Patent Publication Number: US-2009227334-A1

Title: Gaming Machine Arranging Symbols Based on Rearranged Symbols and Playing Method Thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 61/034,400, which was filed on Mar. 6, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a gaming machine and a playing method thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Among existing gaming machines, there is a gaming machine including: two or more gaming terminals; terminal controllers respectively provided to the gaming terminal, each of which controllers causes associated one of the gaming terminals to run a game; a center controller for controlling all the terminal controllers. This type of gaming machine is disclosed in specifications of U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,459, U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,709, or U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,013. A terminal controller of a gaming terminal runs a game and awards a payout based on the result of the game independently from another terminal controller of another gaming terminal. The center controller provides various jackpots such as progressive jackpots, mystery jackpots, or the like. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a gaming machine providing an entertainment characteristic which is not brought about by the above mentioned prior art, and a playing method thereof. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a gaming machine and a playing method thereof each involving two or more gaming terminals to play a single game, which thereby realizes a new entertainment characteristic that gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A gaming machine of the present invention, comprises: 
     a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas; 
     a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; 
     a center controller programmed to perform the steps of: 
     (a1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal; 
     (a2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; 
     (a3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal; and 
     (a4) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. 
     In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player&#39;s expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. 
     The present invention is a gaming machine including: a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas; a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and a controller programmed to perform the steps of: 
     (b1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal; 
     (b2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; 
     (b3) combining, on the row or column basis, one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal; and 
     (b4) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. 
     In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged (i) symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal and (ii) symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal. The (i) and (ii) are combined on the row or column basis. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player&#39;s expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. The structure further realizes a new entertainment characteristic which allows each player to easily understand how rearranged symbols on the terminal displays are combined and rearranged on the shared display. This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players. 
     The present invention is a gaming machine, including: 
     a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas; 
     a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; 
     a controller programmed to perform the steps of: 
     (c1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal; 
     (c2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; 
     (c3) combining a symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols corresponding to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes symbols arranged on the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes symbols arranged on the other gaming terminal; and the positions of the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other; and 
     (c4) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. 
     In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the matrix of the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal and symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal. The positions of the one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal and the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal along the x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player&#39;s expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, the positions of the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis being different from each other. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. 
     The present invention is a gaming machine, including: 
     a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and which arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas; 
     a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; 
     a controller programmed to perform the steps of: 
     (d1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal; 
     (d2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; 
     (d3) combining a symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols corresponding to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes symbols arranged in a row or a column on the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes symbols arranged in a row or a column on the other gaming terminal; and the positions of the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other; and 
     (d4) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. 
     In the above structure, a game is run in each of the gaming terminals. Based on the running of the game, symbols are rearranged in the matrix of the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. On the shared display are rearranged one symbol arrangement including symbols arranged in a row or a column on one gaming terminal and another symbol arrangement including symbols arranged in a row or a column on another gaming terminal. The positions of the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player&#39;s expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the one symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal, the one symbol arrangement including symbols arranged in a row or a column on the one gaming terminal, the other symbol arrangement including symbols arranged in a row or a column of the other gaming terminal, and the positions of the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement along the x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis being different from each other. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. 
     The structure further realizes a new entertainment characteristic which allows each player to easily understand how rearranged symbols on the terminal displays are combined and rearranged on the shared display. This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players. 
     The present invention is a playing method of a gaming machine, in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas on terminal displays of a plurality of gaming terminals, 
     the method including the steps of: 
     (e1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal; 
     (e2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; 
     (e3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on a shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal; and 
     (e4) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. 
     Accordingly, the payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player&#39;s expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. 
     The present invention is a gaming machine, including 
     a plurality of gaming terminals each including (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, which rearranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas, and (ii) a terminal controller; a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; a center controller, wherein: 
     the terminal controller is programmed to perform the steps of 
     (f1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas at a predetermined timing, 
     (f2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas, and 
     (f3) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller symbols arranged in the arrangement areas and an arrangement of the symbols; and 
     the center controller is programmed to perform the steps of 
     (g1) when the predetermined condition is met, receiving from each of the gaming terminals symbols arranged in the arrangement areas and an arrangement of the symbols, 
     (g2) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal, and 
     (g3) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the shared display. 
     According to the above structure, symbols are rearranged at a predetermined timing in the arrangement areas on the terminal display of the gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. When a predetermined condition is met, symbols identical to those in one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal are rearranged on the shared display in combination with symbols identical to those in another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal. Then, a payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display. This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player&#39;s expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals by rearranging, on the shared display, the symbols identical to those in the symbol arrangement of the one gaming terminal in combination with the symbols identical to those in the other symbol arrangement of the other gaming terminal. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a gaming machine and a playing method thereof, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the gaming machine. 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display state of a terminal display during a base game. 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display state of a shared display. 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an alternative form of a combination symbol arrangement  190 . 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a pattern of combining two or more combination symbol arrangements  190 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of the gaming machine. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of the gaming terminal. 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a symbol column of symbols rearranged on the terminal display. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of the gaming terminal. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of a center controller. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating a boot process executed by a gaming terminal and the center controller. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating an initial process executed by the gaming terminal and the center controller. 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a terminal process routine executed in the gaming terminal. 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a center process routine executed in the center controller. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following describes an embodiment of a gaming machine and a playing method thereof according to the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a gaming machine  1  includes a plurality of gaming terminals  3  and a shared display  102 , and executes a playing method including the steps of: arranging symbols  180  in arrangement areas  150  of each of the gaming terminals  3  based on running of a game; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150 ; combining a symbol arrangement  190  of one gaming terminal  3  with another symbol arrangement  190  of another gaming terminal  3 , and rearranging, on the shared display  102 , symbols  180  corresponding to those in the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190 , wherein the one symbol arrangement  190  includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the one gaming terminal  3 , and the other symbol arrangement includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the other gaming terminal  3 ; and the positions of the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190  along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other; and awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged on the shared display  102 . 
     The “arranging” in this specification means a state where the symbols  180  can be visually observed by a player. That is, the wording means a state where the symbols  180  are displayed in the arrangement areas  150 , in  FIG. 1 . Arranging the symbols  180  again after dismissing the symbols  180  is referred to as rearranging. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the arrangement areas  150  are areas of a terminal display  101  where symbols  180  are arranged. The arrangement areas  150  form display windows  151  to  155  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . For example, arrangement areas  151   a,    151   b,  and  151   c  form the display window  151 . Further, the display windows  151  to  155  form a matrix  156 . The matrix  156 , in other words, is formed with the plurality of arrangement areas  150  arranged in a matrix. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , arrangement areas  250  are areas of the shared display  102  where symbols  180  are arranged. The arrangement areas  150  form display windows  251  to  255  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . For example, the arrangement areas  255   a,    255   b,  and  255   c  form the display window  255 . Further, the display windows  251  to  255  form a matrix  256 . The matrix  256 , in other words, is formed with the plurality of arrangement areas  250  arranged in a matrix. 
     Further, “scatter symbols” are such symbols which provide advantages to a player when a predetermined number or more of them are displayed in the matrix  156 . For example, the advantages includes: a state where coins corresponding to the scatter symbols are paid out, a state where the number of coins to be paid out is added to a credit, a state where a bonus game is started. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the gaming machine  1  which executes the playing method has the shared display  102 , a center controller  100 , and gaming terminals  3 . Each of the gaming terminals  3  includes a terminal display  101  and a terminal controller  110 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the terminal display  101  has the arrangement areas  150 , and symbols  180  are arranged in the arrangement areas  150 . 
