GB2399443A - An AWP machine with pre-selectable winning symbol combinations - Google Patents

Abstract

A player-operable entertainment machine, such as a fruit machine, comprises a main display device (4) for displaying a combination of symbols upon reels (10) selected from a plurality of possible combinations, where some of these combinations are predetermined winning combinations (17). These predetermined winning combinations can be pre-selected by the player so that an award is made if the outcome combination on the win line matches the pre-selected combination. The odds of obtaining any particular pre-determined winning combination are fixed and may be displayed to the player.

Description

ENTERTAINMENT MACHINES

This invention relates to coin-operated player-operable entertainment machines of the kind having a main display device operable in play of a main game for displaying a selected combination of symbols at a win zone. As used herein the term coin is intended also to cover tokens, charge or credit cards or any other means of supplying credit or monetary value.

The main display device of a machine of this kind commonly comprises multiple side-by-side actual or video-simulated symbol-bearing reels, say three or four reels, which are rotatable about a common horizontal axis within a housing behind a window at the win zone. Each reel has symbols at equally spaced positions around its periphery and the reels can be brought to rest with one symbol on each reel displayed through the window on one or more win lines. If the displayed combination of symbols constitutes any of a range of predetermined winning combinations an award may be made available to the player, the value of which depends on which winning combination is selected. Thus, for example, a combination of three cherry symbols may result in a lowest value award whereas a combination of three 7 symbols may result in a highest value award.

There may be a wide range of possible winning combinations and this can be a source of much player entertainment.

Machines are also known, referred to as Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, with which the player can place a High-Low gamble at known odds on a random number selection which is displayed at the terminal but which is generated remotely i.e. not within the terminal itself. However, the game played is of a very simple nature and therefore may afford little entertainment.

An object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment machine with which a simple game can be played the outcome of which can be determined remotely yet which can afford enhanced playing variety, and consequently increased player entertainment.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a coin-operated player operable entertainment machine having a main display device operable in play of a main game for displaying a combination of symbols selected from a plurality of possible combinations, some of which are predetermined winning combinations, characterized in that an award is made available to the player in the event that the displayed combination matches a pre-selected said winning combination.

With this arrangement, the game played is of a simple nature in so far as it depends on the matching of a predetermined winning combination. However, since the predetermined winning combination is not fixed but is pre-selected from a range of winning combinations the game has variety and therefore may afford good player entertainment.

Moreover, the outcome of the game is determined by a simple matching operation which conveniently can be determined, e.g. by generation of a random number, remotely.

The arrangement may be such that for matching purposes, only one of the predetermined winning combinations can be pre-selected.

Alternatively, provision may be made for multiple winning combinations to be pre-selected. - 3

Pre-selection is preferably effected under the control of the player.

For example, there may be multiple player controls, such as press buttons, one for each winning combination whereby a winning combination is preselected by operating the associated control. Other arrangements are also possible and if desired, alternatively or additionally to player control, provision may be made for automatic pre-selection of the (or each) winning combination.

The award value preferably differs for different winning combinations.

Most preferably, operation of the main display device to select the displayed combination occurs on a random basis. Preferably also the odds of winning are fixed and, in the case of different award values may be fixed differently for different award values. Provision may be made for displaying the odds to the player e.g. by printing on a front panel of the machine or by means of an alphanumeric LED or LCD display or otherwise.

A stake may be required to play a game and this may be a predetermined value or it may be player-selectable e.g. such that the player can wager more than a predetermined minimum.

Where multiple predetermined winning combinations can be pre-selected, there may be provision for the stake to be distributed between the preselected combinations and this may be effected automatically or under the control of the player.

Placing of the stake may be related to the pre-selection of the winning combinations e.g. such that pre-selection of a winning combination is achieved by placing a stake on that combination. - 4

The machine may include one or more displays, such as alphanumeric LED or LCD displays, to indicate the value of a stake placed on a particular preselected winning combination and/or to indicate total wagered stake value.

