Gaming system and a method of gaming

A gaming system is disclosed that comprises a selector arranged to select symbols for display in respective first display position areas, and a shutter device disposed in front of the selected symbols and arranged to controllably conceal or reveal at least one of the symbols. The system also comprises a display device disposed in front of the shutter device and arranged to display icons at respective second display position areas. Each second display position area is disposed in alignment with a first display position area, and the display device is controllable so as to modify the degree of transparency of an icon. When the shutter device is controlled so as to reveal a selected symbol and an icon associated with the revealed symbol is modified so as to increase the degree of transparency of the icon, the revealed symbol is viewable through the associated icon.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a gaming system 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 graphical display device.

However, while such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming system comprising:a selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a plurality of respective first display position areas;a shutter device disposed in front of the selected symbols and arranged to controllably conceal or reveal at least one selected symbol; anda display device disposed in front of the shutter device and arranged to display a plurality of icons at a plurality of respective second display position areas, each second display position area being disposed in alignment with a first display position area;the display device being controllable so as to modify the degree of transparency of an icon; andwherein when the shutter device is controlled so as to reveal a selected symbol and an icon associated with the revealed symbol is modified so as to increase the transparency of the icon, the revealed symbol is viewable through the associated icon.

In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one reel provided with the set of symbols and the selector is arranged to select at least one of the set of symbols by spinning and subsequently stopping the at least one reel.

In one arrangement, the system comprises a plurality of reels. The reels may be virtual or mechanical reels.

In one embodiment, the system is arranged to facilitate selection by a player of at least one icon, and in response to selection of at least one icon to cause the shutter device to reveal at least one respective symbol aligned with the at least one selected icon.

In one embodiment, the system comprises a touch screen and/or at least one button arranged to facilitate selection by a player of at least one icon.

In one embodiment, the system is arranged to modify the appearance of an icon in response to selection of the icon. In one implementation, the icon is a representation of a closed briefcase, and the icon is modified so as to represent an open briefcase when the icon is selected.

In one embodiment, the shutter device includes at least one shutter electronically actuable such that the shutter is disposable in an open state wherein the shutter device is substantially transparent or a closed state wherein the shutter device is substantially opaque in response to application of an electrical signal.

In an alternative embodiment, the shutter device includes at least one shutter movable between a first position wherein the shutter reveals at least one selected symbol and a second position wherein the shutter conceals the at least one selected symbol.

In one embodiment, the shutter device includes a plurality of shutters. In an embodiment wherein a plurality of reels are provided, each shutter may be associated with a different reel.

In one embodiment, the degree of transparency of a selected icon may be increased by making the selected icon more white than non-selected icons.

In one embodiment, the selected symbol associated with a selected icon determines a prize to be awarded to the player.

In one embodiment, after determining a prize to be awarded to the player, the system is arranged to modify all icons so as to increase the transparency of the icons, and to cause the shutter device to be disposed in the open state so that all selected symbols are viewable through respective icons. In this way, the player is provided with an indication of the prizes that were available and the icons that could have been selected in order to be awarded the respective prizes.

In one embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to present audio and/or video to a player when an icon is selected by the player.

In one embodiment, the gaming system is implemented according to the first aspect of the present invention when a trigger condition occurs during a base game.

In one embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to commence special game mode in response to player input, based on the amount or type of bet placed, or when a special game is purchased by a player.

The trigger condition may be display of a particular symbol, or display of a defined symbol combination.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of gaming comprising:selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in respective first display position areas;disposing a shutter device in front of the selected symbols;controlling the shutter device to conceal or reveal at least one selected symbol;disposing a display device in front of the shutter device;displaying a plurality of icons at a plurality of respective second display position areas, each second display position area being disposed in alignment with a first display position area;facilitating control of the display device so as to modify the degree of transparency of an icon;wherein when the shutter device is controlled so as to reveal a selected symbol and an icon associated with the revealed symbol is modified so as to increase the transparency of the icon, the revealed symbol is viewable through the icon.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program arranged when loaded into a computer to instruct the computer to operate in accordance with the gaming system of the first aspect.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable device having a computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to operate in accordance with the gaming system of the first aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present gaming system operates such that during implementation of a game or during implementation of a feature game of a game having multiple game modes, the interrelationship between a first display arrangement, a second display arrangement and a shutter device disposed between the display arrangements communicates a game outcome to a player. Potential game outcomes are determined according to a set of symbols associated with the first display arrangement, and one or more of the set of symbols is selected and communicated to a player by disposing the shutter device in an open state at least at a display area corresponding to the location of the selected symbol(s).

