US20080032767A1

US20080032767A1 - Slot machine and playing method thereof

Info

Publication number: US20080032767A1
Application number: US11/585,243
Authority: US
Inventors: Kazuo Okada
Original assignee: Aruze Gaming America Inc
Current assignee: Aruze Gaming America Inc
Priority date: 2006-08-02
Filing date: 2006-10-24
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: JP2008036401A; AU2007203148A1

Abstract

A slot machine according to the invention includes a display for arranging a plurality of symbols, and a controller for paying out gaming mediums according to the number and positions of scatter symbols displayed on the display when the plurality of symbols arranged on the display are automatically rearranged.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/834,747 filed on Aug. 2, 2006. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slot machine which is played using gaming media such as coins or bills and a playing method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Background
In a conventional slot machine, if a player inserts gaming media such as coins or bills into an insertion slot and pushes a spin button, then a plurality of symbols are displayed in a scrolling manner on a display provided on the front surface of a casing and, thereafter, the respective symbols are automatically stopped.
In such a slot machine, if a predetermined combination of symbols are stop-displayed along a winning line, then a predetermined number of gaming media are paid out, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,999 and US 2002-065124-A1. Further, a predetermined number of gaming media are paid out, according to the number of specific symbols, called scatter symbols, displayed on the display, regardless of the winning line. Namely, a conventional slot machine pays out gaming media according to a combination of two types of methods.
The present invention provides a slot machine and a playing method thereof which have entertainment characteristics which have not been offered by the aforementioned conventional art.
The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,999 and US 2002-0065124-A1 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention is a slot machine including: a display to which a plurality of symbols are arranged; and a controller which conducts a paying out of a game medium, according to the number and positions of scatter symbols displayed to said display, when the plurality of symbols arranged to said display are automatically rearranged.
A second aspect of the present invention is a slot machine including: a display for arranging a plurality of symbols; an arrangement controller for conducting control for automatically rearranging the plural symbols arranged to said display; a display control controller for determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display, and a payout controller for conducting, after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display.
A third aspect of the present invention is a slot machine including: a display for arranging a plurality of symbols; an arrangement controller for conducting control for automatically rearranging the plural symbols arranged to said display; a display control controller for determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display, and a payout controller for determining, after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display, determining a ratio according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display, and conducting the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is a slot machine including: a display for arranging a plurality of symbols; an arrangement controller for conducting control for automatically rearranging the plural symbols arranged to said display; a display control controller for displaying to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols, and a payout controller for conducting the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a slot machine including: a display to which a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows is arranged; an arrangement controller which conducts arrangement control for selecting symbols from a plurality of types of symbols to determine the symbols to be arranged in said symbol matrix and stopping a state of scrolling at the position of the determined symbols, in order to rearrange a plurality of symbols arranged to said display as a new symbol matrix after scrolling of the plurality of symbols; a display control controller for determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display, and a payout controller for conducting, after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is a slot machine including: a display to which a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows is arranged; an arrangement controller which conducts arrangement control for selecting symbols from a plurality of types of symbols to determine the symbols to be arranged in said symbol matrix and stopping a state of scrolling at the position of the determined symbols, in order to rearrange a plurality of symbols arranged to said display as a new symbol matrix after scrolling of the plurality of symbols; a display control controller for determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display, and a payout controller for determining, after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display, determining a ratio according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display, and conducting the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is a slot machine including: a display to which a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows is arranged; an arrangement controller which conducts arrangement control for selecting symbols from a plurality of types of symbols to determine the symbols to be arranged in said symbol matrix and stopping a state of scrolling at the position of the determined symbols, in order to rearrange a plurality of symbols arranged to said display as a new symbol matrix after scrolling of the plurality of symbols; a display control controller for displaying to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols, and a payout controller for conducting the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.
A eighth aspect of the present invention is a playing method of a slot machine comprising a step of paying out of a game medium, according to the number and positions of scatter symbols displayed to the display, when the plurality of symbols arranged to the display are automatically rearranged.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is a playing method of a slot machine comprising the steps of: conducting control for automatically rearranging a plurality of symbols arranged to a display; determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display; and conducting, after rearranging the symbols, the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to said display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to said display.
A tenth aspect of the present invention is a playing method of a slot machine comprising the steps of: conducting control for automatically rearranging a plurality of symbols arranged to a display; determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display; and determining, after rearranging the symbols, a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to said display, determining a ratio according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to said display, and conducting the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.
A eleventh aspect of the present invention is a playing method of a slot machine comprising the steps of: conducting control for automatically rearranging a plurality of symbols arranged to a display; displaying to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols; and conducting the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after rearranging the symbols, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.
A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a playing method of a slot machine which repeats a unit game that is started by starting scrolling display of a plurality of symbols arranged to a display and is completed by stopping the scrolling display to rearrange said plurality of symbols, comprising the steps of: stopping automatically said scrolling display of the symbols; determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display, until the scrolling display of said symbols is automatically stopped; and conducting the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to said display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to said display, after the symbols are automatically stopped.
A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a playing method of a slot machine which repeats a unit game that is started by starting scrolling display of a plurality of symbols arranged to a display and is completed by stopping the scrolling display to rearrange said plurality of symbols, comprising the steps of: stopping automatically said scrolling display of the symbols; determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display, until the scrolling display of said symbols is automatically stopped; and determining a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to said display after the symbols are automatically stopped, determining a ratio according to the number of scatter symbol shaving a predetermined background color displayed to said display, and conducting the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.
A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a playing method of a slot machine which repeats a unit game that is started by starting scrolling display of a plurality of symbols arranged to a display and is completed by stopping the scrolling display to rearrange said plurality of symbols, comprising the steps of: stopping automatically said scrolling display of the symbols; displaying to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas, until the scrolling display of said symbols is automatically stopped; and conducting the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after the symbols are automatically stopped, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a view illustrating exemplary display of scatter symbols;

