Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-25
2004-03-09
Yuen, Henry C. (Department: 3747)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C273S14300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06702670
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to games of amusement involving chance or skill and more specifically to reel slot machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A reel slot machine has a set of symbol bearing reels. A player inserts a value bearing token into the reel slot machine before playing the reel slot machine. Once the reel slot machine is activated, the reels rotate until they stop. In a gaming machine involving chance, the probability that the reels will stop in a winning combination of reel positions is based on internal software percentaging. In an amusement game involving skill, a player's skill in stopping the reels determines whether or not the reels will stop in a winning combination. A player determines if the reel positions specify a winning combination by comparing the symbols on the reels to a “payline” defined across a viewing window superimposed on top of the reels.
Players typically find any game of amusement to be more enjoyable when the game of amusement includes a plurality of play modes and opportunities to win. This leads manufacturers of games of amusement to create games of amusement with ever more exciting play modes creating more opportunities to play and win the game of amusement. While players enjoy playing reel slot machines because the rotating reels provide an exciting visual display, it has proven difficult to add new play modes to a reel slot machine to create exciting new ways to play the reel slot machine. This is because the nature of the reels within the reel slot machine provides only a few possible ways to rotate the reels and have the reels come to rest in new winning combinations.
Previous attempts at adding new play modes to a reel slot machine have focused on either adding new styles of paylines or adding add-on accessories to the reel slot machine. Typical add-on accessories include linking a plurality of reel slot machines together to create a “progressive” playing mode, and adding another electronic or mechanical bonus game for additional amusement. All of these previous attempts at adding new features detract from the original game qualities of the reel slot machine by unduly altering the reel slot machine's play modes and add unwanted mechanical and electrical complexities.
The present invention provides a way to add additional game play modes to a reel slot machine without adding to the complexity of the reel slot machine or detracting from the reel slot machine's original game qualities. Furthermore, the invention provides for other useful features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, a method for playing a reel slot machine including a set of reels is provided. The method includes playing a current game by spinning the first set of reels or a first subset of reels selected from the set of reels. The probability of a player winning the current game is determined by a first set of odds. The player is provided the option to play a bonus game if the player wins the current game or continue playing the bonus game if the current bonus game is won. The bonus game is played by spinning a second subset including one or more reels selected from the set of reels. The player's probability of winning the bonus game is determined by a second set of odds. In one embodiment of the method the player is provided an option to play a subsequent bonus game each time the player wins a bonus or subsequent bonus game. The method is applicable to mechanical reel and video reel slot machines.
In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for playing a reel slot machine including a set of reels and a set of skill stop buttons operable to stop rotation of the set of reels. The method includes playing a current game by spinning the set of reels and a player wins the current game by stopping the set of reels in a winning combination using the set of skill stop buttons. The player is provided an option to play a bonus game if the player wins the current game. The bonus game is played by spinning a reel selected from the set of reels and the player wins the bonus game by stopping the reel in a winning position using a skill button operable to stop the reel. The player may also be provided an option to play a subsequent bonus game each time the player wins a bonus game or subsequent bonus game. The method is applicable to mechanical reel and video reel slot machines.
In another aspect of the invention, a data processing system is adapted to operate a reel slot machine including a set of reels and a set of skill stop buttons operable to stop rotation of the set of reels. The, data processing system includes a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The memory has program instructions stored therein and the processor is operable to execute the program instructions. The program instructions include playing a current game by spinning the set of reels, the probability of a player winning the current game determined by a first set of odds. The program instructions further include providing an option to the player to play a bonus game if the player wins the current game and the bonus game is played by spinning a subset of reels selected from the set of reels, with the probability of the player winning the bonus game in any range from zero to 100% odds and in one embodiment, averaging between the 40% and 60% range. The program instructions may further include providing an option to the player to play a subsequent bonus game each time the player wins a bonus or subsequent bonus game.
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Jasper Richard N.
Zeidman Lawrence
Castro Arnold
L.A. Slot Machine Company, Inc.
Yuen Henry C.
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