WO2006036773A2

WO2006036773A2 - Culturally enriched slot machines

Info

Publication number: WO2006036773A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/034099
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ray Chan; Li Hang Ng; Jane Wong
Original assignee: Cnw Gaming Development
Priority date: 2004-09-24
Filing date: 2005-09-22
Publication date: 2006-04-06
Also published as: CN101056682A; US20090209313A1; WO2006036774A3; CN101056681A; WO2006036773A3; WO2006036774A2

Abstract

A gaming device having a plurality of positions displaying pictographic symbols to a player and awards associated with winning combinations of symbols displayed at the positions, where a winning arrangement of symbols comprises at least three similar symbols and where the pictographic symbols have an association derived from a selected cultural tradition.

Description

CULTURALLY ENRICHED SLOT MACHINE

COPYRIGHTNOTICE

[0001 ] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, hut otherwise reserves all copyrights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to the field of gaming devices, and, more particularly, gaming devices displaying certain arrangements of symbols as winning combinations. Description of Related Art

[0003] It is known to provide gaming devices having reels or other representations of variable symbols, wherein certain alignments or combinations of symbols provide a winning combination, resulting in credits or a payout to the player. Video poker and traditional 3 reel slot machines are examples of such gaming devices.

[0004] Traditional 3-reel slot designs display one set of symbols in the pay window. Later designs have increased the size of the window to show either a central pay line with the near misses above and below the pay line, or multi-line machines with more than one pay line, including machines that pay from left to right or right to left, with numerous individual spinning reels.

[0005] In a typical such gaming device a play field, face plate, video screen or other display means is provided as the user interface, generally with between three and five reels, which maybe actual spinning elements or displays of objects or images displaying a virtual spin operation. At the end of the rotation, each reel typically presents one of a variety of symbols at a predetermined horizontal pay line. The combination of symbols along the pay line is used to determine the result of a gambling proposition, with certain of the arrangements of symbols providing winning combinations of varying degree.

[0006] Five spinning reel games have been adapted for playing poker, commonly referred to as "video poker machines". With the increasingly sophisticated electronic technology introduced throughout the 1980s and 1990s, elements of popular games of the past have also been incorporated into video gaming designs, for instance, Bingo, Monopoly and Wheel of Fortune. Inventions have followed that have attempted to expand the variety of video representations in gaming devices. Examples are United States Patent Number 6,428,412 B12, describing an invention incorporating symbols and elements taken from the popular word game Jumble into an electronic gaming device. Similarly, United States Patent Number 6,685,561 B2, describes an invention incorporating symbols and elements taken from the popular word game Scrabble. A further example is United States Patent Number 6,605,001 Bl, which describes a video gaming device utilizing elements from the popular board game Yahtzee.

[0007] While word games, card games and dice games continue to provide popular appeal to video gaming devices, they tend to be attractive only to those having a previous experience in playing the games themselves. There remains, then, a continuing need to develop gaming devices that are attractive to differing segments of the gaming population.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A gaming device having a plurality of positions displaying pictographic symbols to a player and awards associated with winning combinations of symbols displayed at the positions, where a winning arrangement of symbols comprises at least three similar symbols and where the pictographic symbols have an association derived from a selected cultural tradition.

[0009] In one preferred embodiment, the association is derived from a literary tradition, such as from a style of literature selected from the group consisting of a poem, an epic poem and a novel. The association is derived from a scene depicted by the literary tradition, or from an event described in the literary tradition. The association may also be derived from a character described in the literary tradition.

[0010] In a more preferred embodiment, the association is derived from characters in one of the classic Chinese stories the "Journey to the West", the "Dream of the Red Chamber", the "108 Outlaws of the Marsh", the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and the "Eagle Shooting Heroes".

[0011] In another preferred embodiment, the association is derived from traditional mythology, for instance, the Chinese Zodiac, the Thirty-Six Strategies or the Eight Immortals.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, the association is derived from a historical tradition. [0013] In a still further preferred embodiment, the association is derived from a traditional festival.

[0014] Another embodiment derives the association from a traditional game, such as mahjong. In a preferred such gaming device elements of an advanced or winning mahjong hand are generated as the winning arrangement, for instance the winning arrangement may be a mahjonged hand.

[0015] In a different game embodiment device game is pai gow, and elements of an advanced or winning pai gow hand are generated as the winning arrangement of symbols.

[0016] In a different embodiment, the association is derived from a religious tradition.

[0017] Preferred gaming devices of the invention include those where the selected cultural tradition is the Chinese cultural tradition.

[0018] The invention further provides a gaming device where a winning arrangement of symbols generates a bonus round where a selected symbol of the wining combination is electronically displayed portraying an action identifiable with the association of the symbol within the selected cultural tradition.

[0019] In a preferred such embodiment, the action is identifiable with the association of the symbol within the selected cultural tradition.

[0020] The invention thus provides gaming devices that capture the excitement of certain segments of the gaming population using symbols associated with a historical event, cultural reference or classic story recognizable to members of a selected cultural tradition.

[0021] These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and methods according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0022] The invention provides a gaming device with awards associated with a combination of winning symbols that have an independent association or identity associated with a selected cultural tradition.

[0023] Any multiple element gaming field or screen may be used in the gaming device, including, but not limited to, those having reels or other gaming elements that can be visually presented to a player as rotatable or otherwise changeable elements. Hereinafter it will be understood that when the term "element" is used, it comprises any type or manner commonly used within such gaming devices, such as for example, spinning reels, tiles, electronic displays, etc., that have the capability of displaying one or more gaming symbols (or the lack thereof) per element.