In one implementation, the first display arrangement comprises a plurality of rotatable symbol bearing reels, and the shutter device is controllable so that parts of the shutter device above each reel are disposable in an open state or a closed state. This ensures that only a particular reel bearing a selected symbol is revealed by the shutter device. Also with this implementation, the second display arrangement includes a video display device arranged to display a plurality of icons, each icon being aligned with a selected symbol of the first display arrangement.

In one implementation, the system is arranged to facilitate selection of an icon by a player, and to communicate to a player a symbol that is associated with the icon by opening the shutter device, or part of the shutter device, and modifying the transparency of the selected icon so that the symbol is at least partially visible through the icon.

In one conventional type of gaming machine, a spinning reel type game comprises a display area including 15 display positions, with each display position including one symbol. The display positions are arranged in five vertically disposed reels, with each reel corresponding to a display position group, and each reel having three visible display positions. After the reels are spun and subsequently stopped, the display positions show a random selection of symbols.

Generally with such games, a plurality of win patterns in the form of win lines are defined which extend across the reels and include one display position from each reel. Typically the symbols that are disposed in a win line are compared with winning symbol combinations defined in a pay table so as to determine whether a player of the game should receive an award. For example, if winning symbol combinations are based on poker hands, a particular prize would be awarded if the win line comprises four aces. Other winning symbol combinations and corresponding prizes may also be defined.

With the present system, a first type of game, such as a spinning reel type game, is implemented on a first gaming arrangement during normal game mode, and a second type of game that uses first and second display arrangements and an intermediate shutter device is implemented on a second gaming arrangement during special game mode.

However, it will be understood that instead of providing a gaming system arranged to implement both the first type of game on a first gaming arrangement and a second type of game on a second gaming arrangement, a gaming system may be provided that implements only the second type of game.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a schematic block diagram of a gaming system10arranged to implement a probabilistic game. The system is of a type including multiple game modes, normal game mode wherein a base game is implemented and special game mode wherein a feature game is implemented.

With the present embodiment, a conventional video spinning reel type base game is implemented during normal game mode on a first gaming arrangement. The set of base symbols used during the base game include standard symbols and function symbols, and the game outcome is determined on the basis of the displayed standard symbols and the function associated with any displayed function symbol. For example, standard symbols may resemble fruit such as apples, pears and bananas with a win outcome being determined when a predetermined number of the same fruit appear on a display along a win line, or are displayed according to defined outcome patterns such as scattered, and so on. The function associated with a function symbol may be for example a wild function wherein display of the function symbol is treated during consideration of the game outcome as any of the standard symbols. A function symbol may be represented as the word “WILD”, a star, or by any other suitable word or symbol. Other functions are also envisaged such as scatter functions, multiplier functions, repeat win functions, jackpot functions and feature commencement functions.

Also with the present embodiment, a selection type feature game is implemented during special game mode on a second gaming arrangement. The set of feature symbols used may include representations of playing cards, shapes, or any other type of symbols, and in one arrangement each symbol represents a prize to be awarded to a player. With this type of game, therefore, selection of a feature symbol by a player determines the prize that the player receives.

With the selection type game of the present embodiment, a player is presented with multiple icons and selection of one or more of the icons causes a symbol associated with each of the selected icons to become visible, thereby communicating to the player the relevant prize awarded.

Referring toFIG. 1, a schematic diagram of components of a gaming system10in accordance with the present embodiment is shown. The components comprise a player interface30and a game controller32. The player interface30is arranged to enable interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes input/output components required for the player to enter instructions and play the game.

Components of the player interface30may vary but will typically include a credit mechanism34to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, at least first and second display arrangements36,37, and a game play mechanism38arranged to enable a player to input game play instructions.

The game controller32is in data communication with the player interface30and typically includes a processor40arranged to process game play instructions and output game player outcomes to one or more of the displays36,37. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory42that can also be hardwired. It will be understood that in this specification the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions and may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device such as a personal computer or a server.

A functional diagram illustrating operative components of the game controller32is shown inFIG. 2.

The memory42is arranged to store base game symbols data14, feature game symbols data15, win outcome data16indicative of win condition requirements for base and feature games, and game instruction data18indicative of game instructions usable by the gaming machine10to control operation of the base and feature games.

The game controller32includes a symbol selector20which is arranged during normal game mode to select several symbols for display to a player in a plurality of display positions on a plurality of reels of the first gaming arrangement, and a primary display controller21arranged to control a video display device so that the reels stop with the selected symbols displayed. In this example, the selection carried out by the symbol selector20is made using a random number generator22.

It will be appreciated that the random number generator22may be of a type which is arranged to generate pseudo random numbers based on a seed number, and that in this specification the term “random” will be understood accordingly to mean truly random or pseudo random.

With this embodiment, the game controller32also comprises a trigger determiner23arranged to determine whether a trigger condition exists, and a feature implementer25arranged to implement a feature game when a trigger condition is determined to exist.

