Gaming Machine Arranging Symbols Based on Rearragned Symbols and Playing Method Thereof
A gaming machine comprises: a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas; and a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols. In the gaming machine are performed the following steps of: combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement; determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display; and when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the determined payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition.
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The present application claims priority from the following provisional application No. 61/037,412 filed on Mar. 18, 2008; No. 61/034,427 filed on Mar. 6, 2008; No. 61/038,583, filed on Mar. 21, 2008; No. 61/038,603, filed on Mar. 21, 2008; No. 61/037,135 filed on Mar. 17, 2008; No. 61/037,141, filed on Mar. 17, 2008, the entire disclosure of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gaming machine and a playing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Among existing gaming machines, there is a gaming machine including: two or more gaming terminals; terminal controllers respectively provided to the gaming terminal, each of which controllers causes associated one of the gaming terminals to run a game; a center controller for controlling all the terminal controllers. This type of gaming machine is disclosed in specifications of U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,459, U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,709, or U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,013. A terminal controller of a gaming terminal runs a game and awards a payout based on the result of the game independently from another terminal controller of another gaming terminal. The center controller provides various jackpots such as progressive jackpots, mystery jackpots, or the like.
An object of the invention is to provide a gaming machine providing an entertainment characteristic which is not brought about by the above mentioned prior art, and a playing method thereof.
Another object of the invention is to provide a gaming machine and a playing method thereof each involving two or more gaming terminals to play a single game, which thereby realizes a new entertainment characteristic that gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA gaming machine of the present invention, comprises: a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(a1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(a2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(a3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(a4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(a5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and
(a6) causing the payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. When the payout is determined to be awarded, a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals is determined based on a predetermined condition. The payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals awards a payout based on the determined distribution. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Additionally, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation of how much distribution is determined for the player. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
The present invention is a gaming machine including: a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
a controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(b1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(b2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(b3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(b4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(b5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols; and
(b6) causing the payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. When the payout is determined to be awarded, a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols. The payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals awards a payout based on the determined distribution. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Additionally, a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
The present invention is a gaming machine, including: a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
a controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(c1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(c2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(c3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(c4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(c5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, displaying an effect indicating that the payout is awarded on the shared display;
(c6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on at least two different amounts of distribution; and
(c7) causing the payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. When the payout is determined to be awarded, a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals is determined based on at least two different amounts of distribution. The payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals awards a payout based on the determined distribution. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Additionally, different amounts of distribution are given to the gaming terminals by determining each of the distributions of the payout based on at least two different amounts of distribution. Therefore, a new entertainment characteristic is realized. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
The present invention is a gaming machine, including: a plurality of gaming terminals including (i)a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii)a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iii) a terminal controller, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
a center controller,
wherein the terminal controller performs the steps of:
(d1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas at a predetermined timing;
(d2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols arranged in the arrangement areas;
(d3) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller symbols arranged in the arrangement areas and the arrangement of the symbols; and
(d4) causing the payout awarding device to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller, and wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the steps of:
(e1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from each of the terminal controllers symbols and the arrangement of the symbols,
(e2) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(e3) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(e4) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and
(e5) instructing the terminal controller of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
In the above structure, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal at a predetermined timing. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. When a predetermined condition is met, symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal are rearranged on the shared display in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. When the payout is determined to be awarded, a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals is determined based on a predetermined condition. The payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals awards a payout based on the determined distribution. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Additionally, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation of how much distribution is determined for the player. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
The present invention is a playing method of a gaming machine, in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas on terminal displays of a plurality of gaming terminals,
the method comprising the steps of:
(f1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(f2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(f3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on a shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(f4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(f5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and
(f6) causing the payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
In the above structure, this payout awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Additionally, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation of how much distribution is determined for the player. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
A gaming machine of the present invention, comprises:
a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i)a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii)a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols;
a conveying device for supporting the shared display and transferring the shared display to positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals; and
a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(g1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(g2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(g3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(g4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(g5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
(g6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition;
(g7) causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal;
(g8) displaying an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal on the shared display; and
(g9) causing the payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. When the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals. When the payout is determined to be awarded, one of the gaming terminals is determined based on a predetermined condition. The shared display is transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal. On the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. The payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal awards the payout. This payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, when the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals and subsequently transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal for awarding the payout. Then, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. This allows players to visually recognize transfers of the shared display and therefore realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for which gaming terminal the payout is awarded through. Further, a single game is created with the use of a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
The present invention is a gaming machine, including:
a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
a conveying device for supporting the shared display and transferring the shared display to positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
a position sensor for detecting that the shared display has arrived at a position corresponding to a gaming terminal; and
a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(h1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(h2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(h3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(h4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(h5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
(h6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition;
(h7) causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal;
(h8) after detecting that the shared display has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal, displaying an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal on the shared display; and
(h9) causing the payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. When the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals. When the payout is determined to be awarded, one of the gaming terminals is determined based on a predetermined condition. The shared display is transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal. After detecting that the shared display has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. The payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal awards the payout. This payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, when the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals and subsequently transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal for awarding the payout. Then, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. This allows players to visually recognize transfers of the shared display and therefore realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for which gaming terminal the payout is awarded through. Further, an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal is displayed after the shared display has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal. This prevents a loss in expectation for a payout, which is caused by transferring the shared display while displaying thereon the effect. Therefore, a new entertainment characteristic is realized. Further, a single game is created with the use of a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
The present invention is a gaming machine according to the above invention, wherein
the center controller is programmed to perform the step of
(i6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols, in place of (g6).
In the above structure, when the payout is determined to be awarded, one of the gaming terminals is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols. Thus, one of the gaming terminals for awarding the payout is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
The present invention is a gaming machine according to the above invention, wherein
the center controller is programmed to perform the step of
(j6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols, in place of (h6).
In the above structure, when the payout is determined to be awarded, one of the gaming terminals is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols. Thus, one of the gaming terminals for awarding the payout is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
The present invention is a gaming machine, including:
a plurality of gaming terminals including (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iii) a terminal controller, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols and displaying thereon an effect related to the game;
a conveying device for supporting the shared display and transferring the shared display to positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals; and
a center controller, wherein
the terminal controller performs the steps of:
(k1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas at a predetermined timing;
(k2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols arranged in the arrangement areas;
(k3) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller symbols arranged in the arrangement areas and the arrangement of the symbols; and
(k4) causing the payout awarding device to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller, and wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the steps of:
-
- (l1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from each of the terminal controllers symbols and the arrangement of the symbols;
(l2) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(l3) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(l4) when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
(l5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition;
(l6) causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal;
(l7) displaying an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal on the shared display; and
(l8) instructing the terminal controller of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.
In the above structure, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal at a predetermined timing. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. When a predetermined condition is met, symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal are rearranged on the shared display in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. When the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals. When the payout is determined to be awarded, one of the gaming terminals is determined based on a predetermined condition. The shared display is transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal. On the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. The payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal awards the payout. This payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, when the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals and subsequently transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal for awarding the payout. Then, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. This allows players to visually recognize transfers of the shared display and therefore realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for which gaming terminal the payout is awarded through. Further, a single game is created with the use of a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
The present invention is a playing method of a gaming machine, in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas on terminal displays of a plurality of gaming terminals,
the method comprising the steps of:
(m1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(m2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(m3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on a shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
(m4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
(m5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, transferring the shared display between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
(m6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition;
(m7) transferring the shared display to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal;
(m8) displaying an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal on the shared display; and
(m9) causing the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.
In the above structure, this payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, when the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals and subsequently transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal for awarding the payout. Then, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. This allows players to visually recognize transfers of the shared display and therefore realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for which gaming terminal the payout is awarded through. Further, a single game is created with the use of a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
A gaming machine of the present invention, includes:
a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols;
a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(n1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(n2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(n3) combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement;
(n4) scrolling the symbols in the symbol matrix, on the shared display;
(n5) rearranging a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix on the shared display; and
(n6) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. Then, one symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol arrangements is formed by combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal and another arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of another gaming terminal. Then, the symbols in the symbol matrix are scrolled on the shared display. The symbols in the symbol matrix are partly rearranged on the shared display. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game by combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the one arrangement and the other arrangement. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, a payout is awarded based on a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix formed. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a fixed symbol matrix of a known art. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
The present invention is a gaming machine, including
a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols;
a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(o1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(o2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(o3) combining, on the row or column basis, one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement; and
(o4) scrolling the symbol matrix having the plurality of symbols on the shared display;
(o5) rearranging on the shared display some of the symbols in the symbol matrix, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix;
(o6) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. Then, one symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol arrangements is formed by combining, on the row or column basis, one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal and another arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of another gaming terminal. The symbol matrix having the plurality of symbols is scrolled on the shared display. Then, some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game by combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the one arrangement and the other arrangement. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, a payout is awarded based on a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix formed. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a fixed symbol matrix of a known art. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic. Further, Then, some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are scrolled and rearranged on the shared display, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix.. Therefore an arrangement of symbols rearranged in one gaming terminal stand higher chance of recurring on the shared display. Further, the structure improves the player's predictability of symbol arrangements on the shared display, and therefore increases the player's expectation at a time of scrolling the symbols on the shared display. Thus, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
Note that “combining, on the row basis” means to joint one or more rows in a direction in which rows are aligned (hereinafter, row direction). Note further that “combining, on the column basis” means to joint one or more columns in a direction in which columns are aligned (hereinafter, column direction).
The present invention is a gaming machine, including:
a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols;
a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(p1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(p2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(p3) combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement, the positions of the symbols in the other symbol arrangement being different from those of the symbols in the one symbol arrangement; and
(p4) scrolling a row or column of the symbol matrix having the symbols on the shared display;
(p5) rearranging on the shared display some of the symbols in the symbol matrix so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements in the symbol matrix; and
(p4) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the matrix of the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. One arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal are combined to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement, the positions of the symbols in the other symbol arrangement being different from those of the symbols in the one symbol arrangement. Then, a row or column of the symbol matrix having the symbols is scrolled on the shared display. Some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are then arranged on the shared display so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements in the symbol matrix. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game by combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the one arrangement and the other arrangement. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, a payout is awarded based on a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix formed. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a fixed symbol matrix of a known art. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic. Further, since a row or column of the symbol matrix is scrolled on the shared display and some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements in the symbol matrix, an arrangement of symbols in a gaming terminal may be formed on the shared display. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a conventional fixed symbol matrix. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
The present invention is a gaming machine including: plurality of gaming terminals each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas, and a plurality of gaming terminals each having a terminal controller;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
a center controller,
wherein the terminal controller is programmed to perform the steps of: (q1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas at a predetermined timing,
(q2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas,
(q3) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas and the arrangement of the symbols,
and wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the steps of: (r1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from each of the terminal controllers symbols and the arrangement of the symbols,
(r2) combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement,
(r3) scrolling the symbols in the symbol matrix, on the shared display,
(r4) rearranging a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix on the shared display, and
(r5) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
In the above structure, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal at a predetermined timing. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. When a predetermined condition is met, one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal is combined with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix. Then, the symbols in the symbol matrix are scrolled on the shared display. The symbols in the symbol matrix are partly rearranged on the shared display. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates one game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by forming one symbol matrix including a combination of one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal and another arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of another gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, a payout is awarded based on a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix formed. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a fixed symbol matrix of a known art. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
A playing method of the present invention is for a gaming machine including a plurality of gaming terminals each having a terminal display, in which method a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas in the terminal display of each of the gaming terminals, the method comprising the steps of:
(s1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(s2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(s3) combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement;
(s4) scrolling the symbols in the symbol matrix, on the shared display; and
(s5) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
With the above structure, a payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition. Further, the above structure creates a single game by combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the one arrangement and the other arrangement. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, a payout is awarded based on a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix formed. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a fixed symbol matrix of a known art. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
A gaming machine of the present invention includes:
a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently of each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a bet unit which receives a side bet from a player, and (iii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(t1) causing the bet unit to receive the side bet;
(t2) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(t3) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(t4) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal (hereinafter, side-bet gaming terminal)is given a priority over a symbol arrangement of a gaming terminal having received no side bet; and
(t5) causing the payout awarding device of the side-bet gaming terminal to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. The bet unit receives a side bet. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. One symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. A payout is awarded through the side-bet gaming terminal, according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. Thus, one game is formed with the side-bet gaming terminals. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, the payout awarding device of a side-bet gaming terminal awards a payout. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
A gaming machine of the present invention includes:
a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently of each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a bet unit which receives a side bet from a player, (iii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iv) an illumination device which emits light, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
(u1) causing the bet unit to receive the side bet;
(u2) differentiating between how the illumination device lights when a side bet is received and when no side bet is received;
(u3) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(u4) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(u5) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal is given a priority over a symbol arrangement of a gaming terminal having received no side bet; and
(u6) causing the payout awarding device of the side-bet gaming terminal to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. The bet unit receives a side bet. How the illumination device lights when the side bet is received, is differentiated from how the illumination device lights when no side bet is received. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. One symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. A payout is awarded through the side-bet gaming terminal, according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. Thus, one game is formed with the side-bet gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, the payout awarding device of a side-bet gaming terminal awards a payout. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic. Further, the illumination device lights differently when a side bet is received from when no side bet is received. Yet further, a player is able to visually recognize how the illumination device of a gaming terminal lights, through which gaming terminal a payout is awarded based on symbols rearranged on the shared display. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
The present invention is the above mentioned gaming machine in which the center controller is programmed to perform the step of (v2) instead of (u2):
(v2) causing the illumination device to light when a side bet is received, and causing the illumination device to turn off when no side bet is received.
According to the above structure, the illumination device lights when a side bet is received. Also according to the above structure, a player is able to visually recognize how the illumination device of a gaming terminal lights, through which gaming terminal a payout is awarded based on symbols rearranged on the shared display. Thus, the player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
The present invention is the above mentioned gaming terminal in which the illumination device is capable of lighting in two colors, and the center controller is programmed to perform the step of (w2) instead of (u2):
(w2) causing the illumination device to light in different colors when the side bet is received, from when no side bet is received.
According to the above structure, the illumination device lights in different colors depending on whether or not a side bet is placed. Also according to the above structure, a player is able to visually recognize how the illumination device of a gaming terminal lights, through which gaming terminal a payout is awarded based on symbols rearranged on the shared display. Thus, the player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
The present invention is a gaming machine, including:
a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently of each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a bet unit which receives a side bet from a player, (iii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iv) a terminal controller, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols and displaying an effect related to the game; and
a center controller,
wherein the terminal controller performs the steps of: (x1) causing the bet unit to receive the side bet;
(x2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas based on a predetermined timing;
(x3) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(x4) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller, information on the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas, and whether or not the side bet is received; and
(x5) causing the payout awarding device to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller.
(y1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from the terminal controller of each of the gaming terminals, the information on the symbols, an arrangement of the symbols, and whether or not a side bet is received;
(y2) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal is given a priority over a symbol arrangement of a gaming terminal having received no side bet;
(y3) instructing the terminal controller of the side-bet gaming terminal to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
According to the above structure, a side bet is received by the bet unit. Based on a predetermined timing, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. When a predetermined condition is met, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. A payout is awarded according to a relation among symbols rearranged on the shred display, through the side-bet gaming terminal. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. Thus, one game is formed with the side-bet gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, the payout awarding device of a side-bet gaming terminal awards a payout. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
A playing method of a gaming machine in which gaming machine a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas on terminal displays of a plurality of gaming terminals, the method including the steps of:
(z1) causing a bet unit of each of a plurality of gaming terminals to receive a side bet;
(z2) rearranging symbols in arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
(z3) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
(z4) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on a shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal is given a priority over a symbol arrangement of a gaming terminal having received no side bet;
(z5) causing the payout awarding device of the side-bet gaming terminal to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
In the above structure, this payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. Thus, one game is formed with the side-bet gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, the payout awarding device of a side-bet gaming terminal awards a payout. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of: (A1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state; (A2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (A3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (A4) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and (A5) awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged on the common display.
According to the above-described structure, it is possible to rearrange, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, and to award the bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display. A player playing on the terminal device which has made a side-bet is given a bonus payout as a result of a side-bet game, which bonus payout is affected by game results of players playing on neighboring terminal devices. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices.
In the above-described gaming machine, when awarding a bonus payout, the controller awards a bonus payout in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, when awarding a bonus payout, a bonus payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the bonus payout due to difference in the number of participating players to be corrected by, for example, setting a bonus payout rate corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet and setting a bonus payout rate corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols to a lower rate when the larger number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of: (B1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (B2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (B3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (B4) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and (B5) awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged on the common display.
According to the above-described structure, the side-bet device can be put into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices. This allows the player to make a side-bet until rearrangement is completed in a base game on the terminal device. Therefore, the player can make a side-bet while watching how the predetermined symbols used for the side-bet game are rearranged.
In the above-described gaming machine, when awarding a bonus payout, the controller awards a bonus payout in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, when awarding a bonus payout, a bonus payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the bonus payout due to difference in the number of participating players to be corrected by, for example, setting a bonus payout rate corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet and setting a bonus payout rate corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols to a lower rate when the larger number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of: (C1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state; (C2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (C3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (C4) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; (C5) rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas in the common display; and (C6) awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged.
According to the above-described structure, it is possible: to rearrange, on the common display, predetermined one of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; to rearrange, in the arrangement areas, the predetermined symbols thus rearranged on the common display; and to award a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged. This may allow a player to enjoy a side-bet game with rearrangement on the common display. In addition, a player playing on the terminal device which has made a side-bet is given a bonus payout as a result of a side-bet game, which bonus payout is affected by game results of players playing on neighboring terminal devices. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices.
In the above-described gaming machine, when awarding a bonus payout, the controller awards a bonus payout in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, when awarding a bonus payout, a bonus payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the bonus payout due to difference in the number of participating players to be corrected by, for example, setting a bonus payout rate corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet and setting a bonus payout rate corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols to a lower rate when the larger number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of: (D1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (D2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (D3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (D4) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; (D5) rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas in the common display; and (D6) awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged.
According to the above-described structure, the side-bet device can be put into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices. This allows the player to make a side-bet until rearrangement is completed in a base game on the terminal device. Therefore, the player can make a side-bet while watching how the predetermined symbols used for the side-bet game are rearranged.
In the above-described gaming machine, when awarding a bonus payout, the controller awards a bonus payout in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, when awarding a bonus payout, a bonus payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the bonus payout due to difference in the number of participating players to be corrected by, for example, setting a bonus payout rate corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet and setting a bonus payout rate corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols to a lower rate when the larger number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
The present invention provides a playing method of a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols. The method includes the steps of: putting the side-bet device into a selectable state; rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged on the common display.
According to the above-described playing method of the gaming machine, it is possible to rearrange, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, and to award the bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display. A player playing on the terminal device which has made a side-bet is given a bonus payout as a result of a side-bet game, which bonus payout is affected by game results of players playing on neighboring terminal devices. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices.
The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of: (E1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state; (E2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (E3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (E4) accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; (E5) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and (E6) in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, it is possible that: a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas is accumulatively stored in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device are rearranged on the common display; and all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts is awarded to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display. Accordingly, a player playing on the terminal device which has made a side-bet is given a payout as a result of a side-bet game, which payout is affected by game results of players playing on neighboring terminal devices. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices. In addition, a player can enjoy the side-bet game without inserting a new game value, because a result of a game played in the terminal device having made a side-bet (a payout resulting from achievement of a predetermined combination) is used for a payout of the side-bet game.
In the above-described gaming machine, the controller awards all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, when awarding a part or all of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet button, a payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet button can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the payout due to difference in the number of players participating in the side-bet game to be corrected by, for example, setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of the predetermined symbols to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet and setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of the predetermined symbols to a lower rate when the larger number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of: (F1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (F2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (F3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (F4) accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; (F5) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and (F6) in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, the side-bet device can be put into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices. This allows the player to make a side-bet until rearrangement is completed in a base game on the terminal device. Therefore, the player can make a side-bet while watching how the predetermined symbols used for the side-bet game are rearranged.
In the above-described gaming machine, the controller awards all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, when awarding a part or all of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet button, a payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet button can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the payout due to difference in the number of players participating in the side-bet game to be corrected by, for example, setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of the predetermined symbols to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet and setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of the predetermined symbols to a lower rate when the larger number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of: (G1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state; (G2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (G3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (G4) accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; (G5) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; (G6) rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas on the common display; and (G7) in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, it is possible that: in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas is accumulatively stored; predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device are rearranged on the common display; the predetermined symbols thus rearranged are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the common display; and all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts is awarded to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display. This may enable a player to enjoy the side-bet game using rearrangement on the common display. In addition, a player playing on the terminal device which has made a side-bet is given a payout as a result of a side-bet game, which payout is affected by game results of players playing on neighboring terminal devices. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices. Moreover, a player can enjoy the side-bet game without inserting a new game value, because a result of a game played in the terminal device having made a side-bet (a payout resulting from achievement of a predetermined combination) is used for a payout of the side-bet game.
In the above-described gaming machine, the controller awards all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, when awarding a part or all of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet button, a payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet button can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the payout due to difference in the number of players participating in the side-bet game to be corrected by, for example, setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of the predetermined symbols to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet and setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of the predetermined symbols to a lower rate when the larger number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of: (H1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (H2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; (H3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (H4) accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; (H5) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; (H6) rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas on the common display; and (H7) in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, the side-bet device can be put into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices. This allows the player to make a side-bet until rearrangement is completed in a base game on the terminal device. Therefore, the player can make a side-bet while watching how the predetermined symbols used for the side-bet game are rearranged.
In the above-described gaming machine, the controller awards all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described structure, when awarding a part or all of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet button, a payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet button can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the payout due to difference in the number of players participating in the side-bet game to be corrected by, for example, setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of the predetermined symbols to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet and setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of the predetermined symbols to a lower rate when the larger number of terminal devices participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
The present invention provides a playing method of a gaming machine comprising: a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols. The method includes the steps of: putting the side-bet device into a selectable state; rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices; awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
According to the above-described playing method, it is possible that: a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas is accumulatively stored in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device are rearranged on the common display; and all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts is awarded to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display. Accordingly, a player playing on the terminal device which has made a side-bet is given a payout as a result of a side-bet game, which payout is affected by game results of players playing on neighboring terminal devices. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices. Moreover, a player can enjoy the side-bet game without inserting a new game value, because a result of a game played in the terminal device having made a side-bet (a payout resulting from achievement of a predetermined combination) is used for a payout of the side-bet game.
The following describes a first embodiment of a gaming machine and a playing method thereof according to the present invention. Note that reference numbers and symbols given to members and steps of flowcharts are only applicable to those described within the present embodiment, and do not represent the members or the steps of the other embodiments.
As illustrated in
The “arranging” in this specification means a state where the symbols 180 can be visually observed by a player. That is, the wording means a state where the symbols 180 are displayed in the arrangement areas 150, in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Further, “scatter symbols” are such symbols which provide advantages to a player when a predetermined number or more of them are displayed in the matrix 156. For example, the advantages includes: a state where coins corresponding to the scatter symbols are paid out, a state where the number of coins to be paid out is added to a credit, a state where a bonus game is started.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The terminal display 101 may have a mechanical structure adopting a reel device which rotates a reel to arrange the symbols 180. Alternatively, the terminal display 101 may have an electric structure in which a video reel is displayed as an image and symbols 180 on a video reel are arranged in the form of an image. Further, the terminal display 101 may adopt a combination of the mechanical structure (reel) and the electrical structure (video reel). Examples of the electrical structure include a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (cathode-ray tube), a plasma display device, or the like. Further, the number of arrangement areas 150 is not limited. A specific structure of the terminal display 101 will be detailed later.
As illustrated in
The payout awarding device 125 is a later-mentioned hopper 66 in this embodiment. The hopper 66 awards a player a payout related to a game by paying out coins. Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where the payout awarding device 125 is a hopper 66 which pays out coins. However, the present invention is not limited to this, as long as the device awards a player a payout related to a game. For example, a magnetic card storing therein a value related to a game is possible.
[Terminal Controller 100]
The terminal controller 110 executes: a first process of rearranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing; a second process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 180; a third process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting information of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the rearranged symbols 180 to the center controller 100; and a fourth process of causing the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100. In other words, the terminal controller 110 has a first processing unit, a second processing unit, a third processing unit, and a fourth processing unit.
The terminal controller 110 is connected to the center controller 100 and is in communication with the center controller 100.
As illustrated in
Further, the terminal controller 110 is connected to a BET unit 109. The BET unit 109 has functions of receiving a bet entered through an operation by the player, and outputting a BET signal in response to the bet entered. The BET signal output is input to a later-described game running unit 112.
The terminal controller 110 includes: a game running unit 112, a rearrangement symbol determining unit 113, a terminal display control unit 114, and a payout award control unit 124. The game running unit 112 runs a base game, triggered by a game start signal from the game starting unit 111. In the base game, symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of the terminal display 101. Further, the terminal controller 110 outputs a progressive signal, triggered by the game start signal. The progressive signal is a signal indicating a game value.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 determines, based on the state of game run by the game running unit 112, a plurality of symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (hereinafter, terminal symbol arrangement). The terminal controller 110 then transmits information of the terminal symbol arrangement to the center controller 100, through a control performed by the game running unit 112.
The terminal display control unit 114 displays the symbols 180 on the terminal display 101 under control of the game running unit 112 and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113. A detailed display state will be detailed later.
Further, the terminal controller 110 includes a not-shown payout award determining unit. The payout award determining unit determines whether to award a payout, based on a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of the terminal display 101. The payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout, based on a determination of the payout award determining unit and an instruction from the center controller 100.
Meanwhile, each block of the terminal controller 110 may be realized with hardware or with software as needed.
[Operation of Terminal Controller 110]
The following describes an operation of the terminal controller 100 in the above structure. First, the BET unit 109 accepts a BET entered through an operation by a player. Then, in response to the operation, the game starting unit 111 outputs a game start signal to cause the game running unit 112 to start a base game. When the base game is started, the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (terminal symbol arrangement). The symbols 180 to be rearranged and the terminal symbol arrangement are determined at every base game. The symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 undergo an image processing in the terminal display control unit 114, and are displayed on the terminal display 101. The terminal display control unit 114 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150, according to the arrangement determined. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the first process of rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing.
Further, a not-shown payout determining unit determines whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150. When the payout determining unit determines to award a payout, the payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the second process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150.