[0024] It will also be understood hereinafter that when the term "symbol" is utilized it shall mean any graphic element or other representation of a recognizable character, whether painted, written, inscribed, or visually presented by electronic means, such as by pixels or the like.

[0025] Writing systems are classified into various types, including: pictographic, ideographic, logographic, syllabic, and alphabetic systems. Pictographic, or iconic, writing systems are designed to represent words, ideas, or groups of words or ideas by the use of elements that visually portray their associated meanings. Trie design and look of the characters make direct reference to objects, persons, or events. A "pictographic symbol" will hereinafter be understood to mean a symbol that represents the item, person place or thing that its visual similarity suggests.

[0026] Ideographic writing systems represent words, ideas or groups of the same by symbols where the relationship to the meanings is less obvious than for pictographic symbols. Logograms are sometimes considered a subgroup of ideograms. Logographic writing symbols represent parts of words or whole words, but they do not tend to resemble or represent the word in appearance. Logographic scripts include Ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Chϋ-nδm (obsolete Vietnamese script), Japanese, Khitan, Linear B (ancient Crete), Mayan, the Naxi scripts of Tibet, and archaic regional Chinese scripts such as Jurchen, Nushu and Tangut (Hsihsia).

[0027] An "ideographic symbol" shall hereinafter be understood to mean any graphic symbol that represents ideas or things, and not sounds. The word ideogram is also sometimes used to convey this concept. Today's major ideographic writing systems are the Chinese character systems used in China, Japan, and Korea. The traditional Vietnamese writing was based on Chinese. Such symbols are also represented in the form of writing of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

[0028] Syllabic writing represents syllables with signs.

[0029] All of the above is contrasted with a phonetic system, where each symbol represents a sound. Almost all European alphabets, and the different alphabetic based scripts all over the world, are based on the Greek and Roman alphabet, with certain modification and adaptation, and are phonetic in nature. Most other writing systems are also phonetic, including the mono-syllabic systems of Katakana and Hiragana in Japan, the Devanagari in South-East Asia etc.

[0030] Phonetic or alphabetic systems are those where symbols are used to represent individual distinctive sounds, or phonemes, of a given language. The written symbol of an alphabetic system refers to a spoken sound, including vowels and consonants.

[0031] A "symbolic expression" as used herein means any written symbol that conveys the meaning of a word, concept or idea. In any writing system, a word constitutes the basic unit of spoken or written language. Words can be combined to create phrases, clauses and sentences. A word is a sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing or printing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning. A symbolic expression thus includes words of any system, including pictographic and ideographic symbols or phonetic symbols arranged for the expression of a word. A symbolic expression also includes various words, concepts and ideas that are represented by ideographic symbols.

[0032] Many writing systems are combinations of different writing systems. Such complex scripts can use symbols to represent both sound and meaning. As a result, these scripts generally include a large number of symbols, up to the tens of thousand of symbols of Chinese writing systems. Most linguists believe that writing was invented in China during the latter half of the 2nd millennium BC and that there is no evidence to suggest the transmission of writing from elsewhere. The earliest recognizable examples of written Chinese date from 1500-950 BC.

[0033] Chinese is written with characters known as iHΦ [$L ψ- ] (hanzi). Each character represents a syllable of spoken Chinese and also has a meaning. The characters were originally pictures of people, animals or other things but over the centuries they have become increasingly stylized and no longer resemble the things the represent. This is why Chinese is said by some to be logographic, as it is no longer easy to associate a particular sound or word with most of the symbols. Many of the characters are actually compounds of two or more characters

[0034] There is no upper limit to the number of characters in trie Chinese writing system. The largest Chinese dictionaries include about 56,000 characters, ^"but most of them are archaic, obscure or rare variant forms. Knowledge of about 3,000 characters enables one to read about 99% of the characters in Chinese newspapers and magazines. For Chinese literature, technical writings or Classical Chinese, one would need to be familiar with about 6,000 characters.

[0035] The Japanese writing system is based on and developed, from the Chinese writing system, as are the Korean and certain other Asian writing systems, most now obsolete. A writing system is considered as being a "Chinese writing system" when the symbols are derived from and generally relate in meaning to those originally developed and still used in China.

[0036] The invention is particularly adapted for forming gaming devices and video jackpot games with elements derived from Chinese, Japanese or Korean cultures or cultural traditions.

[0037] The gaming device may be variously adapted for use with different ideographic symbols as the symbolic expression, from pictographic symbols to sophisticated ideographic writing systems, for instance any of the written character ideographic systems described above.

[0038] In one preferred embodiment, the gaming device comprises symbol expresssions of an ideographic written system presented on the gaming elements such that the alignments of symbols at a pay line can be read to relate a phrase or sentence. By "phrase or sentence" it will be hereinafter understood to mean any recognizable phrase or sentence, saying or other phrase or sentence understood by one familiar with a selected cultural tradition. As one example, the symbol alignment may convey a common phrase or sentence, or recite a major theme of a culturally recognizable event or story.

[0039] The award is associated with the particular arrangement of ideographic symbols. The winning arrangement of symbols may in this case comprise at least two dissimilar symbols that collectively convey an ideographic phrase or sentence in the writing system of the selected cultural tradition. In one embodiment a pay line displaying symbols that are read as a phrase or sentence associated with a particularly happy event or saying, such as a phrase or sentence conveying best wishes and recognized as propitious or common to the culture, would have a high payout. Tailoring the device in this manner to the phrase or sentence and sayings of a particular culture creates an attractive gaming device for use by members of that culture.

[0040] The two or more dissimilar ideographic symbols could be presented as a poster, for example, a good wishes poster. Multiple posters conveying the same ideographic phrase or sentence may also be used to form a winning combination.

