AU2003100656A4 - Method for Symbol Triggering a Feature in Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

Description Field of the invention The present invention relates generally to gaming consoles, gaming machines or networked gaming machines and, more particularly, to gaming machines found in casinos or betting environments. In addition the present invention relates to a gaming method.

Background of the invention Gaming machines otherwise known as slot machines, poker machines, pokies or EGMs, have proven very popular and for many years have become one of the base elements of the gaming industry. Although there have been many adaptations used in gaming machines to encourage players to invest money in the chance to win substantial prizes, players quickly tier of games, requiring further stimulation to encourage interest. For this reason, game creators have to constantly enhance, highlight and generally further the entertainment value associated with the likelihood of winning money or other assorted prizes, so as to attract players to their particular machines.

Typically gaming machines of the spinning reels type, and more recently video simulations thereof, provide games where game outcomes display a number of reels with 3 symbol locations for each reel and the player wagers on a number of pay lines that typically include one symbol location per reel, and should a winning combination of symbols occur on a wagered pay line the machine issues an award. One such game is described in United States Patent US 5580053 published 21 December 1994 by Philip Crouch titled "Multi-line gaming machine". Further gaming machines of this type not only require symbol combinations to appear on pay lines but often symbols displayed must conform to pay rules in order to be eligible for an award. Such pay rules including combinations of symbols which offer an award if the symbols appear left to right with the first symbol in the left most reel. Thus a combination of symbols is entitled to a prize if all the symbols of the combination appear along a pay line and ordered according to pay rules. Commonly, gaming machines of this type usually offer up to 9 pay lines, and more recently up to 20 pay lines or even 50 pay lines.

Now days however, gaming developers aspire to create new and exciting games with various methods of introducing unique characteristics to compete for the players attention. As such, gaming machines rely on more than just base games with spinning reels to attract players. A common approach is to use feature games, also referred to as secondary games, as they usually provide both entertainment and additional chances at awards. Feature games may be random in outcome, though may also allow the player to be more proactive in winning an award, relying on skill or perceived skill so as to enhance enjoyment. A continuing problem however has been in finding a solution to an adequate triggering event for a feature game or bonus method that is new and novel, visually pleasing, whilst also satisfying the need for a simple and flexible mathematical alternative required when designing a game. Typically, specific combinations of symbols along pay lines, symbol combinations appearing scattered on the game outcome display, or even hidden random events (events that are not connected to the symbols selected as a game outcome) are used to trigger game features, however such systems do not allow the player to fully experience the excitement of triggering a feature, as they fail to provide a focal point for the player to identify trigger conditions, nor do they remove any complex mathematical systems required in tweaking odds of trigger conditions. As such, these trigger methods, constrain game design, and ultimately limit the enjoyment that games can potentially provide to a player.

The present invention discloses a novel and inventive trigger condition that provides a focal point for the player to concentrate on whilst watching a game outcome eventuating, allowing the player to experience a new, more exciting, diverse and fresh approach for triggering a game feature, whilst retaining a mathematically simple approach for game developers.

Summary of the invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, in its first broad form, the invention provides a gaming console comprising a display, a game controller, a stake selector, a plurality of reels containing symbols, a matrix of symbol locations for the display of at least a portion of said reel symbols on said display and a game initiation means where on initiation by the game initiation means the game controller selecting a plurality of symbols and displaying the selected symbols on said display in said matrix of symbol locations to produce a game outcome (each location of the matrix being normally occupied by one symbol, although a multiplicity of symbols occupying the same location would not depart from the spirit of the present invention) and awarding prizes according to game rules and the combination of symbols displayed in the said matrix. Often, such awards are based on the stakes wagered on winning combinations of symbols occurring along pay lines defining winning pay lines. Commonly the initial wagering would causes a game outcome to be displayed and after the awarding of any prizes due to combinations of symbols displayed, the game would require a new wager for the next game to take place, concluding in this way a single game play. These types of game plays are commonly referred to as base games. It is from base games that in recent times, to enhance the excitement of game plays, feature games have been introduced as extensions to the base game by means of various triggering conditions. Thus the base game is does not terminate but continues into a feature game where for example a feature game may contain free games being awarded to the player. However not all feature games are played automatically as an extension to a base game. Certain games require an additional wager for the feature game to be played. Such feature games are commonly referred to as bought feature games.

Commonly feature games offer enhanced odds with respect to base games and it is advantageous for a player to wager on bought feature games when compared to wagering on base games. Thus feature games (bought or not by extra wages) provide players with additional excitement and are often crucial in enticing a player to prefer one game over another. As an example, a trigger condition for feature games commonly used in the art, can be found in a set of symbols appearing on a pay line during the base game, or alternatively, a combination of symbols that appear as scatters. Feature games have proven to be a major attracting factor and it can be said that feature games are now expected by players as they often offer on average higher returns and wins than otherwise possible.