     The terminal display  101  may have a mechanical structure adopting a reel device which rotates a reel to arrange the symbols  180 . Alternatively, the terminal display  101  may have an electric structure in which a video reel is displayed as an image and symbols  180  on a video reel are arranged in the form of an image. Further, the terminal display  101  may adopt a combination of the mechanical structure (reel) and the electrical structure (video reel). Examples of the electrical structure include a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (cathode-ray tube), a plasma display device, or the like. Further, the number of arrangement areas  150  is not limited. A specific structure of the terminal display  101  will be detailed later. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the shared display  102  has the arrangement areas  250 , and symbols  180  are arranged in the arrangement areas  250 . This shared display  102  displays a progressive jackpot value  200  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . A specific structure of the terminal display  101  will be detailed later. 
     [Terminal Controller  100 ] The terminal controller  100  executes: a first process of rearranging symbols  180  in arrangement areas  150  at a predetermined timing; a second process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  180 ; and a third process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting information of symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150  and an arrangement of the rearranged symbols  180  to the center controller  100 . In other words, the terminal controller  110  has a first processing unit, a second processing unit and a third processing unit. 
     The terminal controller  110  is connected to a center controller  100  and is in communication with the center controller  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the terminal controller  110  is connected to a game starting unit  111 . The game starting unit  111  has a function of outputting a game start signal, in response to an operation by the player. The game start signal output is then input to a later-described game running unit  112 . 
     Further, the terminal controller  110  is connected to a BET unit  109 . The BET unit  109  has functions of receiving a bet entered through an operation by the player, and outputting a BET signal in response to the bet entered. The BET signal output is input to a later-described game running unit  112 . 
     The terminal controller  110  includes: a game running unit  112 , a rearrangement symbol determining unit  113 , and a terminal display control unit  114 . The game running unit  112  runs a base game, triggered by a game start signal from the game starting unit  111 . In the base game, symbols  180  are rearranged in the arrangement areas  150  of the terminal display  101 . Further, the terminal controller  110  outputs a progressive signal, triggered by the game start signal. The progressive signal is a signal indicating a game value. 
     The rearrangement symbol determining unit  113  determines, based on the state of game run by the game running unit  112 , a plurality of symbols  180  to be rearranged in the arrangement areas  150  and an arrangement of the symbols  180  (hereinafter, terminal symbol arrangement). The terminal controller  110  then transmits information of the terminal symbol arrangement to the center controller  100 , through a control performed by the game running unit  112 . 
     The terminal display control unit  114  displays the symbols  180  on the terminal display  101  under control of the game running unit  112  and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit  113 . A detailed display state will be detailed later. 
     Further, the terminal controller  110  includes a not-shown payout award determining unit and a payout awarding unit. The payout award determining unit determines whether to award a payout, based on a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150  of the terminal display  101 . Then, the payout awarding unit awards a payout based on a determination of the payout award determining unit. 
     Meanwhile, each block of the terminal controller  110  may be realized with hardware or with software as needed. 
     [Operation of Terminal Controller  110 ] The following describes an operation of the terminal controller  100  in the above structure. First, the BET unit  109  accepts a BET entered through an operation by a player. Then, in response to the operation, the game starting unit  111  outputs a game start signal to cause the game running unit  112  to start a base game. When the base game is started, the rearrangement symbol determining unit  113  determines symbols  180  to be rearranged in the arrangement areas  150  and an arrangement of the symbols  180  (terminal symbol arrangement). The symbols  180  to be rearranged and the terminal symbol arrangement are determined at every base game. The symbols  180  determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit  113  undergo an image processing in the terminal display control unit  114 , and are displayed on the terminal display  101 . The terminal display control unit  114  rearranges the symbols  180  in the arrangement areas  150 , according to the arrangement determined. Thus, the terminal controller  110  executes the first process of rearranging symbols  180  in the arrangement areas  150  at a predetermined timing. 
     Further, a not-shown payout determining unit determines whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150 . When the payout determining unit determines to award a payout, a not-shown payout awarding unit awards a payout. Thus, the terminal controller  110  executes the second process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150 . 
     Further, the terminal controller  110  transmits, to the center controller  100 , symbols  180  determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit  113  and an arrangement of the symbols  180 , based on a predetermined condition. An example of such a condition is a shared game being run, or the like condition. Thus, the terminal controller  110  executes the third process of, when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting symbols  180  determined and an arrangement of the symbols  180  to the center controller  100 . 
     [Operation of Center Controller  100 ] 
     When the predetermined condition is met, the center controller  100  executes: fourth process of receiving symbols  180  and an arrangement of the symbols from one or more terminal controllers  110 ; a fifth process of combining a symbol arrangement  190  of one gaming terminal  3  with another symbol arrangement  190  of another gaming terminal  3 , and rearranging, on the shared display  102 , symbols  180  corresponding to those in the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190 , wherein the one symbol arrangement  190  includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the one gaming terminal  3 , and the other symbol arrangement includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the other gaming terminal  3 ; and the positions of the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190  along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other; and a sixth process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display  102 . In other words, the terminal controller  100  includes a fourth process unit, a fifth process unit, and a sixth process unit. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the center controller  100  is connected to the terminal controller  110  and is in communication with the terminal controller  110 . 
     The center controller  100  includes: a progressive storage unit  115 , a shared game starting unit  116 , a shared game running unit  117 , a rearrangement symbol determining unit  118 , combination symbol determining unit  119 , a shared display control unit  120 , a payout determining unit  121 , and a payout awarding unit  122 . 
     The progressive storage unit  115  stores and sums up a game value indicated by a progressive signal received from the terminal controller  110 . The shared game starting unit  116  outputs a shared game start signal, when the predetermined condition is met. The shared game start signal output is input to a later-mentioned shared game running unit  117 . For example, meeting the predetermined situation means a situation where a game value stored in the progressive storage unit  115  sums up to a predetermined value or greater. 
     The shared game running unit  117  runs a shared game, triggered by the shared game start signal received from the shared game starting unit  116 . In the shared game, symbols  180  are rearranged in the arrangement areas  250  of the shared display  102 . 
     The combination symbol determining unit  119  receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from each of two or more terminal controllers  110 . Based on the information of the terminal symbol arrangement received, the combination symbol determining unit  119  selects symbols  180  and determines an arrangement of the symbols  180  (hereinafter, combination symbol arrangement  190 ). In other words, the combination symbol determining unit  119  determines at least two combination symbol arrangements  190 . 
     The rearrangement symbol determining unit  118  determines symbols  180  to be rearranged in arrangement areas  250  and an arrangement of the symbols  180  by combining the at least two combination symbol arrangements  190 . 
     The shared display control unit  120  displays the symbols  180  on the shared display  102  under control of the shared game running unit  117  and on the basis of a determination of the rearrangement symbol determining unit  118 . A detailed display state will be detailed later. 
     The payout determining unit  121  determines whether to award a progressive payout based on a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  250  of the shared display  102 . Then, the payout awarding unit  122  awards a progressive payout based on a determination of the payout determining unit  121 . 
     Meanwhile, each block of the center controller  100  may be realized with hardware or with software as needed. 
