GB2439143A

GB2439143A - Entertainment machines with main and supplementary games

Info

Publication number: GB2439143A
Application number: GB0611902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shane Jones
Original assignee: IGT UK Ltd
Current assignee: IGT UK Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-16
Filing date: 2006-06-16
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Also published as: GB0611902D0

Abstract

A coin-operated player-operable gaming machine has a main game, a pre-gamble game and a supplementary feature game. After actuation with a game-playing stake, a player can opt to play either the main game or the pre-gamble game, and both of these games have successful outcomes which permit transfer to the supplementary feature game. The pre-gamble game also has an enhancement outcome which gives rise to enhancement of the supplementary feature game. The main game may involve symbol selection using rotatable symbol-bearing reels (14). The pre-gamble game may involve a matrix (17) of marked display zones which are selectively back-illuminated. The supplementary game may also involve a matrix (18) of selectively back-illuminated marked display zones.

Description

ENTERTAINMENT MACHINES

This invention relates to entertainment machines and is more particularly concerned with a coin-operated player-operable gaming machine of the kind which is operable to play a main game having an outcome, after actuation by a game-playing stake, whereby an award is made available to the player in the event that the outcome is of a predetermined winning nature.

As used herein the term coin is also intended to cover tokens, notes, cards and any other suitable means of providing monetary credit.

The machine of the invention may be a self-contained, stand-alone machine, or it may be a terminal or other device dependent for its operation on connection to a remotely located control system whether using a real-time or occasional connection.

Play of a main game on known entertainment machines of the above mentioned kind may involve selection and display of combinations of symbols whereby a winning outcome occurs when a selected combination is of a predetermined winning nature, or corresponds to a winning level in a predetermined ranking of combinations.

With such known entertainment machines which are of the fruit machine' kind, the symbols, which may be pictures of fruit and/or other images or the like, are displayed on the peripheries of side-by-side actual or simulated rotatable reels. The reels rotate and then come to rest to display one or more combinations of symbols across the reels on one or more win lines, one or more of such combinations being used for win assessment purposes.

With such known entertainment machines it is well known to provide a supplementary feature game using multiple display zones which may be distributed along a track or matrix or a ladder or the like. Play progresses to one or more zones e.g. in correspondence with operation of a random number selecting device such as a rotatable feature reel, an award or awards being made available in the event that play progresses to a predetermined award-winning zone or zones.

Play usually transfers from the main game to the feature game in dependence on the outcome of the main game, e.g. in correspondence with selection of one or more transfer symbols in the main game. Typically the arrangement may be such that multiple such transfer symbols have to be selected in one or a plurality of successive main games sufficient to reach a target level of such symbols as indicated, for example, by completion of, or advance to the end of a displayed transfer multisection trail or the like.

It is also known to provide a pre-gamble game using a pre-gamble display whereby the player has the option to try to qualify' to play the main game on an enhanced basis by first playing the pre-gamble game. This may involve a simple random selection procedure whereby, for example, a pointer spins around a multi-section dial and comes to rest pointing at one of the sections. If the pre-gamble game has a successful outcome the player can progress to an enhanced version of the main game. If the pre-gamble game is not successful, play then terminates.

This pre-gamble game option is attractive for the machine owner or operator in so far as the simplified nature of pre-gamble games is such that they can take place more rapidly than main games. Rate of game play and therefore rate of game play crediting (takings) can be increased.

It can also be an attractive option for the player because it presents the possibility of playing an enhanced main game without requiring an enhanced game-play stake.

However, in the case where a feature game is provided and transfer to such game is dependent on attaining a predetermined accumulation of main-game transfer symbols it will be appreciated that use of a pre-gamble game which results in reduction in the rate of play of main games can reduce the rate of attainment of transfer symbols. This may limit feature game play and thereby adversely affect player entertainment derived from such play.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pre-gamble type game in the context of an entertainment machine having main and feature games, whereby benefits of increased rate of game play crediting can be attained without undue detraction from the entertainment value of feature game play.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a coin-operated player-operable gaming machine which is operable after actuation by a game-playing stake, to play at the option of the player a main game, or a pre-gamble game, whereby a supplementary feature game is also provided such that play can progress from the main game to the feature game in dependence on one or more predetermined outcomes of the main game, characterised in that the pre-gamble game has successful outcomes thereto which include at least one enhancement outcome which causes at least one parameter of the feature game to be enhanced, and at least one transfer feature which causes play to transfer from the pre-gamble game to the feature game.

