game could be provided on a single machine. Poker has many established variations, so players would 25 generally be familiar with the concept of there being several ways to play a game.

In another embodiment, it may not be necessary for a hand to contain a Joker for further draws to be permitted. For example, the player may 30 'pay' for a draw with a number of points. The player may be awarded further draws on any winning hand, or on the dealing of a specified card

other than the Joker. Alternatively, the Joker may only count as a wild in certain hands.

In a further embodiment, the processing circuitry 108 may be arranged 5 such that a player may choose to change a particular card or cards rather than specifying the cards they do not wish to change (i.e. held). These could be selected in a manner similar to selecting a card to be held, then exchanged for a new card. The player may pay for a change of a card, or other symbols, with a number of points. This may be an additional option 10 to a draw made available for a player. In a particular embodiment, the number of points required to buy a change of a single card is less than that required to buy a draw, since only a single card is being changed.

The game may form a component of another poker game, or another game 15 provided on a machine such as that shown in Figure 1.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the possible games centring on this concept. There are many possible variations, and indeed features of the games here described could be combined to make new 20 game that may be suitable to be played on the machine of Figure 1.

A machine arranged to provide a game such as the one here described would be attractive to players as an interesting variation on a traditional game. The basic rules and structure of poker are well known, and have 25 had enduring appeal. However, it is also well known to have variations to the game, such as the ones described. The machine would then benefit from both familiarity and originality.

Claims (27)

1. An entertainment machine arranged to provide a game in which a player aims to accumulate one or more symbols, having a desired 5 arrangement according to a scale of predetermined arrangements, the symbols being provided in a hand of symbols, wherein the machine is arranged to provide at least one hand of symbols to a player and the machine is further arranged to give a player a first opportunity to exchange one or more of the symbols in the hand and wherein the 10 machine is further arranged to give a player a second opportunity to exchange one or more of the symbols in the hand.

2. A machine according to claim 1 arranged to provide a game based upon the game of poker, or a simulation of a game of poker.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 arranged such that the player will be able to see the results of his/her first opportunity to exchange one or more of the symbols before being given the second opportunity to exchange one or more of the symbols.

4. A machine according to any preceding claim arranged to allow the player to exchange any number of symbols presented to him/her in the hand of symbols at his/her discretion in the first and/or the second opportunity to exchange symbols.

5. A machine according to any preceding claim arranged such that a player selects symbols within the hand, and it is the unselected symbols that are exchanged.

30

6. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 arranged to exchange the symbols within the hand that have been selected by a player.

7. A machine according to any preceding claim arranged to provide a player with a predetermined number of symbol selections.

5

8. A machine according to any preceding claim arranged such that the symbol selections can be spread across a plurality of symbol exchanges to specify the symbol or symbols to be exchanged.

9. A machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the hand of

10 symbols comprises a hand of cards, which are preferably drawn from a standard set of playing cards, 10. A machine according to claim 9 arranged to draw the hand of cards from a set of playing cards having one or more additional cards in 15 addition to the standard fifty-two card deck.

11. A machine according to claim 10 arranged such that a player can only exchange symbols from the hand of symbols with which they are presented that are additional cards.

12. A machine according to ay of claims 9 to 11, wherein the hand of symbols comprise five symbols which are cards drawn at random, or pseudo randomly, from the deck of playing cards.

25

13. A machine according to any preceding claim arranged to award the player with performance reflecting means arranged to reflect how a player is progressing in a game.

14. A machine according to claim 13 arranged such that the player is 30 presented with a second opportunity to change one or more of the set of

f symbols by exchanging one or more performance reflecting means therefor.

15. A machine according to claim 13 or claim 14 arranged such that a 5 player can insert credits, coins, tokens, or the like, in order to exchange performance reflecting means for the second opportunity to change one or more symbols.

16. A machine according to any preceding claim arranged to exchange 10 one or more of the hand of symbols over and above the first and second opportunities.

17. A method of improving the player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising providing a game in which a player aims to 15 accumulate one or more symbols, within a hand of symbols, having a desired arrangement according to a scale of predetermined arrangements wherein the method comprises giving a player a first opportunity to exchange one or more of the hand of symbols and further comprises giving a player a second opportunity to exchange one or more of the hand 20 of symbols.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the symbols comprise playing cards.

25

19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18, comprising providing a poker game, poker like game, or simulation thereof.

20. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, arranged to provide cards in addition to the standard deck of cards.

21. A method according to claim 20 arranged to give a player a second opportunity to exchange a symbol if that symbol comprises an additional card. 5

22. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 21 arranged to provide a player with performance reflecting means in order to indicate how a player is progressing in the game.

23. A method according to claim 22 arranged to require a player to 10 exchange one or more performance reflecting means in order to be given the second opportunity to exchange one or more symbols.

24. A machine readable medium containing instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause that machine to function as the 15 machine according to any one of claims to 16.

25. A machine readable medium containing instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause that machine to perform the method according to any one of claims 17 to 23.

26. An entertainment machine substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. A method substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated 25 with reference to the accompany drawings.