     [Operation of Center Controller  100 ] The following describes an operation of the center controller  100  in the above structure. First, the game value is stored and summed in the progressive storage unit  115 . A shared game starts when the stored game value sums up to a predetermined value or greater. The combination symbol determining unit  119 , during the shared game, receives information of a terminal symbol arrangement from the terminal controller  110 . Thus, the center controller  100  executes the fourth process of receiving, when a predetermined condition is met, symbols  180  and arrangements thereof (terminal symbol arrangements) from the terminal controllers  110 . 
     The combination symbol determining unit  119  determines at least two combination symbol arrangements  190  based on the terminal symbol arrangement received. Further, the combination symbol determining unit  119  may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements  190  based on symbols  180  and arrangement thereof in different positions along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis of the arrangement areas  150 . Further, the combination symbol determining unit  119  may determine the at least two combination symbol arrangements  190  on the row or column basis. 
     The rearrangement symbol determining unit  118  determines symbols  180  to be rearranged in the arrangement areas  250  and an arrangement of the symbols  180 , by combining the at least two combination symbol arrangements  190 . 
     The symbols determined by the rearrangement symbol determining unit  118  undergo image processing performed in the shared display control unit  120 , and are displayed on the shared display  102 . According to the arrangement thus determined, the shared display control unit  120  rearranges the symbols  180  in the arrangement areas  250 . Thus, the center controller  100  executes the fifth process of combining a symbol arrangement  190  of one gaming terminal  3  with another symbol arrangement  190  of another gaming terminal  3 , and rearranging, on the shared display  102 , symbols  180  corresponding to those in the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190 , wherein the one symbol arrangement  190  includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the one gaming terminal  3 , and the other symbol arrangement includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the other gaming terminal  3 ; and the positions of the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190  along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other. 
     The payout determining unit  121  determines whether to award a progressive payout, according to a relation of the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  250 . If the payout determining unit  121  determines to award a progressive payout, the payout awarding unit  122  awards the progressive payout. In other words, the center controller  100  executes the sixth process of awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged on the shared display  102 . 
     The above can be rephrased as follows. The center controller  100  causes the terminal controllers  110  to perform the first process so as to execute a seventh process of rearranging symbols  180  in the arrangement areas  150  based on running of a game in the gaming terminals  3 . 
     As is obvious from the above operation, the gaming machine  1  includes a plurality of gaming terminals  3  and a shared display  102 , and realizes a playing method including the steps of: rearranging symbols  180  in arrangement areas  150  at a predetermined timing; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150 ; transmitting to the center controller  100 , the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150  and an arrangement of the symbols  180 , when a predetermined condition is met; receiving, from terminal controllers  110 , symbols  180  and arrangements thereof, when a predetermined condition is met; combining a symbol arrangement  190  of one gaming terminal  3  with another symbol arrangement  190  of another gaming terminal  3 , and rearranging, on the shared display  102 , symbols  180  corresponding to those in the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190 , wherein the one symbol arrangement  190  includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the one gaming terminal  3 , and the other symbol arrangement includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the other gaming terminal  3 ; and the positions of the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190  along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other; and awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged on the shared display  102 . 
     This can be rephrased as follows. The gaming machine  1  includes a plurality of gaming terminals  3  and a shared display  102 , and realizes a playing method including the steps of: arranging symbols  180  in arrangement areas  150  of each of the gaming terminals  3  based on running of a game; awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150 ; combining a symbol arrangement  190  of one gaming terminal  3  with another symbol arrangement  190  of another gaming terminal  3 , and rearranging, on the shared display  102 , symbols  180  corresponding to those in the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190 , wherein the one symbol arrangement  190  includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the one gaming terminal  3 , and the other symbol arrangement includes symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the other gaming terminal  3 ; and the positions of the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190  along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other; and awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged on the shared display  102 . 
     According to the above playing method, symbols are arranged at a predetermined timing in the arrangement areas  150  on a terminal display  101  of a gaming terminal  3 . Then, a payout is awarded according to the symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150 . On the shared display  102  are rearranged one symbol arrangement  190  including symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on one gaming terminal  3  and another symbol arrangement  190  including symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on another gaming terminal  3 . The positions of the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190  along x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other. Then, a payout is awarded according to the symbols  180  rearranged on the shared display  102 . This payout awarded according to the relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player&#39;s expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. Further, the above structure creates a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals  3  by rearranging, on the shared display  102 , the one symbol arrangement  190  of the one gaming terminal  3  in combination with the other symbol arrangement  190  of the other gaming terminal  3 , the one symbol arrangement  190  including symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column on the one gaming terminal  3 , the other symbol arrangement  190  including symbols  180  arranged in a row or a column of the other gaming terminal  3 , and the positions of the one symbol arrangement  190  and the other symbol arrangement  190  along the x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis being different from each other. This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. The structure further realizes a new entertainment characteristic which allows each player to easily understand how rearranged symbols on the terminal displays are combined and rearranged on the shared display. This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players. 
     [Display State of Terminal Display  101 ] The following details an exemplary display state of the terminal display  101  during the operations of the gaming machine  1  and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the terminal display  101  adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a matrix  156  is in the center of the terminal display  101 . The matrix  156  includes a symbol column having symbols  180 , which is scrolled as illustrated in the upper left of  FIG. 3 . The display windows  151  to  155  are respectively divided into upper stages  151   a  to  155   a,  central stages  151   b  to  155   b,  and lower stages  151   c  to  155   c.  The symbols  180  are stopped (arranged) in the stages  151   a  to  155   a,    151   b  to  155   b,  and  151   c  to  155   c,  respectively. For example, in  FIG. 3 , “DIAMOND” is stopped in  151   a  of the upper stage of the display window  151 , “7” is stopped in  152   b  of the central stage of the display window  152  and “DIAMOND” is stopped in  153   c  of the lower stage of the display window  153 . In short, the matrix  156  is a symbol matrix including five columns/three rows. The matrix  156  however is not limited to the one with the five-columns/three-rows. 
     As is illustrated in the upper left of  FIG. 3 , the terminal display  101  variably displays symbols  180  when a base game is started in the gaming terminal  3 . When this variable-displaying of symbols  180  stops, symbols  180  are rearranged in the arrangement areas  150 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Then, a payout according to a relation among the symbols  180  is awarded. 
     A frame including a part of the symbols  180  thus rearranged is variably displayed. Then, symbols  180  and an arrangement thereof within the frame, at the time of stopping the variable-displaying, are determined as a combination symbol arrangement  190 . Specifically, in the example shown in the middle left of  FIG. 3 , a combination symbol arrangement  190   a  is an arrangement of symbols  180  rearranged in those arrangement areas  151   a  to  155   a  within the frame. Further, in the example shown in the middle right of  FIG. 3 , a combination symbol arrangement  190   b  is an arrangement of symbols  180  rearranged in those arrangement areas  151   b  to  155   b  within the frame. Further, in the example shown in the lower left of  FIG. 3 , a combination symbol arrangement  190   c  is an arrangement of symbols  180  rearranged in those arrangement areas  151   c  to  155   c  within the frame. 
     [Display State of Shared Display  102 ] The following details an exemplary display state of the shared display  102  during the operations of the gaming machine  1  and the playing method thereof. Note that the following example deals with a case where the shared display  102  adopts a video reel and arranges symbols on a video reel in the form of an image, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a matrix  256  is in the center of the shared display  102 . The matrix  256  includes a symbol column having symbols  180 , which is scrolled as illustrated in the upper view of  FIG. 4 . The display windows  251  to  255  are divided into upper stages  251   a  to  255   a,  central stages  251   b  to  255   b,  and lower stages  251   c  to  255   c.  The symbols  180  are stopped (arranged) in the stages  251   a  to  255   a,    251   b  to  255   b,  and  251   c  to  255   c,  respectively. In short, the matrix  256  is a symbol matrix including five columns/three rows. The matrix  256  however is not limited to the one with the five-columns/three-rows. 
