Gaming system and a method of gaming

A method of gaming comprising: determining at least one game outcome; determining a total award from the at least one game outcome; modifying the total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a modified total award; and awarding the modified total award.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims the benefit of priority to Australian Provisional Patent Serial No. 2007904336, entitled “A Gaming System and a Method of Gaming”, filed on Aug. 13, 2007, the content of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a gaming system, a method of gaming, a game controller and computer program code.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a gaming system which includes a game controller arranged to randomly display several symbols from a predetermined set of symbols and to determine a game outcome such as a game win based on the displayed symbols. Such gaming systems may commonly be implemented as a stepper machine provided with reels with each reel carrying several symbols of the set, or a video machine wherein selected symbols are displayed on virtual reels on a video display.

While such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, an unmet need exists is for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming comprising:

determining at least one game outcome;

determining a total award from the at least one game outcome;

modifying the total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a modified total award; and

awarding the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the method includes modifying the total award based on a modification rule adapted to increase the volatility of the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the method includes modifying the total award based on a modification rule adapted to decrease the volatility of the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the total award is modified by multiplication.

In an embodiment the total award is modified by awarding a bonus prize as the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the method includes determining a plurality of game outcomes such that the total award is determined from the plurality of game outcome.

In an embodiment, the method includes modifying the total award by:

awarding an entitlement to at least one further game outcome,

determining a further total award from the at least one further game outcome;

modifying the further total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a further modified total award; and

awarding the further modified total award.

In an embodiment, the method includes setting a plurality of ranges of total award sizes, assigning different modifications to each range, and modifying the total award in accordance with the modification assigned to the range within which the total award falls.

In an embodiment, the method includes determining that a player has an entitlement to the at least one game outcome prior to determining the at least one game outcome.

In an embodiment, the method includes determining the game outcomes in a sequence.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:

determine at least one game outcome;

determine a total award from the at least one game outcome;

modify the total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a modified total award; and

award the modified total.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes an outcome determiner arranged to determine each game outcome.

In an embodiment the game controller includes a total award module arrange to determine the total award from the at least one game outcome.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes an award modification module arrange to modify the total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a modified total award.

In an embodiment, the award modification module is arranged to modify the total award based on a modification rule adapted to increase the volatility of the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the award modification module is arranged to modify the total award based on a modification rule adapted to decrease the volatility of the modified total award.

In an embodiment the total award is modified by multiplication.

In an embodiment, the total award is modified by awarding a bonus prize as the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to determine a plurality of game outcomes such that the total award is determined from the plurality of game outcome.

In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to modify the total award by:

awarding an entitlement to at least one further game outcome,

determining a further total award from the at least one further game outcome;

modifying the further total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a further modified total award; and

awarding the further modified total award.

In an embodiment, the award modification module is arranged modify the total award in accordance with a modification assigned to the range within which the total award falls, different modifications being assigned to a plurality of ranges of total award amounts.

In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to determine that a player has an entitlement to the at least one game outcome prior to determining the at least one game outcome.

In an embodiment, the game controller is implemented, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:

a player interface comprising a display for displaying game outcomes to a player; and

a game controller arranged to:determine at least one game outcome;control the display to display the at least one game outcome;determine a total award from the at least one game outcome;modify the total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a modified total award; andaward the modified total award to the player.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes an outcome determiner arranged to determine each game outcome.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes a total award module arrange to determine the total award from the at least one game outcome.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes an award modification module arrange to modify the total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a modified total award.

In an embodiment, the award modification module is arranged to modify the total award based on a modification rule adapted to increase the volatility of the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the award modification module is arranged to modify the total award based on a modification rule adapted to decrease the volatility of the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the total award is modified by multiplication.

In an embodiment, the total award is modified by awarding a bonus prize as the modified total award.

In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to determine a plurality of game outcomes such that the total award is determined from the plurality of game outcome.

In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to modify the total award by:

awarding an entitlement to at least one further game outcome,

determining a further total award from the at least one further game outcome;

modifying the further total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a further modified total award; and

awarding the further modified total award.

