WO2003009240A1 - Entertainment machines - Google Patents

Abstract

An entertainment machine has a main symbol selector in the form of rotatable reels (9), and supplementary feature games, such as a trail game (17) or a gamble ladder (23). When a successful outcome is obtained in a supplementary feature game the player may be given the opportunity of selecting an award from a range of awards. The awards may be listed in different columns (30-33) such that, by pressing a selected button (25-27), the player can choose which column to obtain the award from. All columns then index to make the next listed awards available for subsequent selection. The awards may correspond to elements (33) in the columns (30-33) which are arranged in groups of different numbers of like elements. Grouped elements can be selected together so that the value of the award is determined by the number of elements in the group.

Description

ENTERTAINMENT MACHINES

This invention relates to player-operable entertainment machines,

particularly coin-operated amusement with prizes (AWP) machines, such

as "fruit" or "poker" machines, of the kind having a main display device

operable in play of a main game for displaying a selected combination of

symbols at a win zone. As used herein the term coin is intended also to

cover tokens, charge or credit cards or any other means of supplying

credit or monetary value.

The main display device of a fruit machine may comprise multiple

side-by-side reels (actual or simulated) which are rotatable about a

common horizontal axis within a housing behind a window at the win

zone. Each reel has symbols at equally spaced positions around its

periphery and the reels can be brought to rest with one symbol on each

reel displayed through the window on a win line.

If the displayed combination of symbols constitutes a

predetermined winning combination an award may be made available to

the player.

It is well known to provide a supplementary play feature in the

form of a 'feature game' which can be used to enhance the entertainment

value of the machine and provide additional or alternative opportunities

for winning.

In particular, it is known to provide a panel having sections which

can be selectively illuminated to represent movement from location to location along a trail, particularly along a wraparound trail, which may

simulate the playing of a board game.

Play is transferred from the main reels to the trail of the feature

game on a random or predetermined basis and illumination of the panel

sections may then be effected by, or in correspondence with, a rotatable

subsidiary feature reel, or otherwise, representing the spin of a reel or roll

of a dice or other selection.

Awards or award possibilities may be made available to the player

in dependence on the location of the trail to which play has progressed,

which awards may be cash prizes, feature awards (such as 'nudges' or

"holds') or mystery outcomes which may be a bonus or play termination

applied to the feature game, or otherwise.

Other supplementary play features, which provide the player with a

different or supplementary opportunity of winning an award are also well

known. In particular it is known to provide a gamble feature whereby the

player operates a control selectively to try to anticipate an event which is

not predeterminable, or not readily predeterminable by the player, e.g.

which occurs randomly or pseudo randomly or too quickly to be properly

observed by the player. For example, the player may operate buttons to

indicate whether the next spin of a reel bearing the numbers 1 -12 will

produce a number higher or lower than a number currently shown. This

play feature may be progressive in that repeated gambles are available

until the player loses, or some other limitation is reached. A correct guess may advance a designated prize stack e.g. a stack of nudges or

features, or cash prizes, etc.

These known supplementary play features are usually provided in

association with the main game although they may also be made available

as an alternative to the main game as described in GB 2349494A.

Hitherto, the arrangement has been such that the award made

available to the player as the consequence of a successful event in a

supplementary play feature is predetermined by the machine. This limits

player involvement and entertainment value.

An object of the present invention is to provide enhanced

possibilities for player entertainment derived from supplementary play

features.

According to the invention therefore there is provided an

entertainment machine having a main display device for use in playing a

main game, and at least one supplementary play feature arranged to make

awards available on the occurrence of successful events, characterised by

the provision of an award selection device having a player control which

can be operated by the player to select an award from a range of said

awards in correspondence with at least one said successful event

occurrence.

With this arrangement enhanced opportunities for player

entertainment arise in so far as the player is involved interactively in the

selection of awards. The award selection device may be operable on all occasions

following occurrence of all successful events. That is, the supplementary

play feature may have a plurality of said successful events all of which

initiate or permit usage of the said award selection device. Alternatively

only some of the said events may initiate or permit such usage, other

events resulting in awards or actions being made directly available i.e

without usage of the award selection device.

In the case of a feature game having a trail, such as a wraparound

trail with sections whereby play can progress from section to section, the

award selection device may be operable when play progresses to at least

one said section, and such section (or sections) may be identified e.g.

with a special symbol or wording to indicate usage of the award selection

device. The or each other section which is not so identified may be a

conventional award/action section.

In the case of a gamble feature with which operation of a player

control resulting in a correct gamble outcome gives rise to an increased

award the arrangement may be such that the award selection device is

operable when at least one said correct gamble outcome is achieved, and

every correct gamble or only certain correct gambles may correspond to

usage of the award selection device.