[0041] Good wishes posters, or "fai chun" have Chinese phrase or sentences spelled out in Chinese ideographic written characters, such as a saying or phrase or sentence conveying good wishes or encouragement. Different posters are common for celebrating specific events, holidays, or other happy occasions, such as a wedding, a birth or a holiday such as the Chinese New Year.

[0042] The invention also provides a video jackpot game having a plurality of reels for displaying ideographic symbols to a player, where the ideographic symbols have an independent association or identity associated with a selected cultural tradition. The awards are associated with set combinations of winning symbols displayed on the plurality of reels. In one example, a winning arrangement of pictographic symbols comprises at least three similar symbols, and a winning arrangement of symbols generates a bonus round where the symbol of the wining combination is electronically displayed portraying an action identifiable with the particular association of the symbol within the selected cultural tradition.

[0043] The phrase or sentence could be thematically related to a story common to the culture, such as a story from the mythology, history or literature of that culture. For instance, a winning combination of symbols might reflect a pattern of pictographic symbols that are a depiction of an event from such a story. Such an association may be derived be from literature, in which case the ideographic symbol may portray a title or scene from a poem, an epic poem or a novel.

[0044] For instance, pictographic symbols may be used that are derived from characters in a Chinese classic story such as "The Journey to the West" , "Dream of the Red Chamber", "108 Outlaws of the Marsh", "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Eagle Shooting Heroes". As an example, characters from the Journey To The West, one of the Four Classic Novels in Chinese literature, are used.

[0045] Written in the mid-1500's, The Journey To The West is a fantasy about a Super Monkey who protected the Tang Dynasty Monk during his pilgrimage to India (the West) in search of Buddhist scriptures. The pilgrimage was an historic journey that took place between 627 and 645 A.D. During the 19-year journey, the great Monk translated 75 Buddhist surras and brought them back to China. Currently, the historic documents are preserved in the Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian, the Chinese Capital for the dynasty. In the case of The Journey to the West, there are many readily recognizable characters that could be incorporated into the gaming device, for instance the Monk and the Super Monkey.

[0046] Because most such stories have multiple characters, a great variety of such video gaming machines can be readily developed, with each machine having a theme based on the respective story.

[0047] In a different embodiment of the device, the ideographic symbols will have an association with a story from classic mythology, such as the pictographic symbols derived from the Chinese Zodiac. Alternatively, the pictographic symbols may be derived from the Thirty-Six Strategies or the Eight Immortals.

[0048] Alternatively, the characters could have an association with a story from history, including symbols recognizably associated with individuals or items from an important historical event, dynasty or other historic period.

[0049] Other character associations that could be used for ideographic symbols for the jackpot gaming device includes traditional festivals, and the common characters associated therewith.

[0050] The jackpot gaming device optionally includes the use of animation, which can be used to further associate the ideographic symbol with the story or event, by the portrayal of an action identifiable with the association of that symbol in the selected cultural tradition.

[0051] Other items in the popular culture, including other games, or even gambling games, also have readily recognizable symbols that can be incorporated in gaming machines.

[0052] In this fashion a gaming device could be based popular Chinese game of mahjong. Mahjong is played with 144 tiles, four in each of the 36 distinct tiles. There are three main suits in mahjong (36 tiles in each suit of Circles, Sticks, and Maans [one Maan is Ten Thousand; nine Maan is Ninety Thousand]), plus 36 "Bonus Tiles" (16 Wind Tiles; 12 Treasure Tiles; and 8 Flower Tiles). Mahjong players take turns to draw and discard tiles after a hand is dealt, in a similar fashion as in Gin Rummy.

[0053] Even though the exact game may be different from region to region, the basic objective of the game is the same — a player wins (or "mahjongs") by improving his/her hand into certain defined pattern (a playing hand has 13 tiles and a mahjonged hand has 14 tiles) The more difficult the mahjonged hand is to accomplish (such as all tiles in one suit), the more the player wins. This is determined by rules that govern how many bonus levels ("Faan") are assigned to defined features of the hand, and the total number of "Faans" determines the amount to be collected for the hand.

[0054] In a gaming device the method for playing mahjong may comprise the steps of; a) a player initiating the game, b) generating an advanced mahjong hand that has a winnable combination of tiles, c) electronically displaying the mahjong hand to the player, d) electronically displaying to the player at least two unknown tiles representing a draw for the mahjong hand, where at least one of the tiles represents a winning tile for the mahjong hand, d) the player selecting among the unknown tiles to determine the outcome of the hand, e) the player receiving a predetermined amount based on the winning hand that the player holds. [0055] The gaming device can generate an advanced mahjong hand by the player selecting from a pool of tiles that is enriched for selecting potential winnable combinations, or may be generated by the video gaming device from a predetermined selection of potential winnable combinations. A preferred method would be the use of an algorithm for generating potential winnable combinations. Of course, while the winning hand may be a mahjonged hand, other combinations that are less than a mahjoned hand may also provide a winning combination under the rules for the gaming device.

[0056] Pai Gow is a another popular gambling game in the Chinese culture - so popular that it has evolved to the casino game of "Pai Gow Poker", which is played with the standard playing cards. Pai Gow is traditionally played with a set of 32 domino-like tiles, which are divided into two "suits": a. The Scholar Suit 0C ^): 22 tiles (in 11 identical pairs), identified by their names (in the order of their ranking: Heaven, Earth, Man, Goose); and b. The Military Suit (3£ -¹F): 10 tiles (4 non-identical pairs, plus the two tiles making up the "Supreme" (M W)), identified by their numbers (pairs of 9's, 8's, 7's, and 5's, with the 3 and 6 forming the "Supreme".)

