AU2002301067B2 - Method and apparatus for gaming scatter feature - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for gaming scatter feature Download PDFInfo
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- AU2002301067B2 AU2002301067B2 AU2002301067A AU2002301067A AU2002301067B2 AU 2002301067 B2 AU2002301067 B2 AU 2002301067B2 AU 2002301067 A AU2002301067 A AU 2002301067A AU 2002301067 A AU2002301067 A AU 2002301067A AU 2002301067 B2 AU2002301067 B2 AU 2002301067B2
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Description
P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2(2)
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAMING SCATTER FEATURE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAMING SCATTER FEATURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a scatter feature on a reel type gaming machine BACKGROUND ART Slot and poker machines have long been known and many variations in both their physical characteristics and game types playable have been developed.
Such machines generally include a plurality of parallel reels, either physical or electronically simulated, having a plurality of faces on which symbols are disposed. The reels rotate upon actuation of a gaming cycle and are stopped in predetermined possible positions exposing, for example, three symbols vertically per reel such that the upper, middle and lower symbols of respective faces of each reel coincide to form a vertical line and the result of which is to display an array of symbols for each gaming cycle.
In the art, it is known to provide pay combinations for the appearance of a predetermined number of symbols across one pay line of the array of symbols displayed. Gaming machines have become more sophisticated and the maximum number of pay lines playable during a gaming cycle on a typical gaming machine can exceed 15. Essentially, each one line is defined by forming a continuous line from a predetermined face on, for example, the left reel to a predetermined face on the right reel. An example is illustrated schematically in Fig. 1 showing eight possible lines playable during a gaming cycle.
Prizes are awarded to players at the conclusion of a gaming cycle corresponding to the symbols in each pay line meeting set criteria. Gaming machines may now have five or six playing reels, and accordingly more possible pay lines per gaming cycle.
Gaming machines also provide gaming cycles having pay functions in addition to predetermined numbers of symbols appearing on a given line. For example, symbols on some lines may substitute for the same or other symbols on other lines in the determination of a win amount.
Although attracting more users to the gaming machines, the number of possible pay combinations can be relatively large. It can be the case that a user can not reasonably assess the appearance of all symbols across all lines in determining if a prize is due in the normal play of a gaming machine. That is, it can take a player an excessively long time to assess the outcome of each line at the conclusion of a gaming cycle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new game feature which is attractive to players.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of playing a gaming cycle on a gaming machine having multiple rotatable reels, including the steps of providing N elements on a visual display of the machine, said N elements corresponding to the exposed faces on said reels, the elements configured to provide any of a predetermined number of symbols upon actuation of a gaming cycle such that a win pay out is provided to a user based solely upon the number of times one or more predetermined symbols appears anywhere in the N elements, without reference to columns or lines.
Preferably, the N elements are disposed so as to display an X by Y rectangular array. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the displayed X by Y array is 3 rows by 5 columns wide.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a reel-type gaming machine including a visual display for displaying N elements, said N elements corresponding to the exposed faces on multiple rotatable reels, wherein upon beginning a gaming cycle, each of the N elements displays one of a predetermined number of symbols such that the machine provides a win pay out if a predetermined type of each symbol appears anywhere in the N elements a predetermined number of times, without reference to rows or columns.
Preferably, the machine includes the N elements disposed in an array of X rows by Y columns.
The present invention provides a game in which the concept of lines is not relevant or required. Accordingly, the symbols could be in any desired arrangement, eg staggered lines, or other geometries as displayed on the screen.
In a simple implement action, only one type of symbol may provide win combinations. Alternatively, two or more could provide winning multiples in parallel. Freeing up the possibilities for winning combinations serves to provide greater freedom for game styles for the game designer.
It will be apparent that the present invention could be used in a game along with conventional paylines, to provide an additional game feature, or could be the sole feature.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 4 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the output of a gaming machine having eight lines of play; and Figure 2 is a schematic output of a gaming machine employing a method in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figure 2, there is schematically illustrated a display output 1 of a gaming machine in the form of an electronic simulated poker machine. The machine includes five simulated independent rotatable reels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 which are disposed substantially parallel to each other.
Each reel includes, in this example, twenty displayable faces of which three are displayable at any one time, however, in other embodiments it may include more or less faces, and each face displays one of a set of symbols.
When a gaming cycle is actuated, for example by means of a button (not illustrated), the reels are rotated either a predetermined or random number of times such that when they come to rest, three faces from each reel, for example, 7, 8 and 9 are displayed substantially vertically with respect to each other. This provides a resulting display having 15 elements, for example of the type denoted by reference numerals 7, 8 and 9. The gaming cycle is actuated.