In an embodiment, the award modification module is arranged modify the total award in accordance with a modification assigned to the range within which the total award falls, different modifications being assigned to a plurality of ranges of total award amounts.

In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to determine that a player has an entitlement to the at least one game outcome prior to determining the at least one game outcome.

In an embodiment, the game controller is implemented, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed by a processor implements the method of the first aspect.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a computer readable medium comprising the above program code.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a data signal comprising the above program code.

In a seventh aspect, the invention extends to transmitting the above program code.

The embodiments shown in the drawings are presented for purposes of illustration only. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments provide a gaming system where a player plays, at least one game, and, in an advantageous embodiment a sequence of games. A total award is determined for the at least one game or sequence of games. A modified total award is then determined based on the size of the total award. The total award may be modified, for example, by assigning different modifications to different ranges of total award sizes. The gaming system may be provided in a number of different forms.

In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thick client” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system has several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface50and a game controller60as illustrated inFIG. 1. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter instructions and play the game.

Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism52to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays54and a game play mechanism56that enables a player to input game play instructions.

The game controller60is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor62that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory64but can also be hardwired. Herein the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine10is illustrated inFIG. 2. The gaming machine10includes a console12having a display14on which is displayed representations of a game16that can be played by a player. A mid-trim20of the gaming machine10houses a bank of buttons22for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim20also houses a credit input mechanism24which in this example includes a coin input chute24A and a bill collector24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module may be provided having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device.

A top box26may carry artwork28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel29of the console12. A coin tray30is mounted beneath the front panel29for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine10.

The display14shown inFIG. 2is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display14may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box26may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display14, or of a different type.

FIG. 3shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 2.

The gaming machine100includes a game controller101having a processor102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor102are stored in a memory103, which is in data communication with the processor102. Typically, the gaming machine100will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters104for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface105for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine100. The input/output interface105and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module113generates random numbers for use by the processor102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown inFIG. 3, a player interface120includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller101has one or more displays106, a touch screen and/or buttons107, a card and/or ticket reader108, a printer109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism110and a coin output mechanism111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine100, or hardware may be omitted for a specific implementation.

In addition, the gaming machine100may include a communications interface, for example a network card112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.

FIG. 4shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory103. The memory103includes RAM103A, EPROM103B and a mass storage device103C. The RAM103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor102and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor102using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine100to be distributed, for example input/output devices106,107,108,109,110,111to be provided remotely from the game controller101.

FIG. 5shows a gaming system200in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system200includes a network201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines202, shown arranged in three banks203of two gaming machines202inFIG. 5, are connected to the network201. The gaming machines202provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines10,100shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks203of two gaming machines are illustrated inFIG. 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged.

One or more displays204may also be connected to the network201. The displays204may, for example, be associated with one or more banks203of gaming machines. The displays204may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server205implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine202and the gaming machine202implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server206may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices202in a database206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server207will be provided to carry out the accounting in respect of the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server212may also be provided.

In a thin client embodiment game server205implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine202and the gaming machine202essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server205provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network200, including for example a gaming floor management server208, and a licensing server209to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal210is provided to allow an administrator to run the network201and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming network200may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server205could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of games servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games based on the terminals.

Certain embodiments may be implemented in relation to a spinning reel type game. Gaming systems for implementing games that involve a display of spinning reels as part of the display of the outcome of a game have either a video display or a mechanical display, these later machines most usually being “stepper” machines which have a separate motor for each reel. However, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be implemented in respect if other forms of games, including; card games; ball draw games (e.g. bingo or keno); dice games; and pin and ball games.

In some implementations the game controllers of such gaming machines select symbols by employing a stop determining function that randomly determines the stop position for each reel. For example, if there are five reels, each having twenty symbols, the stop determining function might determine that the stop positions are positions: 3, 13, 7, 9 and 17. The spinning of the reels is then controlled so that each symbol comes to a stop in the same row, typically a predetermined row in a “window” visible to the player on the display that which corresponds to a player playing a single win line. When a reel stops, the symbols will be in one of a plurality of possible symbol positions for that reel relative to the stop position.

