Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-17
2003-05-06
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S016000, C273S14300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06558253
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to slot machines and, in particular, to a variable award multiplier feature for a slot machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Slot machines employing mechanical reels or video reels are the most popular gaming machines in a casino. Details of such conventional slot machines are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,795 to Saxton et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,419 to Telnaes; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,681 to Okada, all incorporated herein by reference.
Although prior art slot machines are attractive, there is a constant need to increase revenue generated by the machines. Such an increase is typically met by enhancing the machines' appeal to the players. Accordingly, what is needed is a slot machine with more player appeal.
SUMMARY
An improvement on a slot machine is described herein which allows a player to participate in an additional game of chance, namely a variable bonus multiplier (VBM) determination, to obtain an award multiplication factor that multiplies the award for a previous play. The invention may be implemented by relatively minor changes in a prior art slot machine's firmware/software program and pay-table ROM and the addition of a multiplier display.
In the preferred embodiment, the multiplier feature is initiated by the display of a special symbol in a winning combination of symbols. The multiplier factor is generated using a weighted probability routine that assigns unequal probabilities to the possible multiplication factors. Thus, the lower multiplication factors will have a higher probability of being selected than the higher multiplication factors. This results in greater player appeal without incurring a significantly increased payout/pay-in ratio.
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Photocopy of Greatest Bally Club Style Console Windsor Castle (1 p.).
Photocopy of Bally Circus (1 p.).
Photocopy of Bally Monte Carlo De Luxe (1 p.).
Photocopy of Bally Double or Nothing (1 p.).
Photocopy of Bally Circus Continental, 3-Dimensional Tunnel Target (1 p.).
Photocopy of Bally Texas Twin (1 p.).
Photocopy of Sigma TV-Poker With Double Game (1 p.).
Photocopy of Sigma TV-Poker (1 p.).
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DeSimone Frank C.
Miller, Sr. Charles R.
Nicholson Henry C.
Piechowiak Robert J.
Brocketti Julie
O'Neill Michael
Sigma Game Inc.
Skjerven Morrill LLP
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