Alternatively the award selection device may be operable on only

some occasions as determined on a machine-determined predictable,

random or pseudo random basis. The selectable awards are preferably provided in one or more

sequences whereby, after selection of an award from the (or one)

sequence, a different award, e.g. the next award in the respective

sequence, is made available for the next selection.

Preferably also some or all of the (or each) sequence is displayed to

the player, by indication on a display, so that the player can appreciate

the effect of an award selection from the respective sequence e.g. the

player can see what will be the next available award. The player can

therefore plan a strategy in deciding which awards to take which can

greatly increase the interactive nature of the game and hence the

entertainment value to the player. The player may be required to make an

award selection when appropriate, or the player may have the option of

declining an award selection whereby a default or fall back award may be

made.

The sequence of awards provides the said range from which the

player can select in successive opportunities. Preferably there are

multiple sequences from which awards are separately selectable whereby

such sequences provide the said range of awards from which the player

can select in one opportunity.

In a preferred embodiment the (or each) sequence is displayed as a

succession of award elements, whereby a selection made from that

sequence constitutes selection of one or more such elements at a

predetermined selection location or position in the succession e.g. at an end of the succession.

The (or each) selected award element may be removed from

display, at least at the said location, after selection, and the succession of

award elements may then move, e.g. stepwise from position to position,

to advance the next selectable award element (or elements) to the said

location.

The succession of award elements may be in the form of a column

or stack, whereby the said selection location may be at a bottom end of

the stack or column and the elements may drop down through one or

more positions to effect the aforesaid advancement.

In correspondence with said advancement, further award elements

may be added to the displayed succession and this may occur at an input

location or position remote from or opposite to the said selection location

e.g. at a top end of the above mentioned column or stack. Where two or

more award elements are selected and removed from display,

advancement may then occur correspondingly through two or more

positions, and a like number of further award elements may be added to

maintain constant the overall number of elements, although other

arrangements involving advancement through disparate numbers of

positions and/or reduction or increase in overall number are also possible.

The award elements may be arranged in the succession such that

groups of two or more adjacent like elements occur, and each element

represents an amount (e.g. a common unit) of award value. In this case, an entire such group can be selected when jt is displayed at the selection

location to make available to the player a total award value equal to the

sum of the award values of the individual like elements.

The elements are preferably defined by a display device capable of

displaying simultaneously a number of such elements being a portion of

the sequence thereof, and also capable of effecting or simulating

movement of such elements, preferably stepwise from position to

position, along the sequence to display a different portion.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the elements are defined by

regions of a display panel which can be differently illuminated, e.g. which

can be back illuminated in different colours, to indicate different award

types and/or values, and which illumination can be changed to simulate

movement from position to position (e.g. dropping) of the elements. The

regions may be of a common size and shape or may be different.

Alternatively the sequence of elements may be provided on the

periphery of a reel which can be stepped to bring different positions of

the sequence into view through a window; or a changeable video screen

display may be used, or other arrangement.

Preferably there are multiple said sequences (e.g. three) and the

award selection is effected by selection of one said sequence. Thus there

may be an individual control device for each sequence, such as a

respective press button, whereby the player chooses which of the control

devices to operate. In the case of multiple sequences, after selection of an award the

arrangement may be such that the next award is then made available in

each sequence, not just in the selected sequence. With this arrangement,

in the context of stacks or columns having elements which drop as

discussed above, the elements of all stacks or columns may drop after

selection through the same number of positions.

The supplementary play feature which is arranged to make the

awards available may be a feature game, or a gamble feature as described

above, or any other suitable supplementary feature or combination of

features.

The awards may be cash prizes, feature awards (such as 'nudges'

or holds, bonuses or any other suitable awards.

Awards may be given to the player in the usual way e.g. by payout

or transfer to accumulated credit value which may be stored on a meter

for use subsequently for further game play.

Most preferably the entertainment machine is a coin-operated

machine, such as an 'amusement with prizes' (AWP) machine particularly

of the fruit machine or poker machine kind, using actual (or simulated)

rotatable reels as mentioned above.

The invention will now be described further by way of example

only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of an

entertainment machine according to the invention; Figure 2 is a block circuit diagram of the machine; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic representation of a display

region of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a fruit machine having a

floor-standing box shaped housing 1 having a front wall which includes

upper and lower glass panels 2, 3, a number of operating buttons 5, 6,

24, 25, 26, 27, a coin slot 7 and a payout opening 8.