The arrangement may be such that a winning outcome results in an award value equal to a predetermined multiplication of the stake value which is allocated to that winning combination. The multiplication factor may be equal to, or otherwise related to odds for attaining that combination.

The machine may include one or more displays, such as alphanumeric LED or LCD displays to indicate the award value available for a pre-selected winning combination in relation to the stake placed.

Operation of the main display device to select the displayed combination in play of a main game may be effected by the machine under the control of an outcome generator which provides an output, such as a number, which determines the combination, preferably on a random basis.

Most preferably the machine has separate parts including one part in the form of a control unit comprising this outcome generator, and a second part in the form of a player-operable terminal having player operable controls, the main display device and an operating device for effecting operation of the main display device. The control unit is preferably remote from the terminal and is connected thereto, to supply the said output, via a remote linkage such as a cable, or wireless link, or the like. Thus, the control unit may be located in the same premises as the terminal but in a separate room thereto, or it may be located in - 5 different premises. In any case the arrangement is such that the control unit is wholly separate from the terminal to the extent that the operation of the outcome generator cannot be controlled or influenced by the operating device or by any player control of the terminal.

Preferably also, the player-operable functions of the machine, so far as play of the main game is concerned, are essentially limited to preselection of the (or each) winning combination, placing of a stake and initiation of play of the main game e.g. by pressing a start button or the like. Player-operable functions which seek to influence the play or outcome of the main game are preferably excluded.

Most preferably, the main display device comprises rotatable actual or video simulated symbol-bearing reels and may be of like kind to the main display device of a machine traditionally referred to as a AWP fruit machine.

The machine of the invention may be operable additionally in a mode not in accordance with the invention. Thus, for example, the machine may be operable in conventional AWP fruit machine mode and provision may be made for switching between a mode in accordance with the invention and one or more further modes under the control of the player or otherwise.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of one form of a terminal forming part of a machine according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a block circuit diagram of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a terminal of an - 6 entertainment machine having a box-shaped housing 1 with a front wall 2 including upper and lower front panels 3, 4, operating buttons 5, 6, 7, a coin slot 8 and a payout opening 9.

Within the housing 1 there are three axially aligned reels 10 having say 20 symbols at regularly spaced positions around their peripheries.

The reels 10 are axially rotatable and are drivably connected to respective stepper motors 1 1. The reels l O are arranged behind a window 12 defined by a printed region of the lower glass panel 4. Each reel 10 can be arrested by the respective stepper motor 11 in any of 20 stopping positions in which one symbol is in precise registration with a horizontal win line 1 2a in the centre of the window 12.

The stepper motors 11 are connected to a microprocessor-based operating device 13. This device 13 is also connected to a coin mechanism 14, a payout mechanism 15 and the buttons 5, 6, 7.

The lower panel 4 includes an alphanumeric credit display 16.

The upper panel 3 is printed with a list 17 of winning symbol combinations, say: three red 7 symbols, three bell symbols, three bar symbols, three cherry symbols, any two symbols the same, any three symbols mixed; such symbols being amongst those on the reels 10.

Alongside each such winning combination there is a respective operating button 5, and two alphanumeric displays 18, 19. A further total-stake display 20 is provided beneath the list.

The displays 16, 18, 19, 20 are all connected to the operating device 13 within the housing.

The operating device 13 is also connected to a remotely located control unit 21 via a remote link 22. - 7

The terminal 1 is in use located within a room of premises such as a club or bar which is accessible to players. The control unit 21 is located remotely from the terminal 1 where it is not readily accessible to the same players. Thus it may be located is a separate room of the same premises or in different premises e.g. at a remote control centre.

The link 22 may comprise a cable or wireless link and is a data link for transmitting data from the control unit 21 to the operating device 13 on a continuous or periodic basis as and when determined by the control unit 21 and/or in response to demand by the operating device 13.

The control unit 21 includes a random number generator which is capable of generating a sequence of random numbers which is received by the operating device 13 and used in real time or stored for subsequent use.

The machine so far described can be used by a player to play a game involving the placing of a bet.

The player inserts coins into the coin mechanism 14 sufficient to generate credit for one or more games as shown on the credit display 16.

