Gaming machine utilizing distinctive paylines
A slot style gaming machine displays on a video screen distinctive pay lines such as pay lines having alphabetical or numerical configurations, or closed loop configurations such as geometric shapes. The shape of the pay line is preferably thematically associated with the symbols making up the pay line. A given pay line typically includes two or more symbols in a single one of a plurality of reels on the video screen. A pay line may also include symbols only on some of the reels. Two or more pay lines may be displayed simultaneously and may share a common symbol, intersect one another or cross one another. Bonuses may be awarded when two or more pay lines are displayed, sometimes with a requirement that the pay lines overlap or are on the same reels.
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1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to gaming machines. More particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine of the type generally known as a slot machine. Specifically, the invention relates to a slot-style gaming machine which utilizes distinctive paylines.
2. Background Information
Gaming machines come in a wide variety, including the category generally known as slot machines. Slot machines or slot-style gaming machines include physical reels which spin or electronically created reels which are displayable on a video screen and appear to spin. A typical slot machine includes three reels each having a plurality of symbols thereon which align with the symbols in the other reels when the reels are stopped to form rows or lines.
It is well known in the art that paylines are formed of like symbols and of one of said like symbols in each reel aligned across all of the reels. The most common paylines extend straight horizontally across the screen although some paylines may extend diagonally and are not necessarily in a single straight line. However, all paylines known to the Applicants begin in the first reel and end in the last reel and include only one symbol in each reel.
Especially in light of today's relatively advanced computerized games, there is a need in the art to provide slot-style gaming machines which have a greater attraction factor for the relatively younger generation as well as others who are more well-versed in the modern video games. The distinctive paylines and other aspects of the present invention address this issue.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a video display screen; a game playable via display on the screen; a wager mechanism for making a wager on the game; a game play starter control for selectively initiating play of the game; a plurality of reels displayable on the screen; a plurality of display locations on each reel; a plurality of rows each comprising one of the display locations in each reel; a plurality of symbols respectively displayable at the display locations; and a first pay line comprising a first one and a second one of the symbols displayed respectively at a first one and a second one of the display locations each on a first one of the reels.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe gaming machine of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in
A bet up/down button 22 or a similar mechanism is mounted on frame 12 to allow the player to increase or decrease the amount of bet or wager on the game. A play button 24 or the like serves as a game play starter control and may be pressed or otherwise operated by the player to play the game after a wager has been made. A pay table button 26 may be used to display the pay table on screen 14. A touch sensitive screen may be used to create such buttons on screen 14. In addition, other images or information may be displayed on screen 14 such as the game title, the amount of credit, the amount of bet, the amount paid, instructions for playing the game and so forth.
In accordance with the invention, a reel section 28 (
In accordance with the invention, the computer program is configured to form S-shaped paylines 38A-H each of which indicates a win and triggers the award of a predetermined payment value. The S-shaped paylines 38 provide a thematic connection with the snake symbols 36 which are used to form the paylines. Not only do the S-shaped paylines resemble the shape of a snake but “S” is also the beginning letter of the word snake.
More particularly, as shown in
Paylines 38E-H in
In accordance with a feature of the invention, each of paylines 38 includes at least two like symbols in a single row 30. For instance, payline 38B in
In accordance with the invention, any one of symbols 36A-D may appear in any one of display blocks 32 in a random manner. Thus, the order or symbols in a given reel from top to bottom is determined randomly for each play of the game and typically results in a change in that order for each play. In addition, the computer program is configured to alter the balance of a number of the different symbols 36A-D which may appear on reels 30 during any given play. In the exemplary embodiment, there are fifty-four display blocks 32 so that during a given play, for instance, fourteen symbols 36A, fourteen symbols 36B, thirteen symbols 36C and thirteen symbols 36D might appear on the display screen within the respective blocks 32 so that the number of each of symbols 36 is substantially the same. However, during another given play, the balance might be shifted so that, for instance, twenty-five symbols 36A, thirteen symbols 36B, ten symbols 36C and six symbols 36D may appear within the respective blocks 32. Depending on the specific computer program, each of the fifty-four blocks 32 might be filled with a single type of symbol 36 so that all the symbols on the screen are the same.
