Patent Publication Number: US-2009233676-A1

Title: Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application relates to, and claims the benefit of priority from an Australian Patent Application filed on Mar. 14, 2008, entitled “A Method of Gaming, A Gaming System, and a Game Controller,” with inventor William George Cormack, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to a method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In current gaming machines a player is required to specify the amount bet per line and the number of play lines the player wants to play, or in some games, the number of reels the player wants to play. 
     While such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming comprising: 
     receiving an initiate play instruction from a player selected from a plurality of initiate play instructions; 
     generating a game outcome in response to receipt of the initiate play instruction, generation of the game outcome including selecting a plurality of symbols for display in a set of display positions corresponding to a plurality of spinning reels set side by side; and 
     evaluating the game outcome by evaluating the symbols at least two different combinations of display positions in accordance with at least one game rule, each combination consisting of one display position from each reel and the same evaluation being performed irrespective of the received initiate play instruction. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises determining whether the symbols at one or more of the at least two different combinations of symbol positions correspond to a winning outcome entitling the player to an award. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises determining whether the symbols at one or more of the at least two different combinations of symbol positions correspond to a feature game trigger. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises evaluating the symbols at the display positions to determine whether a plurality of symbols corresponds to a scattered winning outcome entitling the player to an award. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises evaluating the symbols at the display positions to determine whether a plurality of symbols corresponds to a feature game trigger. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting any triggered feature game and evaluating the feature game to determine whether the feature game corresponds to one or more winning outcomes entitling the player to an award. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises making an award to which the player has become entitled. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises allowing the player to gamble any award prior to making the award and determining whether to modify the award based on the outcome of the gamble. 
     In an embodiment, individual ones of the initiate play instructions vary from other initiate play instructions solely by a bet amount. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises determining the quantum of each award to which the player becomes entitled based on the initiate play instruction. 
     In an embodiment, each one of the at least two combinations of display positions corresponds to a win line. 
     In an embodiment, each one of the at least two combinations of display positions is derived by combining selected display positions of a plurality of reels. 
     In an embodiment, the selected display positions are derived from selected reels. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises comprising evaluating all symbol combinations available for the game. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises evaluating all the win lines. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises evaluating all symbol combinations derived from selection of all the reels. 
     In an embodiment, the method comprises comprising an operator setting a number of combinations of symbols to be evaluated. 
     In a second aspect, the invention provides a game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to: 
     receive an initiate play instruction from a player selected from a plurality of initiate play instructions; 
     generate a game outcome in response to receipt of the initiate play instruction, generation of the game outcome including selecting a plurality of symbols for display in a set of display positions corresponding to a plurality of spinning reels set side by side; and 
     evaluate the game outcome by evaluating the symbols at least two different combinations of display positions in accordance with at least one game rule, each combination consisting of one display position from each reel and the same evaluation being performed irrespective of the received initiate play instruction. 
     In an embodiment, the game controller comprises an outcome generator for generating the game outcome. 
     In an embodiment, the game controller comprises an outcome evaluator for evaluating the game outcome. 
     In an embodiment, the game controller is constituted, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. 
     In a third aspect, the invention provides gaming system comprising:
         a player interface comprising:
           a display; and   a game play mechanism operable by the player to select one initiate play instruction from a plurality of possible initiate play instructions; and   
           a game controller arranged to:
           receive the initiate play instruction;   generate a game outcome in response to receipt of the initiate play instruction, generation of the game outcome including selecting a plurality of symbols for display on the display in a set of display positions corresponding to a plurality of spinning reels set side by side; and   evaluate the game outcome by evaluating the symbols at least two different combinations of display positions in accordance with at least one game rule, each combination consisting of one display position from each reel and the same evaluation being performed irrespective of the received initiate play instruction.   
               

     In an embodiment, the gaming system comprises an operator interface operable to specify a number of different combinations of display positions to be evaluated. 
     In a fourth aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed implements the above method. 
     In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a computer readable medium comprising the above program code. 
     In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a data signal comprising the above program code. 
     In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a method of transmitting or receiving the above program code. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       One or more exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the core components of a gaming system; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a stand alone gaming machine; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the functional components of a gaming machine; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the functional components of a memory; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a network gaming system; 
         FIG. 6  is a further block diagram of a gaming system; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary game play mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a game wherein the same plurality of combinations of symbol positions are evaluated irrespective of the bet placed by the player. As a result, in embodiments where the game involves win lines, the same number of win lines is always evaluated irrespective of the bet. 
     General Construction of Gaming System 
     The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine. 
     In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player. 
     However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thick client” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. 
     Irrespective of the form, the gaming system comprises several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface  50  and a game controller  60  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter instructions and play the game. 
     Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism  52  to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays  54 , a game play mechanism  56  that enables a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place bets), and one or more speakers  58 . 
     The game controller  60  is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor  62  that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory  64  but can also be hardwired. Herein the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. 
     A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The gaming machine  10  includes a console  12  having a display  14  on which are displayed representations of a game  16  that can be played by a player. A mid-trim  20  of the gaming machine  10  houses a bank of buttons  22  for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim  20  also houses a credit input mechanism  24  which in this example includes a coin input chute  24 A and a bill collector  24 B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device. 
     A top box  26  may carry artwork  28 , including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel  29  of the console  12 . A coin tray  30  is mounted beneath the front panel  29  for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine  10 . 
     The display  14  shown in  FIG. 2  is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display  14  may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box  26  may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display  14 , or of a different type. 
       FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine of  FIG. 2 . 
     The gaming machine  100  includes a game controller  101  having a processor  102 . Instructions and data to control operation of the processor  102  are stored in a memory  103 