[0057] In the game of Pai Gow, each player is dealt 4 tiles, which are to be arranged in two 2-tile combinations (the weaker in the front and the stronger in the back). A player competes his/her 2 combinations with the dealer's (the front competes with the front, and the back competes with the back). If the player beats the dealer in both, he/she wins the wager; if the player loses in both, he/she loses the wager; otherwise, it's a push.) The ranking of the 2-tile combinations are: Supreme (the 3 and 6 of the Military Suit); A pair in the Scholar Suit (in their respective ranking); A pair in the Military Suit (in the ranking of 9's, 8's, 7's and 5's); The "Wong" (One of the top 2 ranking Scholars — Heaven or Earth - matching with a Military 9); The "Gong" (One of the top 2 ranking Scholars - Heaven or Earth - matching with a Military 8, or the Scholar 8, i.e. Man); and Point count. If the point counts are the same for the respective combination, the player and dealer compete with the ranking of the individual tiles forming the combination. For example, a six-point combination with Heaven beats a six-point combination with Earth.

[0058] In the video pai gow game a player initiating the game and the gaming device electronically displays to the player four tiles representing a player's hand. The player combines the hand into a front two-tile combination and a back two-tile combination, whereupon the gaming device electronically displaying to the player a set of four tiles representing a dealer's hand and compares the players front and back two-tile combinations with the display of the front and back two-tile combinations of the dealer. The player then receives a predetermined amount based on winning both the front and two-tile combinations against the dealer.

[0059] Teen Gow is a popular variation of gambling game played with Pai Gow tiles. In the game of Teen Gow, four players compete with each other. In the very first round of a game, players throw dice to determine who is the banker for the round. Subsequently, the winner of each round becomes the banker for the following round. For a round, each player gets a hand of 8 tiles. The banker leads a single tile, a pair in the Military Suit, a pair in the Scholar Suit, or a 2-, 3-, or 4-tile combo (see below). The other players take turn to either discard, or take the trick(s) by playing a higher rank of single tile, a pair or a combo. Whoever wins the last trick of the round is the winner for the round.

[0060] In order to win the trick(s) in Teen Gow, a player has to follow suit. (For example, a pair of Scholar Tiles beats only a lower pair of Scholar Tiles, but not a pair of Military Tiles; Heaven-Heaven-9 beats Earth-Earth-8 but not Earth-8-8.) By itself, the Military Three and Six ranks the lowest and third lowest, respectively. Together, they cannot be beaten if led, but neither can they overtake any other 2-tile led-tricks. In the game of Teen Gow, each of the top 4 ranks in the Scholar Suit (i.e. Heaven, Earth, Man, Goose) matches with the respective rank in the Military Suit (9, 8, 7, 5) to form a unique Combination (i.e. Heaven 9, Earth 8, Man 7 and Goose 5). The 2-tile combos are: Heaven-9, Earth-8, Man-7 and Goose-5; the 3-tile combos are: Heaven-Heaven-9, Heaven-9-9, Earth-Earth-8, Earth-8- 8... and so forth.

[0061] A video teen gow game may be provided having features similar to those of the pai gow game.

[0062] The following examples are intended to illustrate but not to limit the invention. All English transliterations of Chinese symbols are provided in common Hong Kong style Cantonese. Chinese ideographic writing symbols are provided in simplified Chinese, though in practice simplified or traditional Chinese ideographic writing symbols may be used. Example I. Traditional Culture Gaming Devices (Jackpot gaming devices)

A. A game device is constructed based on the Journey To the West (from the classic novel of the same name). A single key element of the story would be used as a Most Treasurable Symbol of the gaming. When a player hits a predetermined pattern with the Most Treasurable Symbol , he/she is taken to a Bonus Round to collect additional winnings. For the Jackpot gaming devices, the Bonus Rounds are based on the key scenes of the story. This gives the players who are familiar with the story an additional level of enjoyment, as they can identify the scenes in the game with the story.

The gaming device may incorporate a computerized video, audio and graphic art, with three line video slot machines, with 5 slots on each line. Jackpot gaming devices allow multiple play lines, just like most other video slot machines.

Other symbols:

* The Tang Dynasty Monk;

* The decoration on the Venerable Monk's bo staff (hiking stick);

* Super Pigsy;

* Friar Sand;

* Longevity Peach;

* Super Monkey's weapon — Fighting Rod;

* Super Pigsy' s weapon ~ Nine-teeth Rake;

* Friar Sand's weapon ~ Crescent-moon Spade; and

* Selected monsters.

Winning combinations: Adjacent 5, 4, or 3 identical symbols on the play line. 3 Super Monkeys on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Screen.

Sample Bonus Round: Super Monkey had multiple powers. One of the tricks he could do is to duplicate himself by blowing on a piece of hair that he plucked from his body. In the Bonus Round, Super Monkey duplicates four of himself, each carrying a bonus value and doing a different animated trick. The player picks one of them, and keeps the bonus, while Super Monkey eventually flips a sign. In the first round, all four Super Monkeys carry the "Continue for More Bonus" sign, and blow on a hair to become yet another 4 Super Monkeys. In the second and subsequent rounds, two of the Super Monkeys carry the "Continue for More Bonus" signs, and each of the other two carries a multiplier. If the player beats the odds and gets the "Continue with More Bonus" sign in each round (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined Jackpot. If the player gets the multiplier in any round, the Bonus Round ends and the player gets the cumulative bonus times the multiplier. Monsters that Super Monkey had fought in the novel are featured in the Bonus Round.