The disclosed invention satisfies the need to enhance player expectations and provide a form of play on gaming consoles by providing a new and novel feature game trigger method that can be used either as a main trigger condition for feature games, or as a trigger condition for a bonus game from an already triggered feature game, such as for example a digitised board game of some kind that can be accessed from within feature games.

The disclosed instant invention provides in a preferred embodiment at least one indicator symbol that can be placed superimposed over at least one location of the said matrix of symbol locations and at least one special symbol, wherein when the game reels come to rest during a first game, if a portion of at least one special symbol falls beneath, shares the same space with, or is clearly indicated as being associated with the indicator symbols (such as having the indicator symbol pointing to the location of the special symbol), a trigger condition is met to commence a second game, to award the player with a bonus award, or to move to the next phase in a string of required trigger conditions being either beneficial or hideous to the player. The second game may be a feature game and in any case a game different from the first game.

The instant invention will now be described herein and is not intended to be limited by the scope of the embodiments provided, as other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure.

Description Typically, games played on gaming consoles suited to this invention may be displayed on a video display, which is controlled by the game controller, and which in turn is controlled by a set of instructions processed by a CPU. Recently gaming consoles have been simulated by networked electronic equipment where the various elements typically found on a gaming console may be distributed over the network and said display, game controller, stake selector, and game initiation means may be shared and hosted by any of the machines of the network. It is to be understood that when referring to a gaming console, the term gaming console is intended to include such networks that simulate gaming consoles. In addition multipurpose machines such as personal computers have been used to simulate gaming consoles and this present invention equally applies to such multipurpose machines or multitasking machines or any other machine that comprises physically or virtually of the elements typically found on a gaming console and that are adapted to play a game of this invention. The preferred embodiments of the invention allows for the display to show a typical 5 reel video game as found in most casinos, however it is to be understood that the invention may equally be used in games displaying any number of reels or games such as Kino, Draw Poker, Bingo, or any other game where a multitude of symbols are selected from and displayed in given locations of a dimensional matrix.

Typically spinning reel games played for a wager have symbols that appear on the display means in a two dimensional matrix, where reels represent the columns of the matrix. Game reels are generally constructed from a number of set symbols placed in a specific order that are nowadays often 40 or move symbols in length. Each symbol of the base game may appear on any of the game reels a multiple times to allow for certain odds of game combinations to appear. Typically each column of the displayed matrix contains three symbol locations which will display 3 symbols from a corresponding reel for that column. Thus in a typical 5 reel game there are 15 symbol locations on the matrix, that is to say, 3 locations on each of the 5 reels are displayed at any one time whilst the reels are in a static mode and are not spinning, thus showing a game outcome. Should more than reels creating the columns be displayed or more symbols than 3 symbols per reel be displayed, the said matrix size and the number of symbol locations of said matrix is generally increased proportionally.

For the purpose of convenience, the reel game described herewith will include the base game and any free games provided in a feature game thereof, and any other options that may be played by a player with the hope of winning an award. For the purpose of convenience references to free games are to be interpreted as a feature games, and feature games as any form of feature game where the player may win additional prizes to the base game or have better odds than the base game Free game or feature games may in turn trigger bonus games, which are games that differ from the feature games, free games and base games. Bonus games may not be related to the base game and as an example a spinning reel base game may trigger a feature game of free games, and during free games a bonus game may be triggered, where the bonus game is in the form of a board game.

Bonus games are often used as extensions of feature games and are well known in the art.

The instant invention in one of its preferred embodiments is best employed during free games or during bonus game thereof, however is equally applicable to any base game, where a defined trigger condition for an event is required. With games for gaming machines, there are many kinds of trigger conditions currently in use, such as timer triggers, token collection triggers, random number triggers, pay line triggers, scatter symbol triggers, symbols or sprites appearing on the screen after a game outcome has been presented to the player, or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the player in a first game (which may be either a base game, or a feature game) is presented with an indicator symbol positioned over or in close proximity to a symbol location on the displayed matrix. This position may be selected randomly, be scripted, or may be selected by the player. The reels of the first game are then spun, and come to rest to form a game outcome. Winnings are awarded to the player depending on the symbol combinations formed. After any prizes have been awarded, the game controller checks if a trigger condition has been met by assessing the indicator symbol and its proximity to any special symbols.

