Slot machine

Abstract: A slot machine having a plurality of symbol series (3, 4, 5) disposed side by side and movable lengthwise independently, selects a combination of symbols at a winning line which is judged whether it coincides with any one of a set of predetermined winning-prize symbol combinations to pay out a predetermined number of coins. At least one of the symbol series includes a special mark (22) as distinguished from the symbols. When the slot machine selects a combination corresponding to any one of the predetermined winning-prize symbol combinations with one of its symbols replaced with the special mark, the slot machine pays out coins as a special dividend the number of which is larger than that of coins to be paid out upon the one predetermined winning-prize symbol combination.

Description: The present invention relates to a slot machine which selects combinations of symbols at winning lines, and more particularly to a slot machine which allows a special dividend when a winning-prize symbol combination at a winning line includes a special mark. In a slot machine of the type having a plurality of, for example three, reels disposed side by side, a game is started by pulling a start lever after a playing coin or coins are inserted to initiate the reels into rotation simultaneously. The reels are rotated for a certain time period and then stopped either at random or by operating a stop button to select a combination of symbols at a winning line which is made effective. When the combination of symbols is decided to be a predetermined winning-prize combination of symbols, coins are paid out as a dividend, the number of coins being determined in correspondence with the difficulty in obtaining the symbol combination. A video type slot machine which displays a plurality of series of symbols on a CRT screen can be played basically in much the same manner as the above described slot machine. In the conventional slot machine, a general winning - prize combination is basically a set of the see symbols For instance, the slot machine can select at one winning line a big hit winning - prize combination such as a set of "7" symbols and a set of "BAR" symbols to pay out 15 coins as a high dividend, a middle hit winning - prize com - bination such as a set of cherry symbols, a set of watermelon symbols, and a set of plum symbols to pay out 10 coins as a middle dividend, a small hit winning - prize combination such as a combination of symbols including at least two cherry symbols and a combination of symbols including at least one cherry symbol to pay out five coins as a low dividend. A problem which the conventional slot machine has is that games are played with little variety and give players only diminished interest, in particular, with being repeatedly played. It has been known previously to provide nudge buttons whereby variety is increased by allowing players to move reels by small amounts. GB - A - 2062 922 discloses a machine with a "nudge" feature and having a separate panel indicator with a column of symbols for each drum. When the nudge feature becomes available to the player, the time allowed for nudging is determined by a preferably accelerating illumination of symbols through a col - umn. The nudge feature may be used in conjunction with a normal play or with symbols for use specifically with the nudge feature, such that the number of them occurring in the final display determines the pay - out. GB-A-2161009 discloses a gaming machine in which winnings may be credited and upon a winning combination, a proportion of the credited winnings is added to or subtracted from the total. The 1984 brochure "Die Neue Triomint Doppeljoker. Doppelt stark!" disclose a slot machine as defined in the pre-characterizing portion of claim 1. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine which can be played with varieties of thrilling games. According to the present invention, there is provided a slot machine as defined in claim 1. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the special winning-prize combination comprises at least one special mark and the same kind of symbols. The above and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made in conjunction with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view showing illustratively one example of a slot machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the slot machine according to the present invention; and Figures 3 and 4 schematically show a portion of a reel window of Figure 1 . Because slot machines are well known in the art, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, the present invention, slot machine elements not specifically shown or described herein being understood to be selectable from those known in the prior art. Referring now to Fig. 1 showing the slot ma - chine embodying the present invention, formed in the front panel of a main body 1 of the slot ma - chine is attached a display window 2 having a transparent glass plate through which three sym - bols on each of 1st to 3rd reels 3 to 5 coaxially mounted on the main body 1 can be viewed. As is shown in Fig. 1 there are five winning lines, namely three transverse and two oblique, depicted on the glass. As is well known in the art, the winning lines are made effective by inserting a playing coin or coins (including tokens) into a coin slot prior to playing a game. The number of winning lines to be made effective is ordinarily determined depending on the number of inserted playing coins which are counted with a coin detector 7 shown in Fig. 2 . Upon pulling a starting lever 8 after the insertion of playing coins, the game starts under the control of a micro-computer 10. The micro-computer 10 frequency-divides therein a train of pulses generated from a pulse generator 11 to provide driving pulses to stepping motors 13 to 15 connected with the reels 3 to 5 respectively, thereby initiating the reels 3 to 5 into rotation simultaneously. Driving pulses to be supplied to each of the stepping motors 13 to 15 are counted by counters in association with the respective motors 13 to 15 in the micro-computer 10. On the periphery of each reel 3, 4, 5 is an axially projecting lug 3a, 4a, 5a indicating a reference position thereof which can interrupt a photosensor 16, 17, 18 provided in association with each reel 3, 4, 5 to provide a reset signal every revolution of the reel, which reset signal is supplied to the counter and resets it. As is well known, as the stepping motors 13 to 15 rotate at a regular angle every driving pulse, the rotated angular position of each reel 3, 4, 5 during one revolution can unconditionally be determined based on the counted value of its associated counter. Moreover, since the symbols are arranged at a predetermined angular distance and the signal at each position is known, the kind of a symbol appearing at a winning line can be determined. The micro - computer 10 shuts off the application of driving pulse to the stepping motors 13 to 15 at a random timing to stop them, thereby stopping the reels 3 to 5. At this time, the micro-computer 10 makes a determination of the combinations which appear at the effected winning lines based on the counted values of the counters. As a result of this decision, if in fact there is a winning - prize combination, a hopper 20 is actuated to pay out a number of coins, the number being predetermined in correspondence with the degree of difficulty in obtaining the combination. In such the way, the game is finished. As is depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 , in accordance with the slot machine of this invention, there is a special mark 22 "Double" on the 3rd reel 5. This special mark 22 is depicted as distinguished from ordinary symbols such as "7", "BAR", "orange", "plum" and "cherry" symbols. When the special mark 22 "Double" appears in place of one of triplets of a winning - prize combination, the slot machine pays out a special dividend corresponding to double that which would be paid out if the normal prize-winning triplet, for example triple "orange" symbols, had occurred. More specifically, the slot machine which usually pay out 10 coins when the combination of triple "orange" symbols occurs, pays out 20 coins when the combination of two "orange" symbols and the special mark 22 "Double" occurs at the winning line 23. This special dividend may be allowed every time one of symbols of any ordinary winning - prize combina - tion is replaced with the special mark 22 "Double". In addition, there is another special mark 24 "Triple" on the 3rd reel 5. When one of symbols of any ordinary winning - prize combination is replaced with the special mark 24 "Triple", the divi - dend for the special combination is tripled as much as for the ordinary winning - prize combination. Fig. 3 is an illustration of symbols in the dis - play window 2 wherein another special mark 22 "Double" is on the 2nd reel 4. As shown in Fig. 3 , there is a combination of one orange symbol and two special marks "Double" occurred at the win - ning line. This special combination is considered to be a special winning combination wherein two symbols of an ordinary winning - prize combination including an orange symbol are replaced with two special marks "Double". In this case, the dividend for the special combination is four times as much as for the ordinary winning-prize combination. On the other hand, combinations of symbols on the oblique winning lines 27 and 28 are not awarded any dividend because combinations which are obtained by replacing the special mark 22 "Double" of the occurred combinations with any symbol on the 2nd reel 4, are not winning - prize ones. Fig. 4 illustrates symbols displayed in the display window wherein a special figure mark 30 " + 10" is provided on the 3rd reel 5 in place of the special mark 22 "Double". If the ordinary winning-prize combination of three "BAR" symbols occurred at any effected winning line allows 15 coins as its dividend, the combination of two "BAR" symbols and the special mark 30 "+10" occurred at the effected winning line allows an additional dividend of 10 coins, and so a pay - out 25 coins in total occurs. It is permissible to provide mixedly multiple-dividend special marks such as "Double" and "Triple" and additional-dividend special marks such as "+ 10" and "+ 20". Although in the above, the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is applicable to slot machines of the type displaying selected combinations on a CRT screen and of the type wherein reels are controlled to stop to display a combination of symbols which is predetermined based on a sampled random number.