Other traditional culture gaming devices include those based on the following:

The Dream of the Red Chamber (based on a classic novel);

The 108 Outlaws of the Marsh (based on a classic novel); The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (based on a classic novel);

The Eagle-Shooting Heroes (based on a contemporary martial arts novel);

The Chinese Zodiac;

The Thirty-Six Strategies; and

The Eight Immortals.

Example II. Popular Culture Machines A. King of Mahjong

This machine echoes the hand "13 YiI", meaning "13 odd tiles", also known as "The King of All Hands" - one of each of the 4 Wind Tiles, 3 Treasure Tiles, and the 6 Ones and Nines of each suit, with a matching tile of any of the above.

Most Treasurable Symbol: Flower Tiles.

Other symbols: The four Wind Tiles, three Treasure Tiles, the Ones and Nines in the three suits. Wind Tiles: (East, South, West, North).

Treasure Tiles: Red Center, Fat Choy, White Board; Ones and Nines of Circles, Sticks and Maans.

Winning combinations: Adjacent symbols of the following on the play line: 5, 4, or 3 identical tiles, 5 distinct Wind or Treasure tiles, 4 distinct Wind Tiles, and 3 distinct Treasure Tiles. Three Flowers on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

A bonus round would initiate by a player being randomly dealt a "ready hand", and allowed to pick one from 4 tiles to try to "mahjong. If the player picks the correct tile, he/she collects the bonus (determined by the value of the hand), and continues to the next round with another ready hand. In the first round, each of the other three tiles has the "Continue for more Bonus" sign. In the second and following rounds, two of the other three tiles carry a multiplier, and the third carries a "Continue for More Bonus" sign. A hand that isn't mahjonged still provides the player with a bonus (though smaller compared to the mahjonged hand.) The Bonus Round ends when the player picks a multiplier, and the player collects the total bonus times the multiplier. If the player beats the odds and finishes the final bonus round by mahjonging and/or picking the "Continue for More Bonus" (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final bonus round), he/she wins the predetermined jackpot. The player has a certain chance to be dealt a potential "13 YiI" hand, and if he/she also picks the one needed to "mahjong" the "King of All Hands", the player wins a special large bonus. Alternatively, a bonus round could constitute a player picking up to 20 tiles from 52 tiles (four of each of the above, without the Flower Tiles). The device automatically arranges the tiles, and bonuses are given based on different combinations of the tiles. If any 14 of the tiles form a mahjonged hand, the player collects a special bonus computed by the number of "Faans" of the hand. The earlier the hand is mahjonged (the earliest is by the 14th chosen tiles - Jackpot time), the larger is the bonus. A mahjonged "13 YiI" hand brings the player yet another bonus.

B. Mahjong Hero

This device echoes the mahjong variation of getting bonuses with the Twos, Fives and Eights of the three suits.)

Most Treasurable Symbol: (Fat Choy)

Other symbols: The Wind Tiles, East, South, West and North; the Twos, Fives and Eights of the three suits (Circles, Sticks, and Maans.)

Winning combinations occur from adjacent symbols of the following on the play line: 5, 4, or 3 identical tiles; 4 distinct Wind Tiles; 5 distinct 2's, 5's and 8's of any suit; all 2's of any suit; all 5's of any suit; all 8's of any suit; and 5 tiles of the same suit. Three Fat Choy's on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

A sample bonus round is played by a player being "dealt" a "ready hand", and picking one from 4 tiles to try to "mahjong. If the player picks the correct tile, he/she collects the bonus (determined by the value of the hand), and continues to the next round with another ready hand. In the first round, each of the other three tiles carries the "Continue for more Bonus" sign. In the second and following rounds, two of the tiles carry a multiplier, and the third carries a "Continue for More Bonus" sign. A hand that isn't mahjonged still provides the player with a bonus (though smaller compared to the mahjonged hand.) The Bonus Round ends when the player picks a multiplier, and the player collects the total bonus times the multiplier. If the player beats the odds and finishes the final bonus round by a mahjonging and/or picking the "Continue for More Bonus" (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined jackpot. The player has a certain chance to be dealt a potential hand with 13 distinct "Wind plus Two, Five and Eight Tiles", and if he/she also picks the one needed to "mahjong" the hand, the player wins a special large bonus.

The alternative bonus has the player picking up to 20 tiles from 52 tiles (four of each of the above, without the Fat Choy). The machine automatically arranges the tiles, and bonuses are given based on different combinations of the tiles. If any 14 of the tiles form a mahjonged hand, the player collects a special bonus computed by the number of "Faans" of the hand. The earlier the hand is mahjonged (the earliest is by the 14th chosen tiles - Jackpot time), the larger is the bonus. A mahjonged hand with 13 distinct "Wind plus Two, Five, and Eight Tiles" brings the player yet another bonus.

C. King of Pai Gow

A gaming device for playing a game based on the fundamental Pai Gow concepts, utilizing the highest ranked tiles.

Most Treasurable Symbol: The two tiles forming the Supreme (the Three and the Six of the Military Suit)

Other Symbols: The top 4 ranked tiles of the Scholar Suit; Heaven, Earth, Man, Goose; the top 2 ranking tiles of the Military Suit, namely, 9 and 8.

Winning Combinations are adjacent symbols of the following on the play line: 5, 4, or 3 identical tiles; and 5-, A-, or 3-tile combination of Heaven-9 Heaven-8, Earth-9, or Earth 8. Three Threes or Sixes on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

A bonixs round begins when the player picks 4 tile from 14 tiles (4 top pairs of the Scholar suits, the Supreme, and the 9's and 8's). The player collects a bonus based on the ranking of the combinations. If the player picks the dream hand, i.e. the Supreme and pair Heaven's, he/she wins the jackpot. Then, the player competes with the dealer's hand (a random hand shown before the player picks his/her 4 tiles). If the player wins or ties, the Bonus Round continues. If the player losses, the Bonus Round ends and the player collects the total bonus.

