WO2008086540A2 - Method and apparatus for indicating win proximity - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for indicating win proximity Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2008086540A2 WO2008086540A2 PCT/US2008/054977 US2008054977W WO2008086540A2 WO 2008086540 A2 WO2008086540 A2 WO 2008086540A2 US 2008054977 W US2008054977 W US 2008054977W WO 2008086540 A2 WO2008086540 A2 WO 2008086540A2
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- award
- gaming device
- count
- trigger threshold
- bonus
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/326—Game play aspects of gaming systems
- G07F17/3267—Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
- A63F3/00003—Types of board games
- A63F3/00157—Casino or betting games
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
- G07F17/3227—Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
- G07F17/323—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
Definitions
- This invention relates to novel methods of presenting multi-level mystery bonus awards on games of chance.
- Playing games of chance is a popular recreational activity.
- games of chance including table games where players wager against a live dealer such as blackjack, Pai Gow, roulette, Baccarat.
- Other types of games of chance are offered as automated machines. Examples include slots, poker, bingo, etc.
- Still other types of games of chance allow players to wager against one another, such as a poker table.
- games of chance In return for a wager, games of chance generate randomly determined outcomes, some of which result in a winning event.
- Games of chance are often played with wagers having financial value but some games of chance are played with points or other freely available currency having no fiscal worth. Games of chance may be played in casinos, or at home using electronic devices or mechanical equipment.
- Gambling via Internet, whether for fun or for money, is also a popular activity.
- Games of chance typically associate a winning event with a specific game outcome. For example, achievement of BAR BAR BAR on the payline of a three reel slot machine might pay 20 credits on a 1 credit wager. To increase player interest, bonus awards which are won independently of any single game outcome are sometimes offered.
- the "mystery" bonus is a popular bonus award that is so named because players cannot easily discern why the award occurred, as it is completely independent of the game's normal schedule of payments.
- FIG. Ia, FIG. Ib, and FIG. 2 are indicative of prior art mystery bonus award operation.
- the mystery award is a progressive amount because it grows in value as a function of each wager made until it is won. Once won, the award is initialized to a starting value and the process begins again.
- FIG Ia depicts the initialization procedure which is executed once upon inception of the mystery award and executed again after each winning occurrence of the mystery award.
- a mystery progressive award is defined by a starting and ending (maximum) value. The award must be won before the award grows larger than the maximum value.
- a winning number W is randomly selected from within the range of all numbers between the starting and ending award values. For example, a mystery progressive starts at $1,000.00 and ends at $5,000.00.
- the progressive award value is set to the starting value of the award range 120 — which is $1,000.00 — and the bonus is ready for play as depicted in FIG Ib.
- step 170 where the winner is identified.
- the winner in this case is the person whose wager caused AWARD to grow equal to W.
- the winner is then paid the amount won, $2,431.56 at step 180, after which the mystery award is again initialized 190, which simply executes the steps of FIO. Ia again, and the process repeats.
- a fixed award mystery bonus works exactly like the progressive mystery bonus award just described, except at step 180, the winner is paid the fixed amount — 100 credits for example — instead of the incremented AWARD amount.
- FIG. 2 is a prior art four-level progressive mystery bonus display.
- Enclosure 200 houses the displays and may be configured as an overhead sign, built into the gaming machine, or both.
- Each display, 210, 220, 230 and 240, represents one progressive mystery bonus award and each grows as a function of wagers made in any gaming machine linked to these awards.
- Each of the four award values has a winning number W chosen for it during initialization and each award is won independently of the others.
- each progressive award 250, 260, 270, and 280 are made known to players so they may understand that, as each progressive award grows, it is more likely to be won.
- the winning display immediately begins to alternate every few seconds between the progressive bonus amount won and the winning machine identifier. After the award amount is paid to the winner, either automatically as credits placed on the winning machine or as a manual payment of cash or check directly to the player, the won mystery progressive award is reset to its starting value and again grows as wagers are made in the associated games of chance.
- a light or other indicator is placed on, or near each machine in the link.
- the winning machine indicator is activated, and remains active, until the award is paid. Because there are so many numbers, multi-level mystery progressives are confusing to many players and this limits their appeal. While the growing award amount, and the corresponding increased likelihood that a win will occur, creates drama and therefore enhances entertainment value to the player, the win occurrence itself is anticlimactic to everyone but the winner because the amount won is known the instant the win occurs.
- Effectiveness of multi-level mystery bonus awards is limited by the confusion of displaying multiple bonus award values and player enjoyment would increase if such displays are simplified. Players would enjoy a heightened sense of entertainment if they know that an award is won before the winner identity and bonus amount won are revealed. In mystery bonus awards that are a function of wagers made, it would be useful to illustrate that larger wagers have a greater likelihood of winning.
