US20020039920A1 - Gaming machine with multi scatter game - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaming machine10has a display14and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display14. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The display14displays a plurality of spinning reels18, each reel18carrying symbols from a set of symbols. One of the symbols of the set is a scatter symbol and, in respect of at least one of the reels, the set comprises more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol. The scatter symbols on the at least one reel are arranged on the reel so that more than one scatter symbol is able to be displayed simultaneously when the reels are in a rest condition. When more than a minimum number of scatter symbols are displayed at any one time, all the displayed scatter symbols contribute to a single paying combination of the scatter symbols.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to a gaming machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine and to an improvement to a game played on such a gaming machine.[0001]
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
• Players who regularly play gaming machines quickly tire of particular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of these machines to develop innovative game features which add interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players amused and therefore willing to continue playing the games as well as to attract new players.[0002]
• Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine market, there is intense competition between manufacturers to supply various existing and new venues. When selecting a supplier of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will often pay close attention to the popularity of various games with their patrons. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are keen to devise games and/or game features which are popular with the players as a mechanism for improving sales, retaining customers and attracting new customers.[0003]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• According to the invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterized in that the display means displays a plurality of spinning reels, each reel carrying symbols from a set of symbols, one of the symbols of the set being a scatter symbol and, in respect of at least one of the reels, the set comprising more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol, the scatter symbols on said at least one reel being arranged on the reel so that more than one scatter symbol is able to be displayed simultaneously when the reels are in a rest condition and, when more than a minimum number of scatter symbols are displayed at any one time, all the displayed scatter symbols contributing to a single paying combination of the scatter symbols.[0004]
• The display means may be a video display unit and the display of the reels may be constituted by a video simulation of spinning reels.[0005]
• It will be appreciated that, to achieve a winning combination, a predetermined number of the symbols must be displayed. Normally, at least three symbols constitute a winning combination. Hence, the minimum number of the scatter symbols which must be displayed to constitute a winning combination may be three scatter symbols.[0006]
• The set of symbols on each of the reels may have more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol. Preferably, the set of symbols of each reel has at least two scatter symbols. The scatter symbols may be positioned on each reel such that up to three scatter symbols are able to be displayed together at any one time. Hence, for a five reel video simulation, a maximum of fifteen scatter symbols may be able to be displayed at once to constitute a fifteen of a kind winning combination.[0007]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:[0008]
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in accordance with the invention;[0009]
• FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming machine;[0010]
• FIG. 3 shows a table of reel strips for a game to be played on the gaming machine of FIG. 1;[0011]
• FIG. 4 shows a first example of a screen display the game; and[0012]
• FIG. 5 shows a second example of a screen display of the game.[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• In FIG. 1,[0014]reference numeral10 generally designates a gaming machine, including a game, in accordance with the invention. Themachine10 includes aconsole12 having avideo display unit14 on which agame16 is played, in use. Thegame16 is a spinning reel game which simulates the rotation of a number ofspinning reels18.
• A[0015]midtrim20 of themachine10 houses abank22 of buttons for enabling a player to play thegame16. Themidtrim20 also houses acredit input mechanism24 including a coin input chute24.1 and a bill collector24.2.
• The[0016]machine10 includes atop box26 on whichartwork28 is carried. Theartwork28 includes paytables, details of bonus awards, etc.
• A[0017]coin tray30 is mounted beneath theconsole12 for cash payouts from themachine10.
• Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a control means or control circuit[0018]40 is illustrated. A program which implements the game and user interface is run on aprocessor42 of the control circuit40. Theprocessor42 forms part of acontroller44 which drives the screen of thevideo display unit14 and which receives input signals fromsensors46. Thesensors46 include sensors associated with thebank22 of buttons and touch sensors associated with thescreen16. Thecontroller44 also receives input pulses from themechanism24 indicating that a player has provided sufficient credit to commence playing. Themechanism24 may, instead of the coin input chute24.1 or the bill collector24.2, or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown) or any other type of validation device.