With this arrangement play of the pre-gamble game can itself result in transfer to an enhanced version of the feature game. Accordingly, any reduction in opportunities to transfer from the main game to the feature game due to reduction in play of main games caused by optional selection of pre-gamble games is offset by opportunities to transfer from the pre-gamble game to the feature game. In other words, pre-gamble games can be substituted for main games without access to the feature game and player entertainment derived therefrom being unduly adversely effected.

The arrangement may be such that the said game-play stake permits multiple plays of the pre-gamble game andlor the arrangement may be such that multiple stakes are required for multiple plays of pre- gamble games, preferably on a one to one basis, and one or more enhancement outcomes of such pre-gamble games can be held over, on any suitable basis, for one or more successive game-play stakes. In this way the player can build up enhancements and then seek to transfer to the feature game to benefit from these.

Such hold over from game to game may be on a chance basis of a predetermined probability, say 50% or less, for all games or only for pre-credited games, or on any other suitable basis.

The arrangement may be such that the said enhancements attainable with the pre-gamble game may be applicable only to a feature game attained by transfer from the pre-gamble game. Alternatively, any such enhancements may also apply to a feature game attained by transfer from the main game.

With regard to the pre-gamble game this may take any suitable form with or without player involvement influencing the course of the game.

In one embodiment the pre-gamble game uses a plurality of displayed sections which have respective indications each corresponding to a respective outcome and an indicator device is provided for indicating a selected such section corresponding to selection of the outcome associated therewith.

Thus, for example, there may be an array of sections marked with the respective outcomes and an illumination device capable of illuminating, e.g. by back illumination, the selected section. There may be say 10 sections and these may be flashed or illuminated in turn on a random or predetermined basis terminating with illumination of the selected section. Selection of the section may be on any suitable random or other basis.

Play of the pre-gamble game may be initiated by the player e.g. by pressing a pre-gamble start button and the arrangement may be such that the player has no further involvement in the pre-gamble game.

With regard to the feature game this may be of any suitable kind or combination of kinds involving, for example, movement from position to position around a track, movement up and down a ladder, random selection of a position in a multiposition or variable position display.

Movement in the feature game may be represented by successive illumination of positions, differential illumination of positions (e.g. in different colours), changing of digital displays, movement of real or simulated pointers or the like. Such movement may be on any suitable predetermined, random or other basis and may correspond to displayed changes e.g. in a rotatable number-bearing feature reel which rotates and comes to rest to display a selected number of steps of movement.

The feature game may be such as to provide an award of any suitable kind whether a direct monetary award, or opportunities to play main games, or enhancements, such as nudges' applicable to a main game, or otherwise. Play of the feature game may inevitably result in an award selected from a range of such awards.

Alternatively losing outcomes may be possible.

The parameters to which the enhancements apply may be of any suitable kind or combinations of kinds involving, for example, the value of awards, the number of awards, the range or type of awards, etc. All outcomes of the pre-gamble game may be successful. Alternatively, there may also be one or more losing outcomes. There may be one or more outcomes which are winning outcomes, e.g. bonuses or awards, which are made available on completion of the pre-gamble game i.e. without requiring transfer to the feature game.

With regard to the main game this may involve symbol selection using real or simulated rotatable reels as described above. In accordance with conventional practice provision may be made for player involvement through use of e.g. nudge and hold controls.

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 view of one form of a machine according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the control system of the machine.

Referring to Figure 1 this shows a coin-operated player-operable gaming machine having a floor standing cabinet 1 with a front wall 2 with upper and middle glass panels 3, 4 and a lower solid panel 5.

The upper panel 3 has a coin slot 6 and windows 7 through which can be seen the periphery of a feature reel 8 rotatably driven by a stepper motor 9 and digital display devices 10, 11 located behind the panel 3 in the cabinet 1. The coin slot 6 communicates with a coin mechanism 12 within the cabinet.