- My invention is a device and method which improves the player appeal of mystery bonus awards. Specifically, my invention provides a method of conducting a game of chance displaying a plurality of mystery bonus award values, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying each of the plurality of mystery bonus award values to a player; (b) making a wager to initiate play of the game; (c) determining that a mystery bonus award has been won; (d) upon the occurrence of a win, displaying to a player that a win has occurred; (e) executing an indication process wherein at least two of the plurality of mystery bonus awards are indicated to a player in a sequence, with less than all mystery bonus awards indicated at any one time; (f) ending the indication process with the winning mystery bonus award indicated to a player; and (g) paying the indicated mystery bonus award to a player.
- My invention is also directed to providing an indication of proximity of a win, of wager size, and to sequences of revealing win occurrence, win amount and winner identification.
- FIG Ia is a prior art flow chart for initializing a progressive mystery bonus award.
- FIG. Ib is a flow chart for implementing a progressive mystery bonus award.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art four-level progressive mystery award display.
- FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of my invention.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a four-level progressive mystery award using a video- based wheel indicator according to my invention
- FIG. 5 illustrates an eight-level fixed-award mystery award using a video based wheel indicator, winner identifier and win indicator according to my invention.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a 22-level fixed award mystery award using a mechanical wheel indicator with illuminated indications of proximity to the next mystery award win, and illuminated indicator of wager size according to my invention.
- FIG. 7 illustrates a 16-level fixed-award mystery award with an additional progressive mystery award which includes illuminators to indicate proximity to next award occurrence according to my invention.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of gaming machines and display device connected to a mystery award controller according to my invention.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a video subsystem used as a display device according to my invention.
- FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a motorized wheel, mystery award proximity indicator and wager size indicator used as a display device according to my invention.
- FIG. 11 is a front view of game similar to the one depicted in FIG. 6.
- FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a screen in the view of FIG. 11.
- FIGs. 13-16 are views of the screen of FIG. 12 in different stages of game play.
- FIG. 17 is a highly schematic diagram of selected components of the game of FIG. 11.
- FIGs. 18- 19 are schematic diagrams of a portion of the circuitry for controlling lights and displays on the game of FIG. 11.
- FIGs. 20-22 are flow charts that depict the behavior of lights on the game of FIG. 11 during different modes of operation.
- mystery bonus as a system that selects awards as a function of game play events, excluding specific individual game outcomes.
- My definition of a mystery bonus does not include an award that is paid simply because a single gaming machine outcome resulted in a specific result, such as BAR BAR BAR on a three reel slot machine, as that is a normal jackpot occurrence.
- a mystery bonus could be, however, paid on the 11 th occurrence of BAR BAR BAR. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that there are many methods and techniques for determining when a mystery award occurs. Although I may choose to describe a particular embodiment while teaching how my invention functions, I do not limit the claims of my invention to only that embodiment.
- the winner does not have to be the person whose game play caused the winning condition to be met.
- the award could be paid to the tenth person that makes a wager after the win occurs, the person that placed the wager prior to the wager that met the winning condition, etc.
- One of ordinary skill will recognize that many such variations are possible and may be used with my invention.
- FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting my invention and represents a process for a four-level mystery jackpot award. As one of skill in the art will readily understand, each of the four mystery awards must be processed independently. FIG. 3 shows the logical flow of the award process so as to emphasize the unique attributes of my invention. Moreover, while the process shown describes a progressive mystery bonus award; the concepts of my invention apply equally to fixed value mystery awards.
- Each of the four AWARD values are displayed 310 and then a new wager is awaited 320.
- the amount of each of the four jackpot award amounts are increased as a function of wager amount 330, after which each AWARD amount is tested against the value W already chosen for that AWARD level 340. If no AWARD amount has grown to at least equal its associated value of W, the process returns to step 310 and displays updated AWARD values.
- an indication process 360 is executed in which at least two of the four award values are indicated to players in a sequence. In a preferred embodiment of my invention, less than all of the award values are indicated at any one time.
- the indication process ends 370 the award value that was won remains indicated, letting players know the amount won. The indicated award is then paid to the winning player 380, after which the award won is re-initialized 390 and the process repeated.
- FIG. 4 represents a display which is useful for implementing the steps just described.
- a video display 400 displays a wheel 410.
- Each wheel segment 420 holds one of the four progressive bonus award values 430.
- win Indicator 450 illuminates to inform players of the win occurrence.
- wheel 410 begins to spin.
- Each award amount is indicated in turn as it rotates into alignment beneath pointer 440.
- the wheel then slows and finally stops, indicating the award won by stopping with that amount directly beneath pointer 440.
- corresponding sound effects accompany the win occurrence, wheel spin and celebration sequence after the wheel stops.
- the winner identity is not disclosed until a time period after the amount won is made known.
- winner identifier 460 delays disclosure of the winner identity until several seconds after wheel 420 comes to rest and the amount won is known.
- the winner is identified before the winning amount is made known. In yet another embodiment, the winner identity and bonus amount won are identified simultaneously.
- FIG. 5 is a video display of a wheel 510 which is divided into 8 segments 520, each containing a fixed award amount 530.
