WO2002004080A1

WO2002004080A1 - Gaming machine having bonus wheel

Info

Publication number: WO2002004080A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000793
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Bennett
Original assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-07-07
Filing date: 2001-07-03
Publication date: 2002-01-17
Also published as: AUPQ865800A0

Abstract

A gaming machine has a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a base game such as a spinning reel game. On the occurrence of a predetermined event or on a random basis, a second bonus display is initiated. The second display comprises a means for selecting and displaying a first indicia randomly selected from a first set of bonus features; a second indicia randomly selected from a second set of bonus features: and a third indicia randomly selected from a third set of bonus features. The second bonus display comprises an inner segmented circle (50) and two outer concentric rings (52, 54) with the segmented circle (50) displaying the first set of bonus features and the rings (52, 54) displaying the second and third sets of bonus features respectively. The rings move rotationally with respect to one another and stop moving in sequence to indicate the selected bonus features in turn.

Description

Gaming Machine Having Bonus Wheel

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a gaming machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine and to an improvement to a game played on such a gaming machine.

Background to the Invention

Players who regularly play gaming machines quickly tire of particular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of these machines to develop innovative game features which add interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players amused and therefore willing to continue playing the game as well as to attract new players.

Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine market, there is intense competition between manufacturers to supply various existing and new venues. When selecting a supplier of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will often pay close attention to the popularity of various games with their patrons. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are keen to devise games which are popular with the players as a mechanism for improving sales, retaining customers and attracting new customers.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterised in that, on the occurrence of a predetermined event or on a random basis, a second bonus display is initiated, the second display comprising means for selecting and displaying a first indicia randomly selected from a first set of bonus features; and a second indicia randomly selected from a second set of bonus features, said second bonus display comprising first and second generally concentric wheel elements with the first wheel element displaying the first set of bonus features and the second wheel element displaying the second set of bonus features. It is preferred that the wheel elements move rotationally with respect to one another. Preferably, the wheel elements stop moving in sequence.

Typically, three concentric wheel elements are displayed.

One wheel element may display a series of indicia representative of a number of free games; a second wheel element may display representations of bonus symbols; a third wheel may display multipliers to be applied to wins during the free games.

More than three wheel elements may be provided. The second display may be a simulation of rotating and stopping wheel elements. Alternatively, the second display may be a physical mechanical bonus wheel assembly of physical wheel elements.

The selection of the indicia may be carried out by indicators, pointers or windows.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a gaming machine, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming machine;

Figure 3, shows a display of a first embodiment of a bonus feature for a game of the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a variant of the bonus feature display of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a flow-chart of the game.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a gaming machine, including a game, in accordance with the invention. The machine 10 includes a console 12 having a video display unit 14 on which a game 16 is played, in use. The preferred form of a base game of the game 16 is a spinning reel game which simulates the rotation of a number of spinning reels 18. It will, however, be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to other types of base games such as card games or ball games such as bingo, pachinko, Keno, or the like. A midtrim 20 of the machine 10 houses a bank 22 of buttons for enabling a player to play the game 16. The midtrim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 including a coin input chute 24.1 and a bill collector 24.2.

The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is carried. The artwork 28 includes pay tables, details of bonus awards, etc.

A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash payouts from the machine 10.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, a control means or control circuit 40 is illustrated. A program which implements the game and user interface is run on a processor 42 of the control circuit 40. The processor 42 forms part of a controller 44 which drives the screen of the video display unit 14 and which receives input signals from sensors 46. The sensors 46 include sensors associated with the bank 22 of buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen 16. The controller 44 also receives input pulses from the mechanism 24 indicating that a player has provided sufficient credit to commence playing. The mechanism 24 may, instead of the coin input chute 24.1 or the bill collector 24.2, or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown) or any other type of validation device.

Finally, the controller 44 drives a payout mechanism 48 which, for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray 30 to pay a prize once a predetermined combination of symbols carried on the reels 18 appears on the screen 16 or some other prize winning event occurs.

As discussed above, the game played and displayed on the gaming machine may be a video simulation of a spinning reel game, although other types of base game may be played on the machine. The invention relates to a bonus feature for the gaming machine which is typically triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined combination of symbols in the base game or may alternatively be triggered, at random or by any other suitable means or event. When the bonus feature is triggered, the display on the display means changes to display a bonus feature in the form of multiple concentric wheels (refer to Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 3 shows the preferred embodiment which provides a bonus display wheel 48 comprising a first or inner wheel 50, a second or middle wheel 52 in the form of an annular ring which is concentric with first wheel and a third or outer wheel 54 also in the form of an annular ring which is concentric with the first wheel. Each wheel 50, 52, 54 is split into eight segments 50.1, 50.2 ...; 52.1, 52.2 .... 52.8; 54.1 ... 54.8. Each of the segments of the outer ring defines a number of free games available to the player. For example, segment 54.1 awards 75 free games and segment 54.8 awards 20 free games. The eight segments of the second or middle wheel, display the symbols which on their appearance on the display during the free games will award bonuses to the player. For example, segment 52.1 shows a square, 52.2 a circle, and 52.8 an oval. The eight segments of the inner wheel 50 display multipliers which apply to wins during the free games. For example, segment 50.1 multiplies all wins by six, segment 50.2 by three and segment 50.8 by ten. The wheels spin independently of each other and preferably spin in different directions and at different speeds to each other to create maximum variation and player interest.