Spinning reel type games typically allow a player to select bow many win lines of a plurality of win lines they will play in each game—i.e. a minimum of one win line up to the maximum number of win lines allowed by the game. Persons, skilled in the art, will appreciate that in other embodiments, the player may select a number of reels to play, for example. Each win line is formed by a set of symbol positions consisting of one symbol position from each reel. That is, a predetermined symbol position of each reel is assigned to a win line. The symbol positions that constitute each of the win lines are usually advertised to the player by markings on the display or diagrams showing the symbol positions that correspond to each win line. A game outcome is determined based on the symbols on the win lines and a prize table that specifies awards.

The game controller60of the embodiment is shown in more detail inFIG. 6. It will apparent that the processor62implements a number of modules based on program code stored in memory64, namely random number generator module621, symbol selector module622, outcome determiner module623, award determiner module624, sequence monitoring module625, entitlement module627and display controller module626based on data stored in memory64. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that not all modules need be implemented by processor62. For example, the random number generator module621could be implemented by a separate circuit or by a random number generator server.

In the embodiment, the entitlement module627determines when a player is entitled to a sequence of games. In other embodiments a player may be entitled to a single game. Entitlement can be in accordance with techniques known in the art. For example:

a triggering event such as a particular symbol pattern occurring in a base game;

a special bet being placed such as an ante-bet; or

by a triggering event received from a system such as a jackpot system, a loyalty system or the like.

When an entitlement is established, the entitlement module627instructs the sequence monitor625to initiate a sequence of games based on a number of games specified in sequence data643. The sequence monitor625is arranged to keep track of the sequence to ensure that all games of the sequence are carried out accordingly after each game in the sequence, the sequence monitor625updates the sequence data643to indicate how many games remain in the sequence.

During each game of a sequence, the symbol selector622selects the symbols to appear based on symbol data641which specifies the available symbols. The symbols are selected by the symbol selector622using a random number obtained from the random number generator621. The outcome determiner module623determines the game outcomes and their associated prizes based on the number of win lines the player is playing and the symbol combinations. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the game outcomes and their associated prizes are displayed on the display54or under control of the display controller626.

An award determiner624is employed to keep track of the total award and subsequently to modify that award based on modification data645. The total is maintained as total data644in memory64. Thus, after each game the total award module624aof the award determiner624updates the total data644to reflect the current total. The sequence monitor625monitors for completion of the sequence and, at the conclusion of the sequence, instructs the award determiner624to modify the accumulated total. The award modification module624bapplies modification rules based on modification data645in order to produce a modified total award. A modified total award is displayed to the player on display54under control of the display controller626.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a sequence of games can be a sequence of free games; a sequence of repeat win games or a sequence of games in a second screen feature, etc.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that modification rules can vary from embodiment to embodiment. In all embodiments of the invention, the modifications depend on the size of the award total. The modification can be to multiply the total award, to give a bonus prize, to award another sequence of free games etc.

The modification can be arranged to increase the volatility of a game or to decrease the volatility of a game. The specific nature of the modifications are determined depending on the specific implementation.

The method700of an embodiment of the invention is summarised inFIG. 700. At step710it is determined game sequence should commence. The game controller60then carries out a sequence of games720, determines the total award730, determines the modifier to apply based on the total award, applies the modifier750and awards the modified total award to the player760.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of the embodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory103) or as a data signal (for example, by downloading it from a server).

EXAMPLES

Increasing the Volatility of a Game

A player is playing a game and triggers a series of 10 free games.

At the conclusion of the free games, the total free game win is modified according to the following rules:If the total free game win is between 50 and 100, the total win is multiplied by 5;If the total free game win is between 101 and 500, the total win is multiplied by 10; andIf the total free game win is greater than 500, the player is given a bonus of 10000 credits.

Decreasing Volatility of a Game

Example 2 operates the same as Example 1, however, the modification rules are:If the total free game win is between 50 and 100, multiply the win by 10;If the total free game win is between 101 and 500, multiply the win by 5; andIf the total free game win is greater than 500 award a bonus of 5 free games.

Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods, systems and program products on any electronic device and/or machine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations. As noted above, certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwired system, for example.