During a feature game, the feature implementer25interacts with a shutter controller26, a reel controller27, a touch screen31, and a secondary display controller33.

The shutter controller26is arranged to control an electronic shutter device so as to dispose the shutter device, or selected parts of the shutter device, in a closed state wherein the shutter device is substantially opaque, or an open state wherein the shutter device is substantially transparent.

The reel controller27is arranged to control operation of several rotatable reels, in this example mechanical reels, and in particular to control the stopping positions of the mechanical reels so that selected symbols disposed on the reels are potentially viewable when the shutter device is disposed in the open state.

The touch screen31is used in this embodiment to facilitate selection of one or more icons displayed on the secondary display, as described in more detail below.

The secondary display controller33is arranged to control a secondary display of the secondary gaming arrangement so that selectable icons are displayed on the secondary display. The secondary display controller33is also arranged so that the appearance of one or more of the icons is modified according to game play, for example to indicate selection of an icon or to enable a selected reel symbol to be viewed by a player, as described below in more detail.

The game controller32also comprises an outcome evaluator28which, in accordance with game instructions18, determines game outcomes based on the symbols selected for display to the player by the symbol selector20during normal game mode after all reels have stopped spinning, and during special game mode determines game outcomes based on the symbols selected using the mechanical reels and the icon(s) selected by a player.

The game controller32also comprises a prize allocator29arranged to allocate a prize to a player when a winning outcome exists.

In the present embodiment, the symbol selector20, the trigger determiner23, the function allocator24, the feature implementer25, the primary display controller21, the shutter controller26, the reel controller27, the secondary display controller33, the outcome evaluator28, and the prize allocator29are at least partly implemented using the processor40and associated software although it will be understood that other implementations are envisaged.

The gaming system10can take a number of different forms.

In a first form, a player operable gaming device in the form of a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in the 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 device and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming device. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming terminal 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 terminal 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 device is networked to a device 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.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine50is illustrated inFIG. 3. The gaming machine50includes a console52having a primary gaming arrangement54that is used to display a base game56. A mid-trim60of the gaming machine50houses a bank of buttons62for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during gameplay. The mid-trim60also houses a credit input mechanism64which in this example includes a coin input chute64A and a bill collector64B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card.

A top box66houses a secondary gaming arrangement67that is used to implement a feature game68.

Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel69of the console52. A coin tray70is mounted beneath the front panel69for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine50.

As shown more particularly inFIG. 4, the secondary gaming arrangement67comprises several rotatable mechanical reels80that are controllable using the reel controller27to stop at a selected position. Each of the reels80has a plurality of symbols82. The stopping positions for the reels80are determined by the feature implementer25, although the symbol selector20may as an alternative be used for this purpose.

Disposed in front of the reels80is a shutter device84disposable in an open state or a closed state. In the open state, the symbols82on the reels80are revealed, and in the closed state the symbols82are concealed by the shutter device84. The shutter device84may include multiple shutters86each of which is associated with one of the reels80and each of which is individually controllable such that individual reels80may concealed or revealed according the state of the shutter86.

In this example, the shutter device84is of electronic type and is therefore electronically controllable to dispose the shutter device84in the closed or open state. However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, the shutter device may be mechanically implemented, for example such that the shutter device or respective parts of the shutter device are movable between a position wherein at least part of the reels is concealed by the shutter device and a position wherein at least part of the reels is revealed.

The secondary gaming arrangement67also includes a video display device88, which may incorporate a liquid crystal display, a plasma screen, or any other suitable video display unit. The video display device88is disposed in front of the shutter device84and is arranged to display a plurality of icons90. The icons90are aligned with the reels80such that when the shutter device84is in the open state, each icon90aligns with a symbol82on one of the reels80.

The video display device88may incorporate a touch screen that is substantially transparent. During use, the touch screen may be used to receive inputs from a player, for example so as to enable a player to select one or more of the icons90during a feature game.

A player marketing module (PMM)72having a display74is connected to the gaming machine50. The main purpose of the PMM72is to allow the player to interact with a player loyalty system. The PMM has a magnetic card reader for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. However other reading devices may be employed and 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. In this example, the PMM62is a Sentinel III device produced by Aristocrat Technologies Pty Ltd.

FIG. 5shows a block diagram of operative components of a gaming device100which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine shown inFIG. 3.

The gaming machine100includes a game controller101having a processor102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor102in accordance with the present invention are stored in a memory103which 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.

FIG. 6shows 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.

The gaming machine has hardware meters104for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface105for communicating with a player interface120of the gaming machine100, the player interface120having several peripheral devices. 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.

In the example shown inFIG. 5, the peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller101comprise one or more displays106; a touch screen and/or bank of buttons107including at least one input device, such as at least one button, to enable a player to select an icon; a card and/or ticket reader108; a printer109; a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism110; a coin output mechanism111; and a shutter86. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the 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.