Also illustrated in Fig.2 is a credit meter 10 indicative of the amount of funds available for wagering during a gaming cycle, a wager multiplier 11 labelled "BET" is also provided for multiplying the minimum wager amount by a predetermined integer. In the example illustrated, this multiplying amount is a factor of 1 times the minimum wager per gaming cycle. An indicator labelled "WIN" 12 is also provided for displaying a total amount won on the previous gaming cycle.
In the illustration of Figure 2, a blank face 14 corresponds to any one of a predetermined number of symbols and the symbol 13 is, for illustration purposes, the only symbol on which the machine will pay out on its appearance a predetermined number of times on the display at the conclusion of the gaming cycle.
The table below illustrates what the gaming machine considers a win pay out at the conclusion of a gaming cycle wherein the pay out is proportional solely to the number of times the symbol 13 appears on each of the displayed faces.
NUMBER OF TIMES THE SYMBOL USER "WIN" AMOUNT APPEARS ON THE DISPLAY MULTIPLE OF WAGER AMOUNT or less Nil 6 1 7 2 8 4 9 8 16 11 32 12 64 14 128 256 Therefore, actuating a gaming cycle to provide a combination of symbols as illustrated in Fig. 2 will provide a win pay out of two times the amount wagered on the cycle.
In alternative embodiments, the win amounts are not multiples of the wagered amount but predetermined amount of credits. Similarly, the win 6 amounts could only be greater than zero for the appearance of 8 or more of the predetermined symbols on the display or even by the appearance of one of the symbols.
In other embodiments of the invention not illustrated, a win pay out also exists for the appearance of a predetermined number of a second type of symbol, for example, in addition to the pay out corresponding to the number of appearances of the symbol.
The game played during each gaming cycle is therefore independent of traditional lines of play and a user can simply observe the appearance of symbols on the faces of the reels to assess the pay out status the displayed symbols rather than also examining their respective orientations.
Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
Claims (8)
1. A method of playing a gaming cycle on a gaming machine having multiple rotatable reels, including the steps of providing N elements on a visual display of the machine, said N elements corresponding to the exposed faces on said reels, the elements configured to provide any of a predetermined number of symbols Iupon actuation of a gaming cycle such that a win pay out is provided to a user O Sbased solely upon the number of times one or more predetermined symbols C appears anywhere in the N elements, without reference to columns or lines.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the N elements are disposed so as to display an X by Y rectangular array.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the X by Y rectangular array is 3 rows by 5 columns wide.
4. A reel-type gaming machine including a visual display for displaying N elements, said N elements corresponding to the exposed faces on multiple rotatable reels, wherein upon beginning a gaming cycle, each of the N elements displays one of a predetermined number of symbols such that the machine provides a win pay out if a predetermined type of each symbol appears anywhere in the N elements a predetermined number of times, without reference to rows or columns.
5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the N elements are disposed in an array of X rows by Y columns.
6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the array is 3 rows by columns.
7. A method of playing a gaming cycle on a gaming machine having multiple rotatable reels substantially as herein described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 8
8. A reel-type gaming machine substantially as herein described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. STARGAMES CORPORATION PTY LIMITED WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P19374AU00
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2002301067A AU2002301067B2 (en) | 2001-09-17 | 2002-09-17 | Method and apparatus for gaming scatter feature |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPR7681 | 2001-09-17 | ||
| AUPR768101 | 2001-09-17 | ||
| AU2002301067A AU2002301067B2 (en) | 2001-09-17 | 2002-09-17 | Method and apparatus for gaming scatter feature |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2002301067A1 AU2002301067A1 (en) | 2003-06-12 |
| AU2002301067B2 true AU2002301067B2 (en) | 2007-06-07 |
Family
ID=38157842
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2002301067A Ceased AU2002301067B2 (en) | 2001-09-17 | 2002-09-17 | Method and apparatus for gaming scatter feature |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2002301067B2 (en) |
Cited By (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7690984B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2010-04-06 | Konami Australia Pty Ltd. | Feature game with random population feature |
| US7850520B2 (en) | 2005-04-26 | 2010-12-14 | Konami Australia Pty. Ltd. | Gaming machine with multiple reel matrix |
| US7878903B2 (en) | 2005-07-12 | 2011-02-01 | Konami Australia Pty Ltd | Method and gaming machine for symbol enhancement using a semi-transparent overlay |
| US8251796B2 (en) | 2008-05-02 | 2012-08-28 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming including a display device of generally diamond shaped configuration |
| US8366540B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2013-02-05 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with runs of consecutive identical symbols |
