GB2425445A

GB2425445A - Gaming machine with virtual viewpoint control

Info

Publication number: GB2425445A
Application number: GB0508022A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edwin Leslie Reed
Original assignee: AGD DESIGN Ltd
Current assignee: AGD DESIGN Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-21
Filing date: 2005-04-21
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Also published as: GB0508022D0

Abstract

A gaming machine system provides a machine player with a screen simulation of a real machine. An image component store R1, R2, R3 of stored images of movable components of a game display each image depicting 2 or 3 dimensional models of each of the moveable components, a game control unit GC causes a game to take place during a play of the machine, and arranged to control the selection by EM1, EM2, EM3 from the stored image components R1, R2, R3 in order to provide a representation of the changing and/or movements of the components associated with the play of the simulated machine game. A player-operable viewpoint selection means PC5 permits the machine player to select in a virtual environment from a plurality of different viewing points in the display, the viewpoint selection means controlling a 3D perspective adjustment means VA which enables the machine player to change his or her viewpoint as though the player was switching between a plurality of cameras situated in the 3D virtual environment in which the machine is seen. The images of the currently selected movable components may be 25 combined with the image (IC) of a machine housing and with an image (MG) of a machine 'glass'. A virtual room or casino in which there is a plurality of machines can be created, the player being enabled to move from one machine to another.

Description

GAMING MACHINES

The invention relates to gaming machines and more particularly to gaming machines in which the game is displayed to the player on a display screen, which may be the screen of a PC monitor, or a flat panel display screen, such as a plasma display panel.

Machine players always like to be able to stand or sit next to the cabinet of an actual gaming machine having movable mechanical components, such as fruit machine reels, and to play the machine by operating the various control buttons. Attempts to simulate an actual gaming machine on a screen have not been very successful. In general, the moving parts of a machine display would be displayed to the player on the screen.

Thus, for a fruit machine game, the player would simply be provided on screen with a fixed view of the reels window, and the player would see a *11 simulation of the visible portions of the reels as seen in the reels

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window.

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The present invention stems from our realisation that there is a need for a screen display of something that more closely corresponds to what the machine player is actually able to see when he or she stands or sits next to a conventional machine.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a gaming machine system for providing to a machine player a screen simulation of a real machine, the system comprising an image component store of stored images of movable components of a game display, the stored image components depicting 2 or 3 dimensional models of each of the moveable components, a game control unit adapted to cause a game to take place during a play of the machine, and being so arranged as to control the selection from the stored image components in order to provide a representation of the changing and/or movements of the components associated with the play of the simulated machine game, and a player- operable viewpoint selection means so arranged as to permit the machine player to select in a virtual environment from a plurality of different viewing points in the display, the viewpoint selection means controlling a 3D perspective adjustment means which is arranged to condition the selected combination of stored image components to display on the screen display a three dimensional view of the simulated gaming machine during the execution of the machine play.

Thus the perspective adjustment means has the important function of * enabling the machine player to change his or her viewpoint as though the * S S S.* player was switching between a plurality of cameras situated in the 3D S * virtual environment in which the machine is seen. This can provide the I...

*..: machine player with an impression that the player is positioned next to an * 15 actual mechanical machine since it can simulate the ability of a player to change his or her viewing position when playing an actual machine. *55e * S S. *

: The perspective adjustment means may be implemented by use of a video card of a PC.

Preferably the perspective adjustment means is so configured as to cause progressive apparent shifting of the viewing position between selected pairs of the viewing positions, so that when the machine player selects a different viewing point, the player sees on the screen a progressive, and preferably smooth, movement of the viewing point from the current viewing point to the newly-selected viewing point.

The fact that the system contains stored images of movable components of the machine means that, in effect, the system contains models of the movable components of the game, and so when the selected image components are combined, preferably with a 3D model of the machine housing, a 3D model of the exterior of the entire machine then exists in the virtual environment. This means that when this composite 3D model is subjected to the perspective processing conducted by the perspective adjustment means, then realistic views of the machine become available on screen, and moreover this facilitates a smooth, realistic transition between the views displayed on screen when the player selects a different viewpoint.

Preferably one or more of the selected views is at an increased magnification as compared with other views. For example, when the * ** machine being simulated is a fruit machine, then one of the views is preferably a close-up view of the reels window. *.**

In addition to combining the images of the currently selectable movable *S..

component with the image of a machine housing, an image of a machine glass' may also be stored and incorporated into the resulting composite S* * image, the machine glass' depicting, as is usual, the possible winning S. * . .: combinations of the movable components.