     This shared display  102  displays at its lower part a progressive jackpot value  200  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The progressive jackpot value  200  is the sum of game values having been accumulated. In  FIG. 4  for example, the progressive jackpot value  200  is 1,929.38 dollars. 
     As is illustrated in the upper view of  FIG. 4 , the shared display  102  variably displays symbols  180  when a shared game is started. When this variable-displaying of symbols  180  stops, symbols  180  are rearranged in the arrangement areas  250 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Symbols  180  are rearranged in the arrangement areas  250 , by combining the combination symbol arrangements  190  of the terminal displays  101 . Then, a progressive payout is awarded according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged. 
     As is the case of combination symbol arrangements  190   a  to  190   c  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the combination symbol arrangement  190  may be an arrangement of one or more rows. Alternatively, the combination symbol arrangement  190  may be an arrangement of one or more columns, or adjacent or separate groups of arrangement areas, as is the case of combination symbol arrangements  190   d  to  190   g  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The combination symbol arrangements  190  on the row or column basis allows players to easily understand how rearranged symbols  180  on the terminal displays  101  are combined and rearranged on the shared display  102 . This enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among participating players. 
     Here,  FIG. 3  illustrates a combination symbol arrangements  190   a  to  190   c.  The combination symbol arrangement  190   a  is a row whose y coordinate is 1, the combination symbol arrangement  190   b  is a row whose coordinate is 2, and the combination symbol arrangement  190   c  is a row whose y coordinate is 3. The three combination symbol arrangements  190  are determined based on symbols  180  and an arrangement thereof in arrangement areas  150  whose respective x coordinates are the same, and whose respective y coordinates are different from one another. However, it is possible to determine the combination symbol arrangements  190  based on symbols  180  and an arrangement thereof in arrangement areas  150  whose respective x coordinates are different from one another, and whose respective y coordinates are the same. Further,  FIG. 6  illustrates a combination symbol arrangements  190   a  and  190   c.  The combination symbol arrangements  190   a  are rows whose y coordinates are both 1, and the combination symbol arrangement  190   c  is a row whose y coordinate is 3. As is obvious from this example, the combination symbol arrangements  190  may include the combination symbol arrangements  190   a  whose respective x and y coordinates are the same. Thus, the combination symbol arrangements  190  are determined based on: symbols  180  and an arrangement thereof in arrangement areas  150  whose respective x coordinates are the same, and whose respective y coordinates are different from one another; or based on symbols  180  and an arrangement thereof in arrangement areas  150  whose respective x coordinates are different from one another, and whose respective y coordinates are the same. This allows players to easily understand how rearranged symbols  180  on the terminal displays  101  are combined and rearranged on the shared display  102 . This enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among participating players. 
     [Symbol, Combination, or the Like] A terminal display  101  has a matrix  156  including symbol columns each having twenty two symbols  180  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . To each of the symbols constituting the columns is given one of code numbers  0  to  21 . Each of the symbol columns has a combination of symbols which includes “BELL”, “APPLE”, “7”, “DIAMOND”, “CHERRY”, or “BONUS”. 
     Of the symbols in the symbol columns, the display windows  151  to  155  each displays (arranges) three successive symbols. The symbols arranged in the upper stages  151   a  to  155   a,  the central stages  151   b  to  155   b,  and the lower stages  151   c  to  155   c  form a symbol matrix having five columns and three rows. When a BET button and a start button are sequentially pressed in this order to start a game, symbols constituting the symbol matrix start to scroll. This scrolling of the symbols stops (rearrangement) after a predetermined period from the beginning of the scrolling. 
     Further, for each symbol, a predetermined scatter symbol is determined in advance. Scatter symbols are such symbols that a player is put in an advantageous position when a predetermined number or more of them are displayed in the matrix  156 . For example, the advantages includes: a state where coins corresponding to the scatter symbols are paid out, a state where the number of coins to be paid out is added to a credit, a state where a bonus game is started. 
     To be more specific, when three or more symbols of “BONUS” are rearranged in the matrix  156 , a bonus is triggered and a gaming state shifts from a base game to a bonus game. Further, when four or more symbols of “BONUS” are displayed in the matrix  156 , twenty coins (game medium) are paid out for one bet. 
     Here, a bonus game is a gaming state which provides a larger advantage than a base game. In this embodiment, the bonus game is a free game. The free game is a game allowing a player to play a game a predetermined number of times without betting a coin. No particular limitation is put on the bonus game, as long as it is a gaming state advantageous to the player, that is, it is more advantageous than the base game. For example, the bonus game may include a state where more game media are obtainable than in the base game, a state where a game medium is obtainable with higher probability than in the base game, a state where a game medium is less consumed than in the base game, and the like. Specifically, a free game, a second game, a feature game, and the like may be mentioned as examples of the bonus game. 
     [Mechanical Structure of Gaming Machine  1 ] Next, the following describes a specific example of mechanical and electrical structures of the gaming machine  1  thus structured. 
     A gaming machine  1  is placed in a gaming facility such as a casino. This gaming machine  1  runs a unit game which involves a game medium. The game medium is a coin, bill, or a value in the form of electronic information. However, the game medium in the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, a medal, token, electronic money, ticket or the like are also possible. Further, the ticket is not particularly limited and may be a later-described ticket with a barcode or the like ticket. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the gaming machine  1  includes: gaming terminals  3  which run a game independently from each other; a center controller  100  connected to the gaming terminals  3 , which is in communication with the gaming terminals  3  and runs a shared game; a shared display  102  which displays thereon an effect image related to the shared game; a rail  271  which supports the shared display  102  and allows the shared display  102  to move to a position immediately above one of the gaming terminals  3 ; and a not-shown drive motor  270  which causes the shared display  102  to move along the rail  271 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the gaming terminal  3  includes: a cabinet  11 , a top box  12  provided above the cabinet  11 , and a main door  13  provided on the front surface of the cabinet  11 . The main door  13  has a lower image display panel  16 . The lower image display panel  16  has a transparent liquid crystal panel for displaying various information. The lower image display panel  16  displays display windows  151  to  155  (matrix  156 ) for arranging therein symbols  180 . Further, the lower image display panel  16  displays as needed various information and effect images related to a game. 
     The present embodiment deals with a case where the lower image display panel  16  electrically displays symbols  180  arranged in five rows/three columns. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 
     The lower image display panel  16  displays a single activated payline L. Note that the number of pay lines L may be two or more. When the number of pay lines L is two or more, the number of pay lines L activated may be determined according to a predetermined condition, such as the number of coins placed as a BET. 
     Note that the lower image display panel  16  may have a credit value indicator and a payout value indicator. The credit value indicator displays a total value (hereinafter also referred to as total credit value) which a gaming terminal  3  can pay out to a player. When symbols stopped along a pay line L form a winning combination, the payout value indicator displays the number of coins to be paid out. 
     Further, scatter symbols may be adopted, and the number of coins to be paid out may be determined, according to the number of scatter symbols displayed on the matrix  156 . Note that the pay line L does not necessarily have to be displayed. 