- Win proximity indicator 550 which in this embodiment is shaped like a thermometer — informs players of the proximity of the next mystery bonus award, as well as announcing each winning event.
- the thermometer Upon initiation, the thermometer is set very low, indicating a winning event is not imminent. As wagers are made, the thermometer rises, indicating a winning event is growing closer. When a winning event occurs on any of the eight mystery bonus awards, the thermometer rises fully to the top and begins to flash, alerting players that a win occurred. After a period of time wheel 510 spins and stops, positioning the winning value beneath pointer 540.
- Winner identifier 560 identifies the winner and award payment is completed.
- win proximity indicator 550 is to show, in a non-numeric way, that a mystery win is growing closer with each wager.
- the thermometer is lit in proportion to how much progress has been made toward the next winning event.
- a winning number W is selected from a range of 1 to 1,000 and a counter C, is increased by one count for each unit of wager made. That is, the counter is increased by 3 for each 3 credit wager made, 2 for each 2 credit wager made, etc.
- Win proximity indicator 550 always represents progress toward the nearest winning occurrence. When that award is accomplished, the win proximity indicator is reset to indicate the next nearest win occurrence. Therefore win proximity indicator 550 will rarely indicate its lowest value because when one win occurs, another win has also grown towards its winning value. This technique gives powerful incentive for players to continue to play and chase the next available mystery bonus award.
- win proximity indicator 550 indicates progress toward the maximum theoretical value of W. In the above example, the largest value W could be is 1,000.
- Audio signals may be used to augment or replace the function of the win proximity indicator, the winner identifier, or both. For example, winner identity is announced using a live or recorded voice, and win proximity indicator functions are performed as a changing pitch, timbre or content of sound.
- win proximity indicator functions are performed as a changing pitch, timbre or content of sound.
- FIG. 6 depicts a mechanical wheel embodiment of my invention implemented using a Bally Cine Vision gaming machine 600.
- Mechanical wheel 630 includes 22 segments, each containing a fixed mystery bonus award.
- Pointer 610 indicates the winning amount.
- Win proximity indicator 620 is a crown of crystals. Each crystal of the crown is equipped with a multi-color illumination source. When the game is initialized, the crown is colored an icy-blue, indicating an award is not imminent. The crown illumination turns from icy-blue to reddish to bright red as a mystery win grows closer and closer. When a win is struck, the crown turns red and flashes, indicating a win occurred.
- win proximity indicator 620 may be utilized to represent the nearness of a mystery win and that win proximity indicator 620, though different in visual appearance, performs the same function as thermometer shaped win proximity indicator 550 of FIG. 5 and is adaptable to the same functional embodiments.
- wheel activation button 640 illuminates.
- wheel 630 spins, slows and ultimately stops in such a position that the won mystery bonus amount is positioned directly beneath pointer 610.
- wheel activation button 640 could be eliminated and wheel 630 automatically spun, either immediately upon a win being struck or after a time delay. In an alternative embodiment, wheel 630 could spin after a win occurs and wheel activation button 640 is pressed or a predefined period of time has passed, whichever occurs first.
- the wheel and the pointer could simultaneously rotate, either in the same direction or opposite directions.
- the amount indicated on the wheel segment that is aligned with the pointer when both wheel and pointer come to rest is the amount won.
- a player is allowed to choose one pointer from a plurality of pointers. After pointer selection is made, the wheel is spun. The award amount that is aligned with the chosen pointer when the wheel stops is the amount won.
- my invention is useful with any of the above mentioned methods of displaying award amounts on a wheel. For example multiple pointers can be active simultaneously and the award indicated when the wheel and pointers come to rest are the amounts won. The player may win the highest value indicated by the plurality of pointers, or the player is paid the sum of all values indicated by all active pointers.
- the image of a segmented wheel can be backlit with one illuminator for each wheel segment.
- Such implementations are known in the art as light wheels.
- the illuminators are lit, one at a time, in sequence, to simulate rotation. Whichever segment is lit when the sequence comes to a halt is the amount won.
- wager size indicator 650 is constructed of a number of illuminators arranged in the shape of an arrow on the right and left sides of wheel activation button 640. Each time a wager is made, these illuminators flash from the base of the arrow towards button 640. The brightness and duration of the flash is proportional to wager size.
- Gaming machine 600 is a three credit game, that is, players may wager one, two or three credits per game played. If three credits are wagered, illuminators 650 flash brighter and remain lit longer than if two credits are wagered. And a two credit wager causes an illumination flash that is brighter and longer-lasting that a single credit wager.
- FIG. 7 depicts an alternate display configuration embodiment of my invention.
- Overhead display 700 contains sixteen separate fixed mystery award indicators 710 and one mystery progressive award indicator 720 which surround progressive award display 730.
- Each of the sixteen fixed mystery award indicators 710 and the one mystery progressive indicator 720 is backlit by an illuminator and each is associated with its own randomly selected winning number W and counter which is incremented as a function of credits wagered. Until one of the seventeen mystery awards is won, all of the illuminators behind the seventeen award indicators are turned off.
