Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-21
2004-09-14
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06790140
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game machine which can provide a game player with a thrilling and exciting fun in a game, and in particular to a game machine which comprises shift and display means for shifting and displaying various kinds of symbol marks, notifying means for notifying a game player various information and awarding means for awarding a winning prize to a game player when a predetermined set of symbol marks are stopped and displayed on a prize winning line.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has so far been provided a slot machine which is among those types of the game machine. The slot machines are described above are well known in the art. In general, such a known slot machine comprises a front panel, and three rotation reels juxtaposed in the rear side of the front panel and rotatably supported on the body of the slot machine. Each of the rotation reels has a peripheral surface having thereon various kinds of symbol marks arranged in a row at a predetermined interval. Within each of the rotation reels is provided an internal light which can light the symbol marks on the peripheral surface of the rotation reel from the rear side of the symbol marks to ensure that a game player can observe the symbol marks respectively through observation windows formed in the front panel. On the observation windows of the front panel is drawn five prize winning lines which make it possible for the game player to enjoy a game with thrilling and exciting feelings so that any predetermined set of the symbol marks will be stopped and displayed in line on any of the five prize winning lines or not.
The game machine is started by the game player when he or she inserts a game medal into a medal inserting opening. With the operation of a start lever after the game medal inserting operation by the game player, the rotation reels concurrently start rotating so that the game player can observe through the observation windows the symbol marks rotating in the direction that the symbol marks are arranged in a row on the peripheral surfaces of the rotation reels. The rotation reels which are rotated to reach a predetermined speed level make effective the operation of stop buttons respectively provided to be operable for the rotation reels.
The game player can operate the stop buttons while observing the symbol marks to independently stop the rotation reels from rotating with the aim of stopping and displaying the desired set of symbol marks in line on any one of the prize winning lines of the observation windows. This means that the rotation reels are designed to be stopped from rotating in timing with the operations of the respective stop buttons. The predetermined sets of the symbol marks on the prize winning lines of the observation windows appearing at the time of the rotation reels' standstill results in making it possible for the game player to get a prize winning based on the set of the lined-up symbol marks on the observation windows.
The prize winning states include a big prize winning, a medium prize winning, and a small prize winning. The big prize winning and the medium prize winning are won with three symbol marks of “7” or other predetermined symbol marks which are stopped from rotating in line by the game player on the prize winning lines of the observation windows. The big prize winning allows the game player to play a big bonus game (BB game), while the medium prize winning allowing the game player to play a regular bonus game (RB game). These big and medium prize winnings mean that the game player can have respective rights to play a special bonus game by which the game player can obtain a large number of coins. On the contrary, the small prize winning can entitle the game player to get a few coins when the rotation reels are stopped by him or her with a predetermined number of symbol marks such as “plums” and “bells” being stopped from rotating in line on any of the prize winning lines of the observation windows.
The aforementioned prize winning states are determined based on a lottery operation using random numbers performed immediately after the start lever is operated by the game player. This means that the prize winning states are defined prior to the stop operation of the rotation reels by the game player. The lottery operation using random numbers is carried out by prize winning determining means which is assembled in the game machine. In response to the stop operation by the game player, the rotation reels are controlled to stop from rotating so that the game player can experience in reality a prize winning when the set of the corresponding symbol marks determined on the basis of the lottery operation using the random numbers displayed and stopped in line on any of the prize winning lines of the observation windows.
The above mentioned lottery operation using random numbers can determine the big prize winning which in turn raises a prize winning flag, and a notification flag with a predetermined probability. The notification flag thus raised serves to light an indication device such as a notification light provided in front of the front panel of the slot machine, thereby notifying the game player of winning the big prize winning through the lottery operation of the slot machine. The prize winning flag thus raised will remain in the subsequent game if the set of symbol marks corresponding to the big prize winning fail to be stopped and displayed on any of the prize winning lines in the current game. As a result, the notification light continues to turn on until the set of the symbol marks corresponding to the big prize winning are stopped and displayed on any of the prize winning lines.
The aforesaid conventional game machine, for instance, is operative to generate a big prize winning state by the lottery action with random numbers to raise a notification flag for notifying a game player of the big prize winning. The notification flag remains for the subsequent games only when that the result of the internal lottery operation is ensured to be notified to the game player. In other words, the notification flag will not remain for the subsequent games, if it is not ensured that the result is notified to the game player.
The conventional game machine cannot associate the current notification with the subsequent notifications. This means that a subsequent notification is notified independent from the current notification, thereby causing the contents of the current notification to be interrupted when the subsequent notification starts. This results in the fact that the fun of the games fail to be provided, thus the game player feels bored.
The aforesaid conventional machine is operated to notify the game player of the big prize inner winning generated by lottery action. On the contrary, the big prize winning itself is rarely generated, and the thus generated big prize winning simply causes to light on an indication lamp, being unable to provide the fun of the games.
The aforesaid conventional game machine displays a set of symbol marks called “li-zhi” (for notifying the game player that the big prize inner winning is generated by lottery action) with the rotation reels stopped from rotating so that the game player can aim at the target set of symbol marks. On the contrary, only skillful game players can read “li-zhi” state by careful observation of set of symbol marks displayed in the observation window while it is difficult for game players with no experience to read the “li-zhi” state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a game machine which can provide a game player with a subsequent notification notified independent from the current notification.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a game machine which makes the contents of the current notification to be interrupted when the subsequent notification starts.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a game machine which can provide a game player with the improved fun o
Aitken Andrew C.
Aruze Corporation
Brocketti Julie
Venable LLP
Walberg Teresa
LandOfFree
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