Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-05-29
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C273S14300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238287
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game machine, and in particular to a game machine in which a prize pattern is determined by sampling a random number.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTS
Conventionally, a slot machine has been favorably utilized as a game machine which pays back medals such as coins in response to the prize pattern as a result of a game. Here, a description is given of the slot machine.
A player commences a game by operating the start lever after inserting a medal into a slot machine. The slot machine is provided with a plurality of reels (for example, three reels) on which several kinds of symbols are disposed at the circumferential part, wherein an operation of the start lever causes all the reels to rotate at a high speed, and the respective reels are caused to stop by pressing stop buttons corresponding to each of the reels. The prize pattern is decided by combinations of the symbols of the respective reels which stop and are displayed in appointed display windows at the moment when these reels stop. Furthermore, the number of medals is also decided by combinations of the symbols, that is, the prize pattern when these reels stop.
A plurality of prize patterns are established in such slot machines. For example, one of the patterns is such that only the number of medals which are paid back, depending on combinations of symbols, is determined by the combination of symbols (for example, there are a plurality of patterns of paying back medals, such as where three fruit picture images are lined up ten medals are paid back).
Furthermore, recently, a novel prize pattern has been disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 280872/1996.
In the slot machine, the prize giving decision is determined by sampling a random number, wherein a player is given various prizes according to the result. There are several prize patterns possible, in one of which bonus game is presented to a player depending on a specified combination of symbols, and in the other of which the probability of occurrence of a specified prize pattern occurrence is increased.
As one of the examples of the above-mentioned bonus game,. after a player wins the bonus game prize, the player is granted the right to execute high probability games a fixed number of times (for example, 12 times). In these games, only one medal is inputted to play all the bonus games. That is, during the bonus games, the game machine is controlled so that symbols stop and are displayed so as to obtain a specified combination at a higher probability, wherein an appointed number of medals (for example, 15 medals) can be obtained, and acquisition of a greater number of bonus games leads to acquisition of a greater amount of medals.
In the prize pattern by which such a bonus game is obtained, there are some types, that is, a big bonus (hereinafter B.B.), a regular bonus (R.B.) and a single bonus (S.B.), etc., whereby these can be obtained by combinations of specified symbols. Since there is a chance to obtain a great amount of medals, the probability of occurrence is set to a lower rate according to the number of medals acquired.
Herein, a description is given of one of the examples of S.B., R.B., and B.B.. S.B. permits a high probability game to be performed once after winning the prize S.B.. The R.B. permits a high probability game to be performed 12 times after winning the prize R.B., wherein, in the meantime, when prizes are acquired an appointed number of times (for example, 8 times), the bonus game is finished, and at the same time the R.B. is finished. Furthermore, the B.B. grants a player the right to execute a B.B. game an appointed number of times (for example, 30 times) after winning the first B.B.. Furthermore, if a combination of specified symbols is lined up during the B.B. games, another bonus game (for example, the same bonus games as the R.B.) can be carried out three times.
Acquisition of R.B. and B.B., but especially, B.B. is a chance to obtain a great amount of medals at once. On the other hand, with the S.B., it is not possible to acquire a number of medals at one time. However, there are some types having a prize pattern in which the S.B. occurrence probability is increased by ten times than in the usual case. A status where this S.B. occurrence probability is increased (hereinafter, this status is called “high S.B. probability status”) is continued until a status cancellation command is given by random number sampling performed in the respective games. Therefore, S.B. status can be frequently acquired in the S.B. high probability status, wherein it is possible to obtain a great amount of medals until the S.B. high probability status is terminated.
Thus, once the prize acquiring pattern of S.B. high probability status is acquired, there are cases where a greater number of medals than in the case of the B.B. can be obtained if the S.B. high probability status is continued for a long period of time. Therefore, a hit of the S.B. high probability status is a prize pattern which is thought highly of by a player as well as acquisition of B.B., and this status is of great interest to players.
However, in such a slot machine configured as described above, notification of a hit of an S.B. high probability status is effected by, for example, lighting of the display lamp showing the status.
As described above, since a hit of a S.B. high probability status is of great interest to players, players operate a slot machine while paying attention to the display lamp showing a hit of a S.B. high probability status. If so, players will not be able to carefully look at reels on which symbols are disposed, and may lose concentration on the game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned shortcomings, and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a more interesting game machine without spoiling players' concentration on games.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention is characterized in that in a game machine in which prize patterns are decided by combinations of symbols, a status in which appointed prize patterns are likely to occur is signaled to a player by combinations of the above-mentioned. symbols.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that, in a game machine in which prize patterns are decided by combinations of symbols, the combinations of symbols which, respectively, become the above-mentioned appointed prize patterns in usual states are made different from those in a status where appointed prize patterns are likely to occur.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that in a status where the above-mentioned appointed prize patterns are likely to occur, there exist a plurality of combinations of symbols which become one of the above-mentioned appointed prize patterns.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4858932 (1989-08-01), Keane
patent: 5152529 (1992-10-01), Okada
patent: 5423539 (1995-06-01), Nagao
patent: 5664999 (1997-09-01), Kurihara
patent: 5722891 (1998-03-01), Inoue
patent: 5833538 (1998-11-01), Weiss
patent: 5863249 (1999-01-01), Inoue
patent: 5988638 (1999-11-01), Rodesch et al.
patent: 5989121 (1999-11-01), Sakamoto
patent: 6024642 (2000-02-01), Stupak
patent: 8-280872 (1996-10-01), None
Haruta Masahiko
Komori Tomio
Aruze Corporation
Cheng Joe H.
Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar
Kasick Julie
LandOfFree
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