GB2385454A

GB2385454A - Gambling machine

Info

Publication number: GB2385454A
Application number: GB0203592A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Short; Steve Murray; David Painter
Original assignee: JPM International Ltd
Current assignee: JPM International Ltd
Priority date: 2002-02-15
Filing date: 2002-02-15
Publication date: 2003-08-20
Also published as: GB0203592D0

Abstract

A "fruit" type gambling machine has a supplementary game which comprises a display screen 5 and controls. The game involves swapping randomly mixed tiles 6 to form a picture, or in another embodiment, a tile is absent and the resulting space may be used to move an adjacent tile. The time taken to form the correct picture is measured and additional prizes may be awarded accordingly. Controls may be in the form of buttons (not shown) or a touch screen.

Description

Improvements Relating to Gaming Machines It is an object of this invention to provide a gaming machine (either for general play or to enable the user to attempt to achieve a prize) of a novel and interesting nature.

According to the present invention there is a gaming machine including an electronic display for illustrating an array of tiles each carrying a representation of portions of a picture and a control device for enabling rearrangement of the tiles to adjust the overall appearance of the picture defined by the array of tiles in a picture area.

The control device can be designed such that it enables swapping of a selected tile with another tile. As an alternative the machine could be designed such that a blank region of the overall picture is devoid of a tile and the control device enables movement of an adjacent tile into that blank region to create a new blank region.

Ideally the machine will include a timing device for determining the time taken by a user in rearranging the tiles. In this case, the machine can be constructed such that the issue of a prize is enabled if a user moves the tiles into a predetermined relationship within a target time as measured by the timing device. The enabling of such a prize could allow the user to be presented with a monetary prize or a token, or to enter into another game feature of the gaming machine.

It may be preferred that the display should be designed to indicate correct location of any tile in the picture area. This encourages the user, who will then see the extent to which the puzzle has been solved.

The electronic display of the gaming machine could be part of a machine where various game features are present and where access to the electronic display is enabled by a successful outcome of play of an alternative game feature of the gaming machine.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to Figure 1, which illustrates various display features of a gaming machine incorporating the particular electronic display game feature of this invention.

The display shown in the drawings incorporates firstly a conventional representation 1 of reels or drums carrying symbols which can be spun and stopped in a variable manner.

Certain combinations of symbols will result in prizes being awarded, such as those indicated in the area 2. One of these prize indicators refers to a"MONOPOLY"feature 3, which is illustrated at 4 at the top of the display area.

An inset portion 5 carries an illustration of an array of tiles 6. In this instance, the tiles are in a 3 X 3 arrangement, but the numbers of tiles in each row or column can be modified as desired. The tiles 6 carry a representation of a drawing of a bunch of three cherries, but in a random distribution.

When a player is allowed access to the game feature represented by the tiles 6, he can rearrange the tiles by utilising play buttons (not shown) which allow a selected tile to be swapped with another tile. Alternatively, and more simply, the user can indicate which tiles are to be swapped by touching the relevant tile areas on the screen.

After a successful number of swaps, the user will aim to show the representation of the drawing of a bunch of three cherries in its correct form and then achieve a prize. To provide encouragement to the user, ticks 10 can appear on the display when any one tile 6 is located in a correct position.

A countdown timer 7 limits the time within which the tiles can be rearranged successfully. As the available time reduces, the representation of a monetary prize 8 could also be reduced. If the user beats the clock, then he will be awarded the prize, which could the monetary prize 8 or entry into another game feature such as the MONOPOLY game 9 illustrated on the display. Any other "trail feature" (instead of the MONOPOLY game), or indeed some other game feature, could be provided.

As an alternative method of movement an area of the picture represented by one of the tiles could be omitted, thus enabling the user to operate the machine to simulate the sliding of tiles into available blank areas as a means of redistributing the tiles to achieve the correct outcome in a series of steps.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A gaming machine including an electronic display for illustrating an array of tiles each carrying a representation of portions of a picture and a control device for enabling rearrangement of the tiles to adjust the overall appearance of the picture defined by the array of tiles in a picture area.
2. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the control device enables swapping of a selected tile with another tile.
3. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a blank region of the overall picture is devoid of a tile and the control device enables movement of an adjacent tile into that blank region to create a new blank region.
4. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, including a timing device for determining the time taken by a user in rearranging the tiles.
5. A gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the issue of a prize is enabled if a user moves the tiles into a predetermined relationship within a target time as measured by the timing device.
6. A gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the enabling of said prize allows the user to enter into another game feature of the gaming machine.

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7. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the display is designed to indicate correct location of any tile in the picture area.
8. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein access to said electronic display is enabled by a successful outcome of play of an alternative game feature of the gaming machine.
9. A gaming machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. Any novel combination of features of a gaming machine as described herein and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.