The computer program of chain 10 is programmed to produce the 54 blocks 32 on screen 14. In addition, the computer program includes a symbol code pool having a plurality of symbol codes each of which represent one of symbols 36. For each play of the game, the computer program randomly selects fifty-four of the symbol codes which cause a respective fifty-four of the symbols 36 to appear on screen 14. Thus, the symbol code pool has a given number of symbol codes which is greater than the number of blocks 32.
As further illustrated in
Referring to
Thus, gaming machine 10 provides a slot-style machine having a plurality of reels comprising various symbols which may be joined by a payline which may be an alphabetical or numerical character, a closed geometrical shape and preferably includes two or more symbols within a single reel. The various characteristics of the paylines are not limited to those specifically described but also include other characteristics which are evident from the drawings.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Claims
1. A gaming machine comprising:
- a video display screen;
- a game playable via display on the screen;
- a wager mechanism for making a wager on the game;
- a game play starter control for selectively initiating play of the game;
- a plurality of reels displayable on the screen;
- a plurality of display locations on each reel;
- a plurality of rows each comprising one of the display locations in each reel;
- a plurality of symbols respectively displayable at the display locations; and
- a first pay line comprising a first one and a second one of the symbols displayed respectively at a first one and a second one of the display locations each on a first one of the reels.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the first pay line comprises a third one of the symbols.
3. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the third symbol is on the first reel.
4. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the first pay line comprises a fourth one of the symbols; and the third and fourth symbols are on the second reel.
5. The gaming machine of claim 4 wherein the first pay line comprises a fifth one of the symbols on a third one of the reels.
6. The gaming machine of claim 5 wherein the first pay line comprises a sixth one of the symbols on the third reel.
7. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the third symbol is on a second one of the reels; and the first pay line comprises a fourth one of the symbols on a third one of the reels.
8. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein there are a first number of the reels; and the first pay line comprises symbols on a second number of the reels which is less than the first number.
9. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the first pay line comprises two lines which cross one another.
10. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the first pay line comprises an alphabetic or numeric configuration.
11. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the first pay line comprises a closed loop.
12. The gaming machine of claim 1 further comprising a second pay line displayable on the screen with the first pay line and comprising a third one and a fourth one of the symbols respectively at a third one and a fourth one of the display locations each on one of the reels.
13. The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the second pay line overlaps the first pay line.
14. The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the third and fourth symbols are on the first reel.
15. The gaming machine of claim 14 further comprising a third pay line displayable on the screen with the first and second pay lines and comprising a fifth one and a sixth one of the symbols respectively at a fifth one and a sixth one of the display locations each on the first reel.
16. The gaming machine of claim 12 further comprising a third pay line displayable on the screen with the first and second pay lines and comprising a fifth one and a sixth one of the symbols respectively at a fifth one and a sixth one of the display locations each on one of the reels.
17. The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein at least one of the symbols of the first pay line is common to the second pay line.
18. The gaming machine of claim 12 further comprising a bonus activator comprising display of the first and second pay lines; and a bonus value awarded in response to the display of the bonus activator.
19. The gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the third and fourth symbols are on the first reel.
20. The gaming machine of claim 1 further comprising a pool of computer program symbol codes which are randomly selectable and have a number greater than that of the symbol locations; and wherein the symbols are displayed at the symbol locations in response to the random selection of the symbol codes.
Type: Application
Filed: May 2, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2008
Applicant: Vision Gaming & Technology, Inc. (Duluth, GA)
Inventor: Tammy L. Wilson (Lawrenceville, GA)
Application Number: 11/799,721
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);