FIG. 1B is a view illustrating exemplary display of scatter symbols;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating additional numbers of coins to be paid out;

FIG. 3A is a view illustrating another exemplary display of scatter symbols;

FIG. 3B is a view illustrating another exemplary display of scatter symbols;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the external view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating symbols which are displayed in respective symbol blocks and the code numbers of the respective symbols;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the interval structure of the slot machine illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the subroutine of game executing processing;

FIG. 8A is a view illustrating exemplary display of scatter symbols arranged on the lower image display panel in the slot machine;

FIG. 8B is a view illustrating exemplary display of scatter symbols arranged on the lower image display panel in the slot machine;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating the subroutine of symbol determination processing;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the relationship between plural types of combination prizes and numbers of coins to be paid out;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the relationship between plural types of scatter prizes and numbers of coins to be paid out; and

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating the subroutine of bonus game processing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views illustrating exemplary display of scatter symbols. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating additional numbers of coins to be paid out. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the external view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. While the slot machine 10 is a standalone type slot machine which is not connected to a network, the present invention can be applied to a slot machine connected to a network.
The slot machine 10 according to the present invention includes a lower image display panel 16 constituted by a transparent liquid crystal display panel which displays 15 display blocks 28 (28 a to 28 o) along five columns and three rows. Each display block 28 displays a single symbol. Further, on the lower image display panel 16, there is formed a single winning line L horizontally across the five display blocks 28 displayed at the middle of the respective rows. The winning line L is for defining a combination of symbols.
In the present embodiment, there are two types of symbols, which are basic symbols and scatter symbols. The basic symbols are symbols as follows. That is, if a predetermined combination of basic symbols is stop-displayed along the winning line L, a combination prize is established, and a number of coins which corresponds to the combination and the number of inserted coins (the number of BETs) are paid out. On the other hand, the scatter symbols are symbols as follows. That is, if scatter symbols are displayed on the lower image display panel 16, regardless of whether or not they are along the winning line L, a scatter prize is established, and a number of coins which corresponds to the number of displayed scatter symbols and the number of inserted coins (the number of BETs) are paid out. In the present embodiment, the scatter symbols are diamond symbols. Hereinafter, the term “symbols” refers to both basic symbols and scatter symbols.
In the slot machine 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, additional numbers of coins to be paid out are predetermined in association with numbers of scatter symbols with a red background color. For example, if a single scatter symbol with a red background color is displayed, then 10 coins are additionally paid out, in addition to the aforementioned prize (the combination prize and the scatter prize). If two scatter symbols with a red background color are displayed, then 20 coins are additionally paid out.
If a game is started, symbols are started to be scrolled, the background colors of the respective display blocks 28 are determined at random, and the determined colors are displayed as the backgrounds of the respective display blocks 28, in the slot machine 10. FIG. 1A illustrates a state where the display blocks 28 a, 28 b, 28 d, 28 e, 28 g, 28 h, 28 j, 28 n and 28 o have a red background, while the other display blocks 28 have a white background. In the figure, downward arrows indicate symbols being scrolled.
FIG. 1B illustrates a state where 15 symbols have been stopped (rearranged) along 5 columns and 3 rows after the scrolling is stopped thereafter. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, five scatter symbols are stop-displayed on the lower image display panel 16, and the scatter symbols stop-displayed in the display blocks 28 a, 28 d and 28 h there among have a red background color. Accordingly, there are three scatter symbols with a red background color and, therefore, 30 additional coins corresponding to three scatter symbols with the red background color are paid out, in addition to a number of coins corresponding to the number of displayed scatter symbols (see FIG. 2).
There has been described a case where game mediums are paid out according to the number of scatter symbols having a red background color, in the aforementioned example. However, in the present invention, such a predetermined background color is not particularly limited and may be green or blue, for example. Further, there has been described a case where a single predetermined background color is employed, in the aforementioned example. However, in the present invention, plural predetermined background colors can be employed and, for example, a red color and a green color can be employed as predetermined background colors. In the case where predetermined background colors are constituted by plural colors (for example, a red color and a green color), the number of game mediums to be paid out can be the sum of a number of game mediums which corresponds to the number of scatter symbols with one of the background colors (the red background color) and a number of game mediums which corresponds to the number of scatter symbols with the other background color (the green background color)
There has been described a case where, if scatter symbols having a predetermined background color (the red color) are displayed, a predetermined additional number of game mediums are paid out. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and ratios can be predetermined in association with numbers of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color and the number of game mediums to be paid out can be based on the aforementioned ratio and the elementary number of game mediums to be paid out corresponding to the number of displayed scatter symbols. For example, if two scatter symbols with a red background color are displayed, the ratio can be set to 2, while if three scatter symbols with a red background color are displayed, the ratio can be set to 3.