- the set of award displays is surrounded by a win proximity indicator implemented as individual illuminators 740.
- illuminators 740 are off.
- illuminators 740 are lit one at a time, starting at the first illuminator located clockwise of the 12 o'clock position.
- the first three illuminators 750 are lit. Because each counter and each associated lucky number W is known within the system, it is straightforward to calculate how many wagers remain before a win occurs. As any win grows closer, a proportionate number of illuminators 740 are lit in clockwise sequence.
- the illumination sequence is conducted so that the very last illuminator 740, which is at the 12 O'clock position, is lit when a win occurs. At this time all illuminators 740 are lit, completely encircling the array of seventeen award displays. When this happens, the illuminators behind each award display 710 and 720 are lit, one at a time. After one of the award displays is lit for a brief time, it extinguishes, and another of the award illuminators 710 or 720 is lit. Each illuminator is lit in a pattern so that all illuminators are lit once in each sequence which then repeats. Over the period of a few seconds, the sequencing speed slows until only the award display that was won remains illuminated and that amount is awarded to the winning player. Means of Implementation
- FIG.8 depicts a schematic representation of a linked implementation of my invention.
- Controller 830 is configured by means of configuration computer 840 with the number of mystery awards, the size of each, the rate of increment for each wager, and the range from which winning numbers are to be randomly selected, amongst other parameters.
- configuration computer 840 One of skill in the art will recognize that configuration techniques for mystery award controllers are well known and all such configuration means may be used with this invention.
- connection 825 is a two-way serial protocol capable of allowing the controller 830 to receive information about game play, including wagers made from each gaming machine and also to send payout messages to each gaming machine for payment when a mystery award is won on that gaming machine. Examples of such two-way protocols include the well- known existing industry standard SAS protocol and the industry standard protocol in development by the Gaming Standards Association.
- connection 825 is a one-way transfer of information from each gaming machine 820 to controller 830. Such connections are less preferable because automated award payments are not supported.
- Gaming machine designs sometimes utilize Ethernet, USB or other such high-speed network connections which offer the advantage of high-bandwidth and are useful for carrying information for many purposes from gaming machines to many kinds of controllers and database systems. These connections are being adapted for other casino functions such as player tracking, casino accounting and security.
- high-bandwidth connections are useful with my invention whether they are used exclusively for the purpose of transferring mystery award information or if the connection serves a variety of other purposes as well.
- Connection 825 may also be implemented via wireless protocol such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, wireless Ethernet or other protocol whether based on radio frequency (RF), infrared or other technologies.
- wireless protocol such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, wireless Ethernet or other protocol whether based on radio frequency (RF), infrared or other technologies.
- RF radio frequency
- Connection 835 transfers information between controller 830 and display 810.
- This connection may be of a wide range of electrical protocols such as RS- 232 or it may utilize more recent protocols that specify electrical, connector, cabling and information communication structure such as Ethernet or USB.
- RS- 232 electrical protocols
- connection 835 may be of a wide range of electrical protocols such as RS- 232 or it may utilize more recent protocols that specify electrical, connector, cabling and information communication structure such as Ethernet or USB.
- RS- 232 electrical protocols
- connection 835 may be of a wide range of electrical protocols such as RS- 232 or it may utilize more recent protocols that specify electrical, connector, cabling and information communication structure such as Ethernet or USB.
- One of skill in the art will appreciate that a wide variety of standard and proprietary connector, cable, electrical and information structure protocols may be used with this invention, including wireless protocols.
- the transfer protocol for connection 835 may be one-way from controller 830 to display 810, or more preferably, two-way, with information flowing from controller 830 to display 810 and from display 810 to controller 830.
- controller 830 is configured and connected, wagering information from each gaming machine 820 is transmitted to the controller via connection 825 where it is used to increment the counter(s) which are then compared against the list of Winning values W. If the configuration includes progressive mystery awards, the updated award values are transmitted to the display 810 via connection 835 for presentation to players. Information for winner identification, win proximity, wager size and win occurrence are also sent from controller 830 to display 810.
- connection 835 allows two-way communication
- display 810 returns information back to controller 830, including acknowledgement that each message sent from the controller was received, diagnostic information that the display is functioning properly and other such housekeeping and award information.
- Display 810 may be a video display and preferably includes a processor for rendering the required images and updating the image with information received from controller 830. Any type of video display is useful including LCD, Plasma, rear-projection DLP, CRT, LED, VFD or any other technology capable of rendering the desired image for presenting information to players about award values, win occurrences, wager sizes, win proximity, etc.
- FIG. 9 illustrates video display 910 connected to computer subsystem 920 via connection 915.
- the video display 910 is preferably a flat panel display using LCD or plasma technology as such displays are economical, widely available, long-lived and require little physical space. Of course, any other video display technology may be used.