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

FIG. 7shows a gaming system200in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system200includes a network201, which for example may be an Ethernet network, a LAN or a WAN. In this example, three banks203of two gaming machines202are connected to the network201. The gaming machines202provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines40,100shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks203of two gaming machines are illustrated inFIG. 6, 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, a 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 server205and the gaming machine202implement 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 monitor and carry out the Jackpot game.

In a variation of the above thick client embodiment, the gaming machine202may implement the game, with the game server205functioning merely to serve data indicative of a game to the gaming machine202for implementation.

With this implementation, a data signal containing a computer program usable by the client terminal to implement the gaming system may be transferred from the game server to the client terminal, for example in response to a request by the client terminal.

In a thin client embodiment, the 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, and pass the instructions 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 system200, including for example a gaming floor management server208and a licensing server209to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal210is provided to allow an administrator to monitor the network201and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming system200may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks such as a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall211.

A loyalty program server212may also be provided.

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 number generator engine.

Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided.

Examples of specific implementations of the gaming system will now be described in relation to a stand alone gaming machine50although it will be understood that implementation may also be carried out using other gaming system architectures such as a network architecture of the type shown inFIG. 7.

The gaming system is operable in normal game mode and special game mode and may be arranged to commence special game mode when a predetermined game outcome occurs. Special game mode may comprise one or more free games.

Special game mode may commence automatically on the basis of a game event occurring during a base game, such as display of a particular symbol, based on game outcomes determined by the gaming system, or may be prompted by a player pressing a button on the gaming system10after the player has identified that a game outcome corresponding to special game mode requirements has occurred.

The gaming system10may also be arranged so as to determine eligibility for special game mode, for example based on the amount or type of bet placed, based on particular time periods and so on.

Special game mode may also be arranged to commence when a special game is purchased by a player.

A specific example will now be described in relation to flow diagram250shown inFIG. 8, which illustrates steps252to272of a method of gaming implemented by the gaming system.

In this example, the gaming system comprises a primary gaming arrangement54that is used to implement a base game. During the base game, five virtual reels are rotated and subsequently stopped254to display standard symbols and one or more function symbols. Win outcomes are determined on the basis of the symbols visible at the display positions when the reels stop.

Typically, a player will purchase or otherwise obtain win entitlements such as several win lines which are used in the game to determine win outcomes. If the displayed symbols on the reels have symbols associated with a winning combination such as a winning combination disposed on a win line, the player wins a prize.

The outcome generator28determines whether the symbols displayed correspond to a winning outcome and, if a winning outcome exists, a prize associated with the winning outcome is awarded 256 to the player. This determination is made by comparing the displayed symbols with a pay table or similar.

If a predefined game outcome occurs 258 during the base game, such as display of a defined combination of symbols, the gaming system implements a feature game.

During implementation of the feature game, the secondary gaming arrangement67is used instead of the primary gaming arrangement54.

As shown inFIG. 9, at commencement of the feature game, the video display device88is controlled by the secondary display controller33to display a plurality of icons300, in this example representations of briefcases, and the player is invited by suitable text302to select one of the icons300.

After the player has selected one of the icons300, for example by touching the video display device88, the appearance of the selected icon is modified, in the present example wherein each icon300represents a briefcase, by showing a modified icon304representing the briefcase open, as shown inFIG. 10. Selection of an icon300may also cause audio and/or video to be presented262to the player, and in this example video content is shown in a window306.

The reel controller27then causes the reels80to spin and subsequently stop264with 3 symbols82on each reel80facing the shutter device84, and the representation of the selected icon304is modified so as to make the selected icon304more transparent than the icons300that have not been selected. This may be achieved for example by making the selected icon more white than the non-selected icons300. At the same time or subsequently, the shutter device84is caused to move to the open state, or a shutter86of the shutter device84that is aligned with the selected icon304is caused to move to the open state.

It will be understood that by making the selected icon304more transparent then non-selected icons300and opening a shutter86beneath the selected icon304, a selected symbol82on one of the reels80that is disposed behind and in alignment with the selected icon304becomes visible and appears inside the selected icon304.

As shown inFIG. 11, the selected symbol82visible inside the selected icon304is a star symbol. The outcome evaluator28and the prize allocator29determine the prize associated with a star symbol and award the prize to the player.

As shown inFIG. 12, after the prize to be awarded to the player is determined, all icons are modified to represent open briefcases306and so as to make the icons at least partially transparent, and the shutter device84is disposed in an open state so that all of the selected symbols82are shown in alignment with their respective icons. In this way, the player is provided with an indication of the prizes that were available and the icons that could have been selected in order to be awarded the respective prizes.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are determined to be within the scope of the present invention.