GAMING SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT PROVIDING PAYLINE ENHANCERS
A method includes designating at least one of the paylines defined through a matrix of symbol locations as an enhanced value payline which is associated with a respective value enhancer. Upon receipt of a game play input to initiate a play of the wagering game at least some of the symbol locations are populated with a respective game symbol for that respective play of the game. Once the game symbols are displayed for a play of the game, the respective value enhancer associated with each respective enhanced value payline is applied to enhance the value of a paytable prize for that respective payline to produce an enhanced prize. The method ultimately includes awarding this enhanced prize for each enhanced value payline and also awarding a respective paytable prize for each winning payline that is not an enhanced value payline.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wagering games, gaming machines, gaming systems, program products for such gaming machines and gaming systems, and associated methods. More particularly, the invention relates to a wagering game which includes multipliers or other prize enhancers which are applied to specified paylines.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous types of wagering games have been developed to provide players with new and varied gaming experiences. One popular type of game is a reel-type game in which a number of mechanical or video-generated reels spin in the course of a play in the game, and eventually come to rest showing a number of symbols arranged in a matrix. Paylines are defined through the matrix and prizes may be awarded to the player based on the particular symbols that are aligned along a respective payline. Traditional reel-type games defined relatively few paylines, such as one or more horizontal lines and one or both diagonal lines through the reel symbol matrix. More recent reel-type wagering games have a large number of paylines defined across the reel symbol matrix to provide the player with a corresponding large number of ways to win in the game. To accommodate a large number of paylines, the paylines may be defined to include not only the traditional straight line paylines (horizontal and diagonal lines), but also various angled paylines which form more complicated shapes such as “V” and inverted “V” shapes.
Although reel-type games having a high number of paylines have proven popular, a common complaint about such games is that it is difficult for the player to see how their winnings are produced on a given play. Thus there remains a need in the wagering game field to provide wagering games which capture and maintain the player's interest and provide an entertaining and satisfying gaming experience. In particular, there remains a need to control payouts of a game in a way that makes it easier for the player to see how the game winnings are being produced. This need is particularly acute in reel-type games which define a large number of paylines, generally, any number of paylines more than eight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention encompasses methods, apparatus, and program products for applying prize value enhancers in a wagering game in ways that make the enhanced prizes more readily apparent to the player. Each prize value enhancer may be a multiplier applied to a particular win in a wagering game or may be some other type of prize value enhancer.
One embodiment of the invention applies to a wagering game which is played at a gaming machine in which results for a given play of the game are displayed on a suitable device showing a symbol display area having a number of symbol locations and a number paylines defined through the symbol locations. This method includes designating at least one of the paylines as an enhanced value payline associated with a respective value enhancer. Upon receipt of a game play input to initiate a play of the wagering game, and after designating at least one of the paylines a respective enhanced value payline, at least some of the symbol locations are populated with a respective game symbol for that respective play of the game. In a reel-type game this step of populating the symbol locations may be accomplished by spinning the mechanical or virtual reels and allowing or causing the reels to come to a stop to show an array of game symbols. Once the game symbols are displayed for a play of the game, the respective value enhancer associated with each respective enhanced value payline is applied to enhance the value of a paytable prize for that respective payline. This step produces an enhanced prize for that respective payline. The method ultimately includes awarding this enhanced prize for each enhanced value payline and also awarding a respective paytable prize for each winning payline that is not an enhanced value payline.
The enhanced value paylines designated according to the present invention may be designated so as to be readily visible to a player of the wagering game. For example, in a reel-type game that has a high number of paylines, the relatively simple straight-line paylines may be designated as the enhanced value paylines. Because the prizes for the designated paylines are enhanced, a relatively larger percentage of the player's winnings from the game can be expected from these paylines. Thus the player can see a relatively larger percentage of their winnings from these simple and readily apparent enhanced value paylines. Other embodiments may employ graphical effects to accentuate the enhanced value paylines so that the player may readily see the payouts from these paylines. Yet other embodiments may use a combination of selecting simple paylines for enhanced value paylines and graphical and/or lighting effects.
A gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention includes at least one display device, a player input system, and at least one processor. One or more memory devices are associated with the processor or processors for storing instructions which are executable to cause the display device to display symbol locations with a number paylines defined there through, and with at least one of the paylines being designated as an enhanced value payline associated with a respective value enhancer. The stored instructions in this embodiment are also executable to receive a game play input, and in response, cause the display device to populate at least some of the symbol locations in the symbol display area with a respective game symbol for that respective play of the game. The instructions are further executable to, for each enhanced value payline, apply the respective value enhancer associated with that payline to enhance the value of a paytable prize for that respective payline. Finally, for that respective play of the game, the instructions are executable to award a respective paytable prize for each winning payline which is not an enhanced value payline, and award the respective enhanced prize for each enhanced value payline.
Considering that the present invention may be implemented using one or more general purpose processing devices, the invention also encompasses a program product which may be stored on one or more tangible computer readable data storage devices representing non-transitory media. The program product may include player input program code and display program code. The player input program code is executable to receive the game play input for each play of the game, while the display program code is executable to control the display device for each play of the game, for example, according to the method described above to populate symbol locations for each play of the game. Prize enhancement program code may be included for applying the respective value enhancer to each enhanced value payline to produce the enhanced value prizes. Payout program code may be included which is executable to (i) award a respective paytable prize for each winning payline for the play of the game which is not an enhanced value payline, and to (ii) award the respective enhanced prize for each enhanced value payline for the play of the game.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
In the following description,
Referring to
The gaming machine 100 illustrated for purposes of example in
It will be appreciated that gaming machines may also include a number of other player interface devices in addition to devices that are considered player controls for use in playing a particular game. Gaming machine 100 also includes a currency/voucher acceptor having an input ramp 112, a player card reader having a player card input 114, and a voucher/receipt printer having a voucher/receipt output 115. Numerous other types of player interface devices may be included in gaming machines that may be used to implement embodiments of the present invention.
A gaming machine which may be used to implement embodiments of the present invention may also include a sound system to provide an audio output to enhance the user's playing experience. For example, illustrated gaming machine 100 includes speakers 116 which may be driven by a suitable audio amplifier to provide a desired audio output at the gaming machine.
Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will appreciate that other basic electronic components will be included in gaming machine 100 such as a power supply, cooling systems for the various system components, audio amplifiers, and other devices that are common in gaming machines. These additional devices are omitted from the drawings so as not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail.
All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 shown in
It will also be appreciated that graphics processors are also commonly a part of modern computer systems. Although separate graphics processor 215 is shown for controlling primary video display device 104 and secondary video display device 107, and graphics processor 216 is shown for controlling both auxiliary display devices 108 and 109, CPU 205 or a graphics processor packaged with or included with CPU 205 may control all of the display devices directly without any separately packaged graphics processor. The invention is not limited to any particular arrangement of processing devices for controlling the video display devices included with gaming machine 100. Also, a gaming machine implementing the present invention is not limited to any particular number of video display device or other types of display devices.