There has been described a case where background colors are displayed on the lower image display panel 16 in the aforementioned example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and, for example, reels having symbol sequences drawn thereon can be employed, and the back surfaces of the reels can be illuminated with LED lamps and the like to vary the colors of the respective display blocks.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views illustrating another exemplary display of scatter symbols.
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, on the lower image display panel 16, symbols are scrolled and there is also displayed a target image 56 which partitions the display blocks 28 into plural areas. The target image 56 includes a numerical character image which indicates numbers defined for the respective areas. FIG. 3B illustrates a state where 15 symbols have been stopped (rearranged) along five columns and three rows, after the scrolling is stopped thereafter. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, scatter symbols are displayed in the display blocks 28 a, 28 d and 28 f on the lower image display panel 16. The area corresponding to the display block 28 a has a predetermined number of “3”, the area corresponding to the display block 28 d has a predetermined number of “20”, the area corresponding to the display block 28 h has a predetermined number of “50”, the area corresponding to the display block 28 k has a predetermined number of “10”, and the area corresponding to the display block 28 m has a predetermined number of “10”. Accordingly, a number of coins which corresponds to the total sum of these numbers (3 plus 20, 50, 10 and 10 is 93) are paid out.
While there has been described a case where a total of 15 symbols are displayed along five columns and three rows in the aforementioned example, the present invention is not limited to cases where symbols are displayed along five columns and three rows. Further, while there has been described a case where symbols are scrolled along the respective columns in the aforementioned example, individual symbols can be displayed in a scrolling manner.
Next, description will be given of construction of slot machine 10.
In the slot machine 10, a coin, a note or an electronic valuable information corresponding thereto is used as a game media. In the present invention, however, the game media is not particularly limited, and for example, a medal, a token, an electronic money and a ticket can be used. The ticket is not particularly limited and may include, for example, a ticket with a bar code as described later, and of the like tickets.
The slot machine 10 includes: a cabinet 11; a top box 12 placed on the upper side of the cabinet 11; and a main door 13 provided at the front face of the cabinet 11.
The lower image display panel 16 as a display is provided in the main door 13. The lower image display panel 16 includes a transparent liquid crystal display panel which displays the 15 display blocks 28 (28 a to 28 o) along five columns and three rows. Each display block displays a single symbol.
In the lower image display panel 16, there are provided a number-of-credits display section 31 and a number-of-payouts display section 32. The number-of-credits display section 31 displays an image indicating the number of credited coins. The number-of-payouts display section 32 displays an image indicating the number of coins to be paid out, in the event that a predetermined number of or more symbols of the effective type are stop-displayed in the symbol display region 28.
A touch panel 69, which is not shown in the figure, is provided on the front face of the lower image display panel 16 and the player can input various kinds of commands by operating the touch panel 69.
Provided below the lower image display panel 16 are: a control panel 20 constituting of plural buttons 23 to 27 which are input by the player, commands associated with progress of the game; a coin receiving slot 21 accepting coins into the cabinet 11; and a Bill validator 22.
The control panel 20 is provided with: a spin button 23; a change button 24; a CASHOUT button 25; a 1-BET button 26; and a maximum BET button 27. The spin button 23 is used for inputting a command to start the scrolling of symbols. The change button 24 is used in a case where a player requests an attendant of a recreation facility to exchange money. The CASHOUT button 25 is used for inputting a command to pay out credited coins to a coin tray 18.
The 1-BET button 26 is used for inputting a command to bet one coin of the credited coins. The maximum BET button 27 is used for inputting a command to bet the maximum number of coins that can be bet on one game (50 coins in the present embodiment) of the credited coins.
The Bill validator 22 is used not only for discriminating a false note from a true note but also for accepting the true note into the cabinet 11. The Bill validator 22 may be configured such that a ticket 39 with a bar code which will be described later can be read. A belly glass 34 on which characters and the like of the slot machine 10 are depicted is provided on the front face of the lower portion of the main door 13, that is, below the control panel 20.
On a front surface of the top box 12, an upper image display panel 33 is provided. The upper image display panel 33 includes a liquid crystal display panel which displays, for example, images introducing the contents of games and explaining the rules of games. Further, the upper image display panel 33 displays an image indicating the type of symbols which has been made effective according to the number of BETs.
A speaker 29 is provided in the top box 12. A ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a data display 37 and a key pad 38 are provided beneath the upper image display panel 33. The ticket printer 35 prints on a ticket a bar code in which data such as the number of credits, date, time, identification number of the slot machine 10 and of the like data are encoded, and outputs the ticket 39 with a bar code. A player can make the ticket 39 with a bar code to be read by a second slot machine and play a game in the second slot machine, or exchange in a predetermined place (for example, at a cashier in the casino) of a recreation facility the ticket 39 with a bar code to notes.