Further, the terminal controller 110 transmits, to the center controller 100, symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, based on a predetermined condition. An example of such a condition is a shared game being run, or the like condition. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the third process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting symbols 180 determined and an arrangement of the symbols 180 to the center controller 100.
Further, the payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a progressive payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the fourth process of causing the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100.
[Center Controller 100]
The center controller 100 executes: a fifth process of, when the predetermined condition is met, receiving symbols 180 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 from one or more terminal controllers 110; a sixth process of combining one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the other symbol arrangement 190, wherein the one symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3; a seventh process of determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102; an eighth process of, when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180; a ninth process of, when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on at least two different amounts of distribution; and a tenth process of instructing the terminal controller 110 of each of the gaming terminals 3 to award a payout based on the determined distribution. In other words, the terminal controller 100 includes a fifth process unit, a sixth process unit, a seventh process unit, an eighth process unit, a ninth process unit, and a tenth process unit.
As illustrated in
The center controller 100 includes: a progressive storage unit 115, a shared game starting unit 116, a shared game running unit 117, a rearrangement symbol determining unit 118, combination symbol determining unit 119, a shared display control unit 120, a payout determining unit 121, and a payout distribution determining unit 123.
The progressive storage unit 115 stores and sums up a game value indicated by a progressive signal received from the terminal controller 110. The shared game starting unit 116 outputs a shared game start signal, when the predetermined condition is met. The shared game start signal output is input to a later-mentioned shared game running unit 117. For example, meeting the predetermined situation means a situation where a game value stored in the progressive storage unit 115 sums up to a predetermined value or greater.
The shared game running unit 117 runs a shared game, triggered by the shared game start signal received from the shared game starting unit 116. In the shared game, symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102.
The combination symbol determining unit 119 receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from each of two or more terminal controllers 110. Based on the information of the terminal symbol arrangement received, the combination symbol determining unit 119 selects symbols 180 and determines an arrangement of the symbols 180 (hereinafter, combination symbol arrangement 190). In other words, the combination symbol arrangement 190 determines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in arrangement areas 250 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 by combining the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190.
The shared display control unit 120 displays the symbols 180 on the shared display 102 under control of the shared game running unit 117 and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118. A detailed display state will be detailed later.
Further, when a later-described payout determining unit 121 determines to award a progressive payout, the shared display control unit 120 displays effects 195 and 196 indicating that the progressive payout is awarded on the shared display.
The payout determining unit 121 determines whether to award a progressive payout based on a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102. When the payout determining unit 121 determines to award a progressive payout, the payout distribution determining unit 123 determines a distribution of the progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on a predetermined condition. In other words, the payout distribution determining unit 123 determines how to distribute a progressive payout. The payout distribution determining unit 123 may determine one of the gaming terminals 3, based on calculated contribution rates of the combination symbol arrangements 190. Further, the payout distribution determining unit 123 may determine a distribution of a progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3 so that at least two different amounts of distribution are provided to the gaming terminals 3. Further, the payout distribution determining unit 123 outputs an instruction to the terminal controller 110 of a determined gaming terminal 3 so that a progressive payout is awarded.
Meanwhile, each block of the center controller 100 may be realized with hardware or with software as needed.
[Operation of Center Controller 100]
The following describes an operation of the center controller 100 in the above structure. First, the game value is stored and summed in the progressive storage unit 115. A shared game starts when the stored game value sums up to a predetermined value or greater. The combination symbol determining unit 119, during the shared game, receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from the terminal controller 110. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the fifth process of receiving, when a predetermined condition is met, symbols 180 and arrangements thereof (terminal symbol arrangements) from the terminal controllers 110.
The combination symbol determining unit 119 determines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 based on the terminal symbol arrangement received. Further, the combination symbol determining unit 119 may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 based on symbols 180 and arrangement thereof in different positions of the arrangement areas 150. Further, the combination symbol determining unit 119 may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 on the row or column basis.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, by combining the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190.
The symbols determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 undergo image processing performed in the shared display control unit 120, and are displayed on the shared display 102. According to the arrangement thus determined, the shared display control unit 120 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 250. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the sixth process of combining one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the other symbol arrangement 190, wherein the one symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3.
The payout determining unit 121 determines whether to award a progressive payout, according to a relation of the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 250. In other words, the center controller 100 executes the seventh process of determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
When the payout determining unit 121 determines to award the progressive payout, the payout distribution determining unit 123 determines how to distribute the progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3. The payout distribution determining unit 123 calculates contribution rates of the combination symbol arrangements 190. Then, the payout distribution determining unit 123 determines a distribution of the progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on the calculated contribution rates. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the eighth process of determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180.
The payout distribution determining unit 123 may determine a distribution of a progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3 so that at least two different amounts of distribution are provided to the gaming terminals 3. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the ninth process of, when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on at least two different amounts of distribution.
The payout distribution determining unit 123, when the distribution of the progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3 is determined, outputs an instruction to the terminal controller 110 of each of the gaming terminals 3 so that a progressive payout based on the determined distribution is awarded.
Thus, the center controller 100 executes the tenth process of instructing the terminal controller 110 of each of the gaming terminals 3 to award a payout based on the determined distribution
The above can be rephrased as follows. The center controller 100 causes the terminal controllers 110 to perform the first process so as to execute a eleventh process of rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 based on running of a game in the gaming terminals 3.
As is obvious from the above operation, the gaming machine 1 includes a plurality of gaming terminals 3 and a shared display 102, and realizes a playing method including the steps of: rearranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; transmitting to the center controller 100, the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, when a predetermined condition is met; receiving, from terminal controllers 110, symbols 180 and arrangements thereof, when a predetermined condition is met; combining an arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging on the shared display 102 symbols 180 identical to those in the one arrangement 190 and the other arrangement 190, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3; determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102; when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180; when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on at least two different amounts of distribution; instructing the terminal controller 110 of each of the gaming terminals 3 to award a payout based on the determined distribution; and causing the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100.
This can be rephrased as follows. The gaming machine 1 includes a plurality of gaming terminals 3 and a shared display 102, and realizes a playing method including the steps of: arranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 of each of the gaming terminals 3 based on running of a game; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; combining, an arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging on the shared display 102 symbols 180 identical to those in the one arrangement 190 and the other arrangement 190, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3; determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102; when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180; when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on at least two different amounts of distribution; and causing the payout awarding device 125 of each of the gaming terminals 3 to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
According to the above playing method, symbols are arranged at a predetermined timing in the arrangement areas 150 on a terminal display 101 of a gaming terminal 3. Then, a payout is awarded according to the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150. When a predetermined condition is met, symbols 180 identical to those in one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 are rearranged on the shared display 102 in combination with symbols 180 identical to those in another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. When the payout is determined to be awarded, a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals 3 is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180. When the payout is determined to be awarded, a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals is determined based on at least two different amounts of distribution. The payout awarding device 125 of each of the gaming terminals 3 awards a payout based on the determined distribution. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Additionally, a distribution of the payout is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic. Additionally, different amounts of distribution are given to the gaming terminals 3 by determining a distribution of the payout based on at least two different amounts of distribution. Therefore, a new entertainment characteristic is realized. Further, when a payout is determined to be awarded, an effect indicating that the payout is awarded is displayed on the shared display. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives a player more concrete expectation for a payout according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. Further, a single game is created with the use of a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
[Display State of Terminal Display 101]
The following details an exemplary display state of the terminal display 101 during the operations of the gaming machine 1 and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the terminal display 101 adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As is illustrated in the upper left of
A frame including a part of the symbols 180 thus rearranged is variably displayed. Then, symbols 180 and an arrangement thereof within the frame, at the time of stopping the variable-displaying, are determined as a combination symbol arrangement 190. Specifically, in the example shown in the middle left of
[Display State of Shared Display 102]
The following details an exemplary display state of the shared display 102 during the operations of the gaming machine 1 and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the shared display 102 adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
This shared display 102 displays at its lower part a progressive jackpot value 200 as illustrated in
As is illustrated in the upper view of
Thus, when the payout is determined to be awarded, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating that the payout is awarded. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives a player more concrete expectation for a payout according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display
When the progressive payout is determined to be awarded, on the shared display 102 is displayed an effect 196 indicating that the progressive payout is awarded, as is illustrated in the upper view of
When the distribution of the progressive payout is determined, on the shared display 102 is displayed an effect 197 indicating that the distribution of the progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3 has been determined, as is illustrated in the lower view of
Thus, this payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal.
The following details contribution rates of combined symbol arrangements 190 in reference to
The symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 251a to 255a are arranged based on a combination symbol arrangement 190 of the gaming terminal with the terminal number 1. This combination symbol arrangement 190 includes one scatter symbol “7”. Therefore, the contribution level (contribution value) of this combination symbol arrangement 190 is 1.
Further, the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 251b to 255b are arranged based on a combination symbol arrangement 190 of the gaming terminal with the terminal number 3. This combination symbol arrangement 190 includes three scatter symbols “7”. Therefore, the contribution level of this combination symbol arrangement 190 is 3.
Further, the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 251c to 255c are arranged based on a combination symbol arrangement 190 of the gaming terminal with the terminal number 2. This combination symbol arrangement 190 includes no scatter symbols “7”. Therefore, the contribution level of this combination symbol arrangement 190 is 0.
The following describes distributions of a progressive payout based on contribution rates of combination symbol arrangements 190. Distributions of a progressive payout are determined so that each of the gaming terminals is ensured to be awarded a predetermined payout amount out of the progressive payout. For example, as illustrated in
Then, each of the gaming terminals is given a distribution of the payout calculated by subtracting the minimum awarding value from the progressive payout of 1,929.00 dollars, based on contribution rates of the combination symbol arrangements 190. In the example in
The payout value to be distributed for each of the gaming terminals is the total value of the minimum awarding value and the value due to contribution. In the example in
Thus, a distribution of a progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals is determined based on minimum awarding value and a payout due to contribution. Further, as described above, distributions of a progressive payout are preferably determined based on at least two different amounts of distribution.
Thus, a distribution of the payout is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic. Additionally, different amounts of distribution are given to the gaming terminals 3 by determining distributions of the payout based on at least two different amounts of distribution. Therefore, a new entertainment characteristic is realized.
As is the case of combination symbol arrangements 190a to 190c illustrated in
Further, as is the case of the combination symbol arrangements 190a, 190b, and 190c illustrated in
[Symbol, Combination, or the Like]
A terminal display 101 has a matrix 156 including symbol columns each having twenty two symbols 180 as illustrated in
Of the symbols in the symbol columns, the display windows 151 to 155 each displays (arranges) three successive symbols. The symbols arranged in the upper stages 151a to 155a, the centeral stages 151b to 155b, and the lower stages 151c to 155c form a symbol matrix having five columns and three rows. When a BET button and a start button are sequentially pressed in this order to start a game, symbols constituting the symbol matrix start to scroll. This scrolling of the symbols stops (rearrangement) after a predetermined period from the beginning of the scrolling.
Further, for each symbol, a predetermined scatter symbol is determined in advance. Scatter symbols are such symbols that a player is put in an advantageous position when a predetermined number or more of them are displayed in the matrix 156. For example, the advantages includes: a state where coins corresponding to the scatter symbols are paid out, a state where the number of coins to be paid out is added to a credit, a state where a bonus game is started.
To be more specific, when three or more symbols of “BONUS” are rearranged in the matrix 156, a bonus is triggered and a gaming state shifts from a base game to a bonus game. Further, when four or more symbols of “BONUS” are displayed in the matrix 156, twenty coins (game medium) are paid out for one bet.
Here, a bonus game is a gaming state which provides a larger advantage than a base game. In this embodiment, the bonus game is a free game. The free game is a game allowing a player to play a game a predetermined number of times without betting a coin. No particular limitation is put on the bonus game, as long as it is a gaming state advantageous to the player, that is, it is more advantageous than the base game. For example, the bonus game may include a state where more game media are obtainable than in the base game, a state where a game medium is obtainable with higher probability than in the base game, a state where a game medium is less consumed than in the base game, and the like. Specifically, a free game, a second game, a feature game, and the like may be mentioned as examples of the bonus game.
[Mechanical Structure of Gaming Machine 1]
Next, the following describes a specific example of mechanical and electrical structures of the gaming machine 1 thus structured.
A gaming machine 1 is placed in a gaming facility such as a casino. This gaming machine 1 runs a unit game which involves a game medium. The game medium is a coin, bill, or a value in the form of electronic information. However, the game medium in the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, a medal, token, electronic money, ticket or the like are also possible. Further, the ticket is not particularly limited and may be a later-described ticket with a barcode or the like ticket.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The present embodiment deals with a case where the lower image display panel 16 electrically displays symbols 180 arranged in five rows/three columns. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
The lower image display panel 16 displays a single activated payline L. Note that the number of pay lines L may be two or more. When the number of pay lines L is two or more, the number of pay lines L activated may be determined according to a predetermined condition, such as the number of coins placed as a BET.
Note that the lower image display panel 16 may have a credit value indicator and a payout value indicator. The credit value indicator displays a total value (hereinafter also referred to as total credit value) which a gaming terminal 3 can pay out to a player. When symbols stopped along a pay line L form a winning combination, the payout value indicator displays the number of coins to be paid out.
Further, scatter symbols may be adopted, and the number of coins to be paid out may be determined, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed on the matrix 156. Note that the pay line L does not necessarily have to be displayed.
Below the lower image display panel 16 provided are a control panel 20, a coin insertion slot 21, and a bill validator 22. The control panel 20 is provided with various buttons 23 to 27. These buttons 23 to 27 allow a player to input instructions related to a game played by the player. Through the coin insertion slot 21, a coin is received in the cabinet 11.
The control panel 20 includes: a spin button 23, a change button 24, a cashout button 25, a 1-BET button 26, and a maximum BET button 27. The spin button 23 is for inputting an instruction to start symbol scrolling. The change button 24 is used to ask a staff person in the gaming facility for exchange of money. The cash out button 25 is for inputting an instruction to pay out coins corresponding to the total credit-value into the coin tray 18.
The 1-BET button 26 is used for betting one coin out of those corresponding to the total credit value. The maximum BET button 27 is used for betting, out of those corresponding to the total credit value, a maximum number of coins (e.g., fifty coins) which can be bet in one game.
The bill validator 22 validates whether bill is genuine or not and receives the genuine bill into the cabinet 11. Note that the bill validator 22 is capable of reading a barcode attached to a later-mentioned ticket 39 having a barcode (hereinafter simply referred to as ticket 39). When the bill validator 22 reads the ticket 39, it outputs to the main CPU 41 a read signal representing information having read from the barcode.
On the lower front surface of the main door 13, that is, below the control panel 20, a berry glass 34 is provided. On the belly glass, a character of a gaming terminal 3 or the like is drawn. On the front surface of top box 12 is provided an upper image display panel 33. The upper image display panel 33 has a liquid crystal panel and displays an effect image, introduction to the game, rules of the game, or the like.
Further, the top box 12 has a speaker 29 for performing an audio output. Below the upper image display panel 33 are provided a ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a data displayer 37, and a keypad 38. The ticket printer 35 prints, on to a ticket, a barcode having encoded data containing credit-value, date and time, identification number of a gaming terminal 3 or the like, thereby issuing a ticket 39 having a barcode attached thereto. A player can play a game in another gaming terminal 3 with the ticket 39 having the barcode, or exchange the ticket 39 having the barcode with bill or the like at a change booth or the like of the game arcade.
The card reader 36 reads/writes data from/into a smart card. The smart card is carried by a player, and stores therein data for identifying the player, data relating to a history of games played by the player, or the like.
The data displayer 37 includes a fluorescent display or the like, and displays the data read by the card reader 36 and the data input by the player through the keypad 38. The keypad 38 is for entering instructions or data relating to issuing of a ticket or the like.
[Electrical Structure of Gaming Machine 1]
[Electrical structure of Gaming Terminal 3]
The gaming board 50 is provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a ROM 55, a boot ROM 52, a card slot 53S corresponding to a memory card 53, and an IC socket 54S corresponding to a GAL (Generic Array Logic) 54. The CPU 51, the ROM 55, and the boot ROM 52 are connected to one another through an internal bus.
The memory card 53 stores therein a game program and a game system program. The game program contains a stop symbol determining program. The stop symbol determining program determines symbols (code number corresponding to the symbol) to be stopped in the arrangement areas 150. This stop symbol determining program contains sets of symbol weighting data respectively corresponding to various payout rates (e.g., 80%, 84%, 88%). Each set of the symbol weighting data indicates, for each of the display windows 151 to 155, a code number of each symbol and at least one random numerical value allotted to the code number. The numerical value is a value within a predetermined range of 0 to 256 for example.
The payout rate is determined based on payout rate setting data output from the GAL 54. Based on a set of the symbol weighting data corresponding to the payout rate determined, a symbol to be stopped is determined.
The memory card 53 stores therein various types of data for use in the game programs and the game system programs. For example, the memory card 53 stores a table listing combinations of a symbol 180 to be displayed on the display windows 151 to 155 of
The card slot 53S is structured so as to allow the memory card 53 to be attached/detached to/from the card slot 53S. This card slot 53S is connected to the motherboard 40 through an IDE bus. Thus, the type and content of a game run by a gaming terminal 3 can be modified by detaching the memory card 53 from the card slot 53S, write a different game program and a different game system program into the memory card 53, and inserting the memory card 53 back into the card slot 53S.
Each of the game programs includes a program related to the progress of the game and/or a program for causing a transition to a bonus game. Each of the game programs includes image data and audio data output during the game.
The GAL 54 has input and output ports. When the GAL 54 receives data via the input port, it outputs data corresponding to the input data from its output port. This data from the output port is the payout rate setting data described above.
IC socket 54S is structured so as to allow the GAL 54 to be attached/detached to/from the IC socket 54S. The IC socket 54S is connected to the motherboard 40, via a PCI bus. Thus, the payout rate setting data to be output from GAL 54 can be modified by: detaching the GAL 54 from the IC socket 54S, overwriting the program stored in the GAL 54, and attaching the GAL 54 back to the IC socket 54S.
The CPU 51, the ROM 55 and the boot ROM 52 connected through an internal bus are connected to the motherboard 40 through the PCI bus. The PCI bus communicates signals between the motherboard 40 and the gaming board 50 and supplies power from the motherboard 40 to the gaming board 50. The ROM 55 stores country identification information and an authentication program. The boot ROM 52 stores a preliminary authentication program and a program (boot code) for enabling the CPU 51 to run the preliminary authentication program.
The authentication program is a program (falsification check program) for authenticating the game program and the game system program. The authentication program is a program for confirming and verifying that the game program and the game system program are not falsified. In other words, the authentication program is described in accordance with a procedure for authenticating the game program and the game system program. The preliminary authentication program is a program for authenticating the authentication program. The preliminary authentication program is described in accordance with a procedure for verifying that the authentication program to be authenticated is not falsified. In short, the preliminary authentication program authenticates the authentication program.
The motherboard 40 is provided with a main CPU 41 (terminal controller 110), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and a communication interface 44.
The main CPU 41 serves as a terminal controller 110 and has a function of controlling the entire gaming terminal 3. In particular, the main CPU 41 controls the following operations: an operation of outputting a signal instructing variable-displaying of symbols 180 to the graphic board 68, which is performed in response to pressing of the spin button 23 after betting of credit; an operation of determining symbols 180 to be stopped after the variable-displaying of symbols 180; and an operation of stopping the symbols 180 thus determined in the display window 151 to 155.
In other words, the main CPU 41 serves as an arrangement controller which arranges symbols to form a new symbol matrix through scrolling of symbols displayed on the lower image display panel 16. This main CPU 41 therefore determines symbols to be arranged in a symbol matrix by selecting symbols to be arranged from various kinds of symbols. Then, the main CPU 41 executes arrangement control to stop scrolling the symbols to present the symbols thus determined.
The ROM 42 stores a program such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) run by the main CPU 41, and permanently-used data. When the BIOS is run by the main CPU 41, each of peripheral devices is initialized and the game program and the game system program stored in the memory card 53 are read out through the gaming board 50. The RAM 43 stores data or a program used for the main CPU 41 to perform a process.
The communication interface 44 is provided to communicate with a host computer and the like equipped in the gaming facility, through the network (communication line). The communication interface 44 is also for communicating with the center controller 100 through a communication line. Further, a main body PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 60 and a door PCB 80 are connected to the motherboard 40, through USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the motherboard 40 is connected to a power unit 45. The power unit 45 supplies power to the motherboard 40 to boot the main CPU 41 thereof. Meanwhile, the power unit 45 supplies power to the gaming board 50 through the PCI bus to boot the CPU 51 thereof.
The main body PCB 60 and door PCB 80 are connected to various devices or units which generate signals to be input to the main CPU 41, and various devices or units whose operations are controlled by signals from the main CPU 41. Based on a signal input to the main CPU 41, the main CPU 41 runs the game program and the game system program stored in the RAM 43, to perform an arithmetic process. Then, the CPU 41 stores the result of the arithmetic process in the RAM 43, or transmits a control signal to the various devices and units to control them based on the result.
The main body PCB 60 is connected with a lamp 30, a hopper 66, a coin sensor 67, a graphic board 68, the speaker 29, a bill validator 22, a ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a key switch 38S, and a data displayer 37.
The lamp 30 is turned on/off on the basis of a control signal from the main CPU 41.
The hopper 66 as the payout awarding device 125 is mounted in the cabinet 11 and pays out a predetermined number of coins from a coin outlet 19 to the coin tray 18, based on a control signal from the main CPU 41. The coin sensor 67 is provided inside the coin outlet 19, and outputs a signal to be input to the main CPU 41 upon sensing that a predetermined number of coins have been delivered from the coin outlet 19.
The graphic board 68 controls image displaying of upper image display panel 33 and the lower image display panel 16, based on a control signal from the main CPU 41. Further, the graphic board 68 is provided with a VDP (Video Display Processor) for generating image data on the basis of a control signal from the main CPU 41, a video RAM for temporarily storing the image data generated by the VDP, or the like. Note that image data used at the time of generating the image data by the VDP is in a game program which is read out from the memory card 53 and stored in the RAM 43.
The bill validator 22 reads an image on the bill and takes only those recognized as to be genuine into the cabinet 11. When taking in a genuine bill, the bill validator 22 outputs an input signal indicating the value of the bill to the main CPU 41. The main CPU 41 stores into the RAM 43 a credit-value corresponding to the value of the bill indicated by the signal.
The ticket printer 35 prints a barcode on to a ticket to issue a ticket 39 having the barcode. The barcode contains encoded data such as credit-value stored in the RAM 43, date and time, identification number of the gaming terminal 3, or the like, based on a control signal from the main CPU 41.
The card reader 36 reads out data from the smart card and transmits the data to the main CPU 41. Further, the card reader 36 writes data into the smart card based on the control signal output from the main CPU 41. The key switch 38S is mounted to the keypad 38, and outputs a signal to the main CPU 41 in response to an operation of the keypad 38 by the player. The data displayer 37 displays, based on a control signal from the main CPU 41, the data read by the card reader 36 or the data input by the player through the key pad 38.
The door PCB 80 is connected to a control panel 20, a reverter 21S, a coin counter 21C, and a cold cathode tube 81. The control panel 20 is provided with: a spin switch 23S associated with the spin button 23; a change switch 24S associated with the change button 24; a cashout switch 25S associated with the cashout button 25; a 1-BET switch 26S associated with the 1-BET button 26; and a maximum BET switch 27S associated with the maximum BET button 27. Each of the switches 23S to 27S outputs a signal to the main CPU 41, when a player presses the associated button.
The coin counter 21C is provided within the coin insertion slot 21, and identifies whether the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 12 by the player is genuine. A coin except the genuine coin is discharged from the coin outlet 19. In addition, the coin counter 21C outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41 upon detection of a genuine coin.
The reverter 21S is operated on the basis of the control signal output from the main CPU 41 and distributes a coin, which is recognized as a genuine coin by the coin counter 21C, to a not-shown cash box or hopper 66 mounted in the gaming terminal 3. In other words, when the hopper 66 is full of the coins, the genuine coin is distributed into the cash box by the reverter 21S. On the other hand, when the hopper 66 is not yet full with the coins, the genuine coin is distributed into the hopper 66. The cold cathode tube 81 functions as a backlight mounted to rear sides of the lower image display panel 16 and the upper image display panel 33. This cold cathode tube 81 turns on according to a control signal from the main CPU 41.
[Electrical Structure of Center Controller 100]
The gaming board 260 has the same structure as that of the gaming board 50. The motherboard 240 has the same structure as that of the motherboard 40. The communication interface 244 communicates with the terminal controller 110 through a communication line.
The graphic board 268 has the same structure as that of the graphic board 68, except in that the graphic board 268 controls image displaying of the shared display 102 based on a control signal from the main CPU 241.
The drive motor 270 is a stepping motor and is connected to a not-shown drive wheel. The drive motor 270 is driven by a control signal from the main CPU 241, and rotates the drive wheel to move the shared display 102.
[Operation of Gaming Machine 1: Boot Process]
The following describes a boot process routine which takes place in the gaming machine 1. Upon powering on the gaming machine 1, a boot process starts in: the mother board 240 and gaming board 260 in the center controller 100, and in the mother board 40 and the gaming board 50 in the terminal controller 110. The memory cards 53 and 263 are assumed to be inserted into the card slots 53S and 263S of the gaming boards 50 and 260, respectively. Further, the GALs 54 and 264 are assumed to be attached to the IC sockets 54S and 264S, respectively.
First, turning on the power switch of (powering on) the power units 45 and 245 boots the motherboards 40 and 240, and the gaming boards 50 and 260. Booting the motherboards 40 and 240 and the gaming boards 50 and 260 starts separate processes in parallel. Specifically, the CPUs 51 and 261 read out preliminary authentication programs stored in the boot ROMs 52 and 262, respectively. Then, preliminary authentication is performed according to the read out programs so as to confirm and authenticate that no modification is made to authentication programs, before reading them in the motherboards 40 and 240, respectively (S1). Meanwhile, the main CPUs 41 and 241 of the motherboards 40 and 240 run BIOS stored in the ROMs 42 and 242 to load into the RAMs 43 and 243 compressed data built in the BIOS, respectively (S2). Then, the main CPUs 41 and 241 run a procedure of the BIOS according to the data loaded into the RAMs 43 and 243 so as to diagnose and initialize various peripheral devices (S3).
The main CPUs 41 and 241, which are respectively connected to the ROMs 55 and 265 of the gaming boards 50 and 260 via PCI buses, read out authentication programs stored in the ROMs 55 and 265 and stores them in the RAMs 43 and 243 (S4). During this step, the main CPUs 41 and 241 each derives a checksum through ADDSUM method (a standard check function) which is adopted in a standard BIOS, and store the authentication programs into RAMs 43 and 243 while confirming if the operation of storing is carried out without an error.