One preferred embodiment of the invention provides a simulation of at least one fruit machine. The movable image components in this case comprise portions of the machine reels. Thus models of the mechanical reels are created as true 3D objects in the virtual environment, with reel bands mapped around them. The virtual reels can then be spun by the machine controller when a play of the machine is taking place.

The invention can facilitate the creation of a virtual room or casino in which there is a plurality of machines, the player being enabled to move from one machine to another.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention contains in the virtual environment two or more models of machines on which different games can be played, and the game control unit is arranged to run substantially simultaneously a game play on the two machines, and the available playerselectable viewing points include views of the different machines, the control unit being so arranged that the value of the winnings resulting from the plays on the different machines is the same.

The ability given the player to select which machine, and therefore which game he or she wishes to follow, is a feature that will be attractive to many machine players. * .* * . .

Preferably the player is permitted to switch his or her viewpoint during ***S the actual play of the machines. Ia*

* In a preferred example there is depicted a fruit machine alongside a ** bingo/lottery style machine, and the fruit machine play runs at the same *: 15 time as the play of the bingo machine.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 to 5 are different screen views 1 to 5 respectively presented by a machine system in accordance with the invention, and corresponding respectively to different selectable viewpoints in the 3D virtual environment of the machine system; Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the steps involved in building the 3D scene of the assembly comprising a fruit machine and lottery machine, and in manipulation of the viewpoint to produce the final image displayed as the screen image to the machine player; Figure 7 is a flow chart of the running of one play on the machine systems; and Figure 8 is a flow chart of the player control of the viewpoint.

The concept of the exemplary machine system is based on a 3D video representation of a single virtual game. The game exists within a virtual room or casino' and for clarity the lighting within the room has been turned off in the views of Figures 1 to 5 to make the concept easier to understand.

The player has control of the stake for the game up o a maximum of 10 * S per play. * *S*

The game has a number of different allowable pre-set views, which are *. *S * presented to the player via Change View' button. These views' are 0u* pre-programmed camera position contained within the virtual room.

When the button is pressed the screen will move to the next available preprogrammed camera view. Two Change View buttons may be allocated per game to allow movement between views both forwards and backwards.

The concept is to allow the player greater interaction within the game via the change view button(s), the outcome of the same game being displayed in a number of different ways through different screen presentations, and camera angles, even though all screens are linked together by the single outcome of the particular game being played.

Referring to Figure 1 this shows view 1, this view representing a bingo/lottery style game from which the outcome of the whole game is determined, ie the balls are drawn until a stop ball (0), has been drawn at which point the sequence ends and the winning combinations are determined. In the example shown the total winnings are shown as 35 x a lOp stake which comes to 3.50 for this particular play of the game.

Referring to Figure 2 this shows view 2, this view representing the twenty reel based games which correspond to the same twenty win-lines shown within the bingo game of Figure 1 with win-line one being represented in the top left hand corner, and the rest following on sequentially. The reel display will produce the same result as the win- lines shown within the bingo game. The highlighted panels show the winning combinations, which total a multiplier of 35 x lop stake giving a * ** total win of 3.50 in this play of the game. * * * **** *S*S S *

Referring to Figure 3, this shows view 3, this view representing a traditional three reel version of the same game, and will produce the *5** same outcome as the views described above. The view will produce either a winning or a losing combination, the three reels being further * S...

* S qualified by a wheel of fortune' type wheel display which will multiply

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the winning combination by up to twenty times the award presented. The total win produced will match those produced in view 1 and view 2 ie 35 x lOp or 3.50 in this example shown.

Referring to Figure 4, this shows view 4, this view representing a zoomed in view of view 3 to give the players a better perception of the reel symbols and the winning or losing combinations. View 4 contains inset camera views of the top wheels and awards, which appear within a small window, this being overlaid on the main screen to give the player a better impression of what is happening overall within the game.

Referring to Figure 5, this view shows view 5 showing all the elements of the game. The camera has zoomed out so it is possible to see all of the individual game panels, thereby giving the appearance of an arcade.

In Figures 1 to 5 screen shots of the five main views allowed within the game are shown, but it should be appreciated that the views may be extended further, simply by positioning more notional cameras at predefined view points within the 3D virtual environment.

