Amusement devices: games – Chance devices – Rotating disk
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-19
2001-10-30
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Chance devices
Rotating disk
C463S020000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308953
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gaming machine, such as slot machine, which displays a plurality of rows of symbols in moving and stopped states; and, in particular, to a gaming machine which provides a player with a predetermined gain when the mode of the rows of symbols displayed in a stopped state is a particular mode which is a predetermined combination of symbols, the front panel of the machine being equipped with a plurality of illuminating members such as lamps and/or LEDs, for example.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Among slot machines and some pachinko machines, there have been known gaming machines equipped with a reel apparatus having a plurality of reels, which stops the rotation of each reel after the lapse of a predetermined period of time from the starting of rotation or in response to a predetermined reel-stopping operation carried out by a player. In general, such a reel apparatus has the following configuration.
Namely, the plurality of reels are independently rotatable around the same axis, each of the reels having a plurality of symbols formed on the peripheral surface thereof in series along its circumferential direction. Upon a player's starting operation, the individual reels start rotating at the same time and, thereafter, sequentially stop such that at least one of the plurality of symbols aligns with an effective line disposed on display windows in front of the reels.
The symbols displayed on the display windows are determined by random number sampling carried out by a control unit accommodated in the gaming machine. Namely at the same time when each game is started or immediately thereafter, the control unit determines whether the play results in “winning” or not by comparing a value acquired by random number sampling with an award table prestored in a memory device. When the determination results in winning, then each reel is displayed in a stopped state such that a combination of symbols constructing a winning display mode aligns with the effective line of the display windows. On the other hand, when the determination does not result in winning, each reel is displayed in a stopped state such that a combination of symbols which does not construct any winning display mode aligns with the effective line of the display windows.
In the above-mentioned gaming machine, a particular combination of symbols, such as “7-7-7,” called “big winning” which provides the player with a very big gain is predetermined in addition to usual winning modes. Players of such a gaming machine play games, while hoping for big winning.
Therefore, it has been desired that a special attraction be performed when the player's expected big winning is determined, in order to enhance the interest of the player.
In particular, so-called “auto-stop” type slot machines equipped with no stop button have been likely to give the impression that big winning simply occurs when the combination of symbols appearing on the display windows in front of the individual reels incidentally match a particular symbol pattern, so that the excitement of having attained big winning may not always be enough as compared with its expectation, thereby being unsatisfactory in terms of amusement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine which can fully enhance the excitement of the player at the time of a predetermined winning mode, thereby improving amusement.
The gaming machine in accordance with the present invention is a gaming machine which displays a plurality of rows of symbols in a moving state at an image display section formed in a front panel, stops displaying the rows of symbols in the moving state thereafter, and gives a predetermined gain to a player when a mode of symbols displayed in thus stopped state coincides with a particular mode which is a predetermined combination of symbols, the gaming machine comprising:
symbol determination means for determining the mode of rows of symbols displayed in the stopped state at the image display section before the rows of symbols are displayed in the stopped state;
a plurality of illuminating members disposed on the front panel, which are turned on in a normal game; and
panel section illuminating member control means for turning off the plurality of illuminating members disposed on the front panel when the mode of rows of symbols displayed in the stopped state is determined by the symbol determination means to be the particular mode.
Here, the above-mentioned “normal game” refers to a game other than games in which the mode of rows of symbols displayed in a stopped state is a predetermined combination of symbols.
Here, the above-mentioned “plurality of illuminating members disposed on the front panel” do not include illuminators for illuminating the rows of symbols within the image display section.
The gaming machine in accordance with the present invention may further comprise illuminator control means for temporarily turning off all the illuminators illuminating the rows of symbols within the image display section when the mode of rows of symbols displayed in the stopped state is determined by the symbol determination means to be the particular mode, and then turning on all the illuminators in response to a timing at which the plurality of rows of symbols are displayed in the stopped state.
Alternatively, the gaming machine in accordance with the present invention may sequentially display the plurality of rows of symbols in the stopped state and further comprise illuminator control means for blinking, in response to a timing at which each row of symbols is displayed in the stopped state, the illuminator illuminating the next row of symbols to be displayed in the stopped state, and turning on, in response to a timing at which all the rows of symbols are displayed in the stopped state, all the illuminators illuminating the rows of symbols.
In the gaming machine in accordance with the present invention, the panel section illuminating member control means may turn on the plurality of illuminating members disposed on the front panel in response to a timing at which the plurality of rows of symbols are displayed in the stopped state.
The gaming machine in accordance with the present invention may further comprise sound output means for outputting, when the mode of rows of symbols displayed in the stopped state is determined by the symbol determination means to be the particular mode, a sound different from the sound outputted in the normal game.
The illuminating members may be constituted by lamps and/or LEDs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4618150 (1986-10-01), Kimura
patent: 5018737 (1991-05-01), Okaka
patent: 5024439 (1991-06-01), Okada
patent: 5695402 (1997-12-01), Stupak
patent: 195 42 625 A1 (1997-02-01), None
patent: 0 918 307 A (1999-05-01), None
patent: 2 100 905 A (1983-01-01), None
patent: 2156565 (1985-10-01), None
Aruze Corporation
Layno Benjamin H.
Snider Ronald R.
Snider & Associates
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