Next, the main CPUs 41 and 241 each checks what connects to the IDE bus. Then, the main CPUs 41 and 241 access, via the IDE buses, to the memory cards 53 and 263 inserted into the card slots 53S and 263S, and read out game programs and game system programs from the memory cards 53 and 263, respectively. In this case, the CPUs 41 and 241 each reads out four bytes of data constituting the game program and the game system program at one time. Next, the CPUs 41 and 241 authenticate the game program and the game system program read out to confirm and prove that these programs are not modified (S5).
When the authentication properly ends, the main CPUs 41 and 241 write and store the authenticated game programs and game system programs in RAMs 43 and 243 (S6).
Next, the main CPUs 41 and 241 access, via the PCI buses, to the GALs 54 and 264 attached to the IC socket 54S•264S, and read out payout rate setting data from the GALs 54 and 264, respectively. The payout rate setting data read out is then written and stored in the RAMs 43 and 243 (S7).
Next, the main CPUs 41 and 241 read out, via the PCI buses, country identification information stored in the ROMs 55 and 265 of the gaming boards 50 and 265, respectively. The country identification information read out is then stored in the RAMs 43 and 243 (S8).
After this, the main CPU 41 and 241 each performs an initial process of
[operation of Gaming Machine 1: Initial Process]
The following describes an initial process which takes place in the gaming machine 1. When the boot process of
First, the main CPU 41 of each of the gaming terminals 3 checks operations of work memories such as the RAM 43, various sensors, various driving mechanisms, and various decorative illuminations (A1). Then, the main CPU 41 determines if all the check results are normal (A2).
If the main CPU 41 determines that the check results contains an error (A2: NO), the main CPU 41 outputs a signal notifying the error (hereinafter, error signal) to the center controller 100 (A3). Further, the main CPU 41 reports the error in the form of illuminating the lamp 30 or the like (A4), and then ends the routine
On the other hand in A2, if the main CPU 41 determines that all the check results are normal (A2: YES), an initial setting signal is output to the center controller 100 (A5). Then, an initial setting signal is waited from the center controller 100 (A6, A7: NO).
The main CPU 241 of the center controller 100 receives signals from each of the terminals (B1). Then, the main CPU 241 determines whether a signal received is an error signal (B2). If the main CPU 241 determines that the signal is an error signal (B2: YES), the main CPU 241 outputs the error signal to a server of a not-shown host computer or the like (B9) to report the error (B10), and ends the routine.
On the other hand in B2, if the main CPU 241 determines that the signal is not an error signal (B2:NO), the main CPU 241 determines whether a predetermined time (check time) has elapsed from the time of powering on (B3). If the main CPU 241 determines that the check time has elapsed (B3: YES), B9 is executed. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that the check time has not yet elapsed (B3:NO), it is determined whether an initial setting signal is received from each of the gaming terminals 3 (B4). If the main CPU 241 determines that an initial setting signal from any one of the gaming terminals 3 is not received (B4: NO), the process returns to B1. On the other hand, if it is determined that initial setting signals from all the gaming terminals 3 are received (B4: YES), the main CPU 241 checks operations of work memories such as RAM 243 or the like, various sensors, various driving mechanisms, and various decorative illuminations (B5). Then, the main CPU 241 determines whether all the check results are normal (B6). If the main CPU 241 determines the check results contain an error (B6: NO), the main CPU 241 executes B9.
On the other hand in B6, if the main CPU 241 determines that all the check results are normal (B6: YES), the main CPU 241 outputs an initial setting signal to all the gaming terminals 3 (B7), and causes the shared display 102 to display a demo-screen (B8). Then, the main CPU 241 ends the routine.
In A7, the main CPU 41 of each of the gaming terminals 3 determines that an initial setting signal is received from the center controller 100 (A7: YES), and causes the terminal display 101 to display a demo-screen (A7). The main CPU 41 then ends the routine.
[Operation of Gaming Terminal 3: Terminal Process Routine]
After the terminal side initial setting routine of
As illustrated in
On the other hand, if a coin is bet (C1: YES), the credit value stored in the RAM 43 is reduced according to the number of coins bet (C2). When the number of coins bet surpasses the number of coins equivalent to the credit value stored in the RAM 43, C2 is repeated without the reduction of the credit value. When the number of coins bet exceeds the maximum number of coins bettable one game (50 pieces in this embodiment), the process goes to a later-described step C3 without the reduction of the credit value.
Then, it is determined whether a spin button 23 is pressed (C3). If the spin button 23 is not pressed (C3: NO), the process returns to C1. Here, if the spin button 23 is not pressed (for example, the spin button 23 is not pressed but a command to end the game is input), the reduction of the credit value in C2 is canceled.
On the other hand, when the spin button 23 is pressed (C3: YES), a progressive transmission process is executed (C4). In other words, a progressive signal indicating a part of the game value bet is transmitted to the center controller 100.
Next executed is a symbol determining process (C5). That is, the stop symbol determining program stored in the RAM 43 is run to determine symbols 180 to be arranged in the matrix 156. Through this, a symbol combination to be formed along the payline L is determined.
Then, the scrolling process is executed to scroll symbols 180 on the terminal display 101 (C6). The scrolling process is a process in which the symbols 180 determined in C5 are stopped (rearranged) in the matrix 156 after scrolling of symbols 180 in a direction indicated by an arrow symbol.
Next, the CPU 41 determines whether a shared game is running (C7). If a shared game start signal is received from the center controller 100, the CPU 41 determines that the shared game is running. If the CPU 41 determines that the shared game is running (C7: YES), a terminal symbol arrangement signal is transmitted to the center controller 100 (C12). The terminal symbol arrangement signal indicates symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (terminal symbol arrangement). Next, the main CPU 41 receives a combination symbol arrangement signal from the center controller 100 (C13). The combination symbol arrangement signal indicates a combination symbol arrangement 190 determined by the center controller 100 based on the terminal symbol arrangement signal resulting from C12. Next, the main CPU 41 causes the terminal display 101 to scroll the frame. Then, the main CPU 41 stops scrolling the frame so as to present in the frame the combination symbol arrangement 190 received in C12 (C14). On the other hand in C7, if it is determined that no shared game is running (C7: NO), C8 is executed.
Next, it is determined whether symbols 180 rearranged in the matrix 156 form a winning combination (C8). If the symbols 180 forms a winning combination (C8: YES), a payout process is executed (C9). More specifically, when a winning combination is formed, the number of coins according to the combination is calculated. On the other hand in C8, if it is determined that no winning combination is formed (C8: NO), C10 is executed.
Next, the main CPU 41 determines whether a progressive award signal is received from the center controller 100 (C10). If the CPU 41 determines that a progressive award signal is received (C10:YES), a payout is awarded according to the progressive award signal (C11). The process then returns to C1. On the other hand in C10, if the CPU 41 determines that no progressive award signal is received (C10: NO), the process returns to C1.
[Operation of Center Controller 100: Center Process Routine]
After the center side initial setting routine of
As illustrated in
On the other hand in D1, if the main CPU 241 determines no progressive signal is received (D1: NO), the main CPU 241 determines if the progressive value equals or surpasses a predetermined value (D3). If the main CPU 241 determines that the progressive value is less than the predetermined value (D3: NO), the process returns to D1. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that the progressive value equals or surpasses the predetermined value (D3: YES), a shared game start signal is output to each of the gaming terminals 3 (D4). Next, the main CPU 241 causes the shared display 102 to start scrolling symbols 180 (D5). Next, a terminal symbol arrangement signal is received from each of the gaming terminals 3 (D6). Based on the terminal symbol arrangement signal, a combination symbol arrangement 190 is determined. The combination symbol arrangement 190 thus determined is sent back to the gaming terminals 3 (D7).
Next, the main CPU 241 combines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 determined in D7, and tries to determine symbols 180 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 to be arranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102 (D8). If an arrangement is not determined (D8: NO), the process returns to D6. On the other hand, if an arrangement is determined (D8: YES), the scrolling of the symbols 180 on the shared display 102 is stopped to present the arrangement determined (D9).
Then, the main CPU 241 determines whether the symbols 180 arranged on the shared display 102 forms a winning combination (D10). If the main CPU 241 determines that no winning combination is formed (D10: NO), the process returns to D1. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that a winning combination is formed (D10:YES), a later-mentioned progressive award process routine is called to be executed (D11). When the progressive award process ends, a progressive value consumed is subtracted from the value stored in RAM 243 (D12), and the process returns to D1.
[Operation of Center Controller 100: Progressive Award Process Routine]
The following describes a progressive award process routine which is called during execution of the center side initial setting routine.
As illustrated in
Then, the main CPU 241 calculates respective contribution levels of the specified combination symbol arrangements 190, wherein each of the contribution level (contribution value) is a level at which one arrangement 190 contributes to the determination of awarding the progressive payout (E4). Then, the main CPU 241 determines a distribution of the progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3, based on the calculated contribution value (E5). Then, the main CPU 241 displays an effect 197 indicating that the distribution of the progressive payout for each of the gaming terminals 3 has been determined (E6). Then, the main CPU 241 outputs an instruction signal to each of the gaming terminals 3 for awarding a progressive payout based on the determined distribution (E7).
As is already mentioned, a payout awarded according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102 realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal 3.
Thus, distributions of the payout are determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
Additionally, different amounts of distribution are given to the gaming terminals 3 by determining distributions of the payout based on at least two different amounts of distribution. Therefore, a new entertainment characteristic is realized.
Further, when a payout is determined to be awarded, the effect 195 indicating that the payout is awarded is displayed on the shared display 102. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives a player more concrete expectation for a payout according to the relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
Further, as is already mentioned, a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals is created by rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 in combination with symbols 180 identical to those in another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
Further, as is already mentioned, the symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the symbols 180 identical to those in the other symbol arrangement 190 are combined and rearranged, on the row or column basis, on the shared display 102. A player therefore is able to easily understand how rearranged symbols on the terminal displays 101 are combined and rearranged on the shared display 102. This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players.
Further, on the shared display 102 are rearranged the symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the symbols 180 identical to those in the other symbol arrangement 190, the symbols 180 of the other symbol arrangement 190 being in different positions from those of the one symbol arrangement 190. A player therefore is able to easily understand how rearranged symbols on another terminal display 101 are combined and rearranged on the shared display 102. This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players.
Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where the center controller 100 determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be the terminal controller 110 which determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement.
Note further that the number of gaming terminals 3 is three in the present embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, provided that at least two gaming terminals 3 are provided.
The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove mainly focused on characteristics thereof for the purpose of easier understanding; however, the scope of the present invention shall be construed as broadly as possible, encompassing various forms of other possible embodiments, and therefore the present invention shall not be limited to the above description. Further, the terms and phraseology used in the present specification are adopted solely to provide specific illustration of the present invention, and in no case should the scope of the present invention be limited by such terms and phraseology. Further, it will be obvious for those skilled in the art that the other structures, systems, methods or the like are possible, within the spirit of the invention described in the present specification. The description of claims therefore shall encompass structures equivalent to the present invention, unless otherwise such structures are regarded as to depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the abstract is provided to allow, through a simple investigation, quick analysis of the technical features and essences of the present invention by an intellectual property office, a general public institution, or one skilled in the art who is not fully familiarized with patent and legal or professional terminology. It is therefore not an intention of the abstract to limit the scope of the present invention which shall be construed on the basis of the description of the claims. To fully understand the object and effects of the present invention, it is strongly encouraged to sufficiently refer to disclosures of documents already made available.
The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove includes a process executed on a computer or computer network. The above descriptions and expressions are provided to allow the one skilled in the art to most efficiently understand the present invention. A process performed in or by respective steps yielding one result or blocks with a predetermined processing function described in the present specification shall be understood as a process with no self-contradiction. Further, the electrical or magnetic signal is transmitted/received and written in the respective steps or blocks. It should be noted that such a signal is expressed in the form of bit, value, symbol, text, terms, number, or the like solely for the sake of convenience. Although the present specification occasionally personifies the processes performed in the steps or blocks, these processes are essentially executed by various devices. Further, the other structures necessary for the steps or blocks are obvious from the above descriptions.
Second EmbodimentThe following describes a second embodiment of a gaming machine and a playing method thereof according to the present invention. Note that reference numbers and symbols given to members and steps of flowcharts are only applicable to those described within the present embodiment, and do not represent the members or the steps of the other embodiments.
As illustrated in
The “arranging” in this specification means a state where the symbols 180 can be visually observed by a player. That is, the wording means a state where the symbols 180 are displayed in the arrangement areas 150, in
As illustrated in
Further, “scatter symbols” are such symbols which provide advantages to a player when a predetermined number or more of them are displayed in the matrix 156. For example, the advantages includes: a state where coins corresponding to the scatter symbols are paid out, a state where the number of coins to be paid out is added to a credit, a state where a bonus game is started.
As illustrated in
The conveying device 127 has a later-mentioned drive motor 270 and a later-mentioned rail 271. The conveying device 127 supports the shared display 102 and transfers the shared display 102 to positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals 3. A specific structure of the conveying device 127 will be detailed later.
The position sensor 128 detects that the shared display 102 has arrived at a position corresponding to a gaming terminal 3. A specific structure of the position sensor 128 will be detailed later.
[Terminal Controller 100]
The terminal controller 110 executes: a first process of rearranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing; a second process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 180; a third process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting information of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the rearranged symbols 180 to the center controller 100; and a fourth process of causing the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100. In other words, the terminal controller 110 has a first processing unit, a second processing unit, a third processing unit, and a fourth processing unit.
The terminal controller 110 is connected to the center controller 100 and is in communication with the center controller 100.
As illustrated in
Further, the terminal controller 110 is connected to a BET unit 109. The BET unit 109 has functions of receiving a bet entered through an operation by the player, and outputting a BET signal in response to the bet entered. The BET signal output is input to a later-described game running unit 112.
The terminal controller 110 includes: a game running unit 112, a rearrangement symbol determining unit 113, a terminal display control unit 114, and a payout award control unit 124. The game running unit 112 runs a base game, triggered by a game start signal from the game starting unit 111. In the base game, symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of the terminal display 101. Further, the terminal controller 110 outputs a progressive signal, triggered by the game start signal. The progressive signal is a signal indicating a game value.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 determines, based on the state of game run by the game running unit 112, a plurality of symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (hereinafter, terminal symbol arrangement). The terminal controller 110 then transmits information of the terminal symbol arrangement to the center controller 100, through a control performed by the game running unit 112.
The terminal display control unit 114 displays the symbols 180 on the terminal display 101 under control of the game running unit 112 and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113. A detailed display state will be detailed later.
Further, the terminal controller 110 includes a not-shown payout award determining unit. The payout award determining unit determines whether to award a payout, based on a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of the terminal display 101. The payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout, based on a determination of the payout award determining unit and an instruction from the center controller 100.
Meanwhile, each block of the terminal controller 110 may be realized with hardware or with software as needed.
[Operation of Terminal Controller 110]
The following describes an operation of the terminal controller 100 in the above structure. First, the BET unit 109 accepts a BET entered through an operation by a player. Then, in response to the operation, the game starting unit 111 outputs a game start signal to cause the game running unit 112 to start a base game. When the base game is started, the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (terminal symbol arrangement). The symbols 180 to be rearranged and the terminal symbol arrangement are determined at every base game. The symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 undergo an image processing in the terminal display control unit 114, and are displayed on the terminal display 101. The terminal display control unit 114 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150, according to the arrangement determined. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the first process of rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing.
Further, a not-shown payout determining unit determines whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150. When the payout determining unit determines to award a payout, the payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the second process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150.
Further, the terminal controller 110 transmits, to the center controller 100, symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, based on a predetermined condition. An example of such a condition is a shared game being run, or the like condition. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the third process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting symbols 180 determined and an arrangement of the symbols 180 to the center controller 100.
Further, the payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a progressive payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the fourth process of causing the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100.
[Center Controller 100]
The center controller 100 executes: a fifth process of, when the predetermined condition is met, receiving symbols 180 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 from one or more terminal controllers 110; a sixth process of combining one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the other symbol arrangement 190, wherein the one symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3; a seventh process of determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102; an eighth process of, when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device 127 to transfer the shared display 102 between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals 3; a ninth process of, when the payout is determined to be awarded, determine one of the gaming terminals 3, based on contribution rates of the combination symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180; a tenth process of causing the conveying device 127 to transfer the shared display 102 to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3; an eleventh process of, after detecting that the shared display 102 has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3, displaying an effect 197 indicating the determined one gaming terminal 3 on the shared display 102; and a twelfth process of instructing the terminal controller 110 of the determined one gaming terminal 3 to award the payout. In other words, the terminal controller 100 includes a fifth process unit, a sixth process unit, a seventh process unit, an eighth process unit, a ninth process unit, a tenth process unit, an eleventh process unit, and a twelfth process unit.
As illustrated in
The center controller 100 includes: a progressive storage unit 115, a shared game starting unit 116, a shared game running unit 117, a rearrangement symbol determining unit 118, a combination symbol determining unit 119, a shared display control unit 120, a payout determining unit 121, a payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123, and a convey control unit 126.
The progressive storage unit 115 stores and sums up a game value indicated by a progressive signal received from the terminal controller 110. The shared game starting unit 116 outputs a shared game start signal, when the predetermined condition is met. The shared game start signal output is input to a later-mentioned shared game running unit 117. For example, meeting the predetermined situation means a situation where a game value stored in the progressive storage unit 115 sums up to a predetermined value or greater.
The shared game running unit 117 runs a shared game, triggered by the shared game start signal received from the shared game starting unit 116. In the shared game, symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102.
The combination symbol determining unit 119 receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from each of two or more terminal controllers 110. Based on the information of the terminal symbol arrangement received, the combination symbol determining unit 119 selects symbols 180 and determines an arrangement of the symbols 180 (hereinafter, combination symbol arrangement 190). In other words, the combination symbol arrangement 190 determines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, by combining the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190.
The shared display control unit 120 displays the symbols 180 on the shared display 102 under control of the shared game running unit 117 and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118. A detailed display state will be detailed later.
Further, when a later-described payout determining unit 121 determines to award a progressive payout, the shared display control unit 120 displays effects 195 and 196 indicating that the progressive payout is awarded on the shared display.
Further, when the shared display 102 has arrived at the position corresponding to the one gaming terminal 3 determined by the payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123, the shared display control unit 120 displays an effect 197 indicating the determined one gaming terminal 3 on the shared display 102.
The payout determining unit 121 determines whether to award a progressive payout based on a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102. The payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 determines one of the gaming terminals 3, when the payout determining unit 121 determines to award the progressive payout. The payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 may determine one of the gaming terminals 3, based on calculated contribution rates of the combination symbol arrangements 190. Further, the payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 outputs an instruction to the terminal controller 110 of the determined gaming terminal 3 so that a progressive payout is awarded.
The convey control unit 126 transfers the shared display 102 by controlling the conveying device 127. When the payout determining unit 121 determines to award the progressive payout, the convey control unit 126 reciprocates the shared display 102 between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals 3. Further, when the payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 determines one of the gaming terminals 3, the convey control unit 126 transfers the shared display 102 to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3.
Meanwhile, each block of the center controller 100 may be realized with hardware or with software as needed.
[Operation of Center Controller 100]
The following describes an operation of the center controller 100 in the above structure. First, the game value is stored and summed in the progressive storage unit 115. A shared game starts when the stored game value sums up to a predetermined value or greater. The combination symbol determining unit 119, during the shared game, receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from the terminal controller 110. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the fifth process of receiving, when a predetermined condition is met, symbols 180 and arrangements thereof (terminal symbol arrangements) from the terminal controllers 110.
The combination symbol determining unit 119 determines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 based on the terminal symbol arrangement received. Further, the combination symbol determining unit 119 may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 based on symbols 180 and arrangement thereof in different positions of the arrangement areas 150. Further, the combination symbol determining unit 119 may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 on the row or column basis.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, by combining the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190.
The symbols determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 undergo image processing performed in the shared display control unit 120, and are displayed on the shared display 102. According to the arrangement thus determined, the shared display control unit 120 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 250. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the sixth process of combining one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the other symbol arrangement 190, wherein the one symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3.
The payout determining unit 121 determines whether to award a progressive payout, according to a relation of the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 250. In other words, the center controller 100 executes the seventh process of determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
When the progressive payout is determined to be awarded, the conveying device 127 reciprocates the the shared display 102 between positions corresponding to the gaming terminals 3. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the eighth process of, when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device 127 to transfer the shared display 102 between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals 3.
When the payout determining unit 121 determines to award the progressive payout, the payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 determines one of the gaming terminals 3. The payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 calculates contribution rates of the combination symbol arrangements 190. The payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 determines one of the gaming terminals 3, based on the calculated contribution rates. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the ninth process of, when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals 3, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180.
When one of the gaming terminals 3 for awarding the progressive payout is determined, the conveying device 127 transfers the shared display 102 to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the tenth process of causing the conveying device 127 to transfer the shared display 102 to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3.
When the shared display 102 has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3, the position sensor 128 detects that the shared display 102 has arrived at the position. Then, on the shared display 102 is displayed an effect 197 indicating the determined one gaming terminal 3. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the eleventh process of, after detecting that the shared display 102 has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3, displaying an effect 197 indicating the determined one gaming terminal 3 on the shared display 102.
When one of the gaming terminals 3 is determined, the payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 outputs an instruction to the terminal controller 110 of the determined gaming terminal 3 so that a progressive payout is awarded. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the twelfth process of instructing the terminal controller 110 of the determined one gaming terminal 3 to award the payout.
The above can be rephrased as follows. The center controller 100 causes the terminal controllers 110 to perform the first process so as to execute a thirteenth process of rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 based on running of a game in the gaming terminals 3.
As is obvious from the above operation, the gaming machine 1 includes a plurality of gaming terminals 3 and a shared display 102, and realizes a playing method including the steps of: rearranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; transmitting to the center controller 100, the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, when a predetermined condition is met; receiving, from terminal controllers 110, symbols 180 and arrangements thereof, when a predetermined condition is met; <!> combining an arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging on the shared display 102 symbols 180 identical to those in the one arrangement 190 and the other arrangement 190, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3; determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102; when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device 127 to transfer the shared display 102 between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals 3; when the payout is determined to be awarded, determine one of the gaming terminals 3, based on contribution rates of the combination symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180; causing the conveying device 127 to transfer the shared display 102 to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3; after detecting that the shared display 102 has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3, displaying an effect 197 indicating the determined one gaming terminal 3 on the shared display 102; instructing the terminal controller 110 of the determined one gaming terminal 3 to award the payout; and causing the payout awarding device 125 to award the payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100.
This can be rephrased as follows. The gaming machine 1 includes a plurality of gaming terminals 3 and a shared display 102, and realizes a playing method including the steps of: rearranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 based on running of a game; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; combining an arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging on the shared display 102 symbols 180 identical to those in the one arrangement 190 and the other arrangement 190, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3; determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102; when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device 127 to transfer the shared display 102 between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals 3; when the payout is determined to be awarded, determine one of the gaming terminals 3, based on contribution rates of the combination symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180; causing the conveying device 127 to transfer the shared display 102 to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3; after detecting that the shared display 102 has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3, displaying an effect 197 indicating the determined one gaming terminal 3 on the shared display 102; and causing the payout awarding device 125 of the determined one gaming terminal 3 to award the payout.
According to the above playing method, symbols are arranged at a predetermined timing in the arrangement areas 150 on a terminal display 101 of a gaming terminal 3. Then, a payout is awarded according to the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150. When a predetermined condition is met, symbols 180 identical to those in one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 are rearranged on the shared display 102 in combination with symbols 180 identical to those in another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3. Then, whether to award a payout is determined according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. When the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals 3. When the payout is determined to be awarded, one of the gaming terminals 3 is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180. The shared display is transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal. After detecting that the shared display has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. The payout awarding device 125 of the determined one gaming terminal 3 awards the payout. This payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, when the payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals and subsequently transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal for awarding the payout. Then, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. This allows players to visually recognize transfers of the shared display and therefore realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for which gaming terminal the payout is awarded through. Further, an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal is displayed after the shared display has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal. This prevents a loss in expectation for a payout, which is caused by transferring the shared display while displaying thereon the effect. Therefore, a new entertainment characteristic is realized. Further, one of the gaming terminals for awarding the payout is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic. Further, a single game is created with the use of a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
[Display State of Shared Display 102 and Transfer State of Shared Display 102]
The following details an exemplary display state of the shared display 102 during the operations of the gaming machine 1 and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the shared display 102 adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in
When the progressive payout is determined to be awarded, on the shared display 102 is displayed an effect 196 indicating that the progressive payout is awarded, as is illustrated in the upper view and the middle view of
Further, when the progressive payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display 102 reciprocates between an upper side of a gamining terminal 3 which is given a terminal number 1, an upper side of a gamining terminal 3 which is given a terminal number 2, and an upper side of a gamining terminal 3 which is given a terminal number 3, as is illustrated in the upper view of
When one of the gaming terminals 3 is determined, the shared display 102 is transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3. In the example shown in the middle of
In the example shown in the lower view of
Thus, this payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal.
Further, as stated above, when the progressive payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals and subsequently transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal for awarding the payout. Then, on the shared display is displayed an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal. This allows players to visually recognize transfers of the shared display and therefore realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for which gaming terminal the payout is awarded through.
Further, an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal is displayed after the shared display has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal. This prevents a loss in expectation for a payout, which is caused by transferring the shared display while displaying thereon the effect. Therefore, a new entertainment characteristic is realized.
The following details contribution rates of combined symbol arrangements 190 in reference to
The symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 251a to 255a are arranged based on a combination symbol arrangement 190 of the gaming terminal with the terminal number 1. This combination symbol arrangement 190 includes one scatter symbol “7”. Therefore, the contribution level (contribution value) of this combination symbol arrangement 190 is 1.
Further, the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 251b to 255b are arranged based on a combination symbol arrangement 190 of the gaming terminal with the terminal number 3. This combination symbol arrangement 190 includes three scatter symbols “7”. Therefore, the contribution level of this combination symbol arrangement 190 is 3.
Further, the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 251c to 255c are arranged based on a combination symbol arrangement 190 of the gaming terminal with the terminal number 2. This combination symbol arrangement 190 includes no scatter symbols “7”. Therefore, the contribution level of this combination symbol arrangement 190 is 0.
