Gaming machine

Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C463S016000, C273S14300R

Reexamination Certificate

active

06659867

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gaming machine that is provided with a symbol display arrangement for variably displaying a plurality of symbols necessary for a game and a controller such as a microcomputer for controlling the variable display of the symbol display arrangement. More specifically, the invention relates to a slot machine having buttons for a player to manipulate for stopping variation action of the variable display in desired timing (hereinafter referred to as “Pachi-Slo” machine).
2. Description of the Related Art
Two types of the Pachi-Slo machines are commercially used. One type of Pachi-Slo machine has mechanical reels for variably displaying the symbols (special symbols) relevant direct to profit of a player, and if desired, also has an electrical display device as secondary display for performing a demonstration display such as a prognostic display or a “reach action.” Another type of the Pachi-Slo machine has an electrical display device for variably displaying the special symbols and for performing the demonstration display, which is called a “video slot machine.”
Such electrical displays permit various indications or demonstrations that enhance the player's interest in the game. For example, such indications may include: a change in a background color to indicate in an exciting way that a specified combination of the special symbols corresponds to a special win, e.g., “big hit” or “Big Bonus hit” (hereinafter termed “BB hit”); the appearance of a new character other than the special symbols; an indication of a pattern with unusual motion to indicate that the special win can be obtained if one more special symbol is arranged in the display (i.e., “reach state”), thereby indicating to the player that a special win may soon appear; etc.
When the reach action begins, the player's attention is drawn to the display with an expectation of the appearance of the special win. The reach action includes, for example, a change in the speed of the displayed pattern or symbol variation, a change of the duration of the symbol variation, or the like. Sometimes, the special win will appear 100% of the time after a special reach action. Thus, such a reach action is predictive of the appearance of the special win.
The reach action on a display of a conventional Pachi-Slo machine, however, may disadvantageously be but a simple indication, such as a change of speed or duration of a particular pattern or symbol variation. Since the special win might not always appear, the conventional simple indication may betray the players expectation and thereby have the contrary effect of reducing the player's interest in the game.
In addition, as mentioned above, it is known that the reach action is carried out by indicating a symbol or a character other than the special symbols. The conventional reach action is but a simple symbol indication, and does not provide any information as to the possibility of the appearance of the special win. The player therefore easily tires of the conventional simple reach action, and the game becomes monotonous.
Some conventional Pachi-Slo machines are arranged to generate a plurality kinds of sounds when the game has started by player operation. Among the plurality kinds of sounds, at least one kind of the sound is predetermined to be frequently generated in the general game state where a special win such as “BB hit” has not been elected by a lottery of the internal system and at least one kind of the sound other than the above is predetermined to be generated frequently when the special rank of win is elected by a lottery of the internal system. Thus, the Pachi-Slo machines can predict the appearance of the special win by the generated sounds. Further some conventional Pachi-Slo machines are arranged to switch on back lamps disposed behind the reels in a predetermined way or sequence or flashing them in a predetermined pattern. The Pachi-Slo machines can predict the appearance of the special win by the operation of back lamps at a constant probability when the special win is elected by the lottery of the internal system. Further some conventional Pachi-Slo machines are arranged to predict the special win by the generation of the sounds or the operation of the back lamps, or a combination thereof. However, such simple generation of sounds or operation of back lamps cannot give the player a detailed prediction.
Reliable information relative to the appearance of a special win, “big hit” or a “BB hit” will not give the player excessive expectation of a “big hit” or a “BB hit” and the player will not feel betrayed when a “loss” is definitely determined. If the information indicative of the probability of a “big hit” is not only simple information, but also an interesting and effective demonstration with variety, it would enhance the player's interest in the entire game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a Pachi-Slo machine which can display a likelihood or a reliability of appearance of a special win such as “big hit” or “BB hit,” etc. and an interesting and effective demonstration with variety.
A gaming machine according to the present invention has:
a symbol display arrangement for variably displaying a plurality of symbols that is arranged to display a stop state when the variation of displayed symbols is stopped and to give a profit to a player when the stop state corresponds to a specific stop state;
a predictive display arrangement for performing a predictive display whether or not the specific stop state is displayed when the variation of the displayed symbols is stopped;
a start device for starting the variation of the displayed symbols in response to manipulation by a player;
a stop device for stopping the variation of the displayed symbols in response to manipulation by a player; and
a controller for determining whether or not it is permitted to display the specific stop state and for determining a predictive display mode based on the result of the determination, the controller being arranged to control the predictive display arrangement such that a likelihood of appearance of the specific stop state is changeable in conjunction with a change in the game resulting from passage of time.
In the Pachi-Slo machine according to the invention, the likelihood of appearance of a specific stop state is varied with the passage of time, and the player can adjust his or her stop manipulation in response to the confirming changes of the predictive display, which are themselves responsive to the expectation of the appearance of a predictive display of “XXX” at the time of the player's manipulation. In addition, since the predictive display employs symbols, the player can recognize the information relating to the prediction precisely, and a varying, effective demonstration can be realized, thereby enhancing the fun of the game.
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine in which the likelihood of the appearance of the specific stop state is changeable by displaying a plurality of predictive display symbols sequentially with the passage of time. Thus, the player easily can recognize the time-dependent change of the likelihood of appearance of the specific stop state.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine in which the plurality of the predictive display symbols are displayed successively. Accordingly, smaller changes in the likelihood of predicting the appearance of the specific stop state can be indicated to the player by the successively displayed symbols.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of the predictive display symbols depicts a story line. The change of the predictive display symbols that accompanies the change of the likelihood is arranged to depict a story line. Accordingly, the player's interest in the predictive display is enhanced, consequently enhancing the player's interest in the entire game.
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