The player can now press one or more of the buttons 5 one or more times to place a bet on the adjacent winning combination. Each time a button is pressed a predetermined unit of stake (e.g. ú1) is wagered and is shown on the adjoining display 18. The total wagered for all pre-selected combinations is shown on the display 20.

For each winning combination there are predetermined multiplication factors which are stored in the operating device 13 and are used to compute a winning pay out for the amount staked which is shown on the respective display 19. Thus, for example, the multiplication - 8 factor for three red 7 symbols may be 10,000:1 whereby on wagering a stake of ú1 the display 18 alongside this combination in the list 17 shows ú1 whereas the associated display 19 shows ú10000.

Limitations may be imposed on bets as desired, within the programming of the operating device 13. Thus, there may be a maximum stake value for one or more of the winning combinations. There may be a limit to the number or distribution of bets between the different winning combinations.

Instead of the player selecting distribution of bets, there may be an option whereby on pressing an automatic bet button 7, bets are automatically distributed on a predetermined or random basis between the winning combinations in the list 17, e.g. ú4 credit may be automatically distributed as ú1 for each of four winning combinations, say the top four listed.

Alongside each of the listed winning combinations there is printed on the top panel 3 odds relating to the likelihood of each winning combination being attained, as explained further below, which odds are predetermined and fixed.

After the player has placed the bet, the player now presses the start button 6. This causes the reels 10 to spin and come to rest after different (successively longer) periods of time so as to display a selected combination of symbols on the win line 12a in the win zone defined by the window 1 2.

This combination is assessed by the operating device 13 in relation to the bet placed to determine whether the combination is a winning combination which matches any of the winning combinations pre-selected - 9 - by the player. If a match is determined the pay-out amount on the associated display 19 is made available to the player, as a credit or cash pay out.

If the selected combination is not a winning combination, or is a winning combination which has not been pre-selected by the player, there is no pay out.

At the end of the game, the amounts staked and shown on the displays 1 8 are set to zero.

The stopping of the reels 10 to display the selected combination on the win line 12a is effected in correspondence with a random number for each reel 10. Thus, each reel 10 steps through a computed number of positions determined by the respective random number for that reel 10.

The sequence of random numbers for the three reels 10 is received from the control unit 21. This may occur when the start button 6 is pressed.

That is, the start button 6 may cause a signal to be sent to the control unit 21 causing the unit to generate and then transmit to the operating device 13 a random number sequence, such sequence being newly generated for each game i.e. for each spin of the reels.

With this arrangement, the player simply places a bet and then spins the reels 10 with no other interaction with the selection of the winning combination. The machine therefore operates simply as a machine for placing a fixed odds bet. However, as a consequence of the pre-selection of the (or each) winning combination playing variety is introduced which affords enhanced entertainment.

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 - 10 described by way of example only.

For instance, all the display material such as spinning reels, winning combinations, LEDs, etc. may be presented to the player on one or more video screens.

Claims (10)

1. A coin-operated player operable entertainment machine having a main display device operable in play of a main game for displaying a combination of symbols selected from a plurality of possible combinations, some of which are predetermined winning combinations, characterized in that an award is made available to the player in the event that the displayed combination matches a pre-selected said winning combination.

2. An entertainment machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized by preselection being effected under the control of the player.

3. An entertainment machine as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein only one predetermined winning combination can be pre-selected.

4. An entertainment machine as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein multiple winning combinations can be pre-selected.

5. An entertainment machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the award value differs for different winning combinations.

6. An entertainment machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein odds of winning are fixed for the award value.

7. An entertainment machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the odds are displayed to the player.

8. An entertainment machine as claimed in any one of claims 1-7 wherein the machine comprises separate parts including one part in the form of a control unit comprising this outcome generator, and a second part in the form of a player-operable terminal having player operable controls, the main display device and an operating device for effecting operation of the main display device. - 12

9. An entertainment machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the main display comprises rotatable actual or video simulated symbol-bearing reels.

10. An entertainment machine substantially as herein described, with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.