Within the housing 1 there are three axially aligned reels 9 having

say 20 symbols at regularly spaced positions around their peripheries.

The reels 9 are axially rotatable and are drivably connected to respective

stepper motors 10. The reels 9 are arranged behind a window 1 1 defined

by a printed region of the lower glass panel 3. Each reel 9 can be

arrested by the respective stepper motors 10 in any of 20 stopping

positions in which one symbol is in precise registration with a horizontal

win line in the centre of the window 1 1 and two further symbols are

visible above and below the win line.

The stepper motors 10 are connected to a microprocessor-based

control unit 12. This unit is also connected to a coin-mechanism 13, a

pay-out mechanism 14 and the buttons 5, 6, 24, 25, 26, 27.

In use, the player inserts coins into the coin mechanism 13 through

the slot 7 sufficient to generate credit for one or more games. The

amount of credit is shown on an LED or LCD display 22 and the machine

is actuated so that a main game can now be played. The main game commences after a start button 5 has been pressed and the reels 9 spin

and then come to rest so as to select a combination of symbols displayed

on the win line. The displayed symbol combination is assessed by the

control unit 1 2 and a win indication is given in the event that the

combination is of a predetermined winning nature.

The control buttons 6 can be used to perform 'hold' or 'nudge'

functions, when made available to the player, so that the player can seek

to influence the outcome of a game, in conventional manner by holding

one or more reels against rotation at the start of a main game or by

nudging one or more reels through one or more steps at the end of a main

game. An LED or LCD nudge meter 28 may be provided to indicate

nudge steps available.

The upper panel 2 is a transparent glass panel and within this there

is a printed display region 1 5, which can be back-illuminated with a bank

of lamps 16, and which provides a conventional supplementary feature

game.

As shown, this feature game comprises a wraparound trail 17

comprising a series of printed sections 17a marked with decoration,

information and symbols.

In the centre of the trail there is a printed window behind which an

auxiliary feature reel 20 is rotatable; The reel 20 has around its periphery

the numbers 1 to 12 corresponding to the values which can be selected

with two dice. The reel 20 can be rotated with a stepper motor 21 , controlled by the control system 12, and brought to rest with one of the

numbers shown through the window 19.

Play can progress around the trail 17 by successive back

illumination of the sections 17a simulating movement through a number

of steps corresponding to the number selected with the feature reel 20.

Play transfers to the trail 17 from the main game in the usual way

on a random or predetermined basis, e.g. when predetermined transfer

symbols on the main reels 9 are selected on the win line or otherwise.

The player can then operate the start button 5 or another feature

button to cause the feature reel 20 to rotate and select a number which

causes play to progress along the trail 17 to a selected section 17a at

which a symbol on the section 17a is back illuminated.

In the event that the main game results in a winning combination of

symbols on the win line 1 1 , and/or the feature game results in selection

of a winning section or sections 17a of the trail 17, a cash award may be

made available to the player and this may be paid out to the player or

credited to the meter 22 to be used for playing further games or to be

paid out on demand (e.g. with a payout button). On a random or pseudo

random basis the player may be given an opportunity of gambling the

cash award using a gamble ladder 23 and gamble button 24.

Some or all of the sections 17a on the trail 17 correspond to

awards or events. The awards may be cash prizes as mentioned above

which may be credited to the meter 22 or nudge steps which may be credited to the meter 28 or other prizes or bonuses which may be

awarded in any suitable manner. Other sections 1 7a correspond to

mystery actions which may be prizes or bonuses or which may constitute

termination of the feature game.

Several of the sections 17a are marked with special symbols or

wording, such as the wording Feature Grid. When play progresses to one

of these sections 1 7a play transfers to a back illuminated feature zone 29

of the upper panel 2.

This feature zone 29 consists of three side by side columns or

stacks 30, 31 , 32 respectively immediately above the three press buttons

25, 26, 27. These columns or stacks 30-32 are made up of individual

transparent or translucent regions 33 one above the other. The regions

33 are of a common shape and can be back illuminated by lamps 16a.

Each region 33 has four back illumination lamps respectively

coloured green, yellow, red and blue which are independently operable so

that each region 33 can be illuminated in a selected one or these colours.

Under the control of the control circuit 12, and as shown

diagrammatically in Figure 3, the lamps 16a are operated so that there are

groups of adjacent regions 33 having the same colour.

Each colour corresponds to a particular award type and/or value

which may be of the same kinds as the above mentioned awards on the

sections 17a and/or other awards. Coloured wording may be used which

is selectively illuminated to indicate the award types/values. Like colours may correspond to like award types and values. Thus, for example, a

yellow region may correspond to a single nudge step.