| US8545322B2 (en) | 2001-09-28 | 2013-10-01 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with proximity sensing touchless display |
| US9011237B2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2015-04-21 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
| US9361763B1 (en) | 2012-09-28 | 2016-06-07 | Bally Gaming, Inc. | Wagering game having reels with dynamic growing-symbol feature |
| US9520016B2 (en) | 2013-10-11 | 2016-12-13 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having reel overlays |
| US9728049B2 (en) | 2013-10-11 | 2017-08-08 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having multiple reel sets |
| US10147281B2 (en) | 2014-07-24 | 2018-12-04 | Igt | Gaming system and method having matching symbol stacks and additional award opportunities |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH11309257A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 1999-11-09 | Sankyo Kk | Game machine |
-
2002
- 2002-09-17 AU AU2002301067A patent/AU2002301067B2/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH11309257A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 1999-11-09 | Sankyo Kk | Game machine |
Cited By (27)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8545322B2 (en) | 2001-09-28 | 2013-10-01 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with proximity sensing touchless display |
| US9452351B2 (en) | 2001-09-28 | 2016-09-27 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with proximity sensing touchless display |
| US9208655B2 (en) | 2003-04-30 | 2015-12-08 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine and methods of allowing a player to play gaming machines having synchronized symbols |
| US8616955B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2013-12-31 | Konami Games, Inc. | Gaming machine with runs of symbols populated with identical symbols during spinning of reels |
| US8366540B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2013-02-05 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with runs of consecutive identical symbols |
| US10529173B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2020-01-07 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with runs of symbols |
| US7690984B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2010-04-06 | Konami Australia Pty Ltd. | Feature game with random population feature |
| US8622810B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2014-01-07 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with replacement of runs of symbols containing identical symbols with new identical symbols |
| US8628401B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2014-01-14 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine replacing runs of symbols with identical symbols |
| US8641508B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2014-02-04 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine which determines a quantity of runs of symbols on a reel or a number of symbol positions in a run of symbols |
| US10169951B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2019-01-01 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with runs of symbols |
| US9199162B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2015-12-01 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with runs of symbols |
| US10102708B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2018-10-16 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with runs of symbols |
| US9619960B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2017-04-11 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | Gaming machine with runs of symbols |
| US7850520B2 (en) | 2005-04-26 | 2010-12-14 | Konami Australia Pty. Ltd. | Gaming machine with multiple reel matrix |
| US7878903B2 (en) | 2005-07-12 | 2011-02-01 | Konami Australia Pty Ltd | Method and gaming machine for symbol enhancement using a semi-transparent overlay |
| US9501906B2 (en) | 2008-05-02 | 2016-11-22 | Aristocrat Technologies Autralia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
| US8251796B2 (en) | 2008-05-02 | 2012-08-28 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming including a display device of generally diamond shaped configuration |
| US9011237B2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2015-04-21 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
| US9361763B1 (en) | 2012-09-28 | 2016-06-07 | Bally Gaming, Inc. | Wagering game having reels with dynamic growing-symbol feature |
| US11107331B2 (en) | 2012-09-28 | 2021-08-31 | Sg Gaming, Inc. | Wagering game having reels with dynamic growing-symbol feature |
| US9520016B2 (en) | 2013-10-11 | 2016-12-13 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having reel overlays |
| US9728049B2 (en) | 2013-10-11 | 2017-08-08 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having multiple reel sets |
| US9911268B2 (en) | 2013-10-11 | 2018-03-06 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having reel overlays |
| US10290188B2 (en) | 2013-10-11 | 2019-05-14 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having multiple reel sets |
| US10839654B2 (en) | 2013-10-11 | 2020-11-17 | Konami Gaming, Inc. | System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having multiple reel sets |
| US10147281B2 (en) | 2014-07-24 | 2018-12-04 | Igt | Gaming system and method having matching symbol stacks and additional award opportunities |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| DA3 | Amendments made section 104 |
Free format text: THE NATURE OF THE AMENDMENT IS: AMEND THE NAME OF THE APPLICANT FROM STARGAMES CORPORATION LIMITED TO STARGAMES CORPORATION PTY LIMITED. |
|
| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) | ||
| MK14 | Patent ceased section 143(a) (annual fees not paid) or expired |