In the illustrated gaming machine 100, CPU 205 executes software, that is, program code, which ultimately controls the entire gaming machine including the receipt of player inputs and the presentation of the graphics or information displayed according to the invention through the display devices 104, 107, 108, and 109 associated with the gaming machine. CPU 205 also executes software related to communications handled through network interface (network controller) 210, and software related to various peripheral devices such as those connected to the system through audio controller 209, serial interface 211, and touch screen controller 217. CPU 205 may also execute software to perform accounting functions associated with game play. Random access memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in executing its various software programs while the nonvolatile memory or storage device 207 may comprise a hard drive or other mass storage device providing storage for game software such as game program code 204 (and associated program code such as player input program code, display program code, prize enhancement program code, and payout program code) prior to loading into random access memory 206 for execution, or for programs not in use or for other data generated or used in the course of gaming machine operation. Network interface 210 provides an interface to other components of a gaming system in which gaming machine 100 may be included. An example network will be described below in connection with
It should be noted that the invention is not limited to gaming machines employing the personal computer-type arrangement of processing devices and interfaces shown in example gaming machine 100. Other gaming machines through which payout enhancements may be implemented may include one or more special purpose processing devices to perform the various processing steps for implementing the present invention. Unlike general purpose processing devices such as CPU 205, which may comprise an Intel Pentium® or Core® processor for example, these special purpose processing devices may not employ operational program code to direct the various processing steps.
The example gaming machine 100 which may be used to implement some embodiments of the present invention is shown in
Reel Assembly 213 is shown in the diagrammatic representation of
Referring now to
The example gaming network 300 shown in
Progressive server 307 may accumulate progressive prizes by receiving defined amounts, such as a percentage of the wagers from eligible gaming devices or by receiving funding from marketing or casino funds. Progressive server 307 may also provide progressive prizes to winning gaming devices in response to a progressive event. Such a progressive event may comprise, for example, a progressive jackpot game outcome or other triggering event such as a random or pseudo-random win determination at a networked gaming device or server. Accounting server 311 may receive gaming data from each of the networked gaming devices, perform audit functions, and provide data for analysis programs. Player account server 309 may maintain player account records, and store persistent player data such as accumulated player points and/or player preferences (for example, game personalizing selections or options).
Example gaming network 300 also includes a gaming website 321 which may be hosted through web server 320 and may be accessible by players via the Internet. One or more games may be displayed as described herein and played by a player through a personal computer 323 or handheld wireless device 325 (for example, a Blackberry® cell phone, Apple® iPhone®, personal digital assistant (PDA), iPad®, etc.). To enter website 321, a player may log in with a user name that may, for example, be associated with the player's account information stored on player account server 309. Once logged onto website 321 the player may play various games on the website. Also website 321 may allow the player to make various personalizing selections and save the information so it is available for use during the player's a next gaming session at a casino establishment having the gaming machines 100.
It will be appreciated that gaming network 300 illustrated in
As shown at process block 401, the electronic gaming machine (such as gaming machine 100 in
The process of initializing a gaming machine for play of the game as indicated at process block 401 may include a number of different steps depending upon the nature of the gaming machine and the gaming network in which the gaming machine may be included. For example, many modern gaming machines may require a player login to initialize the gaming machine for play. This login may include receiving a player identifier at the game machine in some fashion either through a card reader or other reading device or input device at gaming machine. Other gaming machines may require no player login, but may require the player to insert cash or credits into the gaming machine in some fashion to initialize the gaming machine for play. For example, in ticket-in-ticket-out systems, a player may be required to insert a ticket into a ticket reader at the gaming machine to place credits on the gaming machine to facilitate play. Where the gaming machine accepts cash, the initialization process may include receiving cash from the player. Process block 401 is included in
In some forms of the invention the process of initializing the gaming machine for play as indicated at process block 401 causes the gaming machine to display a symbol display area on a symbol display device of the gaming machine. The symbol display area includes a number of symbol locations for a wagering game with a number of pay lines defined through the symbol locations. In some forms of the invention the symbol display area and the particular symbols at each symbol location are simply left over from the previous play of the game. In other embodiments, the state of the symbol display area may be left over from an attract sequence executed by the gaming machine to attract a player to that particular machine. Yet other forms of the invention may return the symbol display area to a particular starting condition for each play the game.
The process of designating enhanced value paylines as indicated at process block 402 in
The game play input received as indicated at process block 404 may include receiving a number of separate inputs to initiate the play of the game. For example, a player may be required to select a bet level for the play and/or may be required to select which paylines are active for the given play. The present invention is not limited to receiving any particular input or inputs to initiate the play of the game. Unless stated specifically otherwise, for the purpose of this disclosure and the following claims, the step of receiving a game play input includes receiving any single input or sequence of inputs to initiate the play of the game.