During the game the player may freely move from view to view even while the game is in progress. * * S *

The two displays in the bottom right corner of the views of Figures 1 *5'* to 5 all pertain to a single play of the different games within the 3D environment, and allowing the same concept to apply, that is to at low the *.SS player to change views between individual games using a second Change Game' button.

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**SS*S * S * *, .: 15 Referring to Figure 6, GAME I is the fruit machine game, whereas GAME 2 and GAME 3 are the other two games displayed in Figures 1 and 2, or in other embodiments can be other games as required.

Modules RI, R2, and R3 are stored 3D images of three reels, each provided with reel band symbols and so represent models of actual fruit machine reels. The models of the three reels can be notionally spun by modules EMI, EM2, and EM3 respectively under the control of the game control unit GC.

An image combining unit ICU combines the images from EMI, EM2 and EM3 to display those images in a reels window of the 3D image of a machine cabinet provided by module IC, and with a machine display of win representations and of a machine glass from units MD and MG respectively.

Thus the composite 3D image output by unit ICU is a full 3D external view of a fruit machine, constituting GAME I, with the reels spinning during a play of the machine.

Unit CS combines the 3D images output from GAME 1, GAME 2 and GAME 3 so as to produce a composite image showing 3D depictions of all three games being executed during a single play of the system.

The viewpoint adjustment of the notional camera that views the 3D scene * output by unit CS is controlled by unit VA, which can be implemented by a PC video card, under the control of player control signals output from unit PCS. **S* S.

Figure 7 shows how the three games are controlled by game control unit GC in order to provide the same win for a single play of all three *, .: 15 machines, the overall game outcome having been determined, in known random manner, before the three games are run.

Figure 8 shows how the player has the ability to change viewpoint whilst the single play of the three games is proceeding. Since the movement of viewpoint is independent of the game play, the movement of viewpoint can be made by the player at any time.

Should the player be watching one game and it finishes first, the other games will be terminated, in a state where the player can move around the views following the game and observe the same prize paid on each view.

Claims

1. A gaming machine system for providing to a machine player a screen simulation of a real machine, the system comprising an image component store of stored images of movable components of a game display, the stored image components depicting 2 or 3 dimensional models of each of the moveable components, a game control unit adapted to cause a game to take place during a play of the machine, and being so arranged as to control the selection from the stored image components in order to provide a representation of the changing and/or movements of the components associated with the play of the simulated machine game, and a player-operable viewpoint selection means so arranged as to permit the machine player to select in a virtual environment from a plurality of different viewing points in the display. the viewpoint selection means controlling a 3D perspective adjustment means which is arranged to condition the selected combination of stored image components to display on the screen display a three dimensional view of the simulated gaming machine during the execution of the machine play.

2. A gaming machine system as claimed in claim I in which the perspective adjustment means is implemented by use of a video card of a PC.

3. A gaming machine system as claimed in claim I or claim 2 in which the perspective adjustment means is so configured as to cause progressive apparent shifting of the viewing position between selected pairs of the viewing positions, so that when the machine player selects a different viewing point, the player sees on the screen a progressive, and preferably smooth, movement of the viewing point from the current viewing point to the newly-selected viewing point.

4. A gaming machine system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the selected image components are combined with a 3D model of the machine housing to provide a composite image comprising a 3D model of the exterior of the entire machine in the virtual environment.

5. A gaming machine system as claimed in any preceding claim in which one or more of the selected views is at an increased magnification as compared with other views.

6. A gaming machine system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which an image of a machine glass is stored, and incorporated into the composite image, the machine glass' depicting, as is usual, the possible winning combinations of the movable components.

7. A gaming machine system as claimed in any preceding claim in which a simulation of at least one fruit machine is provided.

8. A gaming machine system as claimed in claim 7 in which the movable image components comprise portions of the machine reels.

9. A gaming machine system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a plurality of machines, the player being enabled to move froni one machine to another.

10. A gaming machine system as claimed in claim 9 comprising two or more models of machines on which different games can he played, the game control unit being arranged to run substantially simultaneously a game play on the two machines, and the available player-selectable viewing points including views of the different machines, the control unit being so arranged that the value of the winnings resulting from the plays on the different machines is ihe same.

Ii. A gaming machine system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the player is permitted to switch his or her viewpoint during the actual play of the machines.

12. A gaming machine system as claimed in claim 10 compriSing a fruit machine alongside a bingo/lottery style machine, the fruit machine play running at the same time as the play of the bingo machine.

13. A gaming machine system substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.