Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-17
2001-09-11
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C273S14300R, C463S025000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287195
ABSTRACT:
This patent application claims priority based on the Japanese patent application, H10-51382 filed on Feb. 17, 1998 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game machine which is enabled to designate a desired bet number within a range of the maximum allowable bet number merely by operating bet number designating means by a player in place of inserting game media such as game coins.
2. Description of Related Art
In the prior art, the game machine of this kind is exemplified by a slot machine. In an ordinary slot machine, the game coins can be bet up to the upper limit of a predetermined maximum allowable bet number. This maximum allowable bet number is limited within three for an ordinary game and is limited to one for a high bonus game.
When the player inserts one to three game coins into a coin slot, one or more winning lines are effected according to the bet number. When a game start lever is operated by the player, three rotary cylinders (as will be called the “reels”) are rotated altogether to start the game. When the player then depresses stop button switches provided for the individual reels, all these reels are stopped. A prize is awarded when predetermined symbols of the individual reels are arrayed on the effective winning line, so that a predetermined number of game coins are awarded according to the combination of the symbols.
However, the insertion of the game coins into the slot for each game troubles the player who is going to continue a plurality of games. Therefore, the slot machine is provided with a reservoir coin insertion button switch (as will be also called the “bet switch”) which can designate the bet number on the basis of the game coins reserved in coin reservoir means in place of the actual insertion of the game coins. This slot machine is known as a slot machine having one bet switch or a slot machine having a plurality of bet switches.
In the slot machine having one bet switch, the bet number is set to “1”, when the player depresses the bet switch one time, to “2”, when the bet switch is depressed continuously two times, and to “3” when the same is depressed continuously three times. Therefore, the bet switch of the slot machine can be called the depression number counting type capable of counting up the bet number according to the depression number.
In the slot machine having a plurality of bet switches, a predetermined bet number is assigned in advance to each bet switch. This assignment enables the player to bet one coin, when he depresses the bet switch dedicated to the bet number “1”, to bet two coins, when the bet switch dedicated to the bet number “2” is depressed, and to bet three coins when the bet switch dedicated to the bet number “3” is depressed.
On the other hand, the slot machine having a plurality of bet switches is exemplified by one having two bet switches: the depression number counting type bet switch; and the dedicated bet switch to which the maximum allowable bet number is assigned in advance. In this slot machine, the bet number can be designated with the number of depressions of the bet switch of the depression number counting type, and the maximum allowable bet number can be designated not only by depressing the dedicated bet switch but also by depressing the bet switch of the depression number counting type a predetermined number of times.
However, the game machine of the prior art presents following problems. If the maximum allowable bet number is designated, the prize probability is also at its maximum. It is, therefore, common for the player to start the game by designating the maximum allowable bet number. Considering this intention of the player, the game machine having one bet switch of the depression number counting type requires a plurality of depressions for designating the maximum allowable bet number. Thus, this depression for each game may be and burdensome to the player.
The aforementioned game machine having the three dedicated bet switches has the disadvantage of increasing the number of parts because of the increase in the number of bet switches.
On the other hand, the slot machine having the bet switch of the depression number counting type and the dedicated bet switch is also problematic due to the increase in the number of parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been conceived to solve the aforementioned problems of the prior art and to provide a game machine capable of setting a bet number with a small number of parts and in conformity with the intention of a player.
In order to achieve this object, according to the invention, there is provided a game machine enabling a player to designate a bet number within a range of a predetermined maximum allowable bet number, which machine comprises: one bet number designating means operated when the player designates a bet number; and control means for setting the bet number to the maximum allowable bet number for each game in response to a first operation of the bet number designating means.
According to this construction, when the bet number designating means is operated for each game, the bet number is set to the maximum allowable bet number in response to the first operation. Therefore, this construction can match the intention of the player who is going to start the game by designating the maximum allowable bet number, and can lighten the burden on the player.
According to the invention, on the other hand, the control means decreases the bet number which is set in response to the first operation of the bet number designating means, each time the number of operations of the bet number designating means increases.
According to this construction, for each game, the bet number is set to the maximum allowable bet number in response to the first operation of the bet number designating means, and the bet number is reduced for each increase in the number of operations of the bet number designating means so that the bet number is set within a range up to the upper limit of the maximum allowable bet number. As a result, it is possible to match the intention of the player and to set a bet number other than the maximum allowable bet number.
According to the invention, on the other hand, in each game, the control means decreases the bet number, which has been set in response to the first operation of the bet number designating means, each time the number of operations of the bet number designating means increases, and sets the bet number again to the maximum allowable bet number when the operation number reaches a predetermined value, to repeat the operation to decrease the bet number each time the operation number of the bet number designating means increases.
According to this construction, in each game, the bet number is set to the maximum allowable bet number in response to the first operation of the bet number designating means and is reduced each time the operation number of the bet number designating means increases. When the operation number reaches the predetermined value, the bet number is set again to the maximum allowable bet number. After this, the bet number is decreased each time the operation number of the bet number designating means increases, and a similar routine is repeated. Thus, the bet number is repeatedly set within the range up to the maximum bet number. As a result, it is possible to match the intention of the player, to set a bet number other than the maximum bet number and to reset the bet number.
By operating only one bet number designating means, on the other hand, a plurality of different bet numbers can be set to realize a game machine having a small number of parts.
Moreover, it is sufficient to detect the signal coming from only one bet number designating means, so that the program operations relating to the bet flag or the like can be simplified with a smaller memory capacity.
According to the invention, on the other hand, the maximum allowable bet number is set in relation to the number of residuals reserved by coin re
Komori Tomio
Sugimoto Kiyoshi
Yoshizawa Masaki
Aruze Corporation
Layno Benjamin H.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
LandOfFree
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