     Below the lower image display panel  16  provided are a control panel  20 , a coin insertion slot  21 , and a bill validator  22 . The control panel  20  is provided with various buttons  23  to  27 . These buttons  23  to  27  allow a player to input instructions related to a game played by the player. Through the coin insertion slot  21 , a coin is received in the cabinet  11 . 
     The control panel  20  includes: a spin button  23 , a change button  24 , a cashout button  25 , a 1-BET button  26 , and a maximum BET button  27 . The spin button  23  is for inputting an instruction to start symbol scrolling. The change button  24  is used to ask a staff person in the gaming facility for exchange of money. The cash out button  25  is for inputting an instruction to pay out coins corresponding to the total credit-value into the coin tray  18 . 
     The 1-BET button  26  is used for betting one coin out of those corresponding to the total credit value. The maximum BET button  27  is used for betting, out of those corresponding to the total credit value, a maximum number of coins (e.g., fifty coins) which can be bet in one game. 
     The bill validator  22  validates whether bill is genuine or not and receives the genuine bill into the cabinet  11 . Note that the bill validator  22  is capable of reading a barcode attached to a later-mentioned ticket  39  having a barcode (hereinafter simply referred to as ticket  39 ). When the bill validator  22  reads the ticket  39 , it outputs to the main CPU  41  a read signal representing information having read from the barcode. 
     On the lower front surface of the main door  13 , that is, below the control panel  20 , a berry glass  34  is provided. On the belly glass, a character of a gaming terminal  3  or the like is drawn. On the front surface of top box  12  is provided an upper image display panel  33 . The upper image display panel  33  has a liquid crystal panel and displays an effect image, introduction to the game, rules of the game, or the like. 
     Further, the top box  12  has a speaker  29  for performing an audio output. Below the upper image display panel  33  are provided a ticket printer  35 , a card reader  36 , a data displayer  37 , and a keypad  38 . The ticket printer  35  prints, on to a ticket, a barcode having encoded data containing credit-value, date and time, identification number of a gaming terminal  3  or the like, thereby issuing a ticket  39  having a barcode attached thereto. A player can play a game in another gaming terminal  3  with the ticket  39  having the barcode, or exchange the ticket  39  having the barcode with bill or the like at a change booth or the like of the game arcade. 
     The card reader  36  reads/writes data from/into a smart card. The smart card is carried by a player, and stores therein data for identifying the player, data relating to a history of games played by the player, or the like. 
     The data displayer  37  includes a fluorescent display or the like, and displays the data read by the card reader  36  and the data input by the player through the keypad  38 . The keypad  38  is for entering instructions or data relating to issuing of a ticket or the like. 
     [Electrical Structure of Gaming Machine  1 ]  FIGS. 10 and 11  are block diagrams each illustrating an electrical structure of the entire gaming machine  1 . 
     [Electrical structure of Gaming Terminal  3 ]  FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of the entire gaming terminal  3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the cabinet  11  includes a control unit having a terminal controller  110 . The control unit includes a motherboard  40 , a main body PCB (Printed Circuit Board)  60 , a gaming board  50 , a door PCB  80 , various switches, sensors, or the like. 
     The gaming board  50  is provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  51 , a ROM  55 , a boot ROM  52 , a card slot  53 S corresponding to a memory card  53 , and an IC socket  54 S corresponding to a GAL (Generic Array Logic)  54 . The CPU  51 , the ROM  55 , and the boot ROM  52  are connected to one another through an internal bus. 
     The memory card  53  stores therein a game program and a game system program. The game program contains a stop symbol determining program. The stop symbol determining program determines symbols (code number corresponding to the symbol) to be stopped in the arrangement areas  150 . This stop symbol determining program contains sets of symbol weighting data respectively corresponding to various payout rates (e.g., 80%, 84%, 88%). Each set of the symbol weighting data indicates, for each of the display windows  151  to  155 , a code number of each symbol and at least one random numerical value allotted to the code number. The numerical value is a value within a predetermined range of 0 to 256 for example. 
     The payout rate is determined based on payout rate setting data output from the GAL  54 . Based on a set of the symbol weighting data corresponding to the payout rate determined, a symbol to be stopped is determined. 
     The memory card  53  stores therein various types of data for use in the game programs and the game system programs. For example, the memory card  53  stores a table listing combinations of a symbol  180  to be displayed on the display windows  151  to  155  of  FIG. 1  and an associated range of random numerical values. This data is transferred to the RAM  43  of the motherboard  40 , at the time of running a game programs. 
     The card slot  53 S is structured so as to allow the memory card  53  to be attached/detached to/from the card slot  53 S. This card slot  53 S is connected to the motherboard  40  through an IDE bus. Thus, the type and content of a game run by a gaming terminal  3  can be modified by detaching the memory card  53  from the card slot  53 S, write a different game program and a different game system program into the memory card  53 , and inserting the memory card  53  back into the card slot  53 S. 
     Each of the game programs includes a program related to the progress of the game and/or a program for causing a transition to a bonus game. Each of the game programs includes image data and audio data output during the game. 
     The GAL  54  has input and output ports. When the GAL  54  receives data via the input port, it outputs data corresponding to the input data from its output port. This data from the output port is the payout rate setting data described above. 
     IC socket  54 S is structured so as to allow the GAL  54  to be attached/detached to/from the IC socket  54 S. The IC socket  54 S is connected to the motherboard  40 , via a PCI bus. Thus, the payout rate setting data to be output from GAL  54  can be modified by: detaching the GAL  54  from the IC socket  54 S, overwriting the program stored in the GAL  54 , and attaching the GAL  54  back to the IC socket  54 S. 
     The CPU  51 , the ROM  55  and the boot ROM  52  connected through an internal bus are connected to the motherboard  40  through the PCI bus. The PCI bus communicates signals between the motherboard  40  and the gaming board  50  and supplies power from the motherboard  40  to the gaming board  50 . The ROM  55  stores country identification information and an authentication program. The boot ROM  52  stores a preliminary authentication program and a program (boot code) for enabling the CPU  51  to run the preliminary authentication program. 
     The authentication program is a program (falsification check program) for authenticating the game program and the game system program. The authentication program is a program for confirming and verifying that the game program and the game system program are not falsified. In other words, the authentication program is described in accordance with a procedure for authenticating the game program and the game system program. The preliminary authentication program is a program for authenticating the authentication program. The preliminary authentication program is described in accordance with a procedure for verifying that the authentication program to be authenticated is not falsified. In short, the preliminary authentication program authenticates the authentication program. 
     The motherboard  40  is provided with a main CPU  41  (terminal controller  110 ), a ROM (Read Only Memory)  42 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  43 , and a communication interface  44 . 
     The main CPU  41  serves as a terminal controller  110  and has a function of controlling the entire gaming terminal  3 . In particular, the main CPU  41  controls the following operations: an operation of outputting a signal instructing variable-displaying of symbols  180  to the graphic board  68 , which is performed in response to pressing of the spin button  23  after betting of credit; an operation of determining symbols  180  to be stopped after the variable-displaying of symbols  180 ; and an operation of stopping the symbols  180  thus determined in the display window  151  to  155 . 
     In other words, the main CPU  41  serves as an arrangement controller which arranges symbols to form a new symbol matrix through scrolling of symbols displayed on the lower image display panel  16 . This main CPU  41  therefore determines symbols to be arranged in a symbol matrix by selecting symbols to be arranged from various kinds of symbols. Then, the main CPU  41  executes arrangement control to stop scrolling the symbols to present the symbols thus determined. 