The middle panel 4 has three rectangular side by side windows 13 through which can be seen the peripheries of respective side by side reels 14 mounted within the cabinet so as to be rotatable, by respective stepper motors 15, about a common horizontal axis. The peripheries of the reels have symbols at regular intervals, say 20 symbols per reel, whereby when the reels are stationary three symbols of each reel 14 can be seen above each other through the respective window 13, with the central symbols of all windows 13 aligned on a central horizontal win line.

The panels 3, 4 are printed with various displays including: on the middle panel: a trail 16 comprising the numbers ito 7; an array or matrix 17 of 10 display zones marked respectively with the following indications: Shots (twice) Feature entry Red Hot (four times) Even Odd Multiadd on the upper panel 3: an array or matrix 18 of 12 display zones marked with various bonus award indications; an array or matrix 19 of bank note' award values; an oddleven display 20; across both panels 3, 4: a cash ladder of increasing monetary values 21; a nudge ladder 22 of increasing numbers of nudges.

Behind the panels 3, 4 there are light boxes 23 for selectively back-illuminating the printed displays of the panels 3, 4, including variable colour illumination so that displays can be changed, as discussed hereinafter, by change of colour of illumination.

The lower solid panel 5 has an outlet aperture 24 in communication with a coin dispensing device 25 within the cabinet.

There are press-buttons 26 mounted beneath the middle panel 4 and a further button 27 in the middle panel 4 beneath the matrix display 17.

Within the cabinet 1 there is a microprocessor-based control unit 28 and this is connected to the coin mechanism 12, the reel steppers 9, 15, the digital display devices 10, 11, the buttons 26, 27, the light boxes 23, and the coin dispenser 25.

In use, the machine is actuated for playing one or more main games by introduction of coins into the coin slot 6 equal to or a multiple of a predetermined game-play stake value. The credited stake value is shown on one of the digital displays 10.

The player can now play a main game by pressing a start button 26. This causes the reels 14 to rotate and come to rest displaying a randomly selected combination of symbols in the windows 13 on the central win line. On occasions opportunities may be given to press hold or nudge buttons 26 respectively to hold one or more reels 14 against rotation, and to nudge one or more reels 14 through one or more steps after rotation whereby the player can seek to influence the selected symbol combination.

If the selected combination is of a predetermined winning nature a corresponding monetary award may be made available to the player and shown on the digital display 10.

The player can obtain pay out, through the outlet 24, of coins to the value of any award, as well as residual credit, by pressing a collect button 26.

Some of the symbols are overprinted with transfer symbols of numerical value and, if these are selected so as to be displayed in the windows 13, e.g. on the central win line, the trail 16 is correspondingly actuated i.e. successive numbers are back illuminated depending on the value of the selected transfer symbols.

If the player has sufficient credit value for further game play stakes, further main games can be played. If further transfer symbols are selected there is the possibility of advancing further along the trail 16, the arrangement being such that the value of such further transfer symbols is added to the level of any current illumination of the trail numbers. In the latter respect, illumination of the numbers is carried over from game to game on a random basis with a 50% likelihood.

In the event that illumination reaches the 7th (final) number of the trail 16, this -10 -causes play to transfer to a feature game using the feature reel 8.

Thus, operation of the start button then causes the feature reel to rotate and come to rest displaying through the window a selected number (from 1-12) on the periphery of the reel. Play progresses (by successive back illumination of zones of the panels) from position to position across the matrix 18, and one position is selected by steady illumination thereof, whereby the corresponding award is made available to the player. The award may involve entry to one of the ladders 21, 22 with movement up and down the ladder until a monetary value or number of nudges is selected, or a mystery award, or further spins of the reels 14, or selection of one or more of the monetary values in the bank note matrix 19 with award of corresponding value to the player, or the like.

The arrangement so far described corresponds to a generally conventional reel spin and feature game.

In accordance with the present invention, at commencement of play, instead of operating the start button 26 to play a main game involving rotation of the reels 14, the player can opt to press the button 27 which initiates a pre-gamble game, in place of the main game. This requires the same credit stake value as a main game.

Instead of rotating the reels 14, the ten sections of the matrix 17 are illuminated in turn, or flashed, and then one of the sections is selected and indicated by fixed illumination.

If the corresponding indicated outcome is an enhancement to a parameter of the feature game this enhancement is then activated.