Where in the preferred embodiment the special symbol lands beneath the indicator symbol, a trigger condition is satisfied, starting a second game. Preferably the second game would be free, providing an opportunity for the player to win extra prizes on top of the prizes already won during the first game, however the second game could equally be constructed to provided a second game requiring a wager.

In the preferred embodiment, the indicator symbol would be a frame symbol, though any symbol such as a pointer, a target, a game symbol, a transparent symbol or other like symbol would work equally well. Where a frame symbol is used as an indicator symbol, the fame symbol would preferably be placed in a fixed location of the matrix, framing one of the symbol locations. In this manner, the frame would persist on the matrix during reel spin, thus being positioned over the top of the spinning reels allowing the player to enjoy the excitement of watching the symbols on the spinning reels pass beneath, so that the player by identifying desired special symbol between other available symbols, being thrilled by seeing possible trigger combinations eventuating. The frame symbol itself would preferably be generally square in shape with a decorative exterior, though any shape or design would suffice. The frame symbol may also be a composition of part of an image combined with the frame itself. An example can be seen in a symbol becoming a special symbol, and as such, a miniature version of part of the now special symbol would form part of the frame symbol.

In a second broad embodiment, a frame need only cover part of the special symbol for the trigger condition to be met. This would be useful in covering multiple symbol locations at the one time, providing greater chances for a trigger for a second game, and the awarding to the player of any further prizes resulting from the trigger condition. Preferably in this second embodiment where more chances are provided for a trigger condition with a single frame covering several locations, the prize that can be won from a second game would possibly be decreased in value with respect to the prizes of the preferred embodiment. Alternatively, a plurality of frames can be employed, so as to allow a greater range of distinct symbol locations to be covered without having a single large frame being required. Thus each symbol location could employ its own frame symbol or share the frame symbol with a plurality of locations.

In one embodiment of the invention, before commencing the free games, an initial frame is provided on the centre of a third reel for a 5 reel game, as an identifying symbol. During free games, when a special symbol comes to rest beneath the frame symbol, the game console grants a token to the player. This token is stored, preferably by a visual reference such as a coin symbol appearing in the top left hand corner of the display. The game continues play allowing the player to collect subsequent tokens in the above described manner until the end of the free games, or upon a terminating symbol appears within the frame. In this manor, the player may collect several tokens before the free games end. Upon the game ending, the player may then be awarded a prize or second game based on the accumulated tokens. In an additional embodiment, as a special symbol comes to rest beneath the frame, that symbol may become a substitute or scatter symbol for other symbols. Thus the identifying symbol changing properties of special symbols coming to rest beneath it. The symbols with the changed property may persist as substitute symbols through out the rest of the free games, or simply revert to normal symbols or to the original special symbols upon a given number of free games or a set trigger condition. Subsequently, and as an additional effect of the trigger caused by a special symbol being framed by the identifying symbol, further frame symbols may be added to other locations of the matrix, thus moving or multiplying the identifying symbol. In yet a further preferred embodiment, where a special symbol comes to rest beneath the frame, a bonus game would be awarded to the player as an extension to the free games where the bonus game is unrelated or substantially different to the free games. Alternatively, the outcome of the triggered bonus game may be influenced by the outcomes of the preceding free games, or in turn, its result may influence future free games. Thus the frame symbol by framing the special symbol may trigger bonus games which rules and odds are influenced by the result of the free game were trigger occurred. In such an embodiment the influence between the free games and the bonus games may be governed by symbols resulting in the framed location. As an example the bonus game may be a board game where the special symbol of the free game that appeared in the frame and triggered the bonus game is used in the board game as the identifier that moves along the board game Thus it can be said that the frame provides an interface through which symbols are exchanged between the free games and the bonus game.

Whether used by itself or in conjunction with other known trigger conditions, the indicator symbol trigger system described above instantly becomes a powerful tool in activating trigger conditions and provides great flexibility for designing games with a precise desired percentile game returns to the player. Generally speaking, the percentile return of a game is calculated on the premise of returning to the player a proportional amount of money that has been wagered across a set number of games. Often this amount may be as high as 95%. To do this, the reels of a base game are constructed in such a manor that a theoretical return can be calculated. Where the base game may return an average of 85% of the overall return across an average amount of wagers made by the player, awarded free games may provide another with a further 5% being provided by awarded bonus game triggered within the free games. In total, the base game, free games, and bonus games percentage returns must all be worked out mathematically so as to provide the correct player return.