The card reader 36 is used for reading data from a smart card and writing data onto a smart card. The smart card is a card to be carried by a player, and for example, data to identify a player and data concerning a history of a game played by a player are stored thereon. Data corresponding to a coin, a note or a credit may also be stored on the smart card. As an alternative of a smart card, a magnetic stripe card may be adopted. The data display 37 is a fluorescent display and the like, and it is used, for example, to display data read by the card reader 36 and data input by a player from the key pad 38. The key pad 38 is used for inputting a command or data to issue a ticket and the like.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating symbols which are displayed in the respective symbol blocks and the code numbers of the respective symbols.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the sequences of a total of 22 symbols having code numbers “00” to “21” are scrolled in the respective display blocks 28. Each symbol sequence is constituted by a combination of symbols of “JACKPOT7”, “BLUE7”, “BELL”, “CHERRY”, “STRAWBERRY”, “PLUM”, “ORANGE”, “APPLE” and “SCATTER”. The “JACKPOT7s”, “BLUE7s”, “BELLs”, “CHERRYs”, “STRAWBERRYs”, “PLUMs”, “ORANGEs” and “APPLEs” are basic symbols. The “SCATTERs” are scatter symbols.
If three “JACKPOT7s”, “BLUE7s”, “BELLs”, “CHERRYs”, “STRAWBERRYs”, “PLUMs” or “ORANGEs” are stop-displayed along the winning line L, then a predetermined number of coins are paid out (see FIG. 10).
The “APPLEs” are bonus game triggers (symbols which cause transition to a bonus game). If three or more “APPLEs” are stop-displayed along the winning line L, this causes transition to a bonus game. In the present embodiment, such a bonus game is a free game (a game which a player can play a predetermined number of times without betting coins).
If “SCATTERs” are displayed on the lower image display panel 16, then a number of coins which corresponds to the number of displayed “SCATTERs” and the number of inserted coins (the number of BETs) are paid out (see FIG. 11).
When the spin button 23 is pushed to start games, after the 1-BET button 26 or the maximum-BET button 27 is pushed, symbols are displayed in such a manner that they are scrolled in the up-to-down direction on the lower image display panel 16, and, also, the background colors of the respective display blocks 28 are determined and displayed on the lower image display panel 16. After the elapse of a predetermined time period, the scrolled symbols are stop-displayed. If a scatter prize is established and also there are scatter symbols with a red background color at this time, a predetermined additional number of coins are paid out (see FIG. 10).
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the slot machine shown in FIG. 4.
A gaming board 50 includes: CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, ROM 55 and boot ROM 52 which are interconnected to one another by an internal bus; a card slot 53S which accepts a memory card 53; an IC socket 54S which accepts GAL (Generic Array Logic) 54.
The memory card 53 is constituted of non-volatile memories such as Compact Flash® and stores a game program. The game program contains a symbol determination program. The symbol determination program is a program for determining symbols (code Nos. corresponding to the symbols) which are to be stop displayed along the winning line L.
The card slot 53S is configured so that the memory card 53 can be inserted therein or drawn out therefrom, and connected to a mother board 40 through IDE bus. Therefore, a kind or contents of a game played in the slot machine 10 can be changed by drawing out the memory card 53 from the card slot 53S, writing a different game program thereon, and inserting the memory card 53 into the card slot 53S thereafter. The game program includes a program related to progress in a game. The game program further includes: image data and sound data output while a game is played.
CPU 51, ROM 55 and boot ROM 52 interconnected to each other by the internal bus are connected to the mother board 40 by PCI bus. The PCI bus not only conducts signal transmission between the mother board 40 and the gaming board 50, but also supplies electric power to the gaming board 50 from the mother board 40.
The mother board 40 is constructed with a general-purpose mother board commercially available (a printed circuit board on which basic parts of a personal computer are mounted) and includes: a main CPU 41; ROM (Read Only Memory) 42; RAM (Random Access Memory) 43 and a communication interface 44. The mother board 40 is the controller of the present invention.
ROM 42 is constituted of a memory device such as a flash memory and stores thereon a program such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) executed by the main CPU 41 and permanent data. When BIOS is executed by the main CPU 41, not only is an initialization processing for predetermined peripheral devices conducted, but a capture processing for the game program stored on the memory card 53 is also started via the gaming board 50. In the present invention, contents of ROM 42 may be rewritable or not rewritable.
RAM 43 stores data and a program used at the time of operation of the main CPU 41. RAM 43 can store the game program.
RAM 43 further stores data on the number of credits, the number of coin-in or coin-out for one game, and the like.
Both a body PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 60 and a door PCB 80 which will be described later are connected to the mother board 40 by USB. A power supply unit 45 is also connected to the mother board 40.
Equipment and devices which generate input signals to be input to the main CPU 41, and equipment and devices of which operations are controlled by a control signal output from the main CPU 41 are connected to the body PCB 60 and the door PCB 80. The main CPU 41 executes a game program stored in RAM 43 based on an input signal input to the main CPU 41, and thereby performs a predetermined computational processing, stores results of thereof into RAM 43 and transmits a control signal to each equipment and device as a control processing for each of the equipment and devices.
A lamp 30, a hopper 66, a coin detecting section 67, a graphic board 68, a speaker 29, a touch panel 69, a Bill validator 22, a ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a key switch 38S and a data display 37 are connected to the body PCB 60. The lamp 30 is lit up in a predetermined pattern based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41.
The hopper 66 is installed in the cabinet 11 and pays out a predetermined number of coins from a coin payout exit 19 to a coin tray 18 based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41. A coin detecting section 67 is installed inside the coin payout exit 19 and when detecting that a predetermined number of coins has been paid out from the coin payout exit 19, outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41.