- the computer subsystem 920 is preferably a personal computer running Microsoft Windows, Linux, or Apple's OS X, though other operating systems may be desirable in certain situations.
- the computer subsystem may render the image using Macromedia's FLASH programming methodology or it may use alternative application software for rendering.
- computer subsystem 820 includes a case, power supply, main processor such as an Intel Pentium, a graphics coprocessor, or separate processing card such as an
- ASUS EN7600GT video interface for driving the video display, standard memory such as DRAM, non- volatile memory such as a hard disk and/or CD_ROM, DVD player, flash memory, battery backed RAM or some combination therein.
- standard memory such as DRAM
- non- volatile memory such as a hard disk and/or CD_ROM, DVD player, flash memory, battery backed RAM or some combination therein.
- the operating system, applications programs and data are stored in non-volatile memory and loaded into processor memory, usually DRAM, as needed. All such computer components, and other associated components that may be optionally used, are well known to those of skill in the art and will not be further described here.
- the connection 915 between computer subsystem 920 and video display 910 may be, but not limited to, VGA, DVI, HDMI, component video, or less- preferably S-video or composite video.
- Connection 925 takes the output from computer subsystem 820 audio output to an audio amplifier 930.
- Connection 925 may be analog or digital audio signals such as optical TOSLINK or coaxial SPDIF, or other such cable for carrying monophonic, stereo, or surround sound information.
- Audio amplifier 930 may be analog amplification sufficient to drive the chosen speaker or speakers 950.
- the audio amplifier could be a two channel 50 watts RMS per channel amplifier as is readily available from many well-known sources.
- the audio amplifier 930 could contain an audio processor for processing surround sound information from either the analog inputs or from digital inputs.
- Speaker 950 may be a single speaker or a pair of speakers for stereo sound. Alternately, speaker 950 could be a set of speakers to implement surround sound in 5 or 7 channels, or other configuration. Each speaker channel may include a simple single cone speaker or an array of speakers for desired sound dispersion and/or improved frequency response. Subwoofers could be included for enhanced low frequency response.
- Computer subsystem 920 connects to controller 830 via connection 835.
- Personal computers today typically include RS232, Ethernet and USB ports with a range of optional wired or wireless ports on specially configured computers or by adding an interface card to the standard personal computer.
- FIG. 10 depicts a schematic representation of circuitry to enable a mechanical wheel display for use with controller 830 of Figure 8.
- the video display of FIG. 9 is interchangeable in function with the mechanical wheel display of FIG. 10.
- One of skill in the art will recognize that these types of displays may be used together or separately and that many other types of displays are useful with my invention.
- Microcontroller 1070 transmits and receives commands and information to and from controller 830 via communication interface 835.
- the microcomputer is connected to win indicator 1010, win proximity indicator 1020, winner identifier 1030, winner size Indicator 1040, motor encoder 1050 and motor driver 1055 through peripheral interface 1060.
- Win indicator 1010, win proximity indicator 1020 and wager size indicator 1030 are typically arrangements of illuminators such as LEDs or light bulbs. These illuminators may be changed in brightness, color, pattern or a combination thereof as required to indicate the particular function and create excitement in a given environment.
- the win proximity indicator could be shaped as thermometer 550 of FIG. 5 a crown of lights 620 surrounding wheel 630 as depicted in FIG. 6 or individual illuminators arranged as 740 in Figure 7.
- Motor 1080 has the wheel indicator connected to its shaft and may be a
- Motor driver 1055 is used to convert signals received from microcontroller 1070, via peripheral interface 1060 into a format and capacity for driving the motor.
- Motor encoder 1050 provides feedback on the motor position, allowing Microcontroller 1070 to sense exactly when to stop Motor 1080 so as to indicate the correct award on the wheel.
- Motor controls and wheels are well-known to those of skill in the art. The same technology that is useful in controlling the wheels used in International Game Technology' s "Wheel of Fortune®” and Bally Gaming' s “Monte Carlo®” may be used in my invention.
- FIG. 10 The schematic depicted in FIG. 10 is readily adaptable to controlling a reel, which is simply a wheel turned on its side and with award values disposed on its circumference, much like a slot machine reel.
- a payline on the front of the reel housing indicates the winning mystery bonus amount, much like a payline on a slot machine indicates the paying symbols.
- Controller 1030 may also be implemented using a personal computer or other suitable electronic control mechanism, a wide variety of which are well- known to those of skill in the art.
- FIG. 11 indicated generally at 10 is a gaming device constructed in accordance with the present invention.
- the gaming device includes a base game 12 and a secondary game 14.
- gaming device 10 incorporates a Bally CineVision gaming machine.
- the Bally game comprises the base game.
- the Bally game includes a display 16 that comprises an LCD screen.
- Display 16 displays information about the outcome of the video slot game played by base game 12 in the form of three video reel symbols 18, 20, 22. It also displays, on either side and above the reel symbols, information related to the secondary game, which will shortly be described more fully.
