Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-06-05
Sager, Mark (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S021000, C273S14300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241607
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to gaming methods and apparatus of the slot machine type, and more particularly, to an improved multiple payline gaming method and apparatus wherein a multiplicity of independently driven symbol carrying elements are arranged in a non-orthogonal and/or non-rectangular array and are combined with a plurality of individually selectable paylines intersecting various combination of the elements so as to give a game player various degrees of latitude in choosing potential outcomes available as a result of each gaming proposition. Means may also be provided for allowing selection of special payout opportunities based upon certain positional relationships between various ones of the elements and their displayed symbols.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In typical multiple payline gaming devices such as the slot machines found in many casinos throughout the world, a play field, face plate, video screen or other display means including a plurality of three, four or five reels, or other rotating objects or images thereto is often provided for either real or virtual spin operation. Each such object contains at least one symbol which, upon stoppage of the object's rotation, may align with one or more horizontally or diagonally extending paylines. The symbols aligned along a particular payline, when compared to a pay table, then determine the result of a gambling proposition. For example, if the gaming device is a three reel apparatus wherein, upon stopping of its rotation, each reel reveals three play symbols at a time, the device may contain up to three horizontal paylines and two diagonal paylines where each payline encompasses or extends across three play symbols at a time; i.e., one symbol or space therefor on each reel. Such an array is illustrated in
FIG. 1
of the drawing and includes three reels
10
-
14
of a type usually positioned behind a real or virtual face plate
16
having windows or sets of windows
18
-
22
for revealing one or more reel carried symbols on each reel. The reels are independently driven and stopped at random positions by a reel drive system
23
. The face plate
16
is also inscribed with 3 horizontal paylines
24
-
28
and 2 diagonal paylines
30
and
32
. Note that each payline crosses a window or symbol location (or space therefor) on each reel. Although arguably such apparatus could also include additional diagonal paylines, crossing only two of the reels, no such payline configuration is known to exist. Note that in the illustrated arrangement, it would not be feasible to have vertical paylines, even though three play symbol locations would lie beneath the intersected windows, because the relationship between the three adjacent symbols on each reel is fixed and clearly not a random organization of elements.
Games of the illustrated type do not provide the player with play choices other than that directly associated with the number of coins or credits wagered. Since many players would enjoy the opportunity to make multiple wagers per play proposition, it will be appreciated that the prior art arrangement of reels, play symbols and paylines is rather limiting. There is therefore a need to provide a gaming element arrangement in which substantially more choice is given to the player in terms of selection of paylines and play volatility. This would be advantageous to the player in that his perceived chances of winning would be enhanced. At the same time, such an arrangement would be beneficial to the game proprietor in that it would tend to increase the number of wagers made by a player per play proposition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel arrangement and utilization of multiple paylines and symbol carrying elements within a slot machine or similar device so as to increase the wagering opportunities that a player may make per play proposition.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gaming method and apparatus of the type described wherein a player can increase his perceived odds of winning by selecting paylines which have a higher probability of winning but lower payout, or can select paylines that have a lower probability of winning but a higher payout.
Briefly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the provision of a play field or screen having a plurality of independently and randomly changeable gaming elements arranged in a non-rectangular and/or non-orthogonal array, together with multiple, individually selectable paylines in the vertical, horizontal and/or diagonal directions so as to enable a player to have greater choice of play volatility. The illustrated symbol carrying elements may be real or virtual depictions of objects such as spinning reels, flipping cards, flipping dice, dominoes, etc.
An advantage of the present invention is that it offers the opportunity to present a unique wagering system whereby a player may wager on any of a plurality of selected outcome types.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it enables a player to select different levels of win probability versus win payout per gaming proposition.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after having read the following detailed disclosure of the several embodiments illustrated in the several figures of the drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4198052 (1980-04-01), Gauselmann
patent: 5580053 (1996-12-01), Crouch
patent: 5611535 (1997-03-01), Tiberio
patent: 5807172 (1998-09-01), Piechowiak
patent: 6004208 (1999-12-01), Takemoto
Nicely Mark C.
Payne Tony
Hamrick Claude A. S.
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
Sager Mark
Silicon Gaming-Nevada
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