The graphic board 68 controls, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, image displays on the upper image display panel 33 and the lower image display panel 16 as an output device. The background colors determined through selection of random numbers are displayed and, also, symbols are displayed in a scrolling or stationary manner, in the respective display blocks 28 on the lower image display panel 16. The number-of-credits display section 31 on the lower image display panel 16 displays the number of credits stored in the RAM 43. Further, the number-of-payouts display section 32 on the lower image display panel 16 displays the number of coins to be paid out.
The graphic board 68 is equipped with VDP (Video Display Processor) which generates image data based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41 and a video RAM which temporarily stores image data generated by VDP, and of the like equipments. Note that image data used in generating image data with VDP is read from the memory card 53 and contained in a game program stored in RAM 43.
The Bill validator 22 not only discriminates a true note from a false note, but also accepts the true note into the cabinet 11. The Bill validator 22, when accepting a true note, outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41 based on a face amount of the note. The main CPU 41 stores the number of credits corresponding to the amount of the note transmitted with the input signal.
The ticket printer 35, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, prints on a ticket a bar code obtained by encoding data such as the number of credits, date and time, the identification number of the slot machine 10, and of the like data stored in RAM 43, and outputs the ticket 39 with a bar code.
The card reader 36 transmits to the main CPU 41 data read from the smart card and writes data onto the smart card based on a control signal from the main CPU 41. The key switch 38S is provided on the keypad 38, and when the keypad 38 is operated by a player, outputs a predetermined input signal to the main CPU 41. The data display 37 displays, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, data read by the card reader 36 and data input by a player through the key pad 38.
The control panel 20, a reverter 21S, a coin counter 21C and a cold cathode tube 81 are connected to the door PCB 80. The control panel 20 is provided with a spin switch 23 s corresponding to the spin button 23, a change switch 24S corresponding to the change button 24, a CASHOUT switch 25S corresponding to the CASHOUT button 25, a 1-BET switch 26S corresponding to the 1-BET button 26, and a maximum BET switch 27S corresponding to the maximum BET button 27. When the buttons 23 to 27 are operated by a player, each of the switches 23S to 27S corresponding thereto outputs input signals to the main CPU 41.
The coin counter 21C is installed inside the coin receiving slot 21, and discriminates whether a coin inserted by a player into the coin receiving slot 21 is true or false. Coins other than the true ones are discharged from the coin payout exit 19. The coin counter 21C also outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41 when a true coin is detected.
The reverter 21S operates based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41 and distributes coins recognized by the coin counter 21C as true coins into a cash box (not shown in the figure) or the hopper 66, which are disposed in the slot machine 10. In other words, when the hopper 66 is filled with coins, true coins are distributed into the cash box. On the other hand, when the hopper 66 is not filled with coins, true coins are distributed into the hopper 66. The cold cathode tube 81 works as a backlight installed on the back face sides of the lower image display panel 16 and the upper image display panel 33 and is lit up based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41.
Next, description will be given of a processing performed in the slot machine 10.
The main CPU 41 reads and executes the game program to such that a game is progressed.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a game execution processing.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating exemplary display of scatter symbols arranged on the lower image display panel in the slot machine.
In the game execution processing, the main CPU 41 at first determines whether or not a coin is BET (step S10). In the processing, the main CPU 41 determines whether an input signal output from the 1-BET switch 26S or the maximum BET switch 27S has been received or not when the 1-BET button 26 or the maximum BET button 27 is operated, respectively. If it is determined that a coin has not been BET, the process returns to step S10.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that a coin is BET, the main CPU 41 conducts a processing for subtracting the number of credits stored in RAM 43 according to the number of BET coins (step S11). In a case where the number of BET coins is more than the number of credits stored in RAM 43, the process returns to step S10 without conducting subtraction on the number of credits stored in RAM 43. In a case where the number of BET coins exceeds the upper limit (50 coins in the present embodiment) up to which a BET is possible in one game, the process advances to step S12 without conducting a processing for subtracting the number of BET coins from the number of credits stored in RAM 43.
The main CPU 41 determines in step S12 whether the spin button 23 has been turned ON or not. In the processing, the main CPU 41 determines, when the spin button 23 is pressed, whether an input signal output from the spin switch 23S has been received or not.
If it is determined that the spin button 23 has not been turned ON, the process returns to step S10. Note that in a case where the spin button has not been turned ON (for example, in a case where a command of terminating a game has been input without turning ON the spin button 23), the main CPU 41 cancels a result of the subtracting processing in step S11.
On the other hand, if the main CPU 41 determines, at the step S12, that the spin button 23 has been pushed, the main CPU 41 conducts symbol determination processing (step S13). In the symbol determination processing, the main CPU 41 executes a symbol determination program stored in the RAM 43 to determine the code Nos. at the time of stopping of symbols. This processing will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. Further, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case where the symbols to be stop-displayed are determined to determine one or more prizes from plural types of prizes. However, in the present invention, for example, one or more prizes to be selected can be determined out of plural types of prizes and, thereafter, a combination of symbols to be stop-displayed can be determined based on the aforementioned prize.