Accordingly, since the combination symbol arrangement 190 of the gaming terminal with the terminal number 3 has the highest contribution level, the payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 determines the gaming terminal with the terminal number 3 as one of the gaming terminals.
Thus, one of the gaming terminals for awarding the payout is determined based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
Although the present embodiment deals with a case where the payout-targeted gaming terminal determining unit 123 determines the terminal with the combination symbol arrangement 190 having the highest contribution level, as one of the gaming terminals, the present invention is not limited to this.
[Mechanical Structure of Gaming Machine 1]
Next, the following describes a specific example of mechanical and electrical structures of the gaming machine 1 thus structured.
As illustrated in
The not-shown position sensor 128 is provided at a lower part of an outer surface of the shared display 102. Each gaming terminal is assigned with a marker, and the position sensor 128 reads the marker to determine, based on the read marker, which one of the gaming terminals 3 corresponds to the position at which the shared display 102 has arrived. The position sensor 128 transmits the determined position information to a main CPU 241. Thus, the position sensor 128 detects that the shared display 102 has arrived at a position corresponding to a gaming terminal 3. Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where the position sensor 128 is a type of sensor which reads a marker. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a switching sensor and the like.
The drive motor 270 is driven by a control signal from the main CPU 241, and rotates the drive wheel to transfer the shared display 102. The example illustrated in the upper view of
[Electrical Structure of Center Controller 100]
The gaming board 260 has the same structure as that of the gaming board 50. The motherboard 240 has the same structure as that of the motherboard 40. The communication interface 244 communicates with the terminal controller 110 through a communication line.
The graphic board 268 has the same structure as that of the graphic board 68, except in that the graphic board 268 controls image displaying of the shared display 102 based on a control signal from the main CPU 241.
The drive motor 270 is a stepping motor and is connected to a not-shown drive wheel. The drive motor 270 is driven by a control signal from the main CPU 241, and rotates the drive wheel to transfer the shared display 102.
[Operation of Center Controller 100: Progressive Award Process Routine]
The following describes a progressive award process routine which is called during execution of the center side initial setting routine.
As illustrated in
Next, the main CPU 241 starts transferring the shared display 102 through the conveying device 127 (k3). Accordingly, the shared display 102 reciprocates between the upper sides of the respective gaming terminals 3.
Then, the main CPU 241 specifies a combination symbol arrangement 190 of each of the gaming terminals 3 (k4). Then, the main CPU 241 calculates respective contribution levels of the specified combination symbol arrangements 190, wherein each of the contribution level(contribution value) is a level at which one arrangement 190 contributes to the determination of awarding the progressive payout (k5). Then, the main CPU 241 determines one payout-targeted gaming terminal 3, based on the calculated contribution value (k6).
Then, the main CPU 241 transfers the shared display 102 to the position corresponding to the determined payout-targeted gaming terminal 3 through the conveying device 127. Then, the main CPU 241 determines whether it is detected that the shared display 102 has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined payout-targeted gaming terminal 3 (k8). When it is determined that the arrival is not detected (E8:NO), E8 is executed until the arrival is detected.
On the other hand in E8, when it is determined that the arrival is detected (E8:YES), the main CPU 241 displays an effect 197 indicating that one of the gaming terminals 3 has been determined on the shared display 102 (k9). Then, the main CPU 241 outputs an instruction signal to the determined payout-targeted gaming terminal 3 so that the progressive payout is awarded (k10).
As is already mentioned, this payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal 3 according to the relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102 realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal 3 in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal 3.
Further, as stated above, when the progressive payout is determined to be awarded, the shared display 102 is transferred between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals 3 and subsequently transferred to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3 for awarding the payout. Then, on the shared display 102 is displayed an effect 197 indicating the determined one gaming terminal 3. This allows players to visually recognize transfers of the shared display 102 and therefore realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for which gaming terminal 3 the payout is awarded through.
Further, an effect 197 indicating the determined one gaming terminal 3 is displayed after the shared display 102 has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal 3. This prevents a loss in expectation for a payout, which is caused by transferring the shared display 102 while displaying thereon the effect 197. Therefore, a new entertainment characteristic is realized.
Thus, one of the gaming terminals 3 for awarding the payout is determined, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements 190 of the symbols 180. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
Further, when the payout is determined to be awarded, on the shared display 102 is displayed an effect 195 indicating that the payout is awarded. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives a player more concrete expectation for a payout awarded through the only one gaming terminal 3 according to the relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
Further, as is already mentioned, a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals is created by rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 in combination with symbols 180 identical to those in another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
Further, as is already mentioned, the symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the symbols 180 identical to those in the other symbol arrangement 190 are combined and rearranged, on the row or column basis, on the shared display 102. A player therefore is able to easily understand how rearranged symbols on the terminal displays 101 are combined and rearranged on the shared display 102. This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players.
Further, on the shared display 102 are rearranged the symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the symbols 180 identical to those in the other symbol arrangement 190, the symbols 180 of the other symbol arrangement 190 being in different positions from those of the one symbol arrangement 190. A player therefore is able to easily understand how rearranged symbols on another terminal display 101 are combined and rearranged on the shared display 102. This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players.
Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where the center controller 100 determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be the terminal controller 110 which determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement.
Note further that the number of gaming terminals 3 is three in the present embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, provided that at least two gaming terminals 3 are provided.
The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove mainly focused on characteristics thereof for the purpose of easier understanding; however, the scope of the present invention shall be construed as broadly as possible, encompassing various forms of other possible embodiments, and therefore the present invention shall not be limited to the above description. Further, the terms and phraseology used in the present specification are adopted solely to provide specific illustration of the present invention, and in no case should the scope of the present invention be limited by such terms and phraseology. Further, it will be obvious for those skilled in the art that the other structures, systems, methods or the like are possible, within the spirit of the invention described in the present specification. The description of claims therefore shall encompass structures equivalent to the present invention, unless otherwise such structures are regarded as to depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the abstract is provided to allow, through a simple investigation, quick analysis of the technical features and essences of the present invention by an intellectual property office, a general public institution, or one skilled in the art who is not fully familiarized with patent and legal or professional terminology. It is therefore not an intention of the abstract to limit the scope of the present invention which shall be construed on the basis of the description of the claims. To fully understand the object and effects of the present invention, it is strongly encouraged to sufficiently refer to disclosures of documents already made available.
The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove includes a process executed on a computer or computer network. The above descriptions and expressions are provided to allow the one skilled in the art to most efficiently understand the present invention. A process performed in or by respective steps yielding one result or blocks with a predetermined processing function described in the present specification shall be understood as a process with no self-contradiction. Further, the electrical or magnetic signal is transmitted/received and written in the respective steps or blocks. It should be noted that such a signal is expressed in the form of bit, value, symbol, text, terms, number, or the like solely for the sake of convenience. Although the present specification occasionally personifies the processes performed in the steps or blocks, these processes are essentially executed by various devices. Further, the other structures necessary for the steps or blocks are obvious from the above descriptions.
Third EmbodimentThe following describes a third embodiment of a gaming machine and a playing method thereof according to the present invention. Note that reference numbers and symbols given to members and steps of flowcharts are only applicable to those described within the present embodiment, and do not represent the members or the steps of the other embodiments.
As illustrated in
The “arranging” in this specification means a state where the symbols 180 can be visually observed by a player. That is, the wording means a state where the symbols 180 are displayed in the arrangement areas 150, in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Further, “scatter symbols” are such symbols which provide advantages to a player when a predetermined number or more of them are displayed in the matrix 156. For example, the advantages includes: a state where coins corresponding to the scatter symbols are paid out, a state where the number of coins to be paid out is added to a credit, a state where a bonus game is started.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The terminal display 101 may have a mechanical structure adopting a reel device which rotates a reel to arrange the symbols 180. Alternatively, the terminal display 101 may have an electric structure in which a video reel is displayed as an image and symbols 180 on a video reel are arranged in the form of an image. Further, the terminal display 101 may adopt a combination of the mechanical structure (reel) and the electrical structure (video reel). Examples of the electrical structure include a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (cathode-ray tube), a plasma display device, or the like. Further, the number of arrangement areas 150 is not limited. A specific structure of the terminal display 101 will be detailed later.
As illustrated in
[Terminal Controller 110]
The terminal controller 110 executes: a first process of rearranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing; a second process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; and a third process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting information of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the rearranged symbols 180 to the center controller 100. In other words, the terminal controller 110 has a first processing unit, a second processing unit and a third processing unit.
The terminal controller 110 is connected to a center controller 100 and is in communication with the center controller 100.
As illustrated in
Further, the terminal controller 110 is connected to a BET unit 109. The BET unit 109 has functions of receiving a bet entered through an operation by the player, and outputting a BET signal in response to the bet entered. The BET signal output is input to a later-described game running unit 112.
The terminal controller 110 includes: a game running unit 112, a rearrangement symbol determining unit 113, and a terminal display control unit 114. The game running unit 112 runs a base game, triggered by a game start signal from the game starting unit 111. In the base game, symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of the terminal display 101. Further, the terminal controller 110 outputs a progressive signal, triggered by the game start signal. The progressive signal is a signal indicating a game value.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 determines, based on the state of game run by the game running unit 112, a plurality of symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (hereinafter, terminal symbol arrangement). The terminal controller 110 then transmits information of the terminal symbol arrangement to the center controller 100, through a control performed by the game running unit 112.
The terminal display control unit 114 displays the symbols 180 on the terminal display 101 under control of the game running unit 112 and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113. A detailed display state will be detailed later.
Further, the terminal controller 110 includes a not-shown payout award determining unit and a payout awarding unit. The not-shown payout award determining unit determines whether to award a payout, based on a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of the terminal display 101. Then, the not-shown payout awarding unit awards a payout based on a determination of the not-shown payout award determining unit.
Meanwhile, each block of the terminal controller 110 may be realized with hardware or with software as needed.
[Operation of Terminal Controller 110]
The following describes an operation of the terminal controller 110 in the above structure. First, the BET unit 109 accepts a BET entered through an operation by a player. Then, in response to the operation, the game starting unit 111 outputs a game start signal to cause the game running unit 112 to start a base game. When the base game is started, the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (terminal symbol arrangement). The symbols 180 to be rearranged and the terminal symbol arrangement are determined at every base game. The symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 undergo an image processing in the terminal display control unit 114, and are displayed on the terminal display 101. The terminal display control unit 114 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150, according to the arrangement determined. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the first process of rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing.
Further, a not-shown payout determining unit determines whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150. When the payout determining unit determines to award a payout, a not-shown payout awarding unit awards a payout. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the second process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150.
Further, the terminal controller 110 transmits, to the center controller 100, symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, based on a predetermined condition. An example of such a condition is a shared game being run, or the like condition. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the third process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting symbols 180 determined and an arrangement of the symbols 180 to the center controller 100.
[Operation of Center Controller 100]
The center controller 100 is structured to execute: a fourth process of, when a predetermined condition is met, receiving arrangements of symbols 180 from more than one terminal controllers 110; a fifth process of combining, on the row or column basis, one arrangement 190 of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of one gaming terminal 3 with another arrangement 190 of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of another gaming terminal 3 to form a single symbol matrix 185 including the symbols 180 of the one arrangement 190 and the other arrangement 190; a sixth process of scrolling the symbol matrix 185 having the symbols 180 on the shared display 102; a seventh process of rearranging on the shared display 102 some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix 185; an eight process of scrolling a row or column of the symbol matrix 185 having the symbols 180 on the shared display 185; a ninth process of rearranging on the shared display 102 some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185 so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements 190 in the symbol matrix 185; and a tenth process of awarding a payout according to a relation among symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. In other words, the center controller 100 includes a fourth process unit, a fifth process unit, a sixth process unit, a seventh process unit, an eighth process unit, a ninth process unit, and a tenth process unit.
As illustrated in
The center controller 100 includes: a progressive storage unit 115, a shared game starting unit 116, a shared game running unit 117, a rearrangement symbol determining unit 118, combination symbol determining unit 119, a shared display control unit 120, a payout determining unit 121, a payout awarding unit 122, and a symbol matrix formation unit 124.
The progressive storage unit 115 stores and sums up a game value indicated by a progressive signal received from the terminal controller 110. The shared game starting unit 116 outputs a shared game start signal, when the predetermined condition is met. The shared game start signal output is input to a later-mentioned shared game running unit 117. For example, meeting the predetermined situation means a situation where a game value stored in the progressive storage unit 115 sums up to a predetermined value or greater.
The shared game running unit 117 runs a shared game, triggered by the shared game start signal received from the shared game starting unit 116. In the shared game, symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102.
The combination symbol determining unit 119 receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from each of two or more terminal controllers 110. Based on the information of the terminal symbol arrangement received, the combination symbol determining unit 119 selects symbols 180 and determines an arrangement of the symbols 180 (hereinafter, combination symbol arrangement 190). In other words, the combination symbol determining unit 119 determines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190.
When the combination symbol arrangements 190 are determined by the combination symbol determining unit 119, the symbol matrix formation unit 124 forms one symbol matrix 185 including more than one arrangements of symbols 180 by combining at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 having determined. The symbol matrix formation unit 124 may form the symbol matrix 185 by combining the combination symbol arrangements 190 on the row or column basis.
Note that “combining, on the row basis” means to joint one or more rows in a direction in which rows are arranged (hereinafter, row direction). Note further that “combining, on the column basis” means to joint one or more columns in a direction in which columns are arranged (hereinafter, column direction).
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines, based on the symbol matrix 185 formed by the symbol matrix formation unit 124, an arrangement of symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 may determine the arrangement of symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250, so that some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185 are rearranged without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix 185. Further, the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 may determine the arrangement of symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 so as to conform with a row or column of the symbol arrangements 190 in the symbol matrix 185.
The shared display control unit 120 displays the symbols 180 on the shared display 102 under control of the shared game running unit 117 and on the basis of the symbol matrix 185 formed by the symbol matrix formation unit 124 and a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118. A detailed display state will be detailed later.
The payout determining unit 121 determines whether to award a progressive payout based on a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102. Then, the payout awarding unit 122 awards a progressive payout based on a determination of the payout determining unit 121.
Meanwhile, each block of the center controller 100 may be realized with hardware or with software as needed.
[Operation of Center Controller 100]
The following describes an operation of the center controller 100 in the above structure. First, the game value is stored and summed in the progressive storage unit 115. A shared game starts when the stored game value sums up to a predetermined value or greater. The combination symbol determining unit 119, during the shared game, receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from the terminal controller 110. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the fourth process of receiving, when a predetermined condition is met, symbols 180 and arrangements thereof (terminal symbol arrangements) from the terminal controllers 110.
The combination symbol determining unit 119 determines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 based on the terminal symbol arrangement received. Further, the combination symbol determining unit 119 may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 based on symbols 180 and arrangement thereof in different positions of the arrangement areas 150. Further, the combination symbol determining unit 119 may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 on the row or column basis.
The symbol matrix formation unit 124 forms one symbol matrix 185, by jointing the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 determined by the combination symbol determining unit 119, in the row direction. Alternatively, the symbol matrix formation unit 124 forms one symbol matrix 185, by jointing the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 in the column direction. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the fifth process of combining, on the row or column basis, one arrangement 190 of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of one gaming terminal 3 with another arrangement 190 of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of another gaming terminal 3 to form one symbol matrix 185 including the symbols 180 of the one arrangement 190 and the other arrangement 190.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines, based on the symbol matrix 185 formed by the symbol matrix formation unit 124, an arrangement of symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250, so that some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185 are rearranged without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix 185.
The symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 undergo image processing performed in the shared display control unit 120, and are scrolled on the shared display 102 on the basis of symbol matrix. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the sixth process of scrolling the symbol matrix 185 having the symbols 180 on the shared display 102.
According to the arrangement thus determined, the shared display control unit 120 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 250. The arrangement determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 conforms with a part of arrangements of symbols 180 on the basis of the symbol matrix. As such, the symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 in such a manner as to conform with the part of the arrangements of the symbols on the basis of the symbol matrix. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the seventh process of rearranging on the shared display 102 some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix 185.
The symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 may undergo image processing performed in the shared display control unit 120 so as to be scrolled in a row or column of the symbol matrix 185 on the shared display 102. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the eighth process of scrolling a row or column of the symbol matrix 185 having the symbols 180 on the shared display 102.
According to the arrangement thus determined, the shared display control unit 120 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 250. Since the arrangement determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 conforms with a row or column of the arrangements 190 in the symbol matrix 185, the symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 so as to conform with a row or column of the symbol arrangements 190 in the symbol matrix 185. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the ninth process of rearranging on the shared display 102 some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185 so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements 190 in the symbol matrix 185.
The payout determining unit 121 determines whether to award a progressive payout, according to a relation of the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 250. If the payout determining unit 121 determines to award a progressive payout, the payout awarding unit 122 awards the progressive payout. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the tenth process of awarding a payout according to a relation among symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
The above can be rephrased as follows. The center controller 100 causes the terminal controllers 110 to perform the first process of rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 of each of the gaming terminals 3, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal 3.
As is obvious from the above operation, the gaming machine 1 includes a plurality of gaming terminals 3 and a shared display 102, and realizes a playing method including the steps of: rearranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; transmitting to the center controller 100, the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, when a predetermined condition is met; receiving, from terminal controllers 110, symbols 180 and arrangements thereof, when a predetermined condition is met; combining, on the row or column basis, one arrangement 190 of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of one gaming terminal 3 with another arrangement 190 of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of another gaming terminal 3 to form one symbol matrix 185 including the symbols 180 of the one arrangement 190 and the other arrangement 190; scrolling the symbol matrix 185 having the symbols 180 on the shared display 102; a seventh process of rearranging on the shared display 102 some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix 185; an eight process of scrolling a row or column of the symbol matrix 185 having the symbols 180 on the shared display 185; a ninth process of rearranging on the shared display 102 some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185 so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements 190 in the symbol matrix 185; and a tenth process of awarding a payout according to a relation among symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
This can be rephrased as follows. The gaming machine 1 realizes a playing method realizing steps of: rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 of each of the gaming terminals 3, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; combining, on the row or column basis, one arrangement 190 of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of one gaming terminal 3 with another arrangement 190 of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of another gaming terminal 3 to form a single symbol matrix 185 including the symbols 180 of the one arrangement 190 and the other arrangement 190; scrolling the symbol matrix 185 having the symbols 180 on the shared display 102; rearranging on the shared display 102 some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix 185; scrolling a row or column of the symbol matrix 185 having the symbols 180 on the shared display 185; rearranging on the shared display 102 some of the symbols 180 in the symbol matrix 185 so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements 190 in the symbol matrix 185; and awarding a payout according to a relation among symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
According to the above playing method, symbols are rearranged at a predetermined timing in the arrangement areas 150 on a terminal display 101 of a gaming terminal 3. Then, a payout is awarded according to the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150. When a predetermined condition is met, one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal is combined with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix. Symbols in the symbol matrix are scrolled on the shared display. Then, some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display. Then, a payout is awarded according to the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates one game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by forming one symbol matrix including a combination of one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal and another arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of another gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, a payout is awarded based on a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix formed. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a fixed symbol matrix of a known art. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic. Further, Then, some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix. Therefore an arrangement of symbols rearranged in one gaming terminal stand higher chance of recurring on the shared display. Further, the structure improves the player's predictability of symbol arrangements on the shared display, and therefore increases the player's expectation at a time of scrolling the symbols on the shared display. Thus, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic. Further, since a row or column of the symbol matrix is scrolled on the shared display and some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements in the symbol matrix, an arrangement of symbols in a gaming terminal may be formed on the shared display. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a conventional fixed symbol matrix. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
[Display State of Terminal Display 101]
The following details an exemplary display state of the terminal display 101 during the operations of the gaming machine 1 and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the terminal display 101 adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As is illustrated in the upper left of
A frame including all the symbols 180 thus rearranged is variably displayed. An arrangement of symbols 180 in the frame are a combination symbol arrangement 190. For example, the frame illustrated at the lower part of
Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where a combination symbol arrangement 190 indicates the entire arrangement of symbols 180 rearranged. However, the present invention is not limited to this and the combination symbol arrangement 190 may indicate a part of the arrangement of symbols 180 rearranged. In such a case, the frame may be variably displayed and stopped, and an arrangement of symbols 180 in the frame may be determined as the combination symbol arrangement 190.
Further, the combination symbol arrangement 190 may be one row as the combination symbol arrangement 190d shown in
[Display State of Shared Display 102]
The following details an exemplary display state of the shared display 102 during the operations of the gaming machine 1 and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the shared display 102 adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
This shared display 102 displays at its lower part a progressive jackpot value 200 as illustrated in
As shown in the upper part of
As illustrated in the middle of
(Formation of Symbol Matrix 185 and Scrolling of Same)
Next, the following describes formation of the symbol matrix 185. In the example illustrated in
Further, in an example illustrated in
Further, a payout is awarded based on a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix formed. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a fixed symbol matrix of a known art. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
Further, Then, some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix. Therefore an arrangement of symbols rearranged in one gaming terminal stand higher chance of recurring on the shared display. Further, the structure improves the player's predictability of symbol arrangements on the shared display, and therefore increases the player's expectation at a time of scrolling the symbols on the shared display. Thus, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
(Alternative form of Scroll of Symbol Matrix 185)
Next, the following describes an alternative form of scrolling of the symbol matrix 185. In an example illustrated in
When the scrolling of the display window 251 in the symbol matrix 185 stops, the symbols 180 are rearranged in the display window 251 on the shared display 102 so as to conform with a part of the column of the symbol matrix 185. Note that the display windows 252 to 255 also scroll likewise.
In an example illustrated in
When the scrolling of each of the display windows 251a to 255a in the symbol matrix 185 stops, the symbols 180 are rearranged in each of the display windows 251a to 255a on the shared display 102 so as to conform with a part of the row of the symbol matrix 185.
Further, since a row or column of the symbol matrix is scrolled on the shared display and some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements in the symbol matrix, an arrangement of symbols in a gaming terminal may be formed on the shared display. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a conventional fixed symbol matrix. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
[Operation of Gaming Terminal 3: Terminal Process Routine]
After the terminal side initial setting routine of
As illustrated in
On the other hand, if a coin is bet (C1: YES), the credit value stored in the RAM 43 is reduced according to the number of coins bet (C2). When the number of coins bet surpasses the number of coins equivalent to the credit value stored in the RAM 43, C2 is repeated without the reduction of the credit value. When the number of coins bet exceeds the maximum number of coins bettable one game (50 pieces in this embodiment), the process goes to a later-described step C3 without the reduction of the credit value.
Then, it is determined whether a spin button 23 is pressed (C3). If the spin button 23 is not pressed (C3: NO), the process returns to C1. Here, if the spin button 23 is not pressed (for example, the spin button 23 is not pressed but a command to end the game is input), the reduction of the credit value in C2 is canceled.
On the other hand, when the spin button 23 is pressed (C3: YES), a progressive transmission process is executed (C4). In other words, a progressive signal indicating a part of the game value bet is transmitted to the center controller 100.
Next executed is a symbol determining process (C5). That is, the stop symbol determining program stored in the RAM 43 is run to determine symbols 180 to be arranged in the matrix 156. Through this, a symbol combination to be formed along the payline L is determined.
Then, the scrolling process is executed to scroll symbols 180 on the terminal display 101 (C6). The scrolling process is a process in which the symbols 180 determined in C5 are stopped (rearranged) in the matrix 156 after scrolling of symbols 180 in a direction indicated by an arrow symbol.
Next, the CPU 41 determines whether a shared game is running (C7). If a shared game start signal is received from the center controller 100, the CPU 41 determines that the shared game is running. If the CPU 41 determines that the shared game is running (C7: YES), a terminal symbol arrangement signal is transmitted to the center controller 100 (C12). The terminal symbol arrangement signal indicates symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (terminal symbol arrangement). Next, the main CPU 41 receives a combination symbol arrangement signal from the center controller 100 (C13). The combination symbol arrangement signal indicates a combination symbol arrangement 190 determined by the center controller 100 based on the terminal symbol arrangement signal resulting from C12. Then, the main CPU 41 displays the frame on the shared display 102 so as to present in the frame the combination symbol arrangement 190 received in C12 (C14). Note that the main CPU 41 may scroll the frame on the terminal display 101, and stop scrolling the frame so that the frame presents the combination symbol arrangement 190 received in C12. On the other hand in C7, if it is determined that no shared game is running (C7: NO), C8 is executed.
Next, it is determined whether symbols 180 rearranged in the matrix 156 form a winning combination (C8). If the symbols 180 forms a winning combination (C8: YES), a payout process is executed (C9). More specifically, when a winning combination is formed, the number of coins according to the combination is calculated. On the other hand in C8, if it is determined that no winning combination is formed (C8: NO), C10 is executed.
Next, the main CPU 41 determines whether a progressive award signal is received from the center controller 100 (C10). If the CPU 41 determines that a progressive award signal is received (C10: YES), a payout is awarded according to the progressive award signal (C11). The process then returns to C1. On the other hand in C10, if the CPU 41 determines that no progressive award signal is received (C10: NO), the process returns to C1.
[Operation of Center Controller 100: Center Process Routine]
After the center side initial setting routine of
As illustrated in
On the other hand in D1, if the main CPU 241 determines no progressive signal is received (D1: NO), the main CPU 241 determines if the progressive value equals or surpasses a predetermined value (D3). If the main CPU 241 determines that the progressive value is less than the predetermined value (D3: NO), the process returns to D1. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that the progressive value equals or surpasses the predetermined value (D3: YES), a shared game start signal is output to each of the gaming terminals 3 (D4). Next, a terminal symbol arrangement signal is received from each of the gaming terminals 3 (D5). Based on the terminal symbol arrangement signal, a combination symbol arrangement 190 is determined. The combination symbol arrangement 190 thus determined is sent back to the gaming terminals 3 (D6). Next, formation of one symbol matrix 185 is attempted, based on the combination symbol arrangements 190 determined (D7).
Next, the main CPU 241 determines whether the formation of the one symbol matrix 185 in D7 was successful (D8). If the main CPU 241 determines that the formation of the symbol matrix 185 was not successful (D8: NO), the process returns to D5. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that the formation of the one symbol matrix 185 was successful (D8: YES), the main CPU 241 determines an arrangement of symbols 180 to be arranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102, based on the symbol matrix 185 thus formed (D9). Next, the main CPU 241 causes the shared display 102 to start scrolling symbols 180. Then, the scrolling of the symbols 180 on the shared display 102 is stopped to present the arrangement determined (D10).