Thus, shots' increments the numerical value of one of the digital displays 11.

-11 -This indicates a total number of awards which can be obtained from the matrix 18 in a feature game.

Red Hot' increases values in the matrix 18, accompanied by a change in the colour of back illumination (e.g. from blue to red) so that a larger numerical value is displayed.

Odd' and Even' cause the three-position display 20 to be back-illuminated using different colour light (red for Even, blue for Odd) whereby respective bonuses are made available for completion of three Odds' or three Evens'.

Multiadd' corresponds to combinations of Red Hot', Shots' and Odd' and Even' increments.

These enhancements are applied to the feature game but can not be used until play of the feature game has been initiated. That is, the player has to play one or more further pre-gamble games and seek to achieve the winning outcome which corresponds to transfer to feature game'. The player may then be able to play the feature game and benefit from the enhancements which have already been won.

In the latter respect it is to be understood that to play further pre-gamble games the player has to provide further game play stake credit, and enhancements won in a preceding game are carried over to a next credited game on a 50% chance basis, as described above.

One or more of the outcomes of the pre-gamble game may be a bonus or award which is made available at the end of that pre-gamble game i.e. without requiring play of the feature game. Also, one or more of the outcomes of the pre-gamble game may be carried forward (on the above mentioned 50% chance) for -12 -accumulation with the same or related outcomes in one or more subsequent games whereby a bonus or award may be made available when such accumulation reaches a predetermined level, without requiring play of a feature game (e.g. applied to the above Odd, Even accumulation).

There may also be mystery award outcomes, losing outcomes, or other outcomes for the pre-gamble game.

With the arrangement described above, the player has the option of playing a fast' pre-gamble game or a main reel-based game, for the same game play stake. The pre-gamble game is concluded more quickly than the reel-based game since it involves a simple single selection whereas the reel game involves successive symbol selections with rotating (real or virtual) reels.

In both cases, i.e. whether the player opts to play the conventional reel game, or the fast pre-gamble game, there is always the possibility of transferring to the feature game. The player is not therefore deprived of the possibility of playing the feature game by deciding to substitute the fast pre-gamble game for the slower reel game.

The attraction of the feature game is thereby maintained despite the availability of fast pre-gamble games.

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 described by way of

example only.

Thus, for example, the invention is not restricted to a pre-gamble game having the 10 position matrix 17. Other numbers of positions and kinds of game displays can -13 -be used.

Also, the hold over chance need not be 50%: it may be less than 50% or any other value as appropriate.

Claims

-14 -

CLAIMS

1. A coin-operated player-operable gaming machine which is operable after actuation by a game-playing stake, to play at the option of the player a main game, or a pre-gamble game, whereby a supplementary feature game is also provided such that play can progress from the main game to the feature game in dependence on one or more predetermined outcomes of the main game, characterised in that the pre-gamble game has successful outcomes thereto which include at least one enhancement outcome which causes at least one parameter of the feature game to be enhanced, and at least one transfer feature which causes play to transfer from the pre-gamble game to the feature game.

2. A machine according to claim 1 characterised in that the said game-play stake permits multiple plays of the pre-gamble game.

3. A machine according to claim 1 characterised in that multiple game-play S..

stakes are required for multiple plays of pre-gamble games.

:*:::. 5 4. A machine according to claim 2 or 3 characterised in that one or more

S

* enhancement outcomes of said pre-gamble games can be held over for one or :*::* more successive game-play stakes.

I *S* S 5. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the pre-gamble game uses a plurality of displayed sections which have respective indications each corresponding to a respective outcome and an indicator device is provided for indicating a selected such section corresponding to selection of the outcome associated therewith.

6. A machine according to claim 5 characterised in that there is an array of said -15 -displayed sections marked with the respective outcomes and an illumination device is provided for illuminating the selected section.

7. A machine according to any one of claims I to 6 characterised in that play of the pre-gamble game is initiated by the player and the player then has no further involvement in the pre-gamble game.

8. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the feature game involves movement from position to position along a track.

9. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the main game involves symbol selection using real or simulated rotatable reels.

10. A coin-operated player-operable gaming machine substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example. * * * *.S *SSS **S* * I. * I I...

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