     The ROM  42  stores a program such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) run by the main CPU  41 , and permanently-used data. When the BIOS is run by the main CPU  41 , each of peripheral devices is initialized and the game program and the game system program stored in the memory card  53  are read out through the gaming board  50 . The RAM  43  stores data or a program used for the main CPU  41  to perform a process. 
     The communication interface  44  is provided to communicate with a host computer and the like equipped in the gaming facility, through the network (communication line). The communication interface  44  is also for communicating with the center controller  100  through a communication line. Further, a main body PCB (Printed Circuit Board)  60  and a door PCB  80  are connected to the motherboard  40 , through USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the motherboard  40  is connected to a power unit  45 . The power unit  45  supplies power to the motherboard  40  to boot the main CPU  41  thereof. Meanwhile, the power unit  45  supplies power to the gaming board  50  through the PCI bus to boot the CPU  51  thereof. 
     The main body PCB  60  and door PCB  80  are connected to various devices or units which generate signals to be input to the main CPU  41 , and various devices or units whose operations are controlled by signals from the main CPU  41 . Based on a signal input to the main CPU  41 , the main CPU  41  runs the game program and the game system program stored in the RAM  43 , to perform an arithmetic process. Then, the CPU  41  stores the result of the arithmetic process in the RAM  43 , or transmits a control signal to the various devices and units to control them based on the result. 
     The main body PCB  60  is connected with a lamp  30 , a hopper  66 , a coin sensor  67 , a graphic board  68 , the speaker  29 , a bill validator  22 , a ticket printer  35 , a card reader  36 , a key switch  38 S, and a data displayer  37 . 
     The lamp  30  is turned on/off on the basis of a control signal from the main CPU  41 . 
     The hopper  66  is mounted in the cabinet  11  and pays out a predetermined number of coins from a coin outlet  19  to the coin tray  18 , based on a control signal from the main CPU  41 . The coin sensor  67  is provided inside the coin outlet  19 , and outputs a signal to be input to the main CPU  41  upon sensing that a predetermined number of coins have been delivered from the coin outlet  19 . 
     The graphic board  68  controls image displaying of upper image display panel  33  and the lower image display panel  16 , based on a control signal from the main CPU  41 . Further, the graphic board  68  is provided with a VDP (Video Display Processor) for generating image data on the basis of a control signal from the main CPU  41 , a video RAM for temporarily storing the image data generated by the VDP, or the like. Note that image data used at the time of generating the image data by the VDP is in a game program which is read out from the memory card  53  and stored in the RAM  43 . 
     The bill validator  22  reads an image on the bill and takes only those recognized as to be genuine into the cabinet  11 . When taking in a genuine bill, the bill validator  22  outputs an input signal indicating the value of the bill to the main CPU  41 . The main CPU  41  stores into the RAM  43  a credit-value corresponding to the value of the bill indicated by the signal. 
     The ticket printer  35  prints a barcode on to a ticket to issue a ticket  39  having the barcode. The barcode contains encoded data such as credit-value stored in the RAM  43 , date and time, identification number of the gaming terminal  3 , or the like, based on a control signal from the main CPU  41 . 
     The card reader  36  reads out data from the smart card and transmits the data to the main CPU  41 . Further, the card reader  36  writes data into the smart card based on the control signal output from the main CPU  41 . The key switch  38 S is mounted to the keypad  38 , and outputs a signal to the main CPU  41  in response to an operation of the keypad  38  by the player. The data displayer  37  displays, based on a control signal from the main CPU  41 , the data read by the card reader  36  or the data input by the player through the key pad  38 . 
     The door PCB  80  is connected to a control panel  20 , a reverter  21 S, a coin counter  21 C, and a cold cathode tube  81 . The control panel  20  is provided with: a spin switch  23 S associated with the spin button  23 ; a change switch  24 S associated with the change button  24 ; a cashout switch  25 S associated with the cashout button  25 ; a 1-BET switch  26 S associated with the 1-BET button  26 ; and a maximum BET switch  27 S associated with the maximum BET button  27 . Each of the switches  23 S to  27 S outputs a signal to the main CPU  41 , when a player presses the associated button. 
     The coin counter  21 C is provided within the coin insertion slot  21 , and identifies whether the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot  12  by the player is genuine. A coin except the genuine coin is discharged from the coin outlet  19 . In addition, the coin counter  21 C outputs an input signal to the main CPU  41  upon detection of a genuine coin. 
     The reverter  21 S is operated on the basis of the control signal output from the main CPU  41  and distributes a coin, which is recognized as a genuine coin by the coin counter  21 C, to a not-shown cash box or hopper  66  mounted in the gaming terminal  3 . In other words, when the hopper  66  is full of the coins, the genuine coin is distributed into the cash box by the reverter  21 S. On the other hand, when the hopper  66  is not yet full with the coins, the genuine coin is distributed into the hopper  66 . The cold cathode tube  81  functions as a backlight mounted to rear sides of the lower image display panel  16  and the upper image display panel  33 . This cold cathode tube  81  turns on according to a control signal from the main CPU  41 . 
     [Electrical Structure of Center Controller  100 ]  FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of the center controller  100 . The center controller  100  is provided therein with a control unit. As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the control unit includes a motherboard  240 , a gaming board  260 , an actuator, or the like. 
     The gaming board  260  has the same structure as that of the gaming board  50 . The motherboard  240  has the same structure as that of the motherboard  40 . The communication interface  244  communicates with the terminal controller  110  through a communication line. 
     The graphic board  268  has the same structure as that of the graphic board  68 , except in that the graphic board  268  controls image displaying of the shared display  102  based on a control signal from the main CPU  241 . 
     The drive motor  270  is a stepping motor and is connected to a not-shown drive wheel. The drive motor  270  is driven by a control signal from the main CPU  241 , and rotates the drive wheel to move the shared display  102 . 
     [Operation of Gaming Machine  1 : Boot Process] 
     The following describes a boot process routine which takes place in the gaming machine  1 . Upon powering on the gaming machine  1 , a boot process starts in: the mother board  240  and gaming board  260  in the center controller  100 , and in the mother board  40  and the gaming board  50  in the terminal controller  110 . The memory cards  53  and  263  are assumed to be inserted into the card slots  53 S and  263 S of the gaming boards  50  and  260 , respectively. Further, the GALs  54  and  264  are assumed to be attached to the IC sockets  54 S and  264 S, respectively. 
     First, turning on the power switch of (powering on) the power units  45  and  245  boots the motherboards  40  and  240 , and the gaming boards  50  and  260 . Booting the motherboards  40  and  240  and the gaming boards  50  and  260  starts separate processes in parallel. Specifically, the CPUs  51  and  261  read out preliminary authentication programs stored in the boot ROMs  52  and  262 , respectively. Then, preliminary authentication is performed according to the read out programs so as to confirm and authenticate that no modification is made to authentication programs, before reading them in the motherboards  40  and  240 , respectively (S 1 ). Meanwhile, the main CPUs  41  and  241  of the motherboards  40  and  240  run BIOS stored in the ROMs  42  and  242  to load into the RAMs  43  and  243  compressed data built in the BIOS, respectively (S 2 ). Then, the main CPUs  41  and  241  run a procedure of the BIOS according to the data loaded into the RAMs  43  and  243  so as to diagnose and initialize various peripheral devices (S 3 ). 
