Abstract:
A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, wherein, when a special symbol is carried by a symbol-carrying element into a display position on the display means, the special symbol substitutes as more than one occurrence of a standard symbol of the game.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to, and is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/296,078 having a filing date of Nov. 19, 2002, which is the National Stage entry of International Application PCT/AU01/00552, having a filing date of May 15, 2001, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application PQ7664, having a filing date of May 22, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    [Not Applicable] 
       [MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE] 
       [0003]    [Not Applicable] 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention relates to a gaming machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine and to an improvement to a game played on such a gaming machine. 
         [0005]    Players who regularly play gaming machines quickly tire of particular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of these machines to develop innovative game features which add interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players amused and therefore willing to continue playing the game as well as to attract new players. 
         [0006]    Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine market, there is intense competition between manufacturers to supply various existing and new venues. When selecting a supplier of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will often pay close attention to the popularity of various games with their patrons. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are keen to devise games which are popular with the players as a mechanism for improving sales, retaining customers and attracting new customers. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to the invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterized in that, when a special symbol is carried by a symbol-carrying element into a display position on the display means, the special symbol substitutes as more than one occurrence of a standard symbol of the game. 
         [0008]    At least one applicable standard symbol may have to be present together with the special symbol in a winning combination in order for the special symbol to substitute. 
         [0009]    When more than one special symbol occurs in a winning combination, each special symbol may substitute for more than one occurrence of a standard symbol of the game provided that the maximum number of symbols does not exceed the maximum number of symbols in an applicable paytable of the game. 
         [0010]    Prizes may be awarded for specific combinations of special symbols. 
         [0011]    The special symbol of the invention may be applicable in respect of any type of game played on gaming machines. However, for ease of explanation, the invention will be described with reference to spinning reel games and, more particularly, gaming machines having video simulations of spinning reels. 
         [0012]    The special symbol may appear on a standard reel of the game. Instead, the special symbol may appear on a dedicated, separate reel. For example, a spinning reel game may have a video simulation of five spinning reels. Then, the special symbol may be carried on a sixth reel, the sixth reel not having any of the standard reel symbols. 
         [0013]    It will be appreciated that, for a card game , special cards could be added to the deck or, instead or in addition, a certain card or cards in the deck could be designated to act as the special cards in addition to their other functions. Similarly, in respect of ball-type games, such as Keno, Bingo or Pachinko, special balls may be added to the set of balls or certain of the standard balls may double as the special balls. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a three dimensional view of a gaming machine, in accordance with the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming machine; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3   a  to  3   e  show screen displays of variations of a first embodiment of a game played on the gaming machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a screen display of a second embodiment of the game; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a screen display of a third embodiment of the game; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a screen display of a fourth embodiment of the game; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    In  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  10  generally designates a gaming machine, including a game, in accordance with the invention. The machine  10  includes a console  12  having a video display unit  14  on which a game  16  is played, in use. The preferred form of the game  16  is a spinning reel game which simulates the rotation of a number of spinning reels  18 . It will, however, be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to other types of games such as card games or ball games such as Keno, or the like. A midtrim  20  of the machine  10  houses a bank  21  of buttons for enabling a player to play the game  16 . The midtrim  20  also houses a credit input mechanism  38  including a coin input chute  38 . 1  and a bill collector  38 . 2 . 
         [0022]    The machine  10  includes a top box  22  on which artwork  24  is carried. The artwork  24  includes paytables, details of bonus awards, etc. 
         [0023]    A coin tray  26  is mounted beneath the console  12  for cash payouts from the machine  10 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, a control means or control circuit  30  is illustrated. A program which implements the game and user interface is run on a processor  32  of the control circuit  30 . The processor  32  forms part of a controller  34  which drives the screen of the video display unit  14  and which receives input signals from sensors  36 . The sensors  36  include sensors associated with the bank  21  of buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen  16 . The controller  34  also receives input pulses from the mechanism  38  indicating that a player has provided sufficient credit to commence playing. The mechanism  38  may, instead of the coin input chute  38 . 1  or the bill collector  38 . 2 , or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown) or any other type of validation device. 