- the base game accepts wagers of one, two, or three credits. These are placed by pressing a corresponding one of buttons 24, 26, 28, respectively. Alternatively, or in addition, touch screen symbols 30, 32, 34, respectively, may be used to place a bet.
- Display 16 further includes a Your Credits display 36 for showing total credits on the machine, including credits applied by a player as well as credits won as a result of play.
- a Bet display 37 shows the amount bet on the current game.
- a cash-out button 38 permits a player to receive all of his or her credits on the machine at the conclusion of play.
- a corresponding Collect image 40 can be provided to facilitate the same function, either alternatively or in addition to button 38.
- Secondary game 14 includes a rotatable mechanical wheel 42, although it should be appreciated that other types of indicators, including lighted simulations of wheels and other indications, could be equally well used.
- wheel 42 rotates about an axis in the center of the wheel.
- a pointer 44 points to one of the awards in the segments of wheel 42 when it comes to a stop thus indicating the amount the award in the secondary game.
- the opportunity to play the secondary game is a mystery award that is not tied to the outcome of the base game.
- Gaming device 10 indicates in several ways how close the player is to being eligible to play the secondary game, i.e., how close the mystery bonus is.
- illuminated polymer rods like rods 46, 48, span the top of the gaming device above the wheel and form a semicircular lighting bank 49.
- rod 46 is colored red as are all other rods that are similarly designated with upper-left to lower-right cross hatching.
- Rod 48 is colored blue as are all other rods that are similarly designated with lower-left to upper-right cross hatching.
- the color of the rods progressively changes so that more become red as fewer remain blue.
- the second way in which the player is informed about the proximity to the mystery bonus is a meter 50, which comprises an image on display 16 above the image of reel symbols 18, 20, 22. As will also be described in more detail, a left portion of the meter is red and a right is blue with the left portion progressively moving to the right thus making the meter more red and less blue as the mystery approaches.
- the third way that the player is informed about progress toward the mystery bonus is by images of rods 52, 54, which flank either side of the reel images and which mirror the progression in color of the polymer rods on the top of gaming device 10. Rod images 52, 54 are also hatched in the same fashion as rods 46, 48 to indicate color.
- FIG. 12 display 16 is shown after a play of the bonus game.
- the meter 50 is illustrated as being all blue. It should be appreciated, however, that a mystery round is typically started at low end of a range defined by low and high numbers so that even after the secondary game has just been played, the red portion of the meter will indicate a starting point at zero, although the initial starting point could be above zero as well.
- Meter 50 further includes pointer images 56, 58.
- Pointer 56 is aligned with the dividing line between the red and blue portions of the meter, thus indicating progress toward another secondary game.
- Pointer 58 points to the location on the meter when the last mystery was triggered. Additional pointers, like pointer 58, could be added to indicate the location on the meter when the mystery was triggered for the last two, three, or more secondary games.
- the progression of meter 58 as play continues may provide an indication of how close the machine is to providing the mystery award or it may indicate how close the machine is to the upper end of a range that contains a randomly selected trigger of the mystery award, preferably the latter.
- the meter has further progressed, and in this illustration, the machine has triggered play of the secondary game at the location of pointer 58 in FIG. 14.
- pointer 58 and the corresponding dividing line between the red and blue images move rapidly all the way to the right, thus filling the meter with all red, as shown in FIG. 15.
- the player is then instructed, via display 16, to hit button 28 to play the secondary game.
- This initiates rotation of wheel 42, which spins and stops on a number indicating the amount of credit that then goes to the Your Credits display 36.
- the game is reset, as will be described, and progress begins toward the opportunity to play another secondary game.
- the rightmost position of the meter is not tied to either the top value in the range from which the random trigger is selected or to the value of the random trigger. Rather, the rightmost meter value starts at the top value in the range from which the trigger is selected and changes toward the value of the random trigger as the count progresses. This results in meter movement proportional to more than one count at a time as the rightmost value of the meter decreases toward the random trigger value.
- the counter continues to count one count at time, and all of the counts between the lower end of the range and the random trigger must occur before the secondary game is triggered.
- only a maximum credit bet (3 credits in the game depicted here), qualifies the player to play the secondary game. A bet of one or two credits will result in the player not being eligible to play the secondary game.
- all of the displays that indicate progress toward play of the secondary game are shown in gray, as can be seen in FIG. 16. And the rods, like rods 46, 48 (FIG. 11), also become a gray or neutral light. A symbol (a circle with a slash) 60 also appears over meter 50 to indicate that there is no eligibility nor will the progress toward the game be displayed. Alternatively, one or more of these win proximity indicators may be shown even when the wager is less than the maximum possible wager. In still another implementation, only wagers that are less than a predetermined value are counted, e.g., only wagers of one credit or of one or two credits.
- graphical means a pictorial representation. This could include changes in images on a display, changes in light intensity, changes in color, or a combination of the foregoing, whether or not combined with numeric, alphabetical or alphanumeric displays.