     The main CPUs  41  and  241 , which are respectively connected to the ROMs  55  and  265  of the gaming boards  50  and  260  via PCI buses, read out authentication programs stored in the ROMs  55  and  265  and stores them in the RAMs  43  and  243  (S 4 ). During this step, the main CPUs  41  and  241  each derives a checksum through ADDSUM method (a standard check function) which is adopted in a standard BIOS, and store the authentication programs into RAMs  43  and  243  while confirming if the operation of storing is carried out without an error. 
     Next, the main CPUs  41  and  241  each checks what connects to the IDE bus. Then, the main CPUs  41  and  241  access, via the IDE buses, to the memory cards  53  and  263  inserted into the card slots  53 S and  263 S, and read out game programs and game system programs from the memory cards  53  and  263 , respectively. In this case, the CPUs  41  and  241  each reads out four bytes of data constituting the game program and the game system program at one time. Next, the CPUs  41  and  241  authenticate the game program and the game system program read out to confirm and prove that these programs are not modified (S 5 ). 
     When the authentication properly ends, the main CPUs  41  and  241  write and store the authenticated game programs and game system programs in RAMs  43  and  243  (S 6 ). 
     Next, the main CPUs  41  and  241  access, via the PCI buses, to the GALs  54  and  264  attached to the IC socket  54 S· 264 S, and read out payout rate setting data from the GALs  54  and  264 , respectively. The payout rate setting data read out is then written and stored in the RAMs  43  and  243  (S 7 ). 
     Next, the main CPUs  41  and  241  read out, via the PCI buses, country identification information stored in the ROMs  55  and  265  of the gaming boards  50  and  265 , respectively. The country identification information read out is then stored in the RAMs  43  and  243  (S 8 ). 
     After this, the main CPU  41  and  241  each performs an initial process of  FIG. 13 . 
     [Operation of Gaming Machine  1 : Initial Process] The following describes an initial process which takes place in the gaming machine  1 . When the boot process of  FIG. 12  is completed, the center controller  100  reads out from the RAM  243  a center side initial setting routine illustrated in  FIG. 13  and executes the routine. Meanwhile, the gaming terminal  3  reads out from the RAM  43  a terminal side initial setting routine illustrated in  FIG. 13  and executes the routine. The center side and terminal side initial setting routines are executed in parallel. 
     First, the main CPU  41  of each of the gaming terminals  3  checks operations of work memories such as the RAM  43 , various sensors, various driving mechanisms, and various decorative illuminations (A 1 ). Then, the main CPU  41  determines if all the check results are normal (A 2 ). If the main CPU  41  determines that the check results contains an error (A 2 : NO), the main CPU  41  outputs a signal notifying the error (hereinafter, error signal) to the center controller  100  (A 3 ). Further, the main CPU  41  reports the error in the form of illuminating the lamp  30  or the like (A 4 ), and then ends the routine. 
     On the other hand in A 2 , if the main CPU  41  determines that all the check results are normal (A 2 : YES), an initial setting signal is output to the center controller  100  (A 5 ). Then, an initial setting signal is waited from the center controller  100  (A 6 , A 7 : NO). 
     The main CPU  241  of the center controller  100  receives signals from each of the terminals (B 1 ). Then, the main CPU  241  determines whether a signal received is an error signal (B 2 ). If the main CPU  241  determines that the signal is an error signal (B 2 : YES), the main CPU  241  outputs the error signal to a server of a not-shown host computer or the like (B 9 ) to report the error (B 10 ), and ends the routine. 
     On the other hand in B 2 , if the main CPU  241  determines that the signal is not an error signal (B 2 :NO), the main CPU  241  determines whether a predetermined time (check time) has elapsed from the time of powering on (B 3 ). If the main CPU  241  determines that the check time has elapsed (B 3 : YES), B 9  is executed. On the other hand, if the main CPU  241  determines that the check time has not yet elapsed (B 3 :NO), it is determined whether an initial setting signal is received from each of the gaming terminals  3  (B 4 ). If the main CPU  241  determines that an initial setting signal from any one of the gaming terminals  3  is not received (B 4 : NO), the process returns to B 1 . On the other hand, if it is determined that initial setting signals from all the gaming terminals  3  are received (B 4 : YES), the main CPU  241  checks operations of work memories such as RAM  243  or the like, various sensors, various driving mechanisms, and various decorative illuminations (B 5 ). Then, the main CPU  241  determines whether all the check results are normal (B 6 ) If the main CPU  241  determines the check results contain an error (B 6 : NO), the main CPU  241  executes B 9 . 
     On the other hand in B 6 , if the main CPU  241  determines that all the check results are normal (B 6 : YES), the main CPU  241  outputs an initial setting signal to all the gaming terminals  3  (B 7 ), and causes the shared display  102  to display a demo-screen (B 8 ). Then, the main CPU  241  ends the routine. 
     In A 7 , the main CPU  41  of each of the gaming terminals  3  determines that an initial setting signal is received from the center controller  100  (A 7 : YES), and causes the terminal display  101  to display a demo-screen (A 7 ). The main CPU  41  then ends the routine. 
     [Operation of Gaming Terminal  3 : Terminal Process Routine] After the terminal side initial setting routine of  FIG. 13 , the main CPU  41  of the gaming terminal  3  performs a terminal process routine of  FIG. 14 . Through this terminal process routine, a game is run. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , in the terminal process routine, it is determined whether a coin is bet (C 1 ). In this step, it is determined whether a signal from the 1-BET switch  26 S entered by pressing of the 1-BET button  26  is received. Meanwhile, it is determined whether a signal from the maximum BET switch  27 S entered by pressing of the maximum BET button  27  is received. If no coin is BET (C 1 : NO), C 1  is repeated until a coin is bet. 
     On the other hand, if a coin is bet (C 1 : YES), the credit value stored in the RAM  43  is reduced according to the number of coins bet (C 2 ). When the number of coins bet surpasses the number of coins equivalent to the credit value stored in the RAM  43 , C 2  is repeated without the reduction of the credit value. When the number of coins bet exceeds the maximum number of coins bettable one game ( 50  pieces in this embodiment), the process goes to a later-described step C 3  without the reduction of the credit value. 
     Then, it is determined whether a spin button  23  is pressed (C 3 ). If the spin button  23  is not pressed (C 3 : NO), the process returns to C 1 . Here, if the spin button  23  is not pressed (for example, the spin button  23  is not pressed but a command to end the game is input), the reduction of the credit value in C 2  is canceled. 
     On the other hand, when the spin button  23  is pressed (C 3 : YES), a progressive transmission process is executed (C 4 ). In other words, a progressive signal indicating a part of the game value bet is transmitted to the center controller  100 . 
     Next executed is a symbol determining process (C 5 ). That is, the stop symbol determining program stored in the RAM  43  is run to determine symbols  180  to be arranged in the matrix  156 . Through this, a symbol combination to be formed along the payline L is determined. 
     Then, the scrolling process is executed to scroll symbols  180  on the terminal display  101  (C 6 ). The scrolling process is a process in which the symbols  180  determined in C 5  are stopped (rearranged) in the matrix  156  after scrolling of symbols  180  in a direction indicated by an arrow symbol. 