Once the play of the game is initiated, the gaming machine begins to populate at least some of the symbol locations with respective game symbols for that play of the game. Where the gaming machine is a mechanical reel type game, the symbol locations are populated by spinning the reels and then bringing each reel to a stop to show various game symbols at the symbol locations. Video reel-type games include a video simulation of reels (which may be shown on video display device 104 in
The payline accentuating arrangement indicated at decision box 406 and process block 408 in
Completing the process of populating the symbol locations as shown at process block 410 in
The invention is not limited to any particular arrangement for selecting the game symbols for a given play of the game. In a central determinant system, such as a central determinant bingo or electronic lottery system, for example, a given play of the game may be associated with one or more outcomes of the underlying game. In these cases, the reels of a reel-type game may be forced to stop showing particular symbols consistent with the outcome of the underlying game or random outcome selection. In other forms of the invention the outcome for a given play of the game is obtained in some fashion at the gaming machine itself and the reels are forced to stop showing symbols consistent with the outcome. In yet other forms of invention, the reels may be stopped randomly or pseudo randomly to populate the symbol locations which are to be populated for the given play of the game.
Once all of the respective symbol locations are populated with respective game symbols for the play of the game, the outcomes for that play of the game are apparent from the paytable which defines payline wins for the game. The paylines which have been designated as enhanced value pay lines will produce enhanced prizes as indicated at process block 412. The enhancement may be a multiplier which is applied to a paytable win for the payline, or may be any other type of value enhancement. For example, a payline enhancement may comprise a fixed or variable prize amount which is added to the value produced by the payline result for that given payline whether it is a payline win or a loss. Other possible payline enhancements might include an award of some number of free spins or an award of a bonus game (some sort of secondary game), or some combination of different types of value enhancers. Some value enhancers will apply only if there is a payline win. For example, where the value enhancer is a multiplier, the multiplier will operate to produce an enhanced prize for the respective payline only if there is a paytable or other type of win on that payline for the respective play of the game. Some value enhancers will apply only if there is a win of a particular type along the designated payline. The invention is not limited to any particular type of payline value enhancer or method of applying the value enhancer.
The gaming machine awards paytable prizes according to the paytable in effect for the game as indicated at process block 414, and also awards any enhanced prizes as indicated at process block 416. The prizes may be awarded in any particular fashion consistent with the particular gaming machine and gaming system. For example, prizes are awarded in some gaming machines by increasing the credit value on the gaming machine and the player may cash out from that gaming machine to obtain value for those credits. Other types of gaming systems maintain an account for the player's play at a remote accounting system, and the prizes are awarded by crediting the player's remote account and showing the updated account value at the gaming machine. Some types of prizes may be hand pay prizes which require a casino employee to manually deliver the prize or a voucher for the prize to the player. Hand pays are typically required for high-value prizes or for prizes in the form of merchandise or coupons. Other types of gaming machines may physically dispense prizes in the form of coins or other value. The invention is not limited to any particular system or arrangement for awarding either the paytable prizes or enhanced prizes.
A specific example of a process according to the invention may be described with reference to
The example shown in
From the initial symbol arrangement shown in
It should be appreciated that a large number of paylines in addition to the four horizontal paylines may be defined through the symbol matrix shown in the examples of
Although example implementations of the invention are described above mostly in terms of standalone games, it should be appreciated that the invention may be applied in any number of different gaming environments and/or in combination with other games. For example, games employing enhanced value paylines according to the present invention may be used as in-revenue or out-of-revenue tournament games or in side action games that are played in parallel or concurrently with one or more other games. Games employing enhanced value paylines may also be employed as community games in which results at one gaming machine affect a community of one or more other players at different gaming machines. Games employing enhanced value paylines may also employ additional features to enhance the player's gaming experience. For example, players may be allowed to save game symbols from one play and apply the saved symbols to another play. This may be accomplished by freezing one or more reels for a given play of a reel-type game. Also, games employing enhanced value paylines may incorporate progressive prizes. For example, one or more value enhancers may comprise a progressive prize. Avatars are among other game features which may be used in connection with games employing enhanced value paylines. For example, an avatar may be used to accentuate an enhanced value payline in accordance with the processes described in connection with decision box 406 and process block 408 in
As used in the foregoing description and the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).