Next, at a step S14, the main CPU 41 conducts background-color determination processing. In this processing, the main CPU 41 determines the background colors of the respective display blocks 28 at random and displays the determined background colors in the respective display blocks 28. FIG. 8A illustrates a state where the display blocks 28 a, 28 b, 28 d, 28 e, 28 g, 28 h, 28 j, 28 n and 28 o have a red background color, while the other display blocks 28 have a white background color.
Next, the main CPU 41 (the arrangement controller) conducts scroll-display control processing (step S15). This processing is processing for controlling the display such that the symbols determined at the step S14 are stop-displayed after the start of scrolling of symbols.
Next, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a bonus game trigger has been established, namely whether or not “APPLEs” have been stop-displayed along the winning line L (step S16). If the main CPU 41 determines that a bonus game trigger has been established, then the main CPU 41 reads, from the RAM 43, a program for executing a bonus game and executes bonus game processing (step S17) and ends the present subroutine. The bonus game processing will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 12.
If the main CPU 41 determines that no bonus game trigger has been established (step S16: No), the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a combination prize has been established (step S20). If the main CPU 41 determines that a combination prize has been established, the main CPU 41 stores, in the RAM 43, a number of coins to be paid out which corresponds to the number of inserted coins and the combination prize (see FIG. 10) (step S21).
If no combination prize has been established (step S20: No) or after the processing at the step S21, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a scatter prize has been established (step S22). If the main CPU 41 determines that a scatter prize has been established, the main CPU 41 (the payout controller) stores, in the RAM 43, a number of coins to be paid out which corresponds to the number of inserted coins and the scatter prize (see FIG. 11) (step S23).
After the processing at the step S23, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not there are scatter symbols with a red background color (step S24). If the main CPU 41 determines that there exist scatter symbols with a red background color, the main CPU 41 (the payout controller) stores, in the RAM 43, an additional number of coins to be paid out which corresponds to the number of the scatter symbols with the red background color (step S25).
If it is determined, at the step S22, that no scatter prize has been established, if it is determined, at the step S24, that there is no scatter symbol with a red background color or after the processing at the step S25, the main CPU 41 sums the numbers of coins to be paid out stored in the RAM 43, then pays out a number of coins which corresponds to the resultant sum (step S26) and ends the present subroutine.
FIG. 8B illustrates a state where 15 symbols have been stopped (rearranged) along five columns and three rows, after the scrolling is stopped thereafter. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, five scatter symbols are stop-displayed on the lower image display panel 16 and, there among, the scatter symbols stop-displayed on the display blocks 28 a, 28 d and 28 f have a red background color. Accordingly, there are three scatter symbols with a red background color and, therefore, 30 additional coins corresponding to the three scatter symbols with the red background color (see FIG. 11) are paid out, in addition to 20 coins corresponding to the number of displayed scatter symbols (see FIG. 2).
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a symbol determination processing called and executed in step S13 of the subroutine shown in FIG. 7. The processing is a processing conducted by executing a symbol determination program stored in RAM 43 with the main CPU 41. The main CPU 41 executes a random number generating program included in the symbol determination program, and a random number value from the numerical value range of 0 to 255 is selected thereby such that each of the selected random number values correspond to each of the symbol sequences (step S31). In the present embodiment, description will be given of a case where random numbers are generated on a program (a case where so-called software random numbers are used). In the present invention, however, a random number generator may be used, and random numbers may be extracted therefrom (so-called hardware random numbers may be used).
Then, the main CPU 41 determines, based on the selected five random number values, code Nos. (see FIG. 5) for each of the symbol sequences (step S32). The code Nos. of the symbol sequences correspond to code Nos. of the symbols stop displayed along the winning line L. The main CPU 41 determines code Nos. of the symbol sequences to thereby determine a prize. For example, in a case where code Nos. of the symbol sequences are determined “00”, “00”, “00”, “00” and “00”, it means that the main CPU 41 determined a prize as “JACKPOT 7”.
Hereinafter, there will be described prizes according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the relationship between plural types of combination prizes and numbers of coins to be paid out.
If five “APPLE” symbols are stop-displayed along the winning line L and, thus, winning of a bonus game trigger occurs, this causes a bonus game. In a bonus game, a free game is executed a predetermined number of times, based on random numbers resulted from the execution of a random-number generation program included in the symbol determination program.
Also, if five “JACKPOT7” symbols are stop-displayed along the winning line L, then 30 coins are paid out per single inserted coin. Similarly, if five “BLUE7s”, “BELLs”, “STRAWBERRYs”, “PLUMs”, “CHERRYs” or “ORANGEs” are stop-displayed along the winning line L, a number of coins which corresponds to the corresponding one of the respective combination prizes are paid out.
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the relationship between plural types of scatter prizes and numbers of coins to be paid out.