D. King of Teen Gow

Most Treasurable Symbol: The two tiles forming the Supreme (the Military Three and the Six).

Other Symbols of Teen Gow include: a) The top 4 ranked Scholar Tiles; b)Heaven, Earth, Man, Goose, and c) the top 4 ranked Military Tiles, 9, 8, 7 and 5.

Winning Combinations are for adjacent symbols on the play line of the following: 5, 4, or 3 identical tiles; 5-, 4-, or 3-tile combination of Heaven-9, Earth-8, Man-7, or Goose-5. Three Military Threes or Sixes on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

In the bonus round the player picks 8 from the 18 tiles (4 top pairs of Scholar Tiles, and the 10 Military Tiles) to form a Teen Gow hand. Bonuses are given based on different combinations of the hand. (i.e. Pairs and 2-, 3- or 4-tile Combos). If the player gets a set hand (Supreme + a 4-tile combo + a 2-tile combo or a pair; Supreme + two 3 -tile combos; two 4-tile combos; or two 3-tile combos + a 2-tile combo or a pair), he/she wins the jackpot. Before the player picks the 8 tiles for his/hand, a randomly generated single tile, or 2-tile led- tricks (a combo or a pair) are displayed. If the player can match or beat the led trick(s), he/she continues with the Bonus Round for more bonus. Otherwise, the Bonus Round ends and the player collects the bonus.

E. Happy New Year

Chinese New Year is such an important day that there are many symbols for the event.

Most Valuable Symbol: The "Fook" (H ) red poster.

Other symbols:

* Firecrackers;

* Lion dance;

* Peach flower;

* Red envelope;

* Good Wish Posters - "fai chun" (W ^);

* Tangerines;

* Traditional fried dumpling - "jeen dui" (M i$0 - in the traditional one-on- three arrangement;

* Jasmine flower;

* Two kids in the traditional New Year bowing stance;

* Traditional Gold piece;

* Traditional Silver piece;

* Red Lanterns; and

* Couplet posters - "dui luen" (M ©c)

Winning Combinations: Adjacent 5, 4 or 3 identical symbols on the play line. Three "Fook" posters on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

Sample Bonus Round: The player selects one of the following items, each carrying a bonus value, to decorate the exterior of a house.

Good Wish Posters - "fai chun" (W #) of 2 posters (Left and Right) Couplet posters - "dui luen" (M S)c); Lanterns; Firecrackers; Dancing Lion. When the player makes picks the item, he/she collects the bonus, and 4 choices of the item are placed on the lower part of the screen. In the first round, all four choices carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and the player continues to pick another item, for more bonuses.

In the second and subsequent rounds, two of the choices carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and each of the two other choices carries a multiplier. If the player beats the odds and gets the "Continue with More Bonus" sign in each round (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined Jackpot. If the player gets the multiplier in any round, the Bonus Round ends and the player gets the cumulative bonus times the multiplier.

F. Dice Master

There are two popular traditional dice games: one is played with 3 dices of numbers 1 through 6 (called Sic Bo); the other is played with 3 dices of 6 symbols: Fish, Prawn, Crab, _; Coin, Gourd, and Rooster (called Fish-Prawn-Crab). This PCM is designed based on the dice games.

Most Valuable Symbol: A symbol of Three Dices (either the number or the symbol dice), placed by a dice shaker. (Shaker/Dices).

Other Symbols: The 6 numbers on the number-dice, and the six symbols on the symbol-dice. (Note that numbers 1 and 4 on the number-dice are in red, while the other numbers are in black.)

Winning Combination: Adjacent 5, 4 or 3 identical symbols on the play line. Three Shaker/Dices on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

Sample Bonus Round: If the majority of the Shaker/Dices are of the number-dices, the Bonus Round is in Sic Bo; if the majority are the symbol-dices, the Bonus Round is in Fish- Prawn-Crab.

From 8 dices, each carrying a bonus value, the player picks 3, and keeps the total Dice Bonus. From 3 dice shakers, each carrying a bonus value, the player picks one, and makes bet with the Shaker Bonus in the dice game, whereby the player picks his choice (one of the 6 numbers or symbols). The set of three dices is shaken three times, and the player is rewarded with the bet based on the outcome of each shake, just like in the dice game. (i.e. No match, no extra pay; single-match, even pay; double-match, double pay; triple-match, triple pay.) If the player wins in two shakes, the total bonus (Dice Bonus and the winnings from the Shaker Bonus) is doubled; if the player wins in all three shakes, the total bonus is tripled. If the player gets three wins with at least one triple match in the three shakes, he/she wins the jackpot.

G. Kung Fu

In Chinese Kung Fu, there are many styles and weapons. Our Kung Fu PCMs use both themes.

1. Kung Fu Master

Most Valuable Symbol: A Kung Fu Master.