As shown in Figure 3, a transparent shaded section 58 covers the wheel except for a segment 60 which is unshaded and defines a window 60. As discussed above, the occurrence of the triggering event, the bonus wheel 48 is displayed and the wheels 50, 52, 54 commence spinning preferably independently and gradually slow down and stop. The first wheel to stop is the outer wheel 54 revealing a number of free games, next the second wheel 52 stops to reveal the bonus symbol, next, the centre wheel 50 stops to reveal the multiplier all as displayed in the window 60. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the outcome of the bonus feature is ten free games for the player during which the square is a bonus symbol and all wins are multiplied by two.

Through the machine's software, it can be ensured that there will only be ever one segment of each wheel stopped in the highlighted section at one time. Alternatively, the software can be arranged so that if a wheel stops on a border with two segments of the same wheel showing in the window, the wheel commences spinning and stopping again until a single segment is displayed in the window 60. After the number of free games, special symbol and multiplier have been revealed, the game then returns to the spinning reel base game, and a number of free games (10) commences as determined by the outer wheel of the bonus wheel. During those free games, every time the symbol (square) that was revealed on the second wheel appears in one of the display positions of a reel, a bonus prize is awarded to a player. Wins during the free games will be determined in the same manner as would normally be for the base game. However, the prizes will be multiplied by the multiplier (two) revealed on the centre wheel 50. Once the free games have been completed, the game will return to the base spinning reel game until the predetermined trigger condition arises again during a bought game. Figure 5 is a flow-chart of the game described above.

Although in the preferred embodiment, the spinning reel game and bonus wheel are represented on the video display 14 of the gaming machine, it will be appreciated that it is possible to implement the bonus feature as a real mechanical spinning wheel which might be provided in the top box of the machine or in some other suitable location. Also, although the game applies to video reel gaming machine, the game may equally be applied to older style gaming machines utilising physical spinning reels controlled by stepper motors in which case a physical spinning bonus wheel is preferred. Also, other methods of indicating the winning positions on the bonus wheel may be used. For example, each wheel may have its own fixed indicator 62 such as is illustrated in Figure 4. The segment that the indicator 62 points to when the outer, second and inner wheel stops will define the applicable bonus feature.

In Figures 3 and 4 all three wheels 50, 52, and 54 have the same number of segments (eight). However the wheels do not have to have the same number of segments. In such cases where the number of segments differ the larger diameter outermost wheel will typically have more segments than the smaller diameter inner wheels as there is more space on the outermost wheel. In a yet further feature alternative embodiment, the wheels may not physically spin. Instead, backlighting LEDs or coloured highlights or the like may be used within the segments to represent the spinning of the wheel as the lights pass from segment to segment. For example, to indicate a clockwise spin, one segment of a wheel will be lit, and then at the same time that the segment becomes unlit the segment to the immediate right becomes lit. This procedure may commence quickly and slow down gradually to represent the slowing down of the spinning wheel.

It is preferred that the three rings or wheels move independently of each other. However, it would be possible to provide a bonus feature in which the position of the inner middle and outer rings were rotationally fixed with respect to one another. Improvements to the invention may include the provision of additional rings or wheels indicating additional features such as wild symbols, scatters, pay structure, types of features to be played and the like.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterised in that, on the occurrence of a predetermined event or on a random basis, a second bonus display is initiated, the second display including means for selecting and displaying a first indicia randomly selected from a first set of bonus features and a second indicia randomly selected from a second set of bonus features, said second bonus display including at least first and second generally concentric wheel elements with the first wheel element displaying the first set of bonus features and the second wheel element displaying the second set of bonus features.

2. A gaming machine as claimed in claiml wherein the wheel elements rotate with respect to each other about the same axis.

3. A gaming machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wheel elements stop moving in sequence.

4. A gaming machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second bonus display includes three concentric wheel elements.

5. A gaming machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one wheel element may display a series of indicia representative of a number of free games; a second wheel element displays representations of bonus symbols; and a third wheel displays multipliers to be applied to wins during the free games.

6. A gaming machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second bonus display includes four or more concentric wheel elements.

7. A gaming machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second display is a simulation of rotating and stopping wheel elements.

8. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the second display is a mechanical bonus wheel assembly of physical wheel elements.

9. A gaming machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for selecting the indicia comprise indicators, pointers or windows.