     Next, the CPU  41  determines whether a shared game is running (C 7 ). If a shared game start signal is received from the center controller  100 , the CPU  41  determines that the shared game is running. If the CPU  41  determines that the shared game is running (C 7 : YES), a terminal symbol arrangement signal is transmitted to the center controller  100  (C 12 ). The terminal symbol arrangement signal indicates symbols  180  rearranged in the arrangement areas  150  and an arrangement of the symbols  180  (terminal symbol arrangement). Next, the main CPU  41  receives a combination symbol arrangement signal from the center controller  100  (C 13 ). The combination symbol arrangement signal indicates a combination symbol arrangement  190  determined by the center controller  100  based on the terminal symbol arrangement signal resulting from C 12 . Next, the main CPU  41  causes the terminal display  101  to scroll the frame. Then, the main CPU  41  stops scrolling the frame so as to present in the frame the combination symbol arrangement  190  received in C 12  (C 14 ). On the other hand in C 7 , if it is determined that no shared game is running (C 7 : NO), C 8  is executed. 
     Next, it is determined whether symbols  180  rearranged in the matrix  156  form a winning combination (C 8 ). If the symbols  180  forms a winning combination (C 8 : YES), a payout process is executed (C 9 ). More specifically, when a winning combination is formed, the number of coins according to the combination is calculated. On the other hand in C 8 , if it is determined that no winning combination is formed (C 8 : NO), C 10  is executed. 
     Next, the main CPU  41  determines whether a progressive award signal is received from the center controller  100  (C 10 ). If the CPU  41  determines that a progressive award signal is received (C 10 :YES), a payout is awarded according to the progressive award signal (C 11 ). The process then returns to C 1 . On the other hand in C 10 , if the CPU  41  determines that no progressive award signal is received (C 10 : NO), the process returns to C 1 . 
     [Operation of Center Controller  100 : Center Process Routine] After the center side initial setting routine of  FIG. 13 , the main CPU  241  of the center controller  100  executes a center process routine of  FIG. 15 . The main CPU  241  performs the center process routine to run a shared game. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , in the center process routine, the main CPU  241  determines whether a progressive signal is received from a gaming terminal  3  (D 1 ). If the main CPU  241  determines that a progressive signal is received (D 1 :YES), a game value indicated by the progressive signal is stored and summed (D 2 ). The process then returns to D 1 . 
     On the other hand in D 1 , if the main CPU  241  determines no progressive signal is received (D 1 : NO), the main CPU  241  determines if the progressive value equals or surpasses a predetermined value (D 3 ). If the main CPU  241  determines that the progressive value is less than the predetermined value (D 3 : NO), the process returns to D 1 . On the other hand, if the main CPU  241  determines that the progressive value equals or surpasses the predetermined value (D 3 : YES), a shared game start signal is output to each of the gaming terminals  3  (D 4 ) Next, the main CPU  241  causes the shared display  102  to start scrolling symbols  180  (D 5 ). Next, a terminal symbol arrangement signal is received from each of the gaming terminals  3  (D 6 ). Based on the terminal symbol arrangement signal, a combination symbol arrangement  190  is determined. The combination symbol arrangement  190  thus determined is sent back to the gaming terminals  3  (D 7 ). 
     Next, the main CPU  241  combines at least two combination symbol arrangements  190  determined in D 7 , and tries to determine symbols  180  and an arrangement of the symbols  180  to be arranged in the arrangement areas  250  of the shared display  102  (D 8 ). If an arrangement is not determined (D 8 : NO), the process returns to D 6 . On the other hand, if an arrangement is determined (D 8 : YES), the scrolling of the symbols  180  on the shared display  102  is stopped to present the arrangement determined (D 9 ). 
     Then, the main CPU  241  determines whether the symbols  180  arranged on the shared display  102  forms a winning combination (D 10 ). If the main CPU  241  determines that no winning combination is formed (D 10 : NO), the process returns to D 1 . On the other hand, if the main CPU  241  determines that a winning combination is formed (D 10 :YES), a progressive award process for awarding a progressive payout is executed to transmit a progressive award signal to a corresponding gaming terminal  3  (D 11 ). Then, a progressive value consumed is subtracted from the value stored in RAM  243  (D 12 ), and the process returns to D 1 . 
     As is already mentioned, a payout awarded according to a relation among the symbols  180  rearranged on the shared display  102  realizes a new entertainment characteristic which raises player&#39;s expectation for another payout in addition to the one awarded as a result of the game run in the gaming terminal. 
     Further, as is already mentioned, a single game involving a plurality of gaming terminals is created by rearranging, on the shared display  102 , symbols  180  identical to those in one symbol arrangement  190  of one gaming terminal  3  in combination with symbols  180  identical to those in another symbol arrangement  190  of another gaming terminal  3 . This realizes a new entertainment characteristic which gives the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” to participating players. 
     Further, as is already mentioned, the symbols  180  identical to those in the one symbol arrangement  190  and the symbols  180  identical to those in the other symbol arrangement  190  are combined and rearranged, on the row or column basis, on the shared display  102 . A player therefore is able to easily understand how rearranged symbols on the terminal displays  101  are combined and rearranged on the shared display  102 . This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players. 
     On the shared display are rearranged symbols  180  identical to those in one symbol arrangement  190  of one gaming terminal  3  and symbols  180  identical to those in another symbol arrangement  190  of another gaming terminal  3 . The positions of the one symbol arrangement  190  of one gaming terminal  3  and the other symbol arrangement  190  of the other gaming terminal  3  along the x coordinate axis or y coordinate axis are different from each other. A player therefore is able to easily understand how rearranged symbols on the terminal displays  101  are combined and rearranged on the shared display  102 . This characteristic enhances the feelings of “unity” and “sharing” among the players. 
     Note that the present embodiment deals with a case where the center controller  100  determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be the terminal controller  110  which determines a combination symbol arrangement based on a terminal symbol arrangement. 
     Note further that the number of gaming terminals  3  is three in the present embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, provided that at least two gaming terminals  3  are provided. 
     The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove mainly focused on characteristics thereof for the purpose of easier understanding; however, the scope of the present invention shall be construed as broadly as possible, encompassing various forms of other possible embodiments, and therefore the present invention shall not be limited to the above description. Further, the terms and phraseology used in the present specification are adopted solely to provide specific illustration of the present invention, and in no case should the scope of the present invention be limited by such terms and phraseology. Further, it will be obvious for those skilled in the art that the other structures, systems, methods or the like are possible, within the spirit of the invention described in the present specification. The description of claims therefore shall encompass structures equivalent to the present invention, unless otherwise such structures are regarded as to depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the abstract is provided to allow, through a simple investigation, quick analysis of the technical features and essences of the present invention by an intellectual property office, a general public institution, or one skilled in the art who is not fully familiarized with patent and legal or professional terminology. It is therefore not an intention of the abstract to limit the scope of the present invention which shall be construed on the basis of the description of the claims. To fully understand the object and effects of the present invention, it is strongly encouraged to sufficiently refer to disclosures of documents already made available. 
     The detailed description of the present invention provided hereinabove includes a process executed on a computer or computer network. The above descriptions and expressions are provided to allow the one skilled in the art to most efficiently understand the present invention. A process performed in or by respective steps yielding one result or blocks with a predetermined processing function described in the present specification shall be understood as a process with no self-contradiction. Further, the electrical or magnetic signal is transmitted/received and written in the respective steps or blocks. It should be noted that such a signal is expressed in the form of bit, value, symbol, text, terms, number, or the like solely for the sake of convenience. Although the present specification occasionally personifies the processes performed in the steps or blocks, these processes are essentially executed by various devices. Further, the other structures necessary for the steps or blocks are obvious from the above descriptions.