         [0025]    Finally, the controller  36  drives a payout mechanism  40  which, for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray  26  to make a pay out to a player when the player wishes to redeem his or her credit. 
         [0026]    The invention relates to the use of a special symbol in the game where the special symbol performs a particular function. Thus, the special symbol performs that function when it appears on the screen. Hence, in the case of a spinning reel game, the special symbols will be carried on the reel strips to be displayed at random intervals. 
         [0027]    In this invention, a special symbol  122 , indicated in the drawings as a “Bonus” symbol, is provided. When this symbol  122  is spun up in a winning combination in a game, as shown by screen display  120 , the symbol  122  substitutes as more than one occurrence of a particular standard symbol, preferably, two of that symbol. The only exception will be if the total number of symbols in the combination ends up being more than the maximum number of symbols on the paytable in which case the prize for the maximum number of symbols will be paid. 
         [0028]    In the following description, it is assumed that the game  16  is a standard spinning reel game with prizes paying when they appear in left-to-right and/or right-to-left combinations on a payline. As illustrated, there are five reels with three standard horizontal paylines applicable. Coinciding wins on a payline will be added. However, for the special symbol  122  to substitute in a combination of other standard symbols, there must be at least one of the actual, standard symbols present in the combination and not just special symbols. 
         [0029]    In the game illustrated in  FIG. 3   a  of the drawings, a winning combination exists on payline one. As described above, the symbol  122  substitutes as two of the standard symbols. Accordingly, a prize is paid for 5×Q on payline one. 
         [0030]    If, however, the symbol  122  appeared on the fourth reel, rather than the second reel, as shown in  FIG. 3   b , a prize would be paid for 5×Q as well as 3×TEN, the latter paying from right-to-left. 
         [0031]    In the case of two special symbols  122  appearing side-by-side as shown in  FIG. 3   c  of the drawings, a prize is paid for 5×Q due to each symbol  122  substituting for two of the standard symbols. 
         [0032]    However, in the scenario illustrated in  FIG. 3   d  of the drawings, theoretically there are six Q symbols on payline one. However, as a prize is only payable for a maximum of five Q symbols, a win will be awarded in respect of 5×Q symbols. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3   e  of the drawings, a prize is paid for 5×Q on payline one. Note that the special symbols  122  do not substitute as four of a kind for the rest of the set of standard symbols because there must be at least one of the actual symbols present in the combination for the prize to be paid. Hence the special symbols can only substitute for the symbol Q in the illustrated combination. It will be appreciated that if the machine paid a prize for an “any” combination, the situation would be different. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment of the invention, the special symbol  122  may appear only on the centre reel, i.e. reel three. Then, for a left-to-right and/or right-to-left paying game the special symbol will only serve to improve combinations of at least three of a kind to at least four of a kind. In other words, it would not be possible for the special symbol  122  to appear with only one other symbol to give a three of a kind win. Also, it would not then be possible to get more than one special symbol in a winning combination. Hence, as illustrated in  FIG. 4  of the drawings a win will be paid for the combination of 4×8 and 4×J on payline two as well as 5×7 on payline three. 
         [0035]    Prizes may also be given for specific combinations of special symbols  122  in addition to the special substitute wins. In this case, the symbol  122  will be acting as a symbol in its own right and will not represent more than one of itself. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 5  of the drawings, a prize is paid for 5×Bonus, the prize being substantially higher than the prize for five of any other symbol. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows the application of the special symbol  122  to a card game. In this embodiment, the special symbol substitutes as more than one card symbol towards a specific paying combination. In the illustrated example, the presence of the special symbol  122  results in a Royal Flush pay because the special symbol  122  substitutes as both a Queen of spades and a Ten of spades in the one hand. 
         [0037]    Note that the special symbol  122  could also apply to a ball game such as Keno, or the like. 
         [0038]    Hence, it is an advantage of the invention that a special symbol is provided which, it is believed, will enhance player interest 
         [0039]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.