- audio indications could be used in lieu of or in addition to graphical indications of win proximity.
- Substantially the same controls used that are used to create graphical indications of win proximity could be used to create audio indications.
- signals generated by the controls are applied to an audio system that provides an audio indication of the change in likelihood of awarding a bonus award.
- Base game 12 includes a pay table 64 that controls the odds of producing various combinations of reel symbols 18, 20, 22 (in FIG. 11), some of which provide associated base-game awards. Control of video slot machines that implement such pay tables is well known.
- display 16 is built into the base game, inputs into the base game permit images related to the secondary game, as described above, to appear on the display along with the base-game reel symbols.
- a bus 66 communicates with base game 12 and display 16. Also in communication with the bus are a processor 68, a random number generator (RNG) 70, a counter 72, a wheel controller 74, and a light display controller 76.
- RNG random number generator
- Processor 68 is programmed, as will be soon described, to selectively activate wheel controller 74, which in turn causes wheel 42 to spin and stop at a preselected number.
- processor 68 is part of the base game.
- additional programming is implemented to control the secondary game.
- processor 68 is programmed to trigger RNG 70, which in the present embodiment is implemented in software, upon completion of a secondary game to select a new trigger threshold for the next secondary game.
- Counter 72 also implemented in software in this embodiment, counts each base game played with maximum (in this case 3) credits, and when the trigger threshold is reached, processor 68 triggers the start of the next secondary game.
- Additional counters could be implemented to count toward their associated trigger thresholds to provide additional awards via additional bonus award mechanisms. This could be an implementation in which each of the segments in wheel 42 has its own associated counter, trigger threshold and award as described above in connection with a different embodiment.
- the bonus award mechanism in the present embodiment of the invention comprises the software and associated hardware that delivers the bonus to a player.
- the processor also indicates which light displays, both on display 16 and on lighting bank 49, are presented depending upon the state of game play.
- the odds of playing the secondary game may be improved by changing the odds for a random number generator (RNG) to trigger the secondary game after each play of the base game.
- RNG random number generator
- an RNG could be programmed to have a 1/200 chance to trigger the secondary game after the first play of the base game and thereafter reduce the odds after each successive game in the following sequence: 1/199, 1/198, 1/197 . . . 1/1 until the secondary game is triggered.
- the odds might only reduce after each game to a certain level and then hold at that level for additional base games.
- the odds of winning decrease with each successive play. For example, on the first play odds of 1/10 are provided for winning the secondary bonus. On the second play, odds of 1/11, etc.
- Odds of winning the secondary bonus could continually increase or decrease, increase or decrease until a limit was reached or increase for a period of time and then decrease and then increase again.
- odds could change after one or more wagers and not change after another one or more wagers. Any such sequence of successively changing odds is useful with my [invention].
- One of ordinary skill in the art could readily implement this variation.
- FIG. 18 comprises a schematic diagram of light display controller 76 in FIG. 17.
- Light display controller 76 includes a Programmable Intelligent Computer (PIC) microprocessor 78 and an RS232 interface 80.
- Interface 80 communicates with processor 68 via a transmit line 82 and a receive line 84.
- Interface 80 in turn communicates with PIC microprocessor 78 via lines 86, 88.
- PIC Programmable Intelligent Computer
- the PIC microprocessor includes a serial data out (SDO) line 90 and a clock (CLK) line 92 that are connected to a light module 94, which is the first in a chain of light modules, including the next light module 59 and the last light module 96.
- SDO serial data out
- CLK clock
- a light module 94 which is the first in a chain of light modules, including the next light module 59 and the last light module 96.
- each light module controls the light in a particular one of the rods to create a variety of lighting effects.
- FIG. 19 depicts light module 94.
- Light module 94 is substantially identical to each of the other light modules. Included therein is a tricolor LED chip 98.
- Chip 98 includes a blue LED 100, a red LED 102, and a green LED 104. Each LED has its anode tied to +5 volts, and each cathode is driven with a separate dedicated LED driver 106, 108, 110, respectively. Each driver includes an enable line 112, 114, 116, respectively. The enable lines are driven by a chip 118 in response to data provided to the chip via data-in (DAI) terminal 120 and clock (CLK) terminal 122. The data in chip 118 may be shifted out to the next light module 95 in FIG. 18 via data-out (DAO) terminal 122 and clock (CLK) terminal 126.
- DAI data-in
- CLK clock
- the data that is transferred into each light module, like light module 94, via DAI and CLK terminals, like DAI terminal 120 and CLK terminal 122 comprises 24 bits of data, 8 bits associated with each color.
- Each 8 bits modulates a pulse with signal on their associated enable line, like the blue enable line 112.
- each color can be selected with an intensity of between 0 and 255, with 0 being off and 255 being the most intense illumination possible.
- Each of tri-color LED chips is positioned at the base of a corresponding one of the rods, like rods 46, 48, in light bank 49.