Figure 3a indicates by way of example a possible layout when play

has progressed to a Feature Grid section 17a on the trail 17. The player

has the option of pressing button 25, 26 or 27. If button 25 is pressed

an award corresponding to the lowermost group (i.e. the three yellow

regions 33) is delivered to the player, i.e. an award value equal to the

sum of the award values of the three yellow regions (e.g. three nudges).

The resulting award is made available to the player in the usual way as

discussed above.

The regions 33 of the stacks 30-32 then drop down to remove the

selected award from display. That is, in the case where the button 25

has been pressed, the illumination of the bulbs 16a changes so as to give

the impression that each region 33 has moved down by three positions,

and to give the impression that three new regions 33 have been

introduced at the tops of the stacks 30-32. Although the selection is

made on the stacks 30, the regions 33 of all three stacks 30-32 drop

down through the same number of positions. This results in the new

arrangement as shown in Figure 3b.

If instead the player presses button 26, one blue award region 33 is

selected and the regions 33 of the three stacks 30-32 drop down through

one position. If the player presses button 27 two red award regions 33

are selected and the regions 33 of the three stacks 30-32 drop down through two positions. Thus, it is the entire group of adjacent like

coloured regions 33 which is selected by the player and the stacks 30-32

are then all advanced stepwise through a number of positions equal to the

number of regions 33 of the selected group.

With this arrangement the player is interactively involved in

selecting awards rather than simply accepting the awards made available

by the machine.

This affords enhanced player entertainment and enables the player

to plan a strategy by deciding which award to select and hence which

award to make available for the next selection.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended

to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are

described by way of example only.

Thus for example alternatively or additionally to using a feature

game in conjunction with the feature region 29, a gamble feature may be

used for this purpose. Also, arrangements other than back-illumination

with coloured lamps 1 6a may be used to indicate movable sequences of

awards, such as a changeable video display or rotatable reels having the

regions on their peripheries.

Claims

1 . An entertainment machine having a main display device for use in

playing a main game, and at least one supplementary play feature

arranged to make awards available on the occurrence of successful

events, characterised by the provision of an award selection device

(29) having a player control (25-27) which can be operated by the

player to select an award from a range of said awards in

correspondence with at least one said successful event occurrence.

2. A machine according to claim 1 characterised in that the award

selection device (29) is operable on only some said events.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the supplementary

play feature comprises a trail (17) with sections (17a) whereby play

can progress from section to section along the trail characterised in

that the award selection device (29) is operable when play

progresses to at least one said section.

4. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the

supplementary play feature comprises a gamble feature (23)

whereby operation of a player control (24) resulting in a correct

gamble outcome gives rise to an increased award characterised in

that the award selection device (29) is operable when at least one

said correct gamble outcome is achieved.

5. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in

that the selectable awards are provided in at least one sequence (30-32) whereby after selection of an award in the sequence, the

next award in the respective sequence is made available for the

next selection.

6. A machine according to claim 5 characterised in that at least part

of the respective sequence is indicated on a display (30-32)

whereby the said next available award can be seen by the player.

7. A machine according to claim 5 or 6 characterised in that the

indicated part of the respective sequence is displayed as a

succession of award elements (33) and selection from that

sequence constitutes selection of at least one element at a

predetermined location in the succession.

8. A machine according to claim 7 characterised in that the

predetermined location is one end of the succession.

9. A machine according to claim 7 or 8 characterised in that after

selection of at least one element (33) the (or each) such element is

removed from the display and the respective succession moves to

advance the (or each) next selectable element to the said location.

10. A machine according to any one of claims 7 to 9 characterised in

that the respective succession of elements (33) is in the form of a

column and the said location is at a bottom end thereof.

1 1 . A machine according to any one of claims 7 to 10 characterised in

that the elements (33) are arranged in at least one group of

adjacent like elements each representing an amount of award value, the elements of such group being selectable together.

12. A machine according to any one of claims 7 to 1 1 characterised in

that the elements (33) are defined by regions of a display panel (2)

which can be back-illuminated with lamps (16a).

13. A machine according to any one of claims 5 to 12 characterised in

that there are multiple said sequences (30-32) and the player

control (25-27) is operable to select a respective said sequence

thereby to cause the award selection to be made.

14. A machine according to claim 13 characterised in that there is a

respective control (25-27) for each sequence (30-32).

15. A machine according to claim 1 3 or 14 characterised in that after

selection of one sequence (30-33) the next award is made available

for the next selection in all sequences (30-33).

16. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 15 which is a

coin-operated machine having actual or simulated rotatable reels.