The above-described example embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for applying payout enhancements in a wagering game, the method including:
- (a) displaying a symbol display area on a symbol display device of a gaming machine, the symbol display area being displayed under the control of one or more processors associated with the gaming machine, having a number of symbol locations for a wagering game, and having a number of paylines defined through the symbol locations;
- (b) designating at least one of the paylines as an enhanced value payline associated with a respective value enhancer;
- (c) receiving a game play input in the wagering game through a player input system of the gaming machine, the game play input being associated with a wager for a play of the game and initiating that respective play of the game;
- (d) in response to the game play input, and after designating at least one of the paylines as a respective enhanced value payline, populating at least some of the symbol locations in the symbol display area with a respective game symbol for that respective play of the game, the symbol locations being populated under the control of the one or more processors;
- (e) for each enhanced value payline, displaying a prize enhancer win symbol in the area of a last-populated symbol location making up that respective payline as the symbol locations along the respective payline are populated so as to correlate to a paytable prize for that respective payline, and applying the respective value enhancer associated with that payline to enhance the value of a final paytable prize for that respective payline to produce an enhanced prize for that respective payline, the prize enhancer symbol being displayed and the respective value enhancer being applied both under control of the one or more processors;
- (f) awarding a respective paytable prize through the gaming machine for each winning payline for the play of the game which is not an enhanced value payline; and
- (g) awarding the respective enhanced prize through the gaming machine for each enhanced value payline for the play of the game.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the value enhancer associated with at least one enhanced value payline is a multiplier value which is applied to enhance the value of the final paytable prize for that payline by multiplying the final paytable prize.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of paylines defined through the symbol locations include at least two horizontal paylines, and wherein each horizontal payline is designated as a respective enhanced value payline.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein each horizontal enhanced value payline is associated with a different value enhancer.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein each respective value enhancer is a multiplier value which is applied to enhance the value of the final paytable prize for the respective enhanced value payline by multiplying the final paytable prize.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the prize enhancer win symbol is displayed extending from the area of the last-populated symbol location in the respective payline to the area of an adjacent symbol location which is yet to be populated for that respective play of the game.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of paylines defined through the symbol locations includes at least three horizontal paylines, and each of at least three horizontal paylines is designated as a respective enhanced value payline with the value enhancer continuously increasing in value upwardly or downwardly through the at least three horizontal paylines.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of paylines defined through the symbol locations includes at least two horizontal paylines, and wherein each horizontal payline is designated as a respective enhanced value payline, and further including displaying the respective value enhancer at least at one end of the respective horizontal payline prior to receiving the game play input for the respective game play.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the symbol locations of a respective enhanced value payline are populated sequentially in a first direction, and further including for that respective enhanced value payline visually enhancing each symbol location as it is populated with a game symbol which has the potential to produce a respective paytable prize for that payline.