Then, the main CPU 241 determines whether the symbols 180 arranged on the shared display 102 forms a winning combination (D11). If the main CPU 241 determines that no winning combination is formed (D11: NO), the process returns to D1. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that a winning combination is formed (D11: YES), a progressive award process for awarding a progressive payout is executed to transmit a progressive award signal to a targeted gaming terminal 3 (D12) Then, a progressive value consumed is subtracted from the value stored in RAM 243 (D13), and the process returns to D1.
As is already mentioned, a payout awarded according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102 realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal.
Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by forming one symbol matrix including a combination of one arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of one gaming terminal and another arrangement of symbols rearranged in arrangement areas of another gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
Further, a payout is awarded based on a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix formed. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a fixed symbol matrix of a known art. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
Further, Then, some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix. Therefore an arrangement of symbols rearranged in one gaming terminal stand higher chance of recurring on the shared display. Further, the structure improves the player's predictability of symbol arrangements on the shared display, and therefore increases the player's expectation at a time of scrolling the symbols on the shared display. Thus, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
Further, since a row or column of the symbol matrix is scrolled on the shared display and some of the symbols in the symbol matrix are rearranged on the shared display so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements in the symbol matrix, an arrangement of symbols in a gaming terminal may be formed on the shared display. This provides a wider variation of payout than the variation of payout awarded based on a conventional fixed symbol matrix. As such, it is possible to provide a new entertainment characteristic.
Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where the center controller 100 determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be the terminal controller 110 which determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement.
Note further that the number of gaming terminals 3 is three in the present embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, provided that at least two gaming terminals 3 are provided.
The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove mainly focused on characteristics thereof for the purpose of easier understanding; however, the scope of the present invention shall be construed as broadly as possible, encompassing various forms of other possible embodiments, and therefore the present invention shall not be limited to the above description. Further, the terms and phraseology used in the present specification are adopted solely to provide specific illustration of the present invention, and in no case should the scope of the present invention be limited by such terms and phraseology. Further, it will be obvious for those skilled in the art that the other structures, systems, methods or the like are possible, within the spirit of the invention described in the present specification. The description of claims therefore shall encompass structures equivalent to the present invention, unless otherwise such structures are regarded as to depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the abstract is provided to allow, through a simple investigation, quick analysis of the technical features and essences of the present invention by an intellectual property office, a general public institution, or one skilled in the art who is not fully familiarized with patent and legal or professional terminology. It is therefore not an intention of the abstract to limit the scope of the present invention which shall be construed on the basis of the description of the claims. To fully understand the object and effects of the present invention, it is strongly encouraged to sufficiently refer to disclosures of documents already made available.
The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove includes a process executed on a computer or computer network. The above descriptions and expressions are provided to allow the one skilled in the art to most efficiently understand the present invention. A process performed in or by respective steps yielding one result or blocks with a predetermined processing function described in the present specification shall be understood as a process with no self-contradiction. Further, the electrical or magnetic signal is transmitted/received and written in the respective steps or blocks. It should be noted that such a signal is expressed in the form of bit, value, symbol, text, terms, number, or the like solely for the sake of convenience. Although the present specification occasionally personifies the processes performed in the steps or blocks, these processes are essentially executed by various devices. Further, the other structures necessary for the steps or blocks are obvious from the above descriptions.
Fourth EmbodimentThe following describes a fourth embodiment of a gaming machine and a playing method thereof according to the present invention. Note that reference numbers and symbols given to members and steps of flowcharts are only applicable to those described within the present embodiment, and do not represent the members or the steps of the other embodiments.
As illustrated in
The “arranging” in this specification means a state where the symbols 180 can be visually observed by a player. That is, the wording means a state where the symbols 180 are displayed in the arrangement areas 150, in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Further, “scatter symbols” are such symbols which provide advantages to a player when a predetermined number or more of them are displayed in the matrix 156. For example, the advantages includes: a state where coins corresponding to the scatter symbols are paid out, a state where the number of coins to be paid out is added to a credit, a state where a bonus game is started.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The terminal display 101 may have a mechanical structure adopting a reel device which rotates a reel to arrange the symbols 180. Alternatively, the terminal display 101 may have an electric structure in which a video reel is displayed as an image and symbols 180 on a video reel are arranged in the form of an image. Further, the terminal display 101 may adopt a combination of the mechanical structure (reel) and the electrical structure (video reel). Examples of the electrical structure include a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (cathode-ray tube), a plasma display device, or the like. Further, the number of arrangement areas 150 is not limited. A specific structure of the terminal display 101 will be detailed later.
As illustrated in
The payout awarding device 125 is a later-mentioned hopper 66 in this embodiment. The hopper 66 awards a player a payout related to a game by paying out coins. Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where the payout awarding device 125 is a hopper 66 which pays out coins. However, the present invention is not limited to this, as long as the device awards a player a payout related to a game. For example, a magnetic card storing therein a value related to a game is possible.
(Terminal Controller 110)
The terminal controller 110 executes: a first process of causing the bet unit 109 to receive a side bet; a second process of differentiating between how the illumination device 130 lights when a side bet is received and when no side bet is received; a third process of rearranging symbols 180 in arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing; a fourth process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 180; a fifth process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting information of symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the rearranged symbols 180 to the center controller 100; and a sixth process of causing the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100. In other words, the terminal controller 110 has a first processing unit, a second processing unit, a third processing unit, and a fourth processing unit, a fifth processing unit, and a sixth processing unit.
The terminal controller 110 is connected to the center controller 100 and is in communication with the center controller 100.
As illustrated in
Further, the terminal controller 110 is connected to a bet unit 109. The bet unit 109 has functions of receiving a bet entered through an operation by the player, and outputting a bet signal in response to the bet entered. The bet signal output is input to a later-described game running unit 112.
Further, the bet unit 109 has functions of, under control of the terminal controller 110, receiving a side bet from a player and outputting a side bet signal. The outputted side bet signal is inputted into later-described game running unit 112, illumination control unit 131, and center controller 100.
The terminal controller 110 includes: a game running unit 112, a rearrangement symbol determining unit 113, a terminal display control unit 114, and a payout award control unit 124. The game running unit 112 runs a base game, triggered by a game start signal from the game starting unit 111. In the base game, symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of the terminal display 101. Further, the terminal controller 110 outputs a progressive signal, triggered by the game start signal. The progressive signal is a signal indicating a game value.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 determines, based on the state of game run by the game running unit 112 and whether or not a side bet is placed in the bet unit 109, a plurality of symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (hereinafter, terminal symbol arrangement). The terminal controller 110 then transmits information of the terminal symbol arrangement to the center controller 100, through a control performed by the game running unit 112.
The terminal display control unit 114 displays the symbols 180 on the terminal display 101 under control of the game running unit 112 and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113. A detailed display state will be detailed later.
Further, the terminal controller 110 includes a not-shown payout award determining unit. The payout award determining unit determines whether to award a payout, based on a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 of the terminal display 101. The payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout, based on a determination of the payout award determining unit and an instruction from the center controller 100.
The illumination control unit 131 controls lighting states of the illumination device 130, by lighting the illumination device 130 in a predetermined color, or turning off the illumination device 130. The illumination control unit 131 is accessible to the bet unit 109 and the combination symbol determining unit 119. The illumination control unit 131 causes the illumination device 130 to light in a predetermined color upon receiving a side bet signal from the bet unit 109. Further, the illumination control unit 131 lights the illumination device 130 in a predetermined color upon receiving a combination symbol arrangement signal from the combination symbol determining unit 119.
Meanwhile, each block of the terminal controller 110 may be realized with hardware or with software as needed.
(Operation of Terminal Controller 110)
The following describes an operation of the terminal controller 100 in the above structure. First, the bet unit 109 receives a BET entered through an operation by a player. Then, in response to the operation, the game starting unit 111 outputs a game start signal to cause the game running unit 112 to start a base game. When the base game is started, the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (terminal symbol arrangement). The symbols 180 to be rearranged and the terminal symbol arrangement are determined at every base game. The symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 undergo an image processing in the terminal display control unit 114, and are displayed on the terminal display 101. The terminal display control unit 114 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150, according to the arrangement determined. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the third process of rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing.
Further, a not-shown payout determining unit determines whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150. When the payout determining unit determines to award a payout, the payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the fourth process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150.
Further, the terminal controller 110 transmits, to the center controller 100, symbols 180 determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 113 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, based on a predetermined condition. An example of such a condition is a shared game being run, or the like condition. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the fifth process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting symbols 180 determined and an arrangement of the symbols 180 to the center controller 100.
When receiving a later-described shared game start signal from the center controller 100; i.e., when a shared game is started, the terminal controller 110 executes the first process of causing the bet unit 109 to receive a side bet from a player.
Upon receiving a side bet from a player, the bet unit 109 outputs a side bet signal. The side bet signal output is input into the illumination control unit 131. When the side bet signal is input, the illumination control unit 131 lights the illumination device 130 in a predetermined color. Thus, the terminal display 101 executes the second process of differentiating between how the illumination device 130 lights when a side bet is received and when no side bet is received.
Note that the first and second processes, and the third, fourth and fifth processes are executed in parallel.
Further, the payout award control unit 124 causes the payout awarding device 125 to award a progressive payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100. Thus, the terminal controller 110 executes the sixth process of causing the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100.
(Center Controller 100)
The center controller 100 executes: a seventh process of, when the predetermined condition is met, receiving symbols 180 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 from one or more terminal controllers 110; an eighth process of, combining one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the other symbol arrangement 190, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement 190 include the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements 190, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal 3 is given a priority; a ninth process of instructing the terminal controller 110 of the side-bet gaming terminal 3 to award a payout, according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. In other words, the center controller 100 includes a seventh processing unit, an eighth processing unit, and a ninth processing unit.
As illustrated in
The center controller 100 includes: a progressive storage unit 115, a shared game starting unit 116, a shared game running unit 117, a rearrangement symbol determining unit 118, a combination symbol determining unit 119, a shared display control unit 120, and a payout determining unit 121.
The progressive storage unit 115 stores and sums up a game value indicated by a progressive signal received from the terminal controller 110. The shared game starting unit 116 outputs a shared game start signal, when the predetermined condition is met. The shared game start signal output is input to a later-mentioned shared game running unit 117. For example, meeting the predetermined situation means a situation where a game value stored in the progressive storage unit 115 sums up to a predetermined value or greater.
The shared game running unit 117 runs a shared game, triggered by the shared game start signal received from the shared game starting unit 116. In the shared game, symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102.
The combination symbol determining unit 119 receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from each of two or more terminal controllers 110. Based on the information of the terminal symbol arrangement received, the combination symbol determining unit 119 selects symbols 180 and determines an arrangement of the symbols 180 (hereinafter, combination symbol arrangement 190). In other words, the combination symbol arrangement 190 determines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 and an arrangement of the symbols 180, by combining the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190. In combining combination symbol arrangements 190, the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 gives a priority to a combination symbol arrangement 190 rearranged in a side-bet gaming terminal 3. That is, the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines the symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 and the arrangement of the symbols 180 only with the combination symbol arrangement 190 rearranged in a side-bet gaming terminal 3. Then, if the combination symbol arrangement 190 of the side-bet gaming terminal 3 falls short, the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 by adopting a combination symbol arrangement 190 of a gaming terminal 3 having received no side bet.
The shared display control unit 120 displays the symbols 180 on the shared display 102 under control of the shared game running unit 117 and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118. A detailed display state will be detailed later.
Further, when a later-described payout determining unit 121 determines to award a progressive payout, the shared display control unit 120 displays effects 195 and 196 indicating that the progressive payout is awarded on the shared display.
The payout determining unit 121 determines whether to award a progressive payout based on a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102. Based on a side bet signal output from the bet unit 109, the payout determining unit 121 outputs an instruction to award a progressive payout to the terminal controller 110 of a side-bet gaming terminal.
Meanwhile, each block of the center controller 100 may be realized with hardware or with software as needed.
(Operation of Center Controller 100)
The following describes an operation of the center controller 100 in the above structure. First, the game value is stored and summed in the progressive storage unit 115. A shared game starts when the stored game value sums up to a predetermined value or greater. The combination symbol determining unit 119, during the shared game, receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from the terminal controller 110. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the fifth process of receiving, when a predetermined condition is met, symbols 180 and arrangements thereof (terminal symbol arrangements) from the terminal controllers 110.
The combination symbol determining unit 119 determines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 based on the terminal symbol arrangement received. Further, the combination symbol determining unit 119 may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 based on symbols 180 and arrangement thereof in different positions of the arrangement areas 150. Further, the combination symbol determining unit 119 may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 on the row or column basis.
The rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 determines symbols 180 to be rearranged in the arrangement areas 250, and an arrangement of the symbols 180. The combination is determined by combining at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 while giving a priority to the combination symbol arrangement 190 and the symbols rearranged in a side-bet gaming terminal 3.
The symbols determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit 118 undergo image processing performed on the shared display control unit 120, and are displayed on the shared display 102. According to the arrangement thus determined, the shared display control unit 120 rearranges the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 250. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the eighth process of combining one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the other symbol arrangement 190, wherein the one symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3.
The payout determining unit 121 determines whether to award a progressive payout, according to a relation of the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 250. Based on a side bet signal output from the bet unit 109, the payout determining unit 121 outputs an instruction to the terminal controller 110 of a side-bet gaming terminal 3, to award a progressive payout. Thus, the center controller 100 executes the ninth process of instructing the terminal controller 110 of the side-bet gaming terminal 3 to award a payout, according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
The above can be rephrased as follows. The center controller 100 causes the terminal controllers 110 to perform the first process so as to execute a tenth process of rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 based on running of a game in the gaming terminals 3.
As is obvious from the above operation, gaming machine 1 realizes a playing method including the steps of: causing the bet unit 109 to receive a side bet; differentiating between how the illumination device 130 lights when a side bet is received and when no side bet is received; rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150 at a predetermined timing; awarding a payout according to a relation among symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller 100, information on symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150, and an arrangement of the symbols 180; when a predetermined condition is met, receiving the symbols 180 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 from each terminal controller 110; combining one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the other symbol arrangement 190, wherein the one symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3; instructing the terminal controller 110 of a side-bet gaming terminal 3 to award a payout, according to a relationship among the symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102; and causing the payout awarding device 125 to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller 100.
This can be rephrased as follows. The gaming machine 1 realizes a playing method including the steps of: causing the bet unit to receive a side bet; differentiating between how the illumination device 130 lights when a side bet is received and when no side bet is received; for each of the gaming terminals 3, rearranging symbols 180 in the arrangement areas 150, based on running of a game; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150; combining one symbol arrangement 190 of one gaming terminal 3 with another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, and rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in the one symbol arrangement 190 and the other symbol arrangement 190, wherein the one symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3; causing the payout awarding device 125 of a side-bet gaming terminal 3 to award a payout, according to a relation among symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102.
According to the playing methods, a side bet is received by the bet unit symbols are arranged at a predetermined timing in the arrangement areas on a terminal display of a gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. When a predetermined condition is met, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. A payout is awarded through a side-bet gaming terminal, according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded through according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal is combined with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of the terminal display while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display. Thus, one game is formed with the side-bet gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. Further, the payout awarding device of a side-bet gaming terminal awards a payout. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic. Further, the illumination device lights up differently according to (depending on) whether a side bet is received. Also, the player is able to visually recognize how the illumination device of the gaming terminal light, through which gaming terminal a payout is awarded based on symbols rearranged on the shared display. Thus, the player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
(Display State of Terminal Display 101)
The following details an exemplary display state of the terminal display 101 during the operations of the gaming machine 1 and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the terminal display 101 adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in
As illustrated in the upper left of
As illustrated in
As is illustrated in the upper right of
A frame including a part of the symbols 180 thus rearranged is variably displayed. Then, symbols 180 and an arrangement thereof within the frame, at the time of stopping the variable-displaying, are determined as a combination symbol arrangement 190. Specifically, in the example shown in the middle right of
(Display State of Shared Display 102)
The following details an exemplary display state of the shared display 102 during the operations of the gaming machine 1 and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the shared display 102 adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
This shared display 102 displays at its lower part a progressive jackpot value 200 as illustrated in
As is illustrated in the upper view of
Thus, an effect indicating that a payout is awarded, is displayed on the shared display when it is determined to award a payout. This enables a player to more clearly expect a payout based on symbols arranged on the shared display. Thus, a new entertainment characteristic is realized.
Further, a payout is awarded by the payout awarding device of a side-bet gaming terminal. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
(Combination Patterns of Combination Symbol Arrangement 190)
Next, the following describes patterns of combinations of combination symbol arrangements 190, based on whether or not a side bet is received.
In an example illustrated in
In an example illustrated in
Thus, a combination symbol arrangement 190 of a side-bet gaming terminal 3 is given a priority over a combination symbol arrangement 190 of a gaming terminal 3 having received no side bet.
Further, as is the case of the combination symbol arrangements 190a, 190b, and 190c illustrated in
(Lighting States of Illumination Device 130)
The following describes lighting states of the illumination device 130. The illumination device 130 is a lamp 30 and an upper image display panel 33 in this embodiment.
Thus, the illumination device 130 lights when a side bet is received. Also, a player is able to visually recognize how the illumination device 130 of a gaming terminal 3 lights up, through which gaming terminal 3 a payout based on symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
In other words, each illumination device 130 lights differently based on at least one of whether or not a side bet is placed, and whether or not a combination symbol arrangement 190 rearranged on the terminal display 101 is adopted as symbols 180 to be rearranged on the shared display 102.
Thus, the illumination device 130 lights differently according to whether or not a side bet is received. Further, a player is able to visually recognize how the illumination device 130 of the gaming terminal 3 lights, through which gaming terminal 3 a payout based on symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
(Mechanical Structure of Gaming Machine 1)
Next, the following describes a specific example of mechanical and electrical structures of the gaming machine 1 thus structured.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Below the lower image display panel 16 provided are a control panel 20, a coin insertion slot 21, a side-bet coin insertion slot 90, and a bill validator 22. The control panel 20 is provided with various buttons 23 to 27. These buttons 23 to 27 allow a player to input instructions related to a game played by the player. Through the coin insertion slot 21, a coin is received in the cabinet 11. The side-bet coin insertion slot 90 serving as the bet unit 109 enables a coin to be inserted into the cabinet 11.
(Electrical structure of Gaming Terminal 3)
The door PCB 80 is connected to a control panel 20, a reverter 21S, a coin counter 21C, a side-bet reverter 90S serving as the bet unit 109, a side-bet coin counter 90C serving as the bet unit 109, and a cold cathode tube 81. The control panel 20 is provided with: a spin switch 23S associated with the spin button 23; a change switch 24S associated with the change button 24; a cashout switch 25S associated with the cashout button 25; a 1-BET switch 26S associated with the 1-BET button 26; and a maximum BET switch 27S associated with the maximum BET button 27. Each of the switches 23S to 27S outputs a signal to the main CPU 41, when a player presses the associated button.
The side-bet coin counter 90C has the same structure as the coin counter 21C, and is for a side bet. Further, the side-bet reverter 90S has the same structure as the reverter 21S, and is for a side bet.
(Operation of Gaming Terminal 3: Terminal Process Routine)
After the terminal side initial setting routine of
As illustrated in
On the other hand, if a coin is bet (C1: YES), the credit value stored in the RAM 43 is reduced according to the number of coins bet (C2). When the number of coins bet surpasses the number of coins equivalent to the credit value stored in the RAM 43, C2 is repeated without the reduction of the credit value. When the number of coins bet exceeds the maximum number of coins bettable one game (50 pieces in this embodiment), the process goes to a later-described step C3 without the reduction of the credit value.
Then, it is determined whether a spin button 23 is pressed (C3). If the spin button 23 is not pressed (C3: NO), the process returns to C1. Here, if the spin button 23 is not pressed (for example, the spin button 23 is not pressed but a command to end the game is input), the reduction of the credit value in C2 is canceled.
On the other hand, when the spin button 23 is pressed (C3: YES), a progressive transmission process is executed (C4). In other words, a progressive signal indicating a part of the game value bet is transmitted to the center controller 100.
Next executed is a symbol determining process (C5). That is, the stop symbol determining program stored in the RAM 43 is run to determine symbols 180 to be arranged in the matrix 156. Through this, a symbol combination to be formed along the payline L is determined.
Then, the scrolling process is executed to scroll symbols 180 on the terminal display 101 (C6). The scrolling process is a process in which the symbols 180 determined in C5 are stopped (rearranged) in the matrix 156 after scrolling of symbols 180 in a direction indicated by an arrow symbol.
Next, the CPU 41 determines whether a shared game is running (C7). If a shared game start signal is received from the center controller 100, the CPU 41 determines that the shared game is running. If the CPU 41 determines that the shared game is running (C7: YES), a terminal symbol arrangement signal is transmitted to the center controller 100 (C12). The terminal symbol arrangement signal indicates symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas 150 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 (terminal symbol arrangement). Next, the main CPU 41 determines whether a combination symbol arrangement signal from the center controller 100 is received (C13). The combination symbol arrangement signal indicates a combination symbol arrangement 190 determined by the center controller 100 based on the terminal symbol arrangement signal resulting from C12. When it is determined that no combination symbol arrangement signal is received in step C13 (C13: NO), the main CPU 41 executes step C8. Meanwhile, when it is determined that the combination symbol arrangement signal is received (C13: YES), the main CPU 41 causes the terminal display 101 to scroll the frame. Then, the main CPU 41 stops scrolling the frame so as to present in the frame the combination symbol arrangement 190 received in C12 (C14). Then, the main CPU 41 determines whether the bet unit 109 has received a side bet (C15). When it is determined that a side bet is received (C15: YES), the main CPU 41 executes step C8. Meanwhile, when it is determined that no side bet is received (C15: NO), the main CPU 41 causes the lamp 30 and the upper image display panel 33 to light in blue (C16), and executes step C8. On the other hand in C7, if it is determined that no shared game is running (C7: NO), C8 is executed.
Next, it is determined whether symbols 180 rearranged in the matrix 156 form a winning combination (C8). If the symbols 180 forms a winning combination (C8: YES), a payout process is executed (C9). More specifically, when a winning combination is formed, the number of coins according to the combination is calculated. On the other hand in C8, if it is determined that no winning combination is formed (C8: NO), C10 is executed.
Next, the main CPU 41 determines whether a progressive award signal is received from the center controller 100 (C10). If the CPU 41 determines that a progressive award signal is received (C10:YES), a payout is awarded according to the progressive award signal (C11). The process then returns to C1. On the other hand in C10, if the CPU 41 determines that no progressive award signal is received (C10: NO), the process returns to C1.
(Operation of Gaming Terminal 3: Side Bet Process Routine)
The main CPU 41 of the gaming terminal 3 executes the side bet process routine illustrated in
In the side bet process routine, the main CPU 41 determined whether a shared game start signal is received from the center controller 100, as illustrated in
(Operation of Center Controller 100: Center Process Routine)
After the center side initial setting routine of
As illustrated in
On the other hand in E1, if the main CPU 241 determines no progressive signal is received (E1: NO), the main CPU 241 determines if the progressive value equals or surpasses a predetermined value (E3). If the main CPU 241 determines that the progressive value is less than the predetermined value (E3: NO), the process returns to E1. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that the progressive value equals or surpasses the predetermined value (E3: YES), a shared game start signal is output to each of the gaming terminals 3 (E4). Next, the main CPU 241 causes the shared display 102 to start scrolling symbols 180 (E5). Next, a terminal symbol arrangement signal is received from each of the gaming terminals 3 (E6). Based on the terminal symbol arrangement signal, a combination symbol arrangement 190 is determined. The combination symbol arrangement 190 thus determined is sent back to the gaming terminals 3 (E7).
Next, the main CPU 241 combines at least two combination symbol arrangements 190 determined in E7, and tries to determine symbols 180 and an arrangement of the symbols 180 to be arranged in the arrangement areas 250 of the shared display 102 (E8). If an arrangement is not determined (E8: NO), the process returns to E6. On the other hand, if an arrangement is determined (E8: YES), the scrolling of the symbols 180 on the shared display 102 is stopped to present the arrangement determined (E9). Further, when an arrangement is determined in step E8, a symbol arrangement determining signal is output.
Then, the main CPU 241 determines whether the symbols 180 arranged on the shared display 102 forms a winning combination (E10). If the main CPU 241 determines that no winning combination is formed (E10: NO), the process returns to E1. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that a winning combination is formed (E10:YES), a later-mentioned progressive award process routine is called to be executed (E11). When the progressive award process ends, a progressive value consumed is subtracted from the value stored in RAM 243 (E12), and the process returns to E1.
As is already mentioned, this payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player's expectation for another payout awarded in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal.
Further, as described above, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal 3 is combined with symbols 180 identical to those in another symbol arrangement of the terminal display 101 while giving a priority to a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal 3, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3. Then, the combination of symbol arrangements formed is rearranged on the shared display 102. Thus, one game is formed with the side-bet gaming terminals 3. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
Further, as described above, a payout is awarded by the payout awarding device 125 of the side-bet gaming terminal 3. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
Further, as is already mentioned, a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals is created by rearranging, on the shared display 102, symbols 180 identical to those in one symbol arrangement 190 of the terminal display 101 in combination with symbols 180 identical to those in another symbol arrangement 190 of another gaming terminal 3, wherein the one arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the one gaming terminal 3, and the other arrangement 190 includes the symbols 180 arranged in arrangement areas 150 of the other gaming terminal 3. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players.
As described above, the illumination device 130 emits light when a side bet is received. Further, a player is able to visually recognize how the illumination device 130 of the gaming terminal 3 lights, through which gaming terminal 3 a payout is awarded based on symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
Further, as described above, the illumination device 130 lights differently according to whether or not a side bet is received. Further, a player is able to visually recognize how the illumination device 130 of the gaming terminal 3 lights, through which gaming terminal 3 a payout based on symbols 180 rearranged on the shared display 102. Thus, a player is given an incentive to place a side bet. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic.
Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where the center controller 100 determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be the terminal controller 110 which determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement.
Note further that the number of gaming terminals 3 is three or four in the present embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, provided that at least two gaming terminals 3 are provided.
The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove mainly focused on characteristics thereof for the purpose of easier understanding; however, the scope of the present invention shall be construed as broadly as possible, encompassing various forms of other possible embodiments, and therefore the present invention shall not be limited to the above description. Further, the terms and phraseology used in the present specification are adopted solely to provide specific illustration of the present invention, and in no case should the scope of the present invention be limited by such terms and phraseology. Further, it will be obvious for those skilled in the art that the other structures, systems, methods or the like are possible, within the spirit of the invention described in the present specification. The description of claims therefore shall encompass structures equivalent to the present invention, unless otherwise such structures are regarded as to depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the abstract is provided to allow, through a simple investigation, quick analysis of the technical features and essences of the present invention by an intellectual property office, a general public institution, or one skilled in the art who is not fully familiarized with patent and legal or professional terminology. It is therefore not an intention of the abstract to limit the scope of the present invention which shall be construed on the basis of the description of the claims. To fully understand the object and effects of the present invention, it is strongly encouraged to sufficiently refer to disclosures of documents already made available.
