GB2148036A - Gaming or amusement-with-prizes machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A fruit machine has at least one feature, such as nudging or holding, which is randomly available. Each reel has an associated button by which that reel can be nudged or held. To indicate to the player what his best option is, it is arranged that certain buttons flash, while others may remain with steady illumination or none at all.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to gaming or amusement with-prizes machines This invention relates to coin operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machines, the term 'coin' embracing tokens or any means by which credit can be centered in the machine.

The invention is primarily concerned with machines of the kind known as fruit machines, in which a series of symbols carried by rotatable drums, reels, discs or their equivalents, are displayed to view in a line. When the machine is operated by insertion of a coin and possibly also by depression of a lever or pressing of a button or the like, the reels rotate and stop in an apparently random mannerand ifthesymbolsinthe resulting line are in a winning combination, a pay-out mechanism is operated and a prize is awarded and indicated.

In orderto add to the interest of such machines, it is common to add an extra "feature" by which there is occasionally the chance of a prize being awarded by some occurrence beyond the simple arrival of the reels, aftertheir initial spin, at a particular combination line.

For example, the player may have the opportunity to adjust one or more reels by indexing them forwards or backwards bythetechnique known as "nudging".

Anotherfeature allows the player to hold one or more reels, while the others are spun. Certain other types of reel adjustment are also occasionally available, and there may be further controls, such as a gamble button bywhichtheplayercan hopeto multiply his winnings.

Recently, machines have been developed in which various ofthesefeatures are provided, butthe player involvement has been virtually eliminated. For example, when nudging is available, the machine will automaticaliy index the reels after their normal spin so that a win combination is produced, or at most it will require the player to press a single button just once to achieve such adjustment This automation is frustrating to many players, although it does have the obvious advantage that it eliminates mistakes by which a player relying on repeated manual operation might deprive himself of a win.

It is the object of this invention to mix the certainty of such automated operation with the human factor, allowing the playerto execute the feature in full, but with almost guaranteed success.

According to the present invention there is provided a gaming oramusement-with-prizes machine in which a feature is occasionally available offering further player operation, and increasing the chances of a win, wherein the elements by which such operation is initiated are distinguishable to indicate which operation offers the best prospects for a win.

Thusg inafruit machine with nudge buttons for each reel,thenormalwayofindicatingthata nudge is available isforone or more ofthe buttons to be illuminated. Whichever ones are lit up, the player can pressto indexthe associated reel.With the present systemthe buttons may be provided with flashing ratherthan, or as well as, steady illumination and the button (or buttons) which flash the fastest will be the preferred ones to press, offering the best chance of a win. However, it is up to the player to press them, and he is free to ignorethe machine's advice and press a less favoured slowerflashing button, or even a button with steady illumination.

The same principle can be applied to hold buttons, which are often in fact the same ones as the nudge buttons, but into play before a reel spin rather than afterwards.

Again, the machine may have a gamble button, which will flash quickly when the likelihood of a successful gamble is there. However,the cautious player might prefer to take hiswinningswithout gambling.

1. Agaming or amusement-with-prizes machine in which a feature is occasionally available offering further player operation, and increasing the chances of a win, wherein elements by which such operation is initiated are distinguishable to indicate which operation offers the best prospects for a win.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said elements are buttons and the distinguishing is achieved by differential illumination of the buttons.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the differential illumination provides a flashing lightto indicate a prospective win.

4. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or3, wherein the machine is a fruit machine and the feature is the nudge feature by which reels are indexed symbol by symbol.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the machine is a fruit machine and the feature is the hold feature by which selected reels can be prevented from spinning whilethe others are spun.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to gaming or amusement with-prizes machines This invention relates to coin operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machines, the term 'coin' embracing tokens or any means by which credit can be centered in the machine. The invention is primarily concerned with machines of the kind known as fruit machines, in which a series of symbols carried by rotatable drums, reels, discs or their equivalents, are displayed to view in a line. When the machine is operated by insertion of a coin and possibly also by depression of a lever or pressing of a button or the like, the reels rotate and stop in an apparently random mannerand ifthesymbolsinthe resulting line are in a winning combination, a pay-out mechanism is operated and a prize is awarded and indicated. In orderto add to the interest of such machines, it is common to add an extra "feature" by which there is occasionally the chance of a prize being awarded by some occurrence beyond the simple arrival of the reels, aftertheir initial spin, at a particular combination line. For example, the player may have the opportunity to adjust one or more reels by indexing them forwards or backwards bythetechnique known as "nudging". Anotherfeature allows the player to hold one or more reels, while the others are spun. Certain other types of reel adjustment are also occasionally available, and there may be further controls, such as a gamble button bywhichtheplayercan hopeto multiply his winnings. Recently, machines have been developed in which various ofthesefeatures are provided, butthe player involvement has been virtually eliminated. For example, when nudging is available, the machine will automaticaliy index the reels after their normal spin so that a win combination is produced, or at most it will require the player to press a single button just once to achieve such adjustment This automation is frustrating to many players, although it does have the obvious advantage that it eliminates mistakes by which a player relying on repeated manual operation might deprive himself of a win. It is the object of this invention to mix the certainty of such automated operation with the human factor, allowing the playerto execute the feature in full, but with almost guaranteed success. According to the present invention there is provided a gaming oramusement-with-prizes machine in which a feature is occasionally available offering further player operation, and increasing the chances of a win, wherein the elements by which such operation is initiated are distinguishable to indicate which operation offers the best prospects for a win. Thusg inafruit machine with nudge buttons for each reel,thenormalwayofindicatingthata nudge is available isforone or more ofthe buttons to be illuminated. Whichever ones are lit up, the player can pressto indexthe associated reel.With the present systemthe buttons may be provided with flashing ratherthan, or as well as, steady illumination and the button (or buttons) which flash the fastest will be the preferred ones to press, offering the best chance of a win. However, it is up to the player to press them, and he is free to ignorethe machine's advice and press a less favoured slowerflashing button, or even a button with steady illumination. The same principle can be applied to hold buttons, which are often in fact the same ones as the nudge buttons, but into play before a reel spin rather than afterwards. Again, the machine may have a gamble button, which will flash quickly when the likelihood of a successful gamble is there. However,the cautious player might prefer to take hiswinningswithout gambling. CLAIMS

1. Agaming or amusement-with-prizes machine in which a feature is occasionally available offering further player operation, and increasing the chances of a win, wherein elements by which such operation is initiated are distinguishable to indicate which operation offers the best prospects for a win.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said elements are buttons and the distinguishing is achieved by differential illumination of the buttons.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the differential illumination provides a flashing lightto indicate a prospective win.

4. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or3, wherein the machine is a fruit machine and the feature is the nudge feature by which reels are indexed symbol by symbol.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the machine is a fruit machine and the feature is the hold feature by which selected reels can be prevented from spinning whilethe others are spun.