Claims: A slot machine having a plurality of symbol series (3, 4, 5) which are disposed side by side and movable lengthwise independently, means (10) for selecting combinations of symbols on at least one winning line in a display window (2), means (10, 20) for paying out coins or tokens as dividends when said selected symbol combinations coincide with one of a plurality of predetermined winning-prize symbol combinations, at least one of said symbol series (3, 4, 5) including at least one special symbol (30), said special symbol being unrelated to any other symbol and being a sign representing an arithmetic value, the occurrence of said special symbol resulting in a special dividend payment, said coin pay-out means (10, 20) being adapted to pay out a special dividend when and only when there occurs on said winning line a combination which would otherwise consist of a predetermined winning-prize symbol combination but has at least one of its symbols replaced with said at least one special symbol (30) whereby the special symbol enhances said predetermined prize-winning combination; characterised in that the number of coins or tokens paid out as said special dividend is the sum of the number of coins or tokens which are paid out upon the occurrence of said one predetermined winning-prize symbol combination added to a number equal to said arithmetic value. A slot machine as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said predetermined winning-prize combinations is a combination of the same kind of symbols.

Inventors: OKADA KAZUO, OKADA, KAZUO
Applicants: UNIVERSAL KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA UNIVERSAL
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G07F17
IPC codes: A63F9, A63F5, G07F17