• Finally, the[0019]controller44 drives apayout mechanism48 which, for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray30 to make a pay out to a player when the player wishes to redeem his or her credit.
• As indicated above, the[0020]game16 is a spinning reel game which simulates the rotation of a number ofspinning reels18. Thecontroller44 contains, in a memory (not shown), data relating to reel strips. Each position on the reel strip maps to a corresponding position on thereel18 to be displayed. Thecontroller44 selects random locations of the reel strips which map to the positions at which thereels18 will stop.
• As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, each[0021]reel strip50 contains twoscatter symbols52 thereon. Thescatter symbols52 are either arranged adjacent each other on thereel strips50 or, as shown in respect of reel strips one and three, the scatter symbols are separated from each other by, at most, one other symbol which may be a standard symbol or another special symbol.
• Consequently, it is possible for both[0022]scatter symbols52 on eachreel18 to be visible simultaneously in a screen display54 (FIG. 4) if therelevant reel18 stops in the appropriate position.
• Insofar as conventional, standard symbols of a set of symbols of the[0023]reels18 are concerned, normally a minimum number of symbols, preferably three, is required in order for a winning combination to result. The symbols must appear in a predetermined order on an active payline of the game. For example, most gaming machines pay for left-to-right winning combinations appearing on any active payline.
• However, with scatter symbols, the appearance of a predetermined number of the scatter symbols, anywhere on the[0024]screen16, results in a winning combination. In other words, scatter symbols need not appear on active paylines to be eligible to contribute to a winning combination.
• The set of symbols associated with reels of spinning reel type games normally each only have a single scatter symbol or the symbols are laid out on reel strips of the reels so that it is not possible to get more than one scatter symbol displayed in respect of that reel at the same time. Also, for cases where it may be possible to get more than one scatter symbol displayed on the same reel at any one time, each of the symbols on the same reel is regarded separately when determining winning combinations. For example, two scatter symbols on the same reel will not constitute two scatters towards a single winning combination but rather two separate occurrences that may each contribute to separately paying winning combinations in respect of the scatter symbols. Hence, the maximum number of scatter symbols that can make up a single paying scatter combination will be equal to the number of reels of the spinning reel game.[0025]
• The[0026]reel strips50 are set up in such a way so as to allow for two or more scatter symbols to be displayed simultaneously on thescreen16 in respect of eachreel18. When this occurs, each scatter symbol contributes to a single paying winning combination of scatter symbols.
• In respect of the[0027]reel strips50 illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings it will, accordingly, be possible to obtain a winning combination of ten scatter symbols. It will, however, also be appreciated that it is feasible, in respect of a five reel game with a window of three symbols displayed per reel, to have up to fifteen of a kind winning combinations.
• In the example of the game shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, it is assumed that the[0028]reels18 stop atpositions5,4,16,9 and5 of thereel strips50 to generate the screen display shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. This embodiment will pay a prize for five scatter symbols.
• Assuming that the[0029]reels18 stop atpositions5,10,6,10,6 of thereel strips50, as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum scatter prize of ten of a kind scatter symbols will be awarded.
• Hence, it is an advantage of the invention that a game is provided which can pay a prize for more scatter symbols than there are reels.[0030]
• It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.[0031]

Claims (5)

I claim:

1. A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterized in that the display means displays a plurality of spinning reels, each reel carrying symbols from a set of symbols, one of the symbols of the set being a scatter symbol and, in respect of at least one of the reels, the set comprising more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol, the scatter symbols on said at least one reel being arranged on the reel so that more than one scatter symbol is able to be displayed simultaneously when the reels are in a rest condition and, when more than a minimum number of scatter symbols are displayed at any one time, all the displayed scatter symbols contributing to a single paying combination of the scatter symbols.

2. The gaming machine ofclaim 1 in which the display means is a video display unit and the display of the reels is constituted by a video simulation of spinning reels.

3. The gaming machine ofclaim 1 in which the set of symbols on each of the reels has more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol.

4. The gaming machine ofclaim 3 in which the set of symbols of each reel has at least two scatter symbols.

5. The gaming machine ofclaim 3 in which the scatter symbols are positioned on each reel such that up to three scatter symbols are able to be displayed together at any one time.

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