The frame trigger system handles this problem with greater ease than when compared with other trigger systems known in the art whilst also providing further enjoyment to the player. Where the calculated return of a feature game may for example require an additional 10 credits to be returned on average to the player to make up any lack in the overall required returns, a frame symbol trigger system can easily be employed for this purpose. As an example, on a reel strip of 39 normal symbols and 1 special symbol making a total of 40 symbols, where 10 free games have just been awarded, a frame or other such indicator symbol may be placed over the centre of the centre reel, and if a special symbol appears beneath the frame or other indicator symbol, the player is awarded credits (or a special game is triggered that on average awards 40 credits). The mathematical return is exceptionally simple to implement, as and with reference to the above example the expected return is calculated as follows: 1/40 40 10 10 where the formula "(probability prize (number of free games)) return" has been employed for the purpose. The trigger condition provided by the indicator symbol system becomes a valuable tool for triggering events, and is perfectly adapted to adding to the player perceived excitement of the game.

In an alternative embodiment, the indicator symbol may move from matrix location to matrix location prior to any game outcome so as to identify a number of possible the target location(s) for the indicator symbol. In this type of embodiment, the movement of the indicator symbol may be scripted, random, or selected by the player prior to a reel spin, or before the spinning reels have come to rest. The indicator symbol then being static at the time the reels come to rest as to clearly identifying the indicator symbol location and permitting the player to enjoy the final game outcome determination and possible eventuation of a trigger condition provided by the indicator symbol.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings and examples in order to illustrate the disclosure of this invention. The drawings and examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention described herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming console according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig.2 is a schematic diagram of the display showing a matrix of symbol locations and a game outcome where a sequence of symbols form a win combination along a pay line.

Fig.3 is a schematic diagram of the display with reels spinning and an indicator symbol frame placed over spinning reels.

Fig.4 is a schematic diagram of the display depicting an indicator symbol frame framing a special symbol whereby the trigger condition having been met.

is a schematic diagram of the display with an indicator symbol frame moving from one location of the matrix to another location during spinning reels.

Fig.6 is a schematic diagram of the display with an indicator symbol frame having completed movement from one location of the matrix to another location prior to the reels coming to rest.

Fig.7 is a schematic diagram of the display showing multiple indicator symbols frame in separate locations of the matrix during spinning reel.

Fig.8 is a schematic diagram of the display with an alternative form of an indicator symbol.

Fig.9 is a schematic diagram of the display with an alternative form of an indicator symbol that extends over multiple locations of the matrix.

Detailed description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a gaming console 10. The gaming console 10 has an operating panel 20 on which there is disposed a coin slot 22, a banknote slot 24, stake selectors 26, and a game initiator 28. The gaming console also has a display 30 that displays the outcome of the game. The display 30 shows the reels 36 (typical of a three, four or five-reel machine) where on each reel three symbol locations 37 are displayed, thus defining the matrix 41of symbol locations 37. The reels 36 include a plurality of symbols 32 to define game outcomes once a subset of these symbols 32 is displayed stationary in the matrix 41. A further display 40 shows the prize table for winning combinations of displayed symbols and the game rules.

Figure 2 is the first figure of a sequence of figures that illustrate the preferred embodiments of this invention. Figure 2 shows a game outcome displayed on the display 30 with symbols 32 displayed across reels (36a to 36e) appearing in the matrix 41 at various symbol locations 37 in the stationary position of the symbols 32. In figure 2, a pay line 31 depicts a winning symbols 32 combination which according to the game rules 70, prompts the game controller 12 to issue awards 14 to the player, and in this case and according to the game rules 70, the game controller 12 is also prompted to trigger a feature game consisting of a series of free games.

Figure 3 depicts the commencement of free games triggered in figure 2 with an indicator symbol 33 frame appearing over the centre symbol location 37 on the centre reel 36c, and according to the game rules 70 if a special symbol 34 appears within the indicator symbol 33 frame once the reels 36 come to rest, the game controller 12 is prompted to sense a trigger condition. In a preferred embodiment, the reels (36a to 36e) have begun to spin with an indicator symbol 33 being superimposed over the reels (36a to 36e) in a symbol location 37 so as to give the player a focal point, indicating where a special symbol 34 needs to appear for a trigger condition to be met. In one preferred embodiment, the indicator symbol 33 will persist throughout various free games on the matrix 41 in the same symbol location 37 over the top of the reels (36a to 36e). In figure 4, following from figure 3, the reels (36a to 36b) have come to rest, with the indicator symbol 33 frame allowing the player to easily identify where a special symbol 34 must land for a trigger condition to be met. Any such information regarding the required special symbol 34, in this case being a Ferris Wheel symbol 34, would preferably be provided in the game rules 70 and provided to the player on the display 40 prior to the commencement of the game. In figure 4 the special symbol 34 Ferris Wheel has stopped under the indicator symbol 33 frame and the trigger condition has been met, thereby the game controller 12, in response to the trigger condition, controlling the display 30 to initiate (not shown) a special game consisting in, multiplying any award, awarding a prize or altering the properties of certain game symbols 32 or the special symbol 34, to become one or more of the following: additional special symbols, substitute symbols, win multiplier symbols, scattered symbols, symbols that persist into the next game and/or imparting any other symbol properties known in the art. It is to be understood that the trigger condition provided by the indicator symbol 33 being associated with the special symbol 34 could be used for triggering any other game feature, and that the above are but examples of possible features triggered by the method of the instant invention.