- the rods are made from Plexiglas polymer, which conducts light into a light channel surrounded with a frosted edge. The result is a rod that glows with selected colors and intensities.
- a number of pre-programmed lighting modes are stored in a memory associated with PIC microprocessor 78. These include:
- REDFILL fills all rods with blue starting at the outer rods and sweeping toward the center in a little over a second.
- processor 68 provides a single byte with a value of 0-255 to PIC microprocessor 78, which determines the percentage of rods starting from the outside and moving toward the center) that are red. The rest of the rods are blue except for the one between the transition from red to blue, which is a combination of blue and red.
- the value of the byte provided in the BLUETORED mode is related to the likelihood of initiating the secondary game. As described above this could be an indication of the how close the count is to the random trigger value, to the upper end of the range from which the random trigger value is chosen, or to a combination of the two.
- signals from light display controller 76 also control the display of meter 50 and the display of rod images 52. As a result, coordinated graphical representations of win proximity are provided in a variety of ways.
- FIGs. 20-22 consideration will be given to examples of various lighting modes during game play.
- the lighting mode is set to Available mode for 30 seconds.
- available mode comprises RANBOW ANIM, described above.
- the lighting mode is set to Attract mode (PURE_SWEEP) until additional credits are wagered.
- FIG. 21 describes lighting behavior during normal game play, i.e., when there are credits on the credit meter.
- the lighting mode is set to GRAY and meter 50 and rod images 52 are set as shown in FIG. 16.
- the lighting mode is set to BLUETORED, and win proximity is displayed, e.g., as shown in FIGs. 12-15.
- the game could be implemented to always show win proximity, even in the presence of a 2 or 3 credit bet, i.e., less than the maximum.
- the process depicted in FIG. 21 checks to see if the count equals the random trigger. If so, the player is given the opportunity to play the secondary game, and the process depicted in FIG. 22 is implemented.
- the game In celebration mode, the game is programmed with celebratory audio and lighting effects. It waits for the player to press the maximum credit button, which initiates the wheel spin in this mode.
- the game could be programmed to wait a predetermined length of time for the player to press the button and then automatically enter wheel spin mode if the button has not been pressed by when the predetermined time lapsed.
- wheel spin mode is entered when processor 68 instructs wheel controller 74 to spin the wheel.
- the credits won by the player which are indicated on the wheel segment aligned with pointer 44, are applied to the credit meter, and the process of FIG. 22 transfers control back to the process of FIG. 21. Once all the credits are off the credit meter, the process of FIG. 21 transfers control to the process of FIG. 20.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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AU2008204776A AU2008204776A1 (en) | 2007-01-04 | 2008-02-26 | Method and apparatus for indicating win proximity |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2007/000417 WO2007087156A2 (en) | 2006-01-13 | 2007-01-04 | Randomly enabled bonus game with controllable frequency of occurrence |
USPCT/US07/000417 | 2007-01-04 | ||
US90395907P | 2007-02-27 | 2007-02-27 | |
US60/903,959 | 2007-02-27 | ||
US92687007P | 2007-04-30 | 2007-04-30 | |
US60/926,870 | 2007-04-30 |
Publications (2)
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WO2008086540A2 true WO2008086540A2 (en) | 2008-07-17 |
WO2008086540A3 WO2008086540A3 (en) | 2008-09-25 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/US2008/054977 WO2008086540A2 (en) | 2007-01-04 | 2008-02-26 | Method and apparatus for indicating win proximity |
Country Status (2)
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AU (1) | AU2008204776A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008086540A2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2019197385A1 (en) * | 2018-04-10 | 2019-10-17 | Transigo Limited T/A Digiwheel | Electronic prize gaming apparatus |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050148383A1 (en) * | 2004-01-07 | 2005-07-07 | Mayeroff Jason M. | Electronic game apparatus and method providing a secondary game triggered apart from a primary game |
US20050164764A1 (en) * | 2003-08-12 | 2005-07-28 | Ghaly Nabil N. | Interactive gaming device |
US20060040723A1 (en) * | 2004-08-19 | 2006-02-23 | Baerlocher Anthony J | Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards |
-
2008
- 2008-02-26 WO PCT/US2008/054977 patent/WO2008086540A2/en active Application Filing
- 2008-02-26 AU AU2008204776A patent/AU2008204776A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050164764A1 (en) * | 2003-08-12 | 2005-07-28 | Ghaly Nabil N. | Interactive gaming device |
US20050148383A1 (en) * | 2004-01-07 | 2005-07-07 | Mayeroff Jason M. | Electronic game apparatus and method providing a secondary game triggered apart from a primary game |
US20060040723A1 (en) * | 2004-08-19 | 2006-02-23 | Baerlocher Anthony J | Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2019197385A1 (en) * | 2018-04-10 | 2019-10-17 | Transigo Limited T/A Digiwheel | Electronic prize gaming apparatus |
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WO2008086540A3 (en) | 2008-09-25 |
AU2008204776A1 (en) | 2008-07-17 |
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