If three “SCATTER” symbols are displayed on the lower image display panel 16, then five coins are paid out per single inserted coin. If four “SCATTER” symbols are displayed on the lower image display panel 16, then ten coins are paid out per single inserted coin. If five “SCATTER” symbols are displayed on the lower image display panel 16, then 20 coins are paid out per single inserted coin. If the displayed symbols do not correspond to any of the prizes illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, this means no-hit and no coin is paid out.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a bonus game processing called and executed in step S17 of the subroutine shown in FIG. 7. In the bonus game processing, firstly, the main CPU 41 determines a number T of bonus games from 10 to 25 games, based on a random number value obtained by executing a random number generation program included in a symbol determination program stored in RAM 43 (step S60). The main CPU 41 stores as data into RAM 43 the number of games of the determined bonus games.
Subsequently, the main CPU 41 conducts symbol determination processing (step S61), background-color determination processing (step S62) and scroll-display control processing (step S63). The processing at the steps S61 to S63 is substantially the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 7. This processing has been already described and description thereof is omitted herein.
Next, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a bonus trigger has been established, namely whether or not “APPLEs” have been stop-displayed along the winning line L (step S64). If it is determined that the bonus game trigger has been established, the number t of additional games of the bonus game is determined (step S65) and the determined number t of additional games is added to the number T of games of the bonus game (step S66). Thus, when a bonus game is hit during the bonus game, a remaining number of bonus games increases. More specifically, for example, in a case where a gaming state shifts to 20 bonus games for the first time, and hits 17 bonus games upon conducting 12 of the bonus games, another 25 bonus games (20 bonus games−12 bonus games+17 bonus games) are to be conducted.
If no bonus game trigger has been established at the step S64, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a combination prize has been established (step S80). The processing at the steps S80 to S86 is substantially the same as the processing at the steps S20 to S26 which has been already described, and description thereof is omitted herein.
If the processing at the step S66 has been executed, if it is determined at the step S84 that there is no scatter symbol with a red background color or if the processing at the step S86 has been executed, the main CPU 41 reads out the number of bonus games T stored in the RAM 43 and subtracts, by one, the number of games T read out therefrom. Then, the main CPU 41 stores the subtracted number of games T in the RAM 43, again (step S69).
Then, the main CPU 41 determines whether the number T of bonus games reaches the number of games determined in step S60 or not (step S70). More specifically, it is determined whether the number T of games stored in RAM 43 has become 0 or not, and if the number T of games is not 0, that is, if it is determined that the number of bonus games played does not reach the number of games which were determined in step S60, the process returns to step S61 and the above-mentioned processing is repeated. On the other hand, if the number T of games is 0, that is, if it is determined that the number T of games has reached the number of games which were determined in step S60, the present subroutine is completed thereafter.
As described above, in the slot machine 10 and the playing method thereof according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of symbols arranged on the lower image display panel 16 (display) are automatically rearranged, the background colors of symbols in the respective display blocks 28 are determined and displayed on the lower image display panel 16. When symbols are rearranged thereafter, a number of coins corresponding to the number of scatter symbols displayed on the lower image display panel 16 are paid out, and also a number of coins corresponding to the number of scatter symbols having a red background color displayed on the lower image display panel 16 are paid out.
Although the embodiment according to the present invention has been described, the description presents only some of the specific examples, and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way and specific constructions of each means and the like can be properly changed in terms of design. Besides, the effects described in the embodiment of the present invention are only the most preferable effects generated from the present invention and effects to be caused by the present invention is not limited to those described in the embodiment of the present invention.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof aforementioned may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that described above and which formed the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, above explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the aforementioned description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other systems and methods for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The detailed descriptions aforementioned may be presented in terms of program procedures executed on a computer or network of computers. These procedural descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.
A procedure is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. These steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared and otherwise manipulated. It proves convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. It should be noted, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.
Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to in terms, such as adding or comparing, which are commonly associated with mental operations performed by a human operator. No such capability of a human operator is necessary, or desirable in most cases, in any of the operations described herein which form part of the present invention; the operations are machine and/or manual operations. Useful machines for performing the operation of the present invention include general purpose digital computers or similar devices.
The present invention also relates to apparatus for performing these operations. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purpose or it may comprise a general purpose computer as selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. The procedures presented herein are not inherently related to a particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove more convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these machines will appear from the description given.