In figure 5, the indicator symbol 33 frame is shown prior to the reels (36a to 36e) coming to rest, moving from one symbol location 37 to another along the matrix 41 where the moving reels (36a to 36e) are displayed. Figure 6 depicts the moving indicator symbol 33 frame as depicted in figure having found a fixed symbol location 37 on the matrix 41, thereby stopping to move between symbol locations 37prior to the second reel 36b coming to rest.

In figure 7, two indicator symbols 33 frames are provided. In one embodiment, both frames may require special symbols 34 to be located beneath them for a trigger condition to be met.

Alternatively, only one of the indicator symbols 33 frame may require a special symbol 34 to be displayed beneath to trigger a required trigger condition. It is to be understood that any number of frames in such an embodiment may be utilised, so long as there are less indicator symbols 33 than there are symbol locations 37 on the matrix 41. Additionally, in one embodiment, the indicator symbol 33 frames may simply appear on the matrix 41, or appear to flow out of an already existing indicator symbol 33, and after originating from the first indicator symbol 33 heading off to other symbol locations 37 of the matrix 41 In figure 8, in one embodiment of the instant invention, the indicator symbol 33 is represented as a transparent Ferris Wheel symbol 34, that appeared in normal mode in figure 4. In one embodiment the trigger condition is met when the said transparent Ferries Wheel symbol matches the beneath special symbol 34 that is a normal Ferris Wheel upon the reels 36 coming to rest. It should be understood that any symbol 32 from the plurality of symbols 32 making up the reels (36a-36e) of the game may be used as an indicator symbol. Preferably, were a single symbol 32 type is used to trigger a trigger condition, that symbol 32 would be considered as an indicator symbol by for example persisting in a symbol location while the reels 36 spin underneath it, and as a special symbol that trigger the trigger condition by matching the above persisting indicator symbol when the reels 36 come to rest., making the symbol 33 and 34 easily identifiable by the player. Thus in one embodiment, the Ferris Wheel symbol 32 acts as both an indicator symbol for a symbol location by being in transparent mode, and as the special symbol 34 by being in normal mode, thereby helping identifying for the player the required special symbol 34 used to activate a trigger condition.

In yet another embodiment, figure 9 depicts an indicator symbol 33 frame that extends over a plurality of symbol locations 37 of the matrix 41. Where and when a special symbol 34 comes to rest on a symbol location 37 within the frame symbol 33, a trigger condition is met.

12- While we have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that this invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. A gaming console of the type including, provisions to accept a wager, at least one display means, player control means to initiate a game, and game control means in response to a wager controlling and displaying a first game outcome by selecting from a plurality of selectable game symbols a set of outcome symbols to be displayed on said display means on a matrix of symbol locations, awarding to the player prizes according to game rules and said selected set of outcome symbols, where said game control means being characterised in, said selectable game symbols including at least one special symbol, said display means displaying at least one indicator symbol and said game controller utilising the method of displaying at least one said indicator symbol in a fixed position prior to said first game outcome being displayed, wherein if at least one said special symbol visually appearing associated with at least one said indicator symbol, said game controller sensing at least part of a trigger condition for a game feature.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said game feature comprising either: a) at least one second game being different from said first game with or without requiring a further wager b) at least one said first game without requiring a further wager c) the award of a prize; d) the altering of said selectable game symbols; e) the altering of said game rules; f) at least one second game that utilises said method as at least part of a trigger condition for a third game; or g) a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 to 2 wherein said indicator symbol visually appears to either: a) share at least one said symbol location of said matrix with said special symbol; b) at least partially surround said special symbol displayed at a symbol location on said matrix; c) logically complement said special symbol on said matrix; or d) point to any special symbol displayed at a symbol location on said matrix.

4. The method of claims 1 to 3 wherein the location on said display of any indicator symbols are selected: a) at random by said gaming controller; b) by said player; c) in a scripted manor by said gaming controller; or d) or a combination thereof. The method of claims 1 to 4 wherein said indicator symbol is a frame on said matrix.