The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove includes a process executed on a computer or computer network. The above descriptions and expressions are provided to allow the one skilled in the art to most efficiently understand the present invention. A process performed in or by respective steps yielding one result or blocks with a predetermined processing function described in the present specification shall be understood as a process with no self-contradiction. Further, the electrical or magnetic signal is transmitted/received and written in the respective steps or blocks. It should be noted that such a signal is expressed in the form of bit, value, symbol, text, terms, number, or the like solely for the sake of convenience. Although the present specification occasionally personifies the processes performed in the steps or blocks, these processes are essentially executed by various devices. Further, the other structures necessary for the steps or blocks are obvious from the above descriptions.
Fifth EmbodimentThe following describes a fifth embodiment of a gaming machine and a playing method thereof according to the present invention. Note that reference numbers and symbols given to members and steps of flowcharts are only applicable to those described within the present embodiment, and do not represent the members or the steps of the other embodiments.
As shown in
In this embodiment, the “side-bet game” is a sideshow game which is played independently of a main plot of a base game.
A gaming machine 100 which runs the above game includes a controller 111, a common display 101, and a plurality of terminal devices 102, as shown in
The controller 111 has a side-bet game running unit 113, a COMMON SYMBOL number determining unit 114, and a bonus payout determining unit 115. The terminal device 102 has a game starting unit 105, a side-bet device 104, a terminal controller 110, a terminal display 103, a base payout awarding unit 108, and a bonus payout awarding unit 116.
In addition, the terminal controller 110 has a game running unit 106, a side-bet receiving unit 112, a COMMON SYMBOL determining unit 109, and a win determining unit 107.
Here, “arranging” means making a state where symbols 180 are visible to a player. For example, in
The common display 101 and the terminal display 103 may have a mechanical structure adopting a reel device which rotates a reel to arrange symbols 180. Alternatively, the common display 101 and the terminal display 103 may have an electrical structure in which a video reel is displayed as an image to thereby arrange symbols 180. Further, a combination of the mechanical structure (reel) and the electric structure (video reel) may also be possible. Examples of the electrical structure include a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (cathode-ray tube), a plasma display device, and the like. A specific structure of the common display 101 and the terminal display 103 will be detailed later.
[Controller 111 and Terminal Controller 110]
The controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 are adapted to perform: a first process of putting the side-bet device 104 into a selectable state until the symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102; a second process of rearranging the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102; a third process of awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas; a fourth process of rearranging, on the common display 101, predetermined ones of the symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104; a fifth process of rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas on the common display 101; and a sixth process of awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged. In other words, the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 include six process stages.
[Operations of Controller 111 and Terminal Controller 110]
A description will be given to operations of the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 having the above-described structure. First, the side-bet device 104 is put into a selectable state until symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102. In short, the terminal controller 110 performs the first process.
Then, after a game value is inserted, triggered by a game start signal from the game starting unit 105, the game running unit 106 starts to variably display the symbols 180 which have been arranged on the terminal display 103. In short, the terminal controller 110 performs the second process.
Then, in accordance with a relation among the symbols 180 thus rearranged, the win determining unit 107 awards a base payout through the base payout awarding unit 108. In short, the terminal controller 110 performs the third process.
Then, the side-bet receiving unit 112 determines whether the side-bet device 104 has selected to participate in a side-bet game or not. When it is determined that the side-bet device 104 has selected to participate, the COMMON SYMBOL determining unit 109 detects a total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 among the symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal display 103, and rearranges the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 on the common display 101. In short, the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 performs the fourth process.
Then, the side-bet game running unit 113 rearranges, on the common display 101, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 rearranged. In short, the controller 111 performs the fifth process.
Then, the COMMON SYMBOL number determining unit 114 detects the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 thus rearranged. In accordance with the number of detected symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181, the bonus payout determining unit 115 calculates a bonus payout to be awarded to the terminal device 102 having participated in the side-bet game. Then, the bonus payout awarding unit 116 awards the bonus payout calculated. In short, the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 performs the sixth process.
Each block of the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 may be formed by hardware or by software as needed.
As seen from the above-described operations, the present invention a gaming machine including: a common display 101 which arranges a plurality of symbols 180 in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices 102 each having a terminal display 103 which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device 104 which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display 101, the terminal device 102 rearranging a plurality of symbols 180 in the arrangement areas on the terminal display 103 and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols 180; and a controller 111 and a terminal controller 110. The present invention is embodied as a control method for playing the gaming machine 100, including the steps of: putting the side-bet device 104 into a selectable state until the symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102; rearranging the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102; awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas; rearranging, on the common display 101, symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 among the symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104; rearranging the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas on the common display 101; and awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 thus rearranged.
In the above-described structure, it is possible to rearrange, among the symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 on the common display 101, and to award the bonus payout in accordance with the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 rearranged on the common display 101. A player playing on the terminal device 102 which has made a side-bet is given a bonus payout as a result of a side-bet game, which bonus payout is affected by game results of players playing on neighboring terminal devices 102. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices 102.
[Mechanical Structure of Slot Machine 1]
The following describes an embodiment where the gaming machine 100 having the above-described structure is applied to a slot machine 1 and specifically structured in mechanical, electrical, and operational senses.
The slot machine 1 is placed in a gaming facility or the like. The slot machine 1 performs a unit game by use of a game value. The game value is a coin, a bill, or a value in the form of electronic information. However, the game value in the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, a medal, token, electronic money, a ticket and the like are also possible. Further, the ticket is not particularly limited and may be a barcoded ticket which will be described later, and the like.
As shown in
As shown in
This embodiment deals with, as an example, a case where the lower image display panels 16A, 16B, and 16C electrically display symbols 180 to thereby display five columns and three rows of symbols. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, three columns and three rows of symbols, or five columns and five rows of symbols, may be acceptable.
In this example, symbols 180 arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 are scatter symbols. Here, scatter symbols means such symbols that activation occurs (i.e., a payout is awarded, a bonus game is given, or the like) when a predetermined number of them stop in the matrix of arrangement areas made up of the five columns and three rows of the display windows 151 to 155. For example, in a base game where scatter symbols are adopted, a payout is awarded when a predetermined number (e.g., five or more) of scatter symbols are displayed in the display windows 151 to 155 (fifteen arrangement regions). That is, when a predetermined number of scatter symbols are displayed in the display windows 151 to 155, a payout is awarded regardless of display positions or an arrangement way of the scatter symbols.
Note that the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C may have a credit value indicator and a payout value indicator. The credit value indicator displays a total value (hereinafter also referred to as total credit value) which the terminal device 3A,3B, 3C can pay out to a player. The payout value indicator displays the number of coins to be paid out.
Below the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C, provided are a control panel 20, a coin receiving slot 21, a side-bet coin receiving slot 90, and a bill validator 22. The control panel 20 is provided with buttons 23 to 27. These buttons 23 to 27 allow a player to input commands relating to a game progress. The coin receiving slot 21 and the side-bet coin receiving slot 90 enable coins to be received into the cabinet 11. The side-bet coin receiving slot 90 is equivalent to the side-bet device 104 shown in
The control panel 20 includes a spin button 23, a change button 24, a cashout button 25, a 1-BET button 26, and a MAX-BET button 27. The spin button 23 is for inputting a command to start scrolling the symbols 180. The change button 24 is used to ask a staff person of the gaming facility for money exchange. The cash out button 25 is for inputting a command to pay out coins corresponding to the total credit-value into the coin tray 18. The control panel 20 which performs a game in the terminal device is equivalent to the game starting unit 105 shown in
The 1-BET button 26 is for inputting a command to bet, on a game, one coins among coins corresponding to the total credit value. The MAX-BET button 27 is for inputting a command to bet, on a game, a maximum number of coins bettable on one game (e.g., fifty coins) among coins corresponding to the total credit value.
The bill validator 22 validates whether a bill is genuine or not and receives the genuine bill into the cabinet 11. Note that the bill validator 22 is capable of reading a barcoded ticket 39 which will be described later. When the bill validator 22 reads the barcoded ticket 39, it outputs to the main CPU 41 a read signal relating to what has been read.
On a front surface of a lower part of the main door 13, that is, below the control panel 20, a belly glass 34 is provided. On the belly glass 34, a character of the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C, or the like is drawn. On a front surface of the top box 12 is provided an upper image display panel 33. The upper image display panel 33 has a liquid crystal panel, and displays an effect image, an image representing game introduction or game rules, or the like.
Further, the top box 12 has a lamp 30 for presenting an effect, and a speaker 29 for performing an audio output. Below the upper image display panel 33 are provided a ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a data displayer 37, and a keypad 38. The ticket printer 35 prints, on to a ticket, a barcode which is an encoded form of data such as a credit-value, time and date, identification number of the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C, and the like. Thereby, the ticket printer 35 issues a barcoded ticket 39. A player can play a game in another gaming terminal 3 with the ticket 39 having the barcode, or exchange the ticket 39 having the barcode with bill at a change booth of the game arcade.
The card reader 36 reads and writes data from and into a smart card. The smart card is carried by a player, and stores therein data for identifying the player and data relating to a history of games played by the player, for example.
The data displayer 37 includes a fluorescent display or the like, and displays the data read by the card reader 36 and the data input by the player through the keypad 38, for example. The keypad 38 is for entering commands or data relating to issuing of a ticket.
[Electrical Structure of Slot Machine]
[Electrical Structure of Terminal Device]
The gaming board 50 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a ROM 55, a boot ROM 52, a card slot 53S corresponding to a memory card 53, and an IC socket 54S corresponding to a GAL (Generic Array Logic) 54. The CPU 51, the ROM 55, and the boot ROM 52 are connected to one another through an internal bus.
The memory card 53 stores therein a game program and a game system program. The game program contains a stop symbol determining program. The stop symbol determining program determines symbols (code numbers corresponding to the symbols) to be stopped on the matrix 156.
This stop symbol determining program contains sets of symbol weighting data respectively corresponding to various payout rates (e.g., 80% 84%, and 88%). Each set of the symbol weighting data indicates, for each of the display windows 151 to 155, correspondence between a code number of each symbol column (symbol lines A to E) and at least one random numerical value belonging to a predetermined range. The payout rate is determined based on payout rate setting data output from the GAL 54. Based on a set of the symbol weighting data corresponding to the payout rate determined, a symbol to be stopped is determined.
The memory card 53 stores therein various types of data for use in the game programs and the game system programs. For example, the memory card 53 stores data indicating correspondence between each of symbols 180 displayed in the display windows 151 to 155 and a range of a random numerical values, in the form of a base game winning combination lottery table 130 (see
The card slot 53S is structured so as to allow the memory card 53 to be attached and detached to and from the card slot 53S. This card slot 53S is connected to the motherboard 40 through an IDE bus. Thus, a type and contents of a game run by the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C can be changed by detaching the memory card 53 from the card slot 53S, writing a different game program and a different game system program into the memory card 53, and inserting the memory card 53 back into the card slot 53S.
The game programs include a program relating to a game progress. The game programs also include data of images and sounds to be outputted during a game.
The GAL 54 has input and output ports. When the GAL 54 receives data via the input port, it outputs, from its output port, data corresponding to the input data.
The IC socket 54S is structured so as to allow the GAL 54 to be attached and detached to and from the IC socket 54S. The IC socket 54S is connected to the motherboard 40, via a PCI bus. Thus, data to be output from the GAL 54 can be changed by detaching the GAL 54 from the IC socket 54S, overwriting the program stored in the GAL 54, and then attaching the GAL 54 back to the IC socket 54S.
The CPU 51, the ROM 55, and the boot ROM 52 connected to one another through the internal bus are connected to the motherboard 40 through a PCI bus. The PCI bus communicates signals between the motherboard 40 and the gaming board 50, and supplies power from the motherboard 40 to the gaming board 50. The ROM 55 stores country identification information and an authentication program. The boot ROM 52 stores a preliminary authentication program, a program (boot code) for enabling the CPU 51 to run the preliminary authentication program, and the like.
The authentication program is a program (falsification check program) for authenticating the game program and the game system program. The authentication program is a program for confirming and verifying that the game program and the game system program are not falsified. In other words, the authentication program is described in accordance with a procedure for authenticating the game program and the game system program. The preliminary authentication program is a program for authenticating the authentication program. The preliminary authentication program is described in accordance with a procedure for verifying that the authentication program to be authenticated is not falsified, that is, for authenticating the authentication program.
The motherboard 40 has a main CPU 41, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and a communication interface 44. The motherboard 40 acting as a controller corresponds to the terminal controller 110 shown in
The main CPU 41 controls the entire terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C. In particular, the main CPU 41 controls the following operations of: outputting a command signal for making the graphic board 68 variably display symbols 180, at a time when the spin button 23 is pressed after betting of credit; determining symbols 180 to be stopped after the variable-displaying of symbols 180; and stopping the symbols 180 thus determined in the display windows 151 to 155. The main CPU 41 corresponds to the game running unit 106, the COMMON SYMBOL determining unit 109, and the win determining unit 107 shown in
In other words, the main CPU 41 serves to control arrangement, by scrolling symbols displayed in the lower image display panels 16A, 16B, 16C, then selecting and determining symbols to be rearranged from various kinds of symbols, to rearrange new symbols, and stopping scrolling of the symbols to present the symbols thus determined.
The ROM 42 stores a program such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) run by the main CPU 41, and permanently-used data. When the BIOS is run by the main CPU 41, each of peripheral devices is initialized, and the game program and the game system program stored in the memory card 53 are read out through the gaming board 50. The RAM 43 stores data or a program used for the main CPU 41 to perform a process. For example, the base game winning combination lottery table 130, the base game payout table 131, a game running processing program, and a side-bet processing program are stored in the RAM 43. In addition, a credit value is stored in the RAM 43.
The communication interface 44 communicates with a central control board 210 through a communication line. Further, a main body PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 60 and a door PCB 80 are connected to the motherboard 40, respectively through USBs (Universal Serial Buses). Further, a power unit 45 is connected to the motherboard 40. When the power unit 45 supplies power to the motherboard 40, the main CPU 41 of the mother board 40 is booted and in addition power is supplied to the gaming board 50 through the PCI bus so that the CPU 51 is booted.
Various devices or units which generate signals to be input to the main CPU 41, and various devices or units whose operations are controlled by signals output from the main CPU 41 are connected to the main body PCB 60 and the door PCB 80. Based on a signal input to the main CPU 41, the main CPU 41 runs the game program and the game system program stored in the RAM 43, to perform an arithmetic process. Then, the main CPU 41 stores a result of the arithmetic process in the RAM 43, or performs a control process on various devices and units by transmitting a control signal to the various devices and units.
A lamp 30, a hopper 66, a coin sensor 67, a graphic board 68, the speaker 29, a bill validator 22, a ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a key switch 38S, and a data displayer 37 are connected to main body PCB 60.
The lamp 30 is turned on/off based on a control signal from the main CPU 41.
The hopper 66 is mounted within the cabinet 11 and pays out a predetermined number of coins through a coin outlet 19 into the coin tray 18, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41. The coin sensor 67 is provided inside the coin outlet 19. When the coin sensor 67 senses that a predetermined number of coins have been delivered from the coin outlet 19, the coin sensor 67 outputs a signal to be input to the main CPU 41. The hopper 66 corresponds to the base payout awarding unit 108 and the bonus payout awarding unit 116 shown in
The graphic board 68 controls image display on the upper image display panel 33 and the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C, based on a control signal from the main CPU 41. Further, the graphic board 68 is provided with a VDP (Video Display Processor) for generating image data based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, a video RAM for temporarily storing the image data generated by the VDP, and the like. Note that image data used at the time when the VDP generates the image data are included in the game program which has been read out from the memory card 53 and stored into the RAM 43.
The bill validator 22 reads an image on a bill and takes only one recognized to be genuine into the cabinet 11. When taking in a genuine bill, the bill validator 22 outputs, to the main CPU 41, an input signal based on a value of the bill. The main CPU 41 stores into the RAM 43 a credit value equivalent to the value of the bill indicated by the signal.
Based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, the ticket printer 35 prints a barcode on a ticket, and outputs it as a barcoded ticket 39. The barcode contains encoded data of the credit value stored in the RAM 43, time and date, an identification number of the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C, and the like.
The card reader 36 reads out data from the smart card and transmits the data to the main CPU 41. Further, the card reader 36 writes data into the smart card based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41. The key switch 38S is mounted to the keypad 38, and outputs a signal to the main CPU 41 in response to a player's operation on the keypad 38. The data displayer 37 displays, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, data read by the card reader 36 or data input by the player through the key pad 38.
A control panel 20, a reverter 21S, a coin counter 21C, a side-bet reverter 90S, a side-bet coin counter 90C, and a cold cathode tube 81 are connected to the door PCB 80. The control panel 20 is provided with: a spin switch 23S associated with the spin button 23; a change switch 24S associated with the change button 24; a cashout switch 25S associated with the cashout button 25; a 1-BET switch 26S associated with the 1-BET button 26; and a MAX-BET switch 27S associated with the MAX-BET button 27. Each of the switches 23S to 27S outputs a signal to the main CPU 41, when a player presses the associated button.
The coin counter 21C and the side-bet coin counter 90C are provided within the coin receiving slot 21 and the side-bet coin receiving slot 90, and identifies whether coins inserted into the coin receiving slot 21 and the side-bet coin receiving slot 90 by the player are genuine. A coin other than a genuine coin is discharged from the coin outlet 19. The coin counter 21C and the side-bet coin counter 90C output an input signal to the main CPU 41 upon detection of a genuine coin. The side-bet coin counter 90C corresponds to the side-bet receiving unit 112 shown in
The reverter 21S and the side-bet reverter 90S are operated based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41. The reverter 21S and the side-bet reverter 90S distribute a coin, which the coin counter 21C and the side-bet coin counter 90C has recognized as a genuine coin, to the hopper 66 or a cash box (not shown) mounted in the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C. In other words, when the hopper 66 is full of coins, genuine coins are distributed into the cash box by the reverter 21S and the side-bet reverter 90S. On the other hand, when the hopper 66 is not yet full of coins, genuine coins are distributed into the hopper 66. The cold cathode tube 81 functions as a backlight mounted to rear sides of the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C and the upper image display panel 33. The cold cathode tube 81 turns on based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41.
[Base Game Winning Combination Lottery Table]
A base game winning combination lottery table 130 which is used in a game running process executed by the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C will be described with reference to
As shown in
five symbols 180 of “MOON” 183 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155. Likewise, when a random numerical value is 52 to 107, a winning combination of “K” 186 is made. When a random numerical value is 108 to 207, a winning combination of “A” 184 is made. When a random numerical value is 208 to 407, a winning combination of “Q” 187 is made. When a random numerical value is 408 to 707, a winning combination of “J” 185 is made. When a random numerical value is 708 to 1107, a winning combination of “10” 188 is made. When a random numerical value sampled by the main CPU 41 is 1108 to 5998, it means a loss, and a losing combination of symbols 180, which is different from any of the above-mentioned winning combinations, is stopped in the display windows 151 to 155. Here, making any of these combinations is referred to as making a win.
[Base Game Payout Table]
Next, a base game payout table 131 will be described with reference to
For a result of sampling using the base game winning combination lottery table 130, coins are paid out in accordance with a winning combination displayed in the display windows 151 to 155 based on the base game payout table 131.
More specifically, when five symbols 180 of “HEART” 182 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, fifty coins are paid out. When five symbols 180 of “MOON” 183 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, thirty coins are paid out as a payout. Likewise, when five symbols 180 of “K” 186 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, twenty-five coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “A” 184 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, twenty coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “Q” 187 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, fifteen coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “J” 185 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, ten coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “10” 188 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, five coins are paid out as a payout. When a lottery results in losing, and a losing combination of symbols 180, which is different from any of the above-mentioned winning combinations, is stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, zero coin is paid out as a payout. Note that, when one coin is inserted for a game, the above-mentioned number of coins are paid out as a payout. When two or more coins are inserted for one game, the number of coins actually paid out is the number of inserted coins being multiplied by the above-mentioned number of coins paid out.
[Electrical Structure of Central Control Board]
The gaming board 250 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 251, a ROM 255, a boot ROM 252, a card slot 253S corresponding to a memory card 253, and an IC socket 254S corresponding to a GAL (Generic Array Logic) 254. The CPU 251, the ROM 255, and the boot ROM 252 are connected to one another through an internal bus. In other words, the gaming board 250 has the same structure and the same functions as those of the gaming board 50.
The motherboard 240 has a main CPU 241, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 242, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 243, a power unit 245, a graphic board 268, a common display 201 connected to the graphic board 268, and a communication interface 244. The RAM 243 stores therein a COMMON SYMBOL number determining program, a COMMON SYMBOL number lottery table 132, a side-bet game payout table 133, and a side-bet game running processing program.
The common display 201 has a transparent liquid crystal panel which displays various information. The common display 201 displays display windows 231 to 235 where a plurality of symbols 180 are arranged. In addition, the common display 201 displays as needed game-related various information, effect images, and the like.
This embodiment deals with, as an example, a case where the common display 201 electrically displays symbols 180 to arrange the symbols 180 in five columns and three rows. However, this is not limitative. The symbols 180 may be arranged in three columns and three rows, or five columns and five rows, for example.
In this embodiment, moreover, symbols 180 displayed in the display windows 231 to 235 are symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181. In other words, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 correspond to the predetermined ones of symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal devices 3A, 3B and 3C, which one are arranged in the display windows 231 to 235.
The main CPU 241 controls the entire central control board 210. In particular, the main CPU 241 controls the following operations of: outputting a command signal for making the graphic board 268 variably display symbols 180, at a time when a game using the common display 201 is run; determining symbols 180 to be stopped after the variable-displaying of symbols 180; and stopping the symbols 180 thus determined in the display windows 231 to 235. The main CPU 241 corresponds to the side-bet game running unit 113 shown in
The communication interface 224 communicates with the communication interfaces 44 of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C through a communication line.
The graphic board 268 has the same structure as that of the graphic board 68, except that the graphic board 268 controls image displaying on the common display 201 based on a control signal output from the main CPU 241.
The drive motor 270 is a stepping motor and is connected to a not-shown drive wheel. The drive motor 270 is driven based on a control signal output from the main CPU 241, and rotates the drive wheel to move the common display 201 on the rail 271.
[Common Symbol Number Lottery Table]Next, with reference to
As shown in
Likewise, when a random numerical value is 17 to 47, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of thirteen symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 48 to 167, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of twelve symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 168 to 401, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of eleven symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 402 to 705, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of ten symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 706 to 1110, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of nine symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 1111 to 1616, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of eight symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) When a random numerical value is 1617 to 2216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of seven symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) When a random numerical value is 2217 to 2816, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of six symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 2817 to 3416, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of five symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 3417 to 4116, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of four symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 4117 to 5216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of three symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 5217 to 6216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of two symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 6217 to 8216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of one symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 8217 to 11999, it means a loss and symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of zero symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS).
[Side-Bet Game Payout Table]
Next, a side-bet game payout table 133 will be described with reference to
As a result of sampling with the COMMON SYMBOL number lottery table 132 shown in
To be more specific, in a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is zero, coins to be paid out is zero irrespective of the number of terminal devices participating in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is one, coins to be paid out is five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and ten when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is two, coins to be paid out is ten when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, ten when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and twenty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is three, coins to be paid out is fifteen when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, twenty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and thirty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is four, coins to be paid out is twenty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, twenty-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and forty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is five, coins to be paid out is twenty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, thirty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and fifty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is six, coins to be paid out is thirty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, thirty-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and sixty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is seven, coins to be paid out is thirty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, forty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and seventy when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is eight, coins to be paid out is forty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, forty-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and eighty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is nine, coins to be paid out is forty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, fifty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and ninety when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game.
In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is ten, coins to be paid out is fifty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and sixty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is eleven, coins to be paid out is fifty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and seventy when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is twelve, coins to be paid out is sixty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and seventy-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is thirteen, coins to be paid out is sixty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and eighty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is fourteen, coins to be paid out is seventy when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and eighty-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is fifteen, coins to be paid out is seventy-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and ninety when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game.
[Display State of Display Windows 151 to 155 of Terminal Device]
The following details an exemplary display state of the lower image display panels 16A, 16B, and 16C of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C during operations of the slot machine 1 and the controlling method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where symbols 180 are arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 by means of a video reel method, as shown in
The lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C has display windows 151 to 155 where symbols 180 are arranged. The display windows 151 to 155 are disposed at a center part of the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C. In the display windows 151 to 155, symbol columns (symbol lines A to E) each made up of symbols 180 are scrolled (see
In a basic game (base game), a payout awarding process such as paying out coins is executed when a predetermined number of symbols 181 to 188 called scatter symbols are displayed on the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C as a winning combination. Scatter symbols are symbols which provide an effective result (such as awarding a payout, giving a bonus game, or the like) merely when a predetermined number of them are stopped on any of the display areas of the arrangement region made up of five columns and three rows of the display windows 151 to 155. For example, when five symbols of “J” 185, which is one of the scatter symbols shown in
Although in this embodiment the symbols 181 to 188 are defined as scatter symbols, this is not limitative and only a specific symbol may be defined as a scatter symbol. Alternatively, a player may select a scatter symbol. It may also be possible that a coin payout process or the like is executed when a predetermined combination of symbols is stopped on a payline L extending horizontally through the b-stages (151b to 155b) of the display windows 151 to 155. That is, the payline L is for determining a combination of symbols 180. When symbols 180 are rearranged on the payline L and outside the payline L, only the symbols 180 rearranged on the payline are judged for a combination. It maybe possible that, when a winning combination is made as a result of the determination of a combination, a coin payout process or the like is executed.
[Display State of Display Windows 231 to 235 of Common display]
Thus, all the symbols 180 are rearranged. More specifically, three symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 of the terminal device 3A, two symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 of the terminal device 3B, and five symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 of the terminal device 3C.
A total of the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) arranged in the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C are rearranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display 201. More specifically, ten symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are arranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display 201. The symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) thus rearranged are scrolled and then rearranged again. More specifically, six symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are rearranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display 201.
[Symbol Column, etc.]
Symbols 180 displayed in the display windows 151 to 155 of the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C of the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C form five symbol columns (symbol lines A to E) each including twenty-two symbols, as shown in
Three successive symbols in the symbol columns are displayed (arranged) in the upper stages 151a, 152a, 153a, 154a, 155a, the center stages 151b, 152b, 153b, 154b, 155b and the lower stages 151c, 152c, 153c, 154c, 155c of the display windows 151 to 155, respectively, to form a matrix of five columns and three rows in the display windows 151 to 155. When a BET button is pushed and then a start button is pushed to start a game, the symbols forming the matrix are scrolled. When a predetermined period of time has elapsed after scroll is started, the scroll of each symbol is stopped (rearranged).
The symbols 181 to 188 are set as scatter symbols. Scatter symbols are such symbols that a player is put into an advantageous position when a predetermined number or more of them are displayed in the display windows 151 to 155. The advantageous position is a state where coins corresponding to the scatter symbols are paid out, a state where the number of coins to be paid out is added to a credit, or the like.
For example, when five or more symbols of “MOON” 183 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, thirty coins (game media) per bet are paid out.
In this embodiment, symbols 180 to be arranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display 201 are only the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181. A bonus payout is awarded in accordance with the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 arranged in the display windows 231 to 235.
In this embodiment, a game value is paid out when a predetermined number of predetermined symbols are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155. However, a bonus game may be given instead. The bonus game is a gaming state which is more advantageous than a basic game. For example, the bonus game is a free game. The free game is a game allowing a player to play a game a predetermined number of times without betting a coin. No particular limitation is put on the bonus game, as long as it is a gaming state advantageous to the player, that is, it is more advantageous than the basic game. For example, the bonus game may include a state where more game media are obtainable than in the basic game, a state where a game medium is obtainable with higher probability than in the basic game, a state where a game medium is less consumed than in the basic game, and the like. Specifically, a free game, a second game, a feature game, and the like may be mentioned as examples of the bonus game.
[Operation of Slot Machine]
Next, various processes executed in the slot machine 1 will be described. As the main CPU 41 and the main CPU 241 read out and execute programs stored in the ROM 42, the RAM 43, the ROM 242, and the RAM 243, processes relating to various games are run.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Boot Process]
The following describes a boot process which takes place in the slot machine 1. Upon powering on the slot machine 1, a boot processing routine shown in
First, turning on the power switch of (powering on) the power units 45 and 245 boots the motherboards 40 and 240, and the gaming boards 50 and 250. Booting the motherboards 40 and 240 and the gaming boards 50 and 250 starts separate processes in parallel. Specifically, in the gaming board 50 and 250, the CPUs 51 and 251 read out preliminary authentication programs stored in the boot ROMs 52 and 252, respectively. Then, preliminary authentication is performed according to the read out programs so as to confirm and authenticate that no modification is made to authentication programs, before reading them into the motherboards 40 and 240, respectively (S1). Meanwhile, the main CPUs 41 and 241 of the motherboards 40 and 240 run BIOS stored in the ROMs 42 and 242 to load into the RAMs 43 and 243 compressed data built in the BIOS, respectively (S2). Then, the main CPUs 41 and 241 run a procedure of the BIOS according to the data loaded into the RAMs 43 and 243 so as to diagnose and initialize various peripheral devices (S3).
The main CPUs 41 and 241, which are respectively connected to the ROMs 55 and 255 of the gaming boards 50 and 250 via PCI buses, read out authentication programs stored in the ROMs 55 and 265 and store them into the RAMs 43 and 243 (S4). During this step, the main CPUs 41 and 241 each derives a checksum through ADDSUM method (a standard check function) which is adopted in a standard BIOS, and store the authentication programs into the RAMs 43 and 243 while confirming if the operation of storing is carried out without an error.
Next, the main CPUs 41 and 241 each checks what connects to the IDE bus. Then, the main CPUs 41 and 241 accesses, via the IDE buses, to the memory cards 53 and 253 inserted into the card slots 53S and 253S, and read out game programs and game system programs from the memory cards 53 and 253. In this case, the main CPUs 41 and 241 each reads out four bytes of data constituting the game program and the game system program at one time. Next, in accordance with the authentication programs stored in the RAMs 43 and 243, the main CPUs 41 and 241 authenticate the game program and the game system program read out to confirm and prove that these programs are not modified (S5).
When the authentication properly ends, the main CPUs 41 and 241 write and store the authenticated game programs and game system programs into RAMs 43 and 243 (S6).
Next, the main CPUs 41 and 241 accesses, via the PCI buses, to the GALs 54 and 254 attached to the IC socket 54S and 254S, and read out data from the GALs 54 and 254, respectively. The data read out is then written and stored in the RAMs 43 and 243 (S7).
Next, the main CPUs 41 and 241 read out, via the PCI buses, country identification information stored in the ROMs 55 and 255 of the gaming boards 50 and 250, respectively. The country identification information read out is then written and stored in the RAMs 43 and 243 (S8).
After this, the main CPUs 41 and 241 each performs an initial process shown in
[Operation of Slot Machine: Initial Process]
The following describes an initial process which takes place in the slot machine 1. When the boot process of
First, the main CPU 41 of each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C checks operations of work memories such as the RAM 43, various sensors, various driving mechanisms, and various decorative illuminations (A1). Then, the main CPU 41 determines if all the check results are normal (A2). If the main CPU 41 determines that the check results contains an error (A2: NO), the main CPU 41 outputs a signal notifying the error (hereinafter, error signal) to the central control board 210 (A3). Further, the main CPU 41 reports the error in the form of illuminating the lamp 30 or the like (A4), and then ends the routine.
On the other hand in A2, if the main CPU 41 determines that all the check results are normal (A2: YES), an initial setting signal is output to the central control board 210 (A5). Then, an initial setting signal is waited from the central control board 210 (A6, A7: NO).
The main CPU 241 of the central control board 210 receives signals from each of the terminals (B1). Then, the main CPU 241 determines whether a signal received is an error signal (B2). If the main CPU 241 determines that the signal is an error signal (B2: YES), the main CPU 241 outputs an error signal to a management server such as a not-shown host computer (B9) to report the error (B10), and ends the routine.
On the other hand in B2, if the main CPU 241 determines that the signal is not an error signal (B2:NO), the main CPU 241 determines whether a predetermined time (check time) has elapsed from the time of powering on (B3). If the main CPU 241 determines that the check time has elapsed (B3: YES), B9 is executed. On the other hand, if the main CPU 241 determines that the check time has not yet elapsed (B3:NO), it is determined whether an initial setting signal is received from each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C (B4). If the main CPU 241 determines that an initial setting signal from any one of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C is not received (B4: NO), the process returns to B1. On the other hand, if it is determined that initial setting signals from all the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C are received (B4: YES), the main CPU 241 checks operations of work memories such as RAM 243 or the like, various sensors, various driving mechanisms, and various decorative illuminations (B5). Then, the main CPU 241 determines whether all the check results are normal (B6). If the main CPU 241 determines the check results contains an error (B6: NO), the main CPU 241 executes B9.
On the other hand in B6, if the main CPU 241 determines that all the check results are normal (B6: YES), the main CPU 241 outputs an initial setting signal to all the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C (B7), and causes the common display 201 to display a demo-screen (B8). Then, the main CPU 241 ends the routine.
In A7, the main CPU 41 of each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C determines that an initial setting signal is received from the central control board 210 (A7: YES), and causes the upper image display panel 33 to display a demo-screen (A8). The main CPU 41 then ends the routine.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Game Running Process]
After the terminal side initial setting routine of
The main CPU 41 of the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C executes the game running process shown in
On the other hand, if it is determined that a coin is bet (C1: YES), the credit value stored in the RAM 43 is reduced according to the number of coins bet (C2). When the number of coins bet surpasses the number of coins equivalent to the credit value stored in the RAM 43, the credit value is reduced to zero and he step C3 is performed. When the number of coins bet exceeds the maximum number of coins bettable on one game (50 pieces in this embodiment), the credit value is reduced by fifty and the step C3 is performed.
Then, whether a spin button 23 is turned on or not is determined (C3). If the spin button 23 is not turned on (C3: NO), the process returns to C1. Here, if the spin button 23 is not turned on (for example, the spin button 23 is not turned on but a command to end the game is input), the reduction of the credit value in C2 is canceled.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the spin button 23 is turned on (C3: YES), a symbol determining process is executed (C4). In other words, a stop symbol determining program is executed based on the base game winning combination lottery table 130 stored in the RAM 43, to determine fifteen symbols 180 to be stopped in the display windows 151 to 155.
Then, symbols 180 in the symbol columns (symbol lines A to E) in the display windows 151 to 155 are scrolled (C5). When a predetermined period of time (base time) has elapsed after the scroll of the symbols 180 is started, the symbols 180 determined in C4 is stopped (rearranged) in the display windows 151 to 155 (A7). At this time, a scroll stop signal is transmitted.
Then, whether a win is made or not, that is, whether a combination of symbols 180 stopped in the display windows 151 to 155 is a winning combination listed in the base game payout table 131 or not, is determined (C7). When it is determined that the combination is not a winning combination (C7: NO), the process ends. When it is determined that the combination is a winning combination (C7: YES), a payout process is executed (C8). More specifically, the number of coins to be paid out which corresponds to a kind of the winning combination is calculated based on the base game payout table 131 shown in
Then, whether a side-bet ON signal is received or not is determined (C9). When it is determined that the signal is not received (C9: NO), this process ends. When it is determined that the signal is received (C9: YES), the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) stopped (rearranged) in the display windows 151 to 155 is calculated (C10). Then, a side-bet game start signal is transmitted (C11). The side-bet game start signal includes information about the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) thus calculated.
Then, whether a side-bet game end signal is received or not is determined (C12). When it is determined that the signal is not received (C12: NO), reception of the side-bet game end signal is waited. When it is determined that the signal is received (C12: YES), a payout process is executed (C13) based on information about the number of coins (a bonus payout from the side-bet game) included in the side-bet game end signal received in E9 of a side-bet game running process which will be described later. Then, this process once ends.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Side-Bet Process]
The main CPU 41 of each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C executes a side-bet process shown in
First, when a side-bet process is executed, a side-bet period starts (D1). The period starts since the spin button 23 is turned on. Then, whether the scroll stop signal, which has been transmitted in C6 of the game running process, is received or not is determined (D2). When the scroll stop signal is not received (D2: NO), the scroll stop signal is waited. When the scroll stop signal is received (D2: YES), a side-bet period ends (D3).
Then, whether there has been a side-bet during the side-bet period or not is determined (D4). More specifically, whether a coin has been inserted through the side-bet coin receiving slot 90 and an input signal indicating that a coin has been inserted is received from a not-shown recognizer or not is determined.
When it is determined that there has not been a side-bet (D4: NO), a side-bet OFF signal is transmitted (D5) When it is determined that there has been a side-bet (D4: YES), a side-bet ON signal is transmitted (D6). Then, this process once ends.
According to the above-described structure, a player is allowed to participate in a side-bet game until rearrangement is completed in each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C. Therefore, the player can participate in the side-bet game while watching how the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) used for the side-bet game are rearranged.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Side-Bet Game Running Process]
After the center side initial setting routine shown in
When the side-bet game running process is executed, first, whether a side-bet OFF signal or a side-bet game start signal from the terminal device 3A is received or not is determined (E1). When the signal is not received (E1: NO), the step E1 is repeated. When the signal is received (E1: YES), whether a side-bet OFF signal or a side-bet game start signal from the terminal device 3B is received or not is determined (E2). When the signal is not received (E2: NO), the step E2 is repeated. When the signal is received (E2: YES), whether a side-bet OFF signal or a side-bet game start signal from the terminal device 3C is received or not is determined (E3). When the signal is not received (E3: NO), the step E3 is repeated.
When the signal is received (E3: YES), the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is calculated from information included in the side-bet start signals transmitted from the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C. A total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) thus calculated are arranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display (E4).
Next, a COMMON SYMBOL number determining process is executed (E5). More specifically, a COMMON SYMBOL number determining program is executed based on a COMMON SYMBOL number lottery table 132 stored in the RAM 243, so that the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) to be stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 is determined. When the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) thus determined is greater than the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) indicated by the information included in the side-bet start signals and the like which have been transmitted from the respective terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C, the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) determined by the COMMON SYMBOL number determining process is a total number of the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) indicated by the information included in the side-bet start signals and the like which have been transmitted from the respective terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C.
Then, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) arranged in the display windows 231 to 235 are scrolled (E6). When a predetermined period of time (base time) has elapsed after the scroll of the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is started, symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) the number of which has been determined in E5 are stopped (rearranged) in the display windows 231 to 235 (E7).
Then, whether symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are rearranged in the display windows 231 to 235 or not, and more specifically how many symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235, is determined (E8). When it is determined that symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are not rearranged (E8: NO), the process goes to E10. When it is determined that symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are rearranged (E8: YES), the number of coins to be paid out is calculated based on the side-bet game payout table 133 (E9). The number of coins to be paid out is according to the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 and the number of terminal devices having transmitted the side-bet game start signals (that is, the number of terminal devices having participated in the side-bet game). Then, a side-bet game end signal is transmitted (E10). The side-bet game end signal includes information about the number of coins to be paid out which has been calculated in E9. Then, this process once ends.
In the above-described structure, it is possible: to rearrange, among the symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C which have selected to participate in the side-bet game, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) on the common display 201; to rearrange, on the common display 201, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) rearranged on the common display 201; and to award the bonus payout in accordance with the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) rearranged on the common display 201. This may enable a player to enjoy the side-bet game using rearrangement on the common display 201. In addition, a player playing on the terminal device 3A, 3B, or 3C which has made a side-bet is given a bonus payout as a result of a side-bet game, which bonus payout is affected by a game result of a player playing on a neighboring terminal device 3A, 3B, or 3C. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Effect Operation]
When the above-described various processes are executed in the slot machine 1, results or contents corresponding to the processes are, in the form of commands or data, input to respective actuators. For example, when a coin is inserted into the side-bet coin receiving slot 90 of each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C to make a side-bet, the main CPU 41 controls the lamp 30 to blink the lamp 30. In addition, when the side-bet is made, the main CPU 41 displays an effect image on the upper image display panel 33. Moreover, the main CPU 41 performs effect presentation by an audio output from the speaker 29, together with or independently of the effect made on the upper image display panel 33.
In the detailed description provided above, characteristic parts have mainly been described in order that the present invention can be understood more easily. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the detailed description provided above, and may be applied to other embodiments. The scope of application of the present invention should be construed as broadly as possible. Terms and phraseologies adopted in the present specification are for correctly illustrating the present invention, not for limiting. It would be easy for those skilled in the art to derive, from the spirit of the invention described in the present specification, other structures, systems, methods and the like which are included in the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it should be considered that claims cover equivalent structures, too, without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. An object of the abstract is to enable an intellectual property office, general public institutions, persons belonging to the art but not familiar with patent, legal terms, or technical terms to quickly understand technical contents and essences of the present invention through a simple research. Therefore, the abstract is not intended to limit the scope of the invention that should be evaluated by the claims. In addition, it is desirable to sufficiently refer to already-disclosed documents and the like, in order to fully understand the objects and effects of the present invention.
The detailed description provided above includes a process which is executed on a computer or a computer network. The descriptions and expressions provided above are given for the purpose of allowing those skilled in the art to understand the invention most effectively. In the specification, respective steps used to induce one result, or blocks having a predetermined processing function should be understood as a process having no self-contradiction. In addition, in each step or block, an electrical or magnetic signal is transmitted/received, recorded, and the like. In a process in each step or block, such a signal is embodied in the form of a bit, a value, a symbol, a character, a term, a number, and the like. However, it should be noted that they have been used simply because they are convenient for explanations. A process in each step or block has sometimes been described using an expression which is common to a human behavior. However, in principle, the process described in the specification is executed by a variety of devices. In addition, other structures necessary for each step or block are apparent from the above description.
Sixth EmbodimentThe following describes a sixth embodiment of a gaming machine and a playing method thereof according to the present invention. Note that reference numbers and symbols given to members and steps of flowcharts are only applicable to those described within the present embodiment, and do not represent the members or the steps of the other embodiments.
As shown in
In this embodiment, the “side-bet game” is a sideshow game which is played independently of a main plot of a base game.
A gaming machine 100 which runs the above game includes a controller 111, a common display 101, and a plurality of terminal devices 102, as shown in
The controller 111 has a side-bet game running unit 113, a COMMON SYMBOL number determining unit 114, a payout stock unit 117, and a side-bet game payout determining unit 115. The terminal device 102 has a game starting unit 105, a side-bet device 104, a terminal controller 110, a terminal display 103, a base payout awarding unit 108, and a side-bet game payout awarding unit 116.
In addition, the terminal controller 110 has a game running unit 106, a side-bet receiving unit 112, a COMMON SYMBOL determining unit 109, and a win determining unit 107.
Here, “arranging” means making a state where symbols 180 are visible to a player. For example, in
The common display 101 and the terminal display 103 may have a mechanical structure adopting a reel device which rotates a reel to arrange symbols 180. Alternatively, the common display 101 and the terminal display 103 may have an electrical structure in which a video reel is displayed as an image to thereby arrange symbols 180. Further, a combination of the mechanical structure (reel) and the electric structure (video reel) may also be possible. Examples of the electrical structure include a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (cathode-ray tube), a plasma display device, and the like. A specific structure of the common display 101 and the terminal display 103 will be detailed later.
[Controller 111 and Terminal Controller 110]
The controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 are adapted to perform: a first process of putting the side-bet device 104 into a selectable state until the symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102; a second process of rearranging the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102; a third process of awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas; a fourth process of accumulatively storing a base payout awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104; a fifth process of rearranging, on the common display 101, predetermined ones of the symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104; a sixth process of rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas on the common display 101; and a seventh process of, in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104. In other words, the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 include seven process stages.
[Operations of Controller 111 and Terminal Controller 110]
A description will be given to operations of the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 having the above-described structure. First, the side-bet device 104 is put into a selectable state until symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102. In short, the terminal controller 110 performs the first process.
Then, after a game value is inserted, triggered by a game start signal from the game starting unit 105, the game running unit 106 starts to variably display the symbols 180 which have been arranged on the terminal display 103. In short, the terminal controller 110 performs the second process.
Then, in accordance with a relation among the symbols 180 thus rearranged, the win determining unit 107 awards a base payout through the base payout awarding unit 108. In short, the terminal controller 110 performs the third process.
Then, the side-bet receiving unit 112 determines whether the side-bet device 104 has selected to participate in a side-bet game or not. When it is determined that the side-bet device 104 has selected to participate, the win determining unit 107 accumulatively stores, into the payout stock unit 117, a base payout which is awarded when a relation among the rearranged symbols is a combination of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181. In short, the terminal controller 110 and the controller 111 perform the fourth process.
Then, when the side-bet receiving unit 112 determines that the side-bet device 104 has selected to participate in a side-bet game, the COMMON SYMBOL determining unit 109 detects a total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 among the symbols 180 rearranged on the terminal display 103, and rearranges them on the common display 101. In short, the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 perform the fifth process.
Then, the side-bet game running unit 113 rearranges, on the common display 101, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 rearranged. In short, the controller 111 performs the sixth process.
Then, the COMMON SYMBOL number determining unit 114 detects the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 thus rearranged. In accordance with the base payout stoked in the payout stock unit 117 and the number of detected symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181, the side-bet game payout determining unit 115 calculates a payout to be awarded to the terminal device 102 having participated in the side-bet game. Then, the side-bet game payout awarding unit 116 awards the payout thus calculated. In short, the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 perform the seventh process.
Each block of the controller 111 and the terminal controller 110 may be formed by hardware or by software as needed.
As seen from the above-described operations, the present invention a gaming machine including: a common display 101 which arranges a plurality of symbols 180 in a matrix of arrangement areas; a plurality of terminal devices 102 each having a terminal display 103 which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device 104 which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display 101, the terminal device 102 rearranging a plurality of symbols 180 in the arrangement areas on the terminal display 103 and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols 180; and a controller 111 and a terminal controller 110. The present invention is embodied as a control method for playing the gaming machine 100, including the steps of: putting the side-bet device 104 into a selectable state until the symbols 180 are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102; rearranging the symbols 180 in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices 102; awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas; accumulatively storing a base payout awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols 180 rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104; rearranging, on the common display 101, predetermined ones of the symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104; rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas on the common display 101; and in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device 102 selected by the side-bet device 104.
In the above-described structure, a player playing on the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C which has made a side-bet is given a payout as a result of a side-bet game, which payout is affected by game results of players playing on neighboring terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C. In addition, a player can enjoy the side-bet game without inserting a new game value, because a result of a game played in the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C having made a side-bet (a payout resulting from achievement of a predetermined combination) is used for a payout of the side-bet game.
Embodiment[Mechanical Structure of Slot Machine 1]
The following describes an embodiment where the gaming machine 100 having the above-described structure is applied to a slot machine 1 and specifically structured in mechanical, electrical, and operational senses.
As shown in
As shown in
Below the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C, provided are a control panel 20, a coin receiving slot 21, and a bill validator 22. The control panel 20 is provided with buttons 23 to 27. These buttons 23 to 27 allow a player to input commands relating to a game progress. The coin receiving slot 21 enables coins to be received into the cabinet 11.
The control panel 20 includes a spin button 23, a change button 24, a cashout button 25, a 1-BET button 26, a MAX-BET button 27, and a side-bet button 90. The spin button 23 is for inputting a command to start scrolling the symbols 180. The change button 24 is used to ask a staff person of the gaming facility for money exchange. The cash out button 25 is for inputting a command to pay out coins corresponding to the total credit-value into the coin tray 18. The side-bet button 90 allows a player to input a command to participate in a side-bet game. The control panel 20 which performs a game in the terminal device is equivalent to the game starting unit 105 shown in
[Electrical Structure of Slot Machine]
[Electrical Structure of Terminal Device]
The motherboard 40 has a main CPU 41, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and a communication interface 44. The motherboard 40 acting as a controller corresponds to the terminal controller 110 shown in
The main CPU 41 controls the entire terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C. In particular, the main CPU 41 controls the following operations of: outputting a command signal for making the graphic board 68 variably display symbols 180, at a time when the spin button 23 is pressed after betting of credit; determining symbols 180 to be stopped after the variable-displaying of symbols 180; and stopping the symbols 180 thus determined in the display windows 151 to 155. The main CPU 41 corresponds to the game running unit 106, the COMMON SYMBOL determining unit 109, the win determining unit 107, and the side-bet receiving unit 112 shown in
The hopper 66 is mounted within the cabinet 11 and pays out a predetermined number of coins through a coin outlet 19 into the coin tray 18, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41. The coin sensor 67 is provided inside the coin outlet 19. When the coin sensor 67 senses that a predetermined number of coins have been delivered from the coin outlet 19, the coin sensor 67 outputs a signal to be input to the main CPU 41. The hopper 66 corresponds to the base payout awarding unit 108 and the side-bet game payout awarding unit 116 shown in
A control panel 20, a reverter 21S, a coin counter 21C, and a cold cathode tube 81 are connected to the door PCB 80. The control panel 20 is provided with: a spin switch 23S associated with the spin button 23; a change switch 24S associated with the change button 24; a cashout switch 25S associated with the cashout button 25; a 1-BET switch 26S associated with the 1-BET button 26; a MAX-BET switch 27S associated with the MAX-BET button 27; and a side-bet switch 90S. Each of the switches 23S, 24S, 25S, 26S, 27S and 90S outputs a signal to the main CPU 41, when a player presses the associated one of the buttons 23 to 27 and 90.
The coin counter 21C is provided within the coin receiving slot 21, and identifies whether a coin inserted into the coin receiving slot 21 by the player is genuine. A coin other than a genuine coin is discharged from the coin outlet 19. The coin counter 21C outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41 upon detection of a genuine coin.
The reverter 21S is operated based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41. The reverter 21S distributes a coin, which the coin counter 21C has recognized as a genuine coin, to the hopper 66 or a cash box (not shown) mounted in the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C. In other words, when the hopper 66 is full of coins, genuine coins are distributed into the cash box by the reverter 21S. On the other hand, when the hopper 66 is not yet full of coins, genuine coins are distributed into the hopper 66. The cold cathode tube 81 functions as a backlight mounted to rear sides of the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C and the upper image display panel 33. The cold cathode tube 81 turns on based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41.
[Base Game Winning Combination Lottery Table]
A base game winning combination lottery table 130 which is used in a game running process executed by the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C will be described with reference to
As shown in
Here, making any of these combinations is referred to as making a win.
[Base Game Payout Table]
Next, a base game payout table 131 will be described with reference to
For a result of sampling using the base game winning combination lottery table 130, coins are paid out in accordance with a winning combination displayed in the display windows 151 to 155 based on the base game payout table 131.
More specifically, when five symbols 180 of “HEART” 182 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, fifty coins are paid out. When five symbols 180 of “MOON” 183 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, thirty coins are paid out as a payout. Likewise, when five symbols 180 of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, twenty-five coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “K” 186 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, twenty-five coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “A” 184 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, twenty coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “Q” 187 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, fifteen coins are paid out as a payout. When four symbols 180 of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, ten coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “J” 185 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, ten coins are paid out as a payout. When five symbols 180 of “10” 188 are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, five coins are paid out as a payout. When a lottery results in losing, and a losing combination of symbols 180, which is different from any of the above-mentioned winning combinations, is stopped in the display windows 151 to 155, zero coin is paid out as a payout. Note that, when one coin is inserted for a game, the above-mentioned numbers of coins are paid out as a payout. When two or more coins are inserted for one game, the numbers of coins actually paid out is the number of inserted coins being multiplied by the above-mentioned number of coins paid out.
[Electrical Structure of Central Control Board]
The motherboard 240 has a main CPU 241, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 242, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 243, a power unit 245, a graphic board 268, a common display 201 connected to the graphic board 268, and a communication interface 244. The RAM 243 stores therein a COMMON SYMBOL number determining program, a COMMON SYMBOL number lottery table 132, a side-bet game payout table 133, and a side-bet game running processing program. The RAM 243 also stores therein a payout resulting from a side-bet game, as a side-bet credit value. Here, the side-bet credit value means an accumulated value of base payouts which are paid out when a predetermined winning combination is achieved in a base game played in the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C. This value is accumulated as a payout of the side-bet game. The RAM 243 corresponds to the payout stock unit 117 shown in
In this embodiment, moreover, symbols 180 displayed in the display windows 231 to 235 are symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181. In other words, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 correspond to the predetermined ones of symbols 180 rearranged in the terminal devices 3A, 3B and 3C, which one are arranged in the display windows 231 to 235.
The main CPU 241 controls the entire central control board 210. In particular, the main CPU 241 controls the following operations of: outputting a command signal for making the graphic board 268 variably display symbols 180, at a time when a game using the common display 201 is run; determining symbols 180 to be stopped after the variable-displaying of symbols 180; and stopping the symbols 180 thus determined in the display windows 231 to 235. The main CPU 241 corresponds to the side-bet game running unit 113 shown in
[Common Symbol Number Lottery Table]
With reference to
The COMMON SYMBOL number lottery table 132 has a random numerical value table corresponding to the number of side-betting terminal devices which has been calculated in a later-described side-bet game running process. First, a random numerical value table for two or three side-betting terminal devices will be described. As shown in
Likewise, when a random numerical value is 17 to 47, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of thirteen symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 48 to 167, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of twelve symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 168 to 401, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of eleven symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) When a random numerical value is 402 to 705, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of ten symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 706 to 1110, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of nine symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 1111 to 1616, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of eight symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) When a random numerical value is 1617 to 2216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of seven symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 2217 to 2816, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of six symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) When a random numerical value is 2817 to 3416, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of five symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 3417 to 4116, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of four symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 4117 to 5216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of three symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 5217 to 6216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of two symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value is 6217 to 8216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of one symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 8217 to 11999, it means a loss and symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of zero symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS).
Next, a random numerical value table for one side-betting terminal device will be described.
As shown in
When a random numerical value sampled is 168 to 505, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of eight symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS)
Likewise, when a random numerical value sampled is 506 to 1016, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of seven symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 1017 to 2016, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of six symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 2017 to 3016, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of five symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 3017 to 4016, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of four symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 4017 to 5216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of three symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 5217 to 6216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of two symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 6217 to 8216, symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of one symbol of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS). When a random numerical value sampled is 8217 to 11999, it means a loss and symbols 180 are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 so as to display a total of zero symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS).
[Side-Bet Game Payout Table]
Next, a side-bet game payout table 133 will be described with reference to
As a result of sampling with the COMMON SYMBOL number lottery table 132 shown in
To be more specific, in a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is zero, coins to be paid out is zero irrespective of the number of terminal devices participating in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is one, coins to be paid out is five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and ten when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is two, coins to be paid out is ten when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, ten when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and twenty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is three, coins to be paid out is fifteen when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, twenty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and thirty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is four, coins to be paid out is twenty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, twenty-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and forty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is five, coins to be paid out is twenty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, thirty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and fifty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is six, coins to be paid out is thirty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, thirty-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and sixty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is seven, coins to be paid out is thirty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, forty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and seventy when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is eight, coins to be paid out is forty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, forty-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and eighty when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is nine, coins to be paid out is forty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, fifty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and ninety when one terminal device participates in the side-bet game.
In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is ten, coins to be paid out is fifty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and sixty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is eleven, coins to be paid out is fifty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and seventy when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is twelve, coins to be paid out is sixty when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and seventy-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is thirteen, coins to be paid out is sixty-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and eighty when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is fourteen, coins to be paid out is seventy when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and eighty-five when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game. In a case where the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is fifteen, coins to be paid out is seventy-five when three terminal devices participate in the side-bet game, and ninety when two terminal devices participate in the side-bet game.
In the above-described structure, when awarding a part or all of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C selected by the side-bet button 90, a payout corresponding to the number of terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C selected by the side-bet button 90 can be awarded. This enables imbalance of the payout due to difference in the number of players participating in the side-bet game to be corrected by, for example, setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) to a higher rate when the smaller number of terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C participate in a side-bet and setting a payout rate corresponding to the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) to a lower rate when the smaller number of terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C participate in a side-bet. Therefore, the player can enjoy the side-bet game even when there are a small number of participants.
[Display State of Display Windows 151 to 155 of Terminal Device]
The following details an exemplary display state of the lower image display panels 16A, 16B, and 16C of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C during operations of the slot machine 1 and the controlling method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where symbols 180 are arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 by means of a video reel method, as shown in
The lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C has display windows 151 to 155 where symbols 180 are arranged. The display windows 151 to 155 are disposed at a center part of the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C. In the display windows 151 to 155, symbol columns (symbol lines A to E) each made up of symbols 180 are scrolled (see
In a basic game (base game), a payout awarding process such as paying out coins is executed when a predetermined number of symbols 181 to 188 called scatter symbols are displayed on the lower image display panel 16A, 16B, 16C as a winning combination. Scatter symbols are symbols which provide an effective result (such as awarding a payout, giving a bonus game, or the like) merely when a predetermined number of them are stopped on any of the display areas of the arrangement region made up of five columns and three rows of the display windows 151 to 155. For example, when five symbols of “J” 185, which is one of the scatter symbols shown in
Although in this embodiment the symbols 181 to 188 are defined as scatter symbols, this is not limitative and only a specific symbol may be defined as a scatter symbol. Alternatively, a player may select a scatter symbol. It may also be possible that a coin payout process or the like is executed when a predetermined combination of symbols is stopped on a payline L extending horizontally through the b-stages (151b to 155b) of the display windows 151 to 155. That is, the payline L is for determining a combination of symbols 180. When symbols 180 are rearranged on the payline L and outside the payline L, only the symbols 180 rearranged on the payline are judged for a combination. It maybe possible that, when a winning combination is made as a result of the determination of a combination, a coin payout process or the like is executed.
[Display State of Display Windows 231 to 235 of Common Display]
Thus, all the symbols 180 are rearranged. More specifically, one symbol of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 of the terminal device 3A, five symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 of the terminal device 3B, and five symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are arranged in the display windows 151 to 155 of the terminal device 3C.
A total of the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) arranged in the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C are rearranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display 201. More specifically, eleven symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are arranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display 201. The symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) thus rearranged are scrolled and then rearranged again. More specifically, six symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are rearranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display 201.
In this embodiment, symbols 180 to be arranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display 201 are only the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181. A payout is awarded in accordance with the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181 arranged in the display windows 231 to 235.
[Operation of Slot Machine]
Next, various processes executed in the slot machine 1 will be described. As the main CPU 41 and the main CPU 241 read out and execute programs stored in the ROM 42, the RAM 43, the ROM 242, and the RAM 243, processes relating to various games are run.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Game Running Process]
After the terminal side initial setting routine of
The main CPU 41 of the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C executes the game running process shown in
On the other hand, if it is determined that a coin is bet (C1: YES), the credit value stored in the RAM 43 is reduced according to the number of coins bet (C2). When the number of coins bet surpasses the number of coins equivalent to the credit value stored in the RAM 43, the credit value is reduced to zero and he step C3 is performed. When the number of coins bet exceeds the maximum number of coins bet-table on one game (50 pieces in this embodiment), the credit value is reduced by fifty and the step C3 is performed.
Then, whether a spin button 23 is turned on or not is determined (C3). If the spin button 23 is not turned on (C3: NO), the process returns to C1. Here, if the spin button 23 is not turned on (for example, the spin button 23 is not turned on but a command to end the game is input), the reduction of the credit value in C2 is canceled.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the spin button 23 is turned on (C3: YES), a symbol determining process is executed (C4). In other words, a stop symbol determining program is executed based on the base game winning combination lottery table 130 stored in the RAM 43, to determine fifteen symbols 180 to be stopped in the display windows 151 to 155.
Then, symbols 180 in the symbol columns (symbol lines A to E) in the display windows 151 to 155 are scrolled (C5). When a predetermined period of time (base time) has elapsed after the scroll of the symbols 180 is started, the symbols 180 determined in C4 is stopped (rearranged) in the display windows 151 to 155 (A7). At this time, a scroll stop signal is transmitted.
Then, whether a win is made or not, that is, whether a combination of symbols 180 stopped in the display windows 151 to 155 is a winning combination listed in the base game payout table 131 or not, is determined (C7). When it is determined that the combination is not a winning combination (C7: NO), the process ends. When it is determined that the combination is a winning combination (C7: YES), whether a side-bet ON signal which is transmitted during a later-described side-bet process is received or not is determined (C8). When the side-bet ON signal is not received (C8: NO), a payout process based on a base game is executed (C9). More specifically, the number of coins to be paid out which corresponds to a kind of the winning combination is calculated based on the base game payout table 131 shown in
When the side-bet ON signal is received (C8: YES), whether a winning combination involving the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is made or not is determined (C10). That is, whether four or five symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are stopped in the display windows 151 to 155 or not is determined. When it is determined that a winning combination involving the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is not made (C10: NO), a payout process based on a base game is executed (C11). More specifically, the number of coins to be paid out which corresponds to a kind of the winning combination is calculated based on the base game payout table 131 shown in
When it is determined that a winning combination involving the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is made (C10: YES), the number of coins to be paid out which corresponds to the winning combination involving the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is stocked based on the base game payout table 131 shown in
Then, the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) stopped (rearranged) in the display windows 151 to 155 is calculated (C13). Then, a side-bet game start signal is transmitted (C14). The side-bet game start signal includes information about the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) thus calculated.
Then, whether a side-bet game end signal is received or not is determined (C15). When it is determined that the signal is not received (C15: NO), reception of the side-bet game end signal is waited. When it is determined that the signal is received (C15: YES), a payout process of a side-bet game is executed (C16). More specifically, coins are paid out based on information about the number of coins to be paid out (a payout from the side-bet game) included in the side-bet game end signal received in E11 of a side-bet game running process which will be described later. Then, this process once ends.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Side-Bet Process]
The main CPU 41 of each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C executes a side-bet process shown in
First, when a side-bet process is executed, a side-bet period starts (D1). The period starts since the spin button 23 is turned on. Then, whether the scroll stop signal, which has been transmitted in C6 of the game running process, is received or not is determined (D2). When the scroll stop signal is not received (D2: NO), the scroll stop signal is waited. When the scroll stop signal is received (D2: YES), a side-bet period ends (D3).
Then, whether there has been a side-bet during the side-bet period or not is determined (D4). More specifically, whether an input signal from the side-bet switch 90S, which is caused by an input operation on the side-bet button 90, is received or not is determined.
When it is determined that there has not been a side-bet (D4: NO), a side-bet OFF signal is transmitted (D5). When it is determined that there has been a side-bet (D4: YES), a side-bet ON signal is transmitted (D6). Then, this process once ends.
According to the above-described structure, the side-bet button 90 can be kept selectable until symbols 180 are rearranged in the display windows 151 to 155 in each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C. This allows a player to make a side-bet until rearrangement is completed in the base game in each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C. Therefore, the player can make a side-bet while watching how the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) used for the side-bet game are rearranged.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Side-Bet Game Running Process]
After the center side initial setting routine shown in
When the side-bet game running process is executed, first, whether a side-bet OFF signal or a side-bet game start signal from the terminal device 3A is received or not is determined (E1). When the signal is not received (E1: NO), the step E1 is repeated. When the signal is received (E1: YES), whether a side-bet OFF signal or a side-bet game start signal from the terminal device 3B is received or not is determined (E2). When the signal is not received (E2: NO), the step E2 is repeated. When the signal is received (E2: YES), whether a side-bet OFF signal or a side-bet game start signal from the terminal device 3C is received or not is determined (E3). When the signal is not received (E3: NO), the step E3 is repeated.
When the signal is received (E3: YES), the number of side-bet game start signals received in E1 to E3 is stored in the RAM 243 (E4). In other words, the number of terminal devices having made side-bets is calculated.
Then, the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is calculated from information included in the side-bet start signals transmitted from the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C. A total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) thus calculated are arranged in the display windows 231 to 235 of the common display (E5).
Next, a COMMON SYMBOL number determining process is executed (E6). More specifically, a COMMON SYMBOL number determining program is executed based on a COMMON SYMBOL number lottery table 132 stored in the RAM 243, so that the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) to be stopped in the display windows 231 to 235 is determined. When the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) thus determined is greater than the total number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) indicated by the information included in the side-bet start signals and the like which have been transmitted from the respective terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C, the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) determined by the COMMON SYMBOL number determining process is a total number of the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) indicated by the information included in the side-bet start signals and the like which have been transmitted from the respective terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C.
Then, the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) arranged in the display windows 231 to 235 are scrolled (E7). When a predetermined period of time (base time) has elapsed after the scroll of the symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) is started, symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) the number of which has been determined in E6 are stopped (rearranged) in the display windows 231 to 235 (E8).
Then, whether symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are rearranged in the display windows 231 to 235 or not, and more specifically how many symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are stopped in the display windows 231 to 235, is determined (E9). When it is determined that symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are not rearranged (E9: NO), the process goes to E11. When it is determined that symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) are rearranged (E9: YES), the number of coins to be paid out is calculated based on the side-bet game payout table 133 (E9). The number of coins to be paid out is according to the number of symbols of “COMMON SYMBOL” 181(CS) stopped in the display windows 231 to 235, the side-bet credit value stored in the RAM 243 (the stocked payout), and the number of terminal devices from which the side-bet game start signals have been received (the number of terminal devices having made side-bets) which is stored in the RAM 234 (E10). Then, aside-bet game end signal is transmitted (E10). The side-bet game end signal includes information about the number of coins to be paid out which has been calculated in E10. Then, this process once ends.
According to the above-described structure, a player may enjoy the side-bet game using rearrangement on the common display 201. In addition, a player playing on the terminal device 3A, 3B, or 3C which has made a side-bet is given a payout as a result of a side-bet game, which payout is affected by a game result of a player playing on a neighboring terminal device 3A, 3B, or 3C. Therefore, the player making a side-bet can sometimes enjoy a side-bet game while feeling some togetherness (unity) with players playing on neighboring terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C. In addition, a player can enjoy the side-bet game without inserting a new game value, because a result of a game played in the terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C having made a side-bet (a payout resulting from achievement of a predetermined combination) is used for a payout of the side-bet game.
[Operation of Slot Machine: Effect Operation]
When the above-described various processes are executed in the slot machine 1, results or contents corresponding to the processes are, in the form of commands or data, input to respective actuators. For example, when an input operation of the side-bet button 90 is performed in each of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C, the main CPU 41 receives an input signal from the side-bet switch 90S and controls the lamp 30 to blink the lamp 30. In addition, when an input operation of the side-bet button 90 is performed, the main CPU 41 displays an effect image on the upper image display panel 33. Moreover, the main CPU 41 performs effect presentation by an audio output from the speaker 29, together with or independently of the effect made on the upper image display panel 33.
In the detailed description provided above, characteristic parts have mainly been described in order that the present invention can be understood more easily. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the detailed description provided above, and may be applied to other embodiments. The scope of application of the present invention should be construed as broadly as possible. Terms and phraseologies adopted in the present specification are for correctly illustrating the present invention, not for limiting. It would be easy for those skilled in the art to derive, from the spirit of the invention described in the present specification, other structures, systems, methods and the like which are included in the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it should be considered that claims cover equivalent structures, too, without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. An object of the abstract is to enable an intellectual property office, general public institutions, persons belonging to the art but not familiar with patent, legal terms, or technical terms to quickly understand technical contents and essences of the present invention through a simple research. Therefore, the abstract is not intended to limit the scope of the invention that should be evaluated by the claims. In addition, it is desirable to sufficiently refer to already-disclosed documents and the like, in order to fully understand the objects and effects of the present invention.
The detailed description provided above includes a process which is executed on a computer or a computer network. The descriptions and expressions provided above are given for the purpose of allowing those skilled in the art to understand the invention most effectively. In the specification, respective steps used to induce one result, or blocks having a predetermined processing function should be understood as a process having no self-contradiction. In addition, in each step or block, an electrical or magnetic signal is transmitted/received, recorded, and the like. In a process in each step or block, such a signal is embodied in the form of a bit, a value, a symbol, a character, a term, a number, and the like. However, it should be noted that they have been used simply because they are convenient for explanations. A process in each step or block has sometimes been described using an expression which is common to a human behavior. However, in principle, the process described in the specification is executed by a variety of devices. In addition, other structures necessary for each step or block are apparent from the above description.
Claims
1. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i)a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii)a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (a1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (a2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (a3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (a4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (a5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and
- (a6) causing the payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
2. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (b1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (b2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (b3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (b4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (b5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols; and
- (b6) causing the payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
3. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (c1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (c2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (c3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (c4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (c5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, displaying an effect indicating that the payout is awarded on the shared display;
- (c6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on at least two different amounts of distribution; and
- (c7) causing the payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
4. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals including (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iii) a terminal controller, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a center controller,
- wherein the terminal controller performs the steps of:
- (d1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas at a predetermined timing;
- (d2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols arranged in the arrangement areas;
- (d3) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller symbols arranged in the arrangement areas and the arrangement of the symbols; and
- (d4) causing the payout awarding device to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller, and wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the steps of:
- (e1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from each of the terminal controllers symbols and the arrangement of the symbols,
- (e2) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (e3) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (e4) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and
- (e5) instructing the terminal controller of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
5. A playing method of a gaming machine, in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas on terminal displays of a plurality of gaming terminals,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- (f1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (f2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (f3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on a shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (f4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (f5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining a distribution of the payout for each of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and
- (f6) causing the payout awarding device of each of the gaming terminals to award a payout based on the determined distribution.
6. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols;
- a conveying device for supporting the shared display and transferring the shared display to positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals; and
- a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (g1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (g2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (g3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (g4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (g5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
- (g6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition;
- (g7) causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal;
- (g8) displaying an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal on the shared display; and
- (g9) causing the payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.
7. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a conveying device for supporting the shared display and transferring the shared display to positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
- a position sensor for detecting that the shared display has arrived at a position corresponding to a gaming terminal; and
- a controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (h1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (h2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (h3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (h4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (h5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
- (h6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition;
- (h7) causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal;
- (h8) after detecting that the shared display has arrived at the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal, displaying an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal on the shared display; and
- (h9) causing the payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.
8. The gaming machine according to claim 6, wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the step of
- (i6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols, in place of (g6)
9. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the step of
- (j6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols, in place of (h6).
10. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals including (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iii) a terminal controller, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols and displaying thereon an effect related to the game;
- a conveying device for supporting the shared display and transferring the shared display to positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals; and
- a center controller, wherein
- the terminal controller performs the steps of:
- (k1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas at a predetermined timing;
- (k2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols arranged in the arrangement areas;
- (k3) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller symbols arranged in the arrangement areas and the arrangement of the symbols; and
- (k4) causing the payout awarding device to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller, and wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the steps of:
- (l1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from each of the terminal controllers symbols and the arrangement of the symbols;
- (l2) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (l3) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (l4) when the payout is determined to be awarded, causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
- (l5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition;
- (l6) causing the conveying device to transfer the shared display to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal;
- (l7) displaying an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal on the shared display; and
- (l8) instructing the terminal controller of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.
11. A playing method of a gaming machine, in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas on terminal displays of a plurality of gaming terminals,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- (m1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (m2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (m3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on a shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;
- (m4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;
- (m5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, transferring the shared display between positions corresponding to the respective gaming terminals;
- (m6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition;
- (m7) transferring the shared display to the position corresponding to the determined one gaming terminal;
- (m8) displaying an effect indicating the determined one gaming terminal on the shared display; and
- (m9) causing the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.
12. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols;
- a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (n1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (n2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (n3) combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement;
- (n4) scrolling the symbols in the symbol matrix, on the shared display;
- (n5) rearranging a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix on the shared display; and
- (n6) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
13. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols;
- a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (o1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (o2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (o3) combining, on the row or column basis, one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix having the one arrangement and the other arrangement; and
- (o4) scrolling the symbol matrix having the plurality of symbols on the shared display;
- (o5) rearranging on the shared display some of the symbols in the symbol matrix, without altering the arrangement of the symbol matrix;
- (o6) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
14. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols;
- a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (p1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (p2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (p3) combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement, the positions of the symbols in the other symbol arrangement being different from those of the symbols in the one symbol arrangement; and
- (p4) scrolling a row or column of the symbol matrix having the symbols on the shared display;
- (p5) rearranging on the shared display some of the symbols in the symbol matrix so as to conform with a row or column of arrangements in the symbol matrix; and
- (p6) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
15. A gaming machine comprising:
- plurality of gaming terminals each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas; a plurality of gaming terminals each having a terminal controller;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a center controller,
- wherein the terminal controller is programmed to perform the steps of: (q1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas at a predetermined timing,
- (q2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas, and
- (q3) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller symbols arranged in the arrangement areas and the arrangement of the symbols;
- and wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the steps of: (r1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from each of the terminal controllers symbols and the arrangement of the symbols,
- (r2) combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement,
- (r3) scrolling the symbols in the symbol matrix, on the shared display,
- (r4) rearranging a part of the symbols in the symbol matrix on the shared display, and
- (r5) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
16. A playing method of the present invention is for a gaming machine including a plurality of gaming terminals each having a terminal display, in which method a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas in the terminal display of each of the gaming terminals, the method comprising the steps of:
- (s1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (s2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (s3) combining one arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of one gaming terminal with another arrangement of symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas of another gaming terminal to form one symbol matrix including the symbols of the one arrangement and the other arrangement;
- (s4) scrolling the symbols in the symbol matrix, on the shared display; and
- (s5) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
17. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently of each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a bet unit which receives a side bet from a player, and (iii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (t1) causing the bet unit to receive the side bet;
- (t2) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (t3) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (t4) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal is given a priority over a symbol arrangement of a gaming terminal having received no side bet; and
- (t5) causing the payout awarding device of the side-bet gaming terminal to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
18. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently of each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a bet unit which receives a side bet from a player, (iii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iv) an illumination device which emits light, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:
- (u1) causing the bet unit to receive the side bet;
- (u2) differentiating between how the illumination device lights when a side bet is received and when no side bet is received;
- (u3) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (u4) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (u5) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal is given a priority over a symbol arrangement of a gaming terminal having received no side bet; and
- (u6) causing the payout awarding device of the side-bet gaming terminal to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
19. The gaming machine according to claim 18, wherein
- the center controller is programmed to perform the step of (v2) instead of (u2)
- (v2) causing the illumination device to light when a side bet is received, and causing the illumination device to turn off when no side bet is received.
20. The gaming machine according to claim 18, wherein
- the illumination device is capable of lighting in at least two colors,
- and wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the step of (w2) instead of (u2):
- (w2) causing the illumination device to light in different colors when the side bet is received, from when no side bet is received.
21. A gaming machine comprising:
- a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently of each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii) a bet unit which receives a side bet from a player, (iii) a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iv) a terminal controller, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;
- a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and
- a center controller,
- wherein the terminal controller performs the steps of:
- (x1) causing the bet unit to receive the side bet;
- (x2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas based on a predetermined timing;
- (x3) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (x4) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller, information on the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas, and whether or not the side bet is received; and
- (x5) causing the payout awarding device to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller,
- and wherein the center controller performs the steps of:
- (y1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from the terminal controller of each of the gaming terminals, the information on the symbols, an arrangement of the symbols, and whether or not a side bet is received;
- (y2) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal is given a priority over a symbol arrangement of a gaming terminal having received no side bet; and
- (y3) instructing the terminal controller of the side-bet gaming terminal to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
22. A playing method of a gaming machine in which gaming machine a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas on terminal displays of a plurality of gaming terminals,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- (z1) causing a bet unit of each of a plurality of gaming terminals to receive a side bet;
- (z2) rearranging symbols in arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;
- (z3) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (z4) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on a shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein (i) the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and (ii) when combining symbol arrangements, a symbol arrangement of a side-bet gaming terminal is given a priority over a symbol arrangement of a gaming terminal having received no side bet;
- (z5) causing the payout awarding device of the side-bet gaming terminal to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display.
23. A gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas;
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and
- a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of:
- (A1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state;
- (A2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (A3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (A4) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and
- (A5) awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged on the common display.
24. The gaming machine according to claim 23, wherein, when awarding a bonus payout, the controller awards a bonus payout in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
25. A gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas;
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and
- a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of:
- (B1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (B2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (B3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (B4) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and
- (B5) awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged on the common display.
26. The gaming machine according to claim 25, wherein, when awarding a bonus payout, the controller awards a bonus payout in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
27. A gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas;
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and
- a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of:
- (C1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state;
- (C2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (C3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (C4) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- (C5) rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas in the common display; and
- (C6) awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged.
28. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein, when awarding a bonus payout, the controller awards a bonus payout in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
29. A gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas;
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and
- a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of:
- (D1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (D2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (D3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (D4) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- (D5) rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas in the common display; and
- (D6) awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged.
30. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein, when awarding a bonus payout, the controller awards a bonus payout in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
31. A playing method of a gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols,
- the method including the steps of:
- putting the side-bet device into a selectable state;
- rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and
- awarding a bonus payout in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols thus rearranged on the common display.
32. A gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas;
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and
- a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of:
- (E1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state;
- (E2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (E3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (E4) accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- (E5) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and
- (E6) in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
33. The gaming machine according to claim 32, wherein, the controller awards all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
34. A gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas;
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and
- a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of:
- (F1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (F2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (F3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (F4) accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- (F5) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and
- (F6) in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
35. The gaming machine according to claim 35, wherein, the controller awards all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
36. A gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas;
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and
- a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of:
- (G1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state;
- (G2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (G3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (G4) accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- (G5) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- (G6) rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas on the common display; and
- (G7) in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
37. The gaming machine according to claim 36, wherein, the controller awards all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
38. A gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas;
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols; and
- a controller which is programmed to operate in the steps of:
- (H1) putting the side-bet device into a selectable state until the symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (H2) rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- (H3) awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- (H4) accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- (H5) rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- (H6) rearranging the predetermined symbols thus rearranged, in the arrangement areas on the common display; and
- (H7) in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
39. The gaming machine according to claim 38, wherein, the controller awards all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device, in accordance with the number of terminal devices selected by the side-bet device.
40. A playing method of a gaming machine comprising:
- a common display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and
- a plurality of terminal devices each having a terminal display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas and a side-bet device which selects to or not to participate in a game played on the common display, the terminal device rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas on the terminal display and running a game to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the rearranged symbols,
- the method including the steps of:
- putting the side-bet device into a selectable state;
- rearranging the symbols in the arrangement areas in the plurality of terminal devices;
- awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;
- accumulatively storing a base payout which is awarded when there is a predetermined relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device;
- rearranging, on the common display, predetermined ones of the symbols rearranged in the terminal device selected by the side-bet device; and
- in accordance with the number of the predetermined symbols rearranged on the common display, awarding all or a part of the accumulatively-stored base payouts to the terminal device selected by the side-bet device.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 26, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 10, 2009
Applicant: Aruze Corp. (Tokyo)
Inventor: Yukinori INAMURA (Tokyo)
Application Number: 12/393,798
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);