Claims

1. A slot machine comprising:

a display to which a plurality of symbols are arranged; and

a controller which conducts a paying out of a game medium, according to the number and positions of scatter symbols displayed to said display, when the plurality of symbols arranged to said display are automatically rearranged.

2. The slot machine according to claim 1,

wherein

said controller determines a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displays the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display, and

conducts, after rearranging the plurality of symbols, the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display.

3. The slot machine according to claim 1,

wherein

said controller determines a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displays the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display,

determines, after rearranging the plurality of symbols, a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display,

determines a ratio according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display, and

conducts the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.

4. The slot machine according to claim 1,

wherein

said controller displays to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols, and

conducts the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after rearranging said plurality of symbols, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.

5. A slot machine comprising:

a display for arranging a plurality of symbols;

an arrangement controller for conducting control for automatically rearranging the plural symbols arranged to said display;

a display control controller for determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display, and

a payout controller for conducting, after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display.

6. A slot machine comprising:

a display for arranging a plurality of symbols;

a payout controller for determining, after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display, determining a ratio according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display, and conducting the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.

7. A slot machine comprising:

a display for arranging a plurality of symbols;

a display control controller for displaying to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols, and

a payout controller for conducting the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after said arrangement controller rearranges the symbols, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.

8. A slot machine comprising:

a display to which a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows is arranged;

an arrangement controller which conducts arrangement control for selecting symbols from a plurality of types of symbols to determine the symbols to be arranged in said symbol matrix and stopping a state of scrolling at the position of the determined symbols, in order to rearrange a plurality of symbols arranged to said display as a new symbol matrix after scrolling of the plurality of symbols;

9. A slot machine comprising:

10. A slot machine comprising:

11. A playing method of a slot machine comprising:

a step of paying out of a game medium, according to the number and positions of scatter symbols displayed to the display, when the plurality of symbols arranged to the display are automatically rearranged.

12. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 11,

further comprising:

a step of determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display,

wherein said step of paying out includes conducting, after rearranging the plurality of symbols, the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display.

13. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 11,

further comprising:

wherein said step of paying out includes determining, after rearranging the plurality of symbols, a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to the display, determining a ratio according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to the display, and conducting the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.

14. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 11,

further comprising:

a step of displaying to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols,

wherein said step of paying out includes conducting the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after rearranging said plurality of symbols, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.

15. A playing method of a slot machine

comprising the steps of:

conducting control for automatically rearranging a plurality of symbols arranged to a display;

determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols to said display; and

conducting, after rearranging the symbols, the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to said display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to said display.

16. A playing method of a slot machine

comprising the steps of:

determining, after rearranging the symbols, a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to said display, determining a ratio according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to said display, and conducting the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.

17. A playing method of a slot machine

comprising the steps of:

displaying to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas when automatically rearranging the plurality of symbols; and

conducting the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after rearranging the symbols, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.

18. A playing method of a slot machine which repeats a unit game that is started by starting scrolling display of a plurality of symbols arranged to a display and is completed by stopping the scrolling display to rearrange said plurality of symbols

comprising the steps of:

stopping automatically said scrolling display of the symbols;

determining a background color within a display block of each of said symbols and displaying the determined color to said display, until the scrolling display of said symbols is automatically stopped; and

conducting the paying out of a game medium according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to said display and also paying out of the game medium according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to said display, after the symbols are automatically stopped.

19. A playing method of a slot machine which repeats a unit game that is started by starting scrolling display of a plurality of symbols arranged to a display and is completed by stopping the scrolling display to rearrange said plurality of symbols,

comprising the steps of:

stopping automatically said scrolling display of the symbols;

determining a basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed to said display after the symbols are automatically stopped, determining a ratio according to the number of scatter symbols having a predetermined background color displayed to said display, and conducting the paying out of a game medium, the number of game media to be paid out determined based on said basic number accounting for the number of paid-out game media and on said ratio.

20. A playing method of a slot machine which repeats a unit game that is started by starting scrolling display of a plurality of symbols arranged to a display and is completed by stopping the scrolling display to rearrange said plurality of symbols,

comprising the steps of:

stopping automatically said scrolling display of the symbols;

displaying to a front surface of said display an image indicating a plurality of predetermined areas, until the scrolling display of said symbols is automatically stopped; and

conducting the paying out of a game medium when the scatter symbols are displayed within said areas after the symbols are automatically stopped, the number of game media to be paid out corresponding to the total number of paid-out game media determined for each of the areas to which the respective scatter symbols are displayed.