10. A gaming machine including:
- (a) at least one display device;
- (b) a player input system;
- (c) at least one processor; and
- (d) at least one memory device storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to:
- (i) cause the display device to display a symbol display area having a number of symbol locations for a wagering game and a number of paylines defined through the symbol locations, with at least one of the paylines being designated as an enhanced value payline associated with a respective value enhancer;
- (ii) receive a game play input in the wagering game through the player input system, the game play input being associated with a wager for a play of the game and initiating that respective play of the game;
- (iii) in response to the game play input, and with the at least one of the paylines already designated as a respective enhanced value payline, cause the display device to populate at least some of the symbol locations in the symbol display area with a respective game symbol for that respective play of the game;
- (iv) for each enhanced value payline, display a prize enhancer win symbol in the area of a last-populated symbol location making up that respective payline as the symbol locations along the respective payline are populated so as to correlate to a paytable prize for that respective payline, and apply the respective value enhancer associated with that payline to enhance the value of a final paytable prize for that respective payline to produce an enhanced prize for that respective payline;
- (v) award a respective paytable prize for each winning payline for the play of the game which is not an enhanced value payline; and
- (vi) award the respective enhanced prize for each enhanced value payline for the play of the game.
11. The gaming machine of claim 10 wherein the value enhancer associated with at least one enhanced value payline is a multiplier value which is applied to enhance the value of the final paytable prize for that payline by multiplying the final paytable prize.
12. The gaming machine of claim 10 wherein the number of paylines defined through the symbol locations include at least two horizontal paylines, and wherein each horizontal payline is designated as a respective enhanced value payline.
13. The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein each enhanced value payline is associated with a different value enhancer.
14. The gaming machine of claim 10 wherein each respective value enhancer is a multiplier value which is applied to enhance the value of the final paytable prize for the respective enhanced value payline by multiplying the final paytable prize.
15. The gaming machine of claim 10 wherein the number of paylines defined through the symbol locations includes at least three horizontal paylines, and each of at least three horizontal paylines is designated as a respective enhanced value payline with the value enhancer continuously increasing in value upwardly or downwardly through the at least three horizontal paylines.
16. A program product stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable data storage devices, the program product including:
- (a) player input program code executable by at least one processor to receive a game play input entered through a gaming machine, the game play input being associated with a wager for the play of a game and initiating that respective play of the game;
- (b) display program code executable by the at least one processor to cause a display device associated with a gaming machine to (i) display a symbol display area having a number of symbol locations for the game and a number paylines defined through the symbol locations, with at least one of the paylines being designated as an enhanced value payline associated with a respective value enhancer, to (ii) in response to the game play input, and after at least one of the paylines is designated as a respective enhanced value payline, populating at least some of the symbol locations in the symbol display area with a respective game symbol for that respective play of the game, and to (iii) display a prize enhancer win symbol in the area of a last-populated symbol location making up a respective enhanced value payline as the symbol locations along the respective payline are populated so as to correlate to a paytable prize for that respective payline;
- (c) prize enhancement program code executable by the at least one processor to, for each enhanced value payline, apply the respective value enhancer associated with that payline to enhance the value of a final paytable prize for that respective payline to produce an enhanced prize for that respective payline; and
- (d) payout program code executable by the at least one processor to (i) award a respective paytable prize for each winning payline for the play of the game which is not an enhanced value payline, and to (ii) award the respective enhanced prize for each enhanced value payline for the play of the game.
17. The program product of claim 16 wherein the value enhancer associated with at least one enhanced value payline is a multiplier value which is applied to enhance the value of the final paytable prize for that payline by multiplying the final paytable prize.
18. The program product of claim 16 wherein the number of paylines defined through the symbol locations include at least two horizontal paylines, and wherein each horizontal payline is designated as a respective enhanced value payline.
19. The program product of claim 18 wherein each horizontal enhanced value payline is associated with a different value enhancer.
20. The program product of claim 16 wherein the number of paylines defined through the symbol locations include at least two horizontal paylines, and wherein each horizontal payline is designated as a respective enhanced value payline, and wherein the display program code is also executable by the at least one processor to display the respective value enhancer at least at one end of the respective horizontal payline prior to receiving the game play input for the respective game play.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 2, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 6, 2014
Applicant:
Inventors: Brian Alexander Watkins (Austin, TX), Clint Owen (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 13/565,448
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);