Other Symbols: The fist/body styles of:

* Dragon

* Tiger

* Panther

* Crane

* Snake

* Eagle

* Monkey

* Mantis

* Drunkard

* Pond Leg

* Tai Chi

Winning Combinations: Adjacent 5, 4 or 3 identical symbols on the play line. Three Kung Fu Masters on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

Sample Bonus Round: On the top half of the screen, 8 of the above styles are displayed on different banners, each carrying a bonus value. The player picks a style and collects the bonus. The bottom half of the screen displays four Kung Fu Masters. Once the player picks the style, the Kung Fu Master starts to perform that style. From the four performing Kung Fu Masters, each carrying a bonus value, the player picks one. In the first round, all four Kung Fu Masters carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and the player picks another style, for more bonuses. In the second and subsequent rounds, two of the performing Kung Fu Masters carry the "continue fox more bonus" sign, and each of the other two carries a multiplier. If the player beats the odds and gets the "Continue with More Bonus" sign in each round (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined Jackpot. If the player gets the multiplier in any round, the Bonus Round ends and the player gets the cumulative bonus times the multiplier. 2. Kung Fu Hero

Most Valuable Symbol: A Kung Fu Master Other Symbols:

* Saber

* Spear

* Sword

* Halberd

* Axe

* Hook

* Fork

* Whip

* Mace

* Hammer

* Talon

* Cudgel

* Stick

* Meteor hammer.

Sample Bonus Round: On the top half of the screen, 8 of the above weapons are displayed, each carrying a bonus value. The player picks a weapon and collects the bonus. The bottom half of the screen displays four Kung Fu Masters. Once the player picks the weapon, the Kung Fu Master starts to perform with the weapon. From the four performing Kung Fu Masters, the player picks one. In the first round, all four Kung Fu Masters carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and the player picks another weapon, for more bonuses. In the second and subsequent rounds, two of the performing Kung Fu Masters carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and each of the other two carries a multiplier. If the player beats the odds and gets the "Continue with More Bonus" sign in each round (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined Jackpot. If the player gets the multiplier in any round, the Bonus Round ends and the player gets the cumulative bonus times the multiplier.

H. Best of Wishes It's a tradition to put the "Fai Chun", Good Wishes Posters, on the wall to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Many such posters are known.

This PCM features different posters. Since all posters carry good wishes, it gives the players a "good luck" feeling while playing this machine.

Most Valuable Symbol: The centerpiece "Fook" (iM) poster (Meaning: Good Fortune)

Other Symbols: Good Wish Posters featuring the following expressions:

Kung Hey Fat Choy (Meaning: Prosperous)

Sun Chun Dai Gut (Meaning: Lucky for the new year)

Lung Ma Jing Sun

Meaning: Healthy like the dragon and the horse)

Lung Jing Fu Mang (Meaning: Spirited and healthy like the dragon

& tiger)

Yut Bun Maan Lai— (Meaning: Get tremendous return on the

investment)

Chut Yup Ping On (Meaning: Safe trip in and out)

Sum Sheong See Sing (Meaning: Accomplish all the wishes)

Fa Hoi Fu Gwai (Meaning: Fortune Blooming Like the Flowers)

Lung Fung Ching Cheong (Meaning: Blessed by the Dragon and

Phoenix)

Maan See Sing Yee (Meaning: Everything Better Than Your Wish)

Tim Ding Fat Choy (Meaning: Have a Son and Prosper)

Fook Luk Sau Chuen (Meaning: Complete with Fortune, ΛVealth, &

Longevity)

Fu Gwai Wing Wa (Meaning: Wealthy and Honored) Dai Gut Dai Lai (Meaning: Great Luck & Great Profit)

JiI Choy Juan Bo (Meaning: Attract Treasure and bring in)

Choy Yuen Gwong Juan (Meaning: Sources of Treasure keep

expanding)

Wang Choy Jau Sau (Meaning: Treasure readily arrives)

Say Gwai Ping On (Meaning: Safe and sound throughout the four

seasons) Winning Combinations: Adjacent 5, 4 or 3 identical symbols on the play line. Three "Fook" posters on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

Sample Bonus Round: From eight random Good Wish Posters, each carrying a different bonus value, the player picks one. The four characters of the poster are then shown on the screen, and the player is prompted to pick one of the characters. In the first round, all four characters carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and the player picks another Good Wish Poster, for more bonuses. The four characters of the second poster are then shown on the screen. In this and subsequent rounds, two of the characters carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and each of the other two carries a multiplier. If the player beats the odds and gets the "Continue with More Bonus" sign in each round (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined Jackpot. If the player gets trie multiplier in any round, the Bonus Round ends and the player gets the cumulative bonus tirn.es the multiplier.

I. Congratulations and Celebrations

Chinese festivals and special events are celebrated with traditional customs. The theme of this gaming device is the festive celebrations.

Most Value Symbol: The symbol double happiness (H!?)

Other symbols

* Good Wish Poster (Chinese New Year)

* Red Envelope (Chinese New Year, birthday, wedding, and special occasions)

* New Year Lantern (Lantern Night - the 15th of the first month)

* Tangerines (Chinese New Year)

* Jung (^) - Chinese tamale (Dragon Boat Festival)

* Dragon Boat (Dragon Boat Festival)

* Moon Cake (Mid-autumn Festival)

* Mid-autumn Lantern (Mid-autumn Festival)

* Double Red Candles (Wedding)

* Red eggs (Newborn Baby)

* Lion Dance (All special events)

* Firecrackers (All special events) Winning Combinations: Adjacent 5, 4 or 3 identical symbols on the play line. Three double happiness symbols on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

Sample Bonus Round: On the top half of the screen, 8 festival/special events axe displayed, each carrying a bonus value. (Chinese New Year, Lantern Night, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Wedding, Birthday, Newborn Baby, New Business.) The player picks a special event and collects the bonus. The bottom half of the screen displays four items related to the event, and the player picks one. In the first round, all four event- items carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and the player continues to pick another event, for more bonuses. In the second and subsequent rounds, two of the event-items carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and each of the other two carries a multiplier. If the player beats the odds and gets the "Continue with More Bonus" sign in each round (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined Jackpot. If the player gets the multiplier in any round, the Bonus Round ends and the player gets the cumulative bonus times the multiplier.

J. Wine and Dine

This line of PCM is related to food and dining.

Most Value Symbol: A pair of chopsticks on a golden chopstick stand and a Tea Cup

Other symbols

* Dim Sum (in a bamboo container)

* Peking Duck

* Jung (^) - Chinese tamale

* Moon Cake

* Longevity Noodle

* Longevity Buns

* A whole roast pig

* Teapot and Teacup

* A Traditional Bottle of Wine and Wine Cup

* Whole Steamed Fish (in a plate)

* Fried Rice (in a plate)

* Steamed Rice (in a bowl)

Winning Combinations: Adjacent 5, 4 or 3 identical symbols on the play line. Three Chopsticks/Teacup symbols on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round. Sample Bonus Round: On the top half of the screen, 8 food style/events are displayed, each carrying a bonus value. (New Year, Dragon Boat Festivals, Mid- Autumn Festival, Wedding Banquet, Birthday Banquet, Newborn Baby Banquet, Dim Sum Brunch, Wines.) The player picks a special event and collects the bonus. The bottom half of the screen displays four items related to the event, and the player picks one. In the first round, all foar event-items carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and the player continues to pick another event, for more bonuses. In the second and subsequent rounds, two of the event- items carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and each of the other two carries a multiplier. If the player beats the odds and gets the "Continue with More Bonus" sign in each round (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined Jackpot. If the player gets the multiplier in any round, the Bonus Round ends and the player gets the cumulative bonus times the multiplier.

K. Hunt for Treasures

This line of PCM is related to traditional Chinese treasure, jewelry and collectibles . Most Valuable Symbol: A pile of various treasures Other symbols:

* Traditional Gold Piece

* Traditional Silver Piece

* Traditional Large Jade Pendant

* Pearl Necklace

* Gourd-shaped Porcelain Vase

* Jade Lion

* Gold Coin

* Jade Partition

* Marble Figurine

* Jade Hairpiece

* Antique Teapot

* Painting

* Calligraphy

Winning Combinations: Adjacent 5, 4 or 3 identical symbols on the play line. Three Treasure symbols on the play line takes the player to the Bonus Round.

Sample Bonus Round: On the top half of the screen, 8 types of treasures are displayed, each carrying a bonus value. (Gold, Silver, Jade, Gems, Ceramics/Porcelain, Coins, Figurines, Paintings/Calligraphy.) The player picks a treasure and collects the bonus. The bottom half of the screen displays four items related to the treasure, and the player picks one. In the first round, all four event-items carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and the player continues to pick another event, for more bonuses. In the second and subsequent rounds, two of the treasure-items carry the "continue for more bonus" sign, and each of the other two carries a multiplier. If the player beats the odds and gets the "Continue with More Bonus" sign in each round (which becomes the "Jackpot" sign in the final round), he/she wins the predetermined Jackpot. If the player gets the multiplier in any round, the Bonus Round ends and the player gets the cumulative bonus times the multiplier.

[0063] Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS L A gaming device having a plurality of positions displaying pictographic symbols to a player and awards associated with winning combinations of symbols displayed at said positions, wherein a winning arrangement of symbols comprises at least three similar symbols, and wherein said pictographic symbols have an association derived from a selected cultural tradition. 2. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein said association is derived from a literary tradition. 3. The gaming device of Claim 2, wherein said association is derived from a style of literature selected from the group consisting of a poem, an epic poem and a novel. 4. The gaming device of Claim 2, wherein said association is derived from a scene depicted by said literary tradition. 5. The gaming device of Claim 2, wherein said association is derived from an event described in said literary tradition. 6. The gaming device of Claim 2, wherein said association is derived from a character described in said literary tradition. 7. The gaming device of Claim 6, wherein said association is derived from characters in the "Journey to the West". 8. The gaming device of Claim 6, wherein said association is derived from characters in the "Dream of the Red Chamber". 9. The gaming device of Claim 6, wherein said association is derived from characters in the "108 Outlaws of the Marsh". 10. The gaming device of Claim 6, wherein said association is derived from characters in the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". 11. The gaming device of Claim 6, wherein said association is derived from characters in the "Eagle Shooting Heroes". 12. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein said association is derived from traditional mythology. 13. The gaming device of Claim 12, wherein said association is derived from the Chinese Zodiac. 14. The gaming device of Claim 12, wherein said association is derived from the Thirty-Six Strategies. 15. The gaming device of Claim 12, wherein said association is derived from the Eight Immortals. 16. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein said association is derived from a historical tradition. 17. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein said association is derived from a traditional festival. 18. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein said association is from a traditional game. 19. The gaming device of Claim 18, wherein said game is mahj ong. 20. The gaming device of Claim 19, wherein elements of an advanced or winning mahj ong hand is generated as the winning arrangement. 21. The gaming device of Claim 20, wherein said winning arrangement is a mahjonged hand. 22. The gaming device of Claim 18, wherein said game is pai gow. 23. The gaming device of Claim 22, wherein elements of an advanced or winning pai gow hand is generated as the winning arrangement. 24. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein said association is derived from a religious tradition. 25. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein said selected cultural tradition is the Chinese cultural tradition. 26. The gaming device of Claim 1 , wherein a winning arrangement of symbols generates a bonus round wherein a selected symbol of said wining combination is electronically displayed portraying an action identifiable with the association of said symbol within said selected cultural tradition. 27. The gaming device of Claim 26, wherein said action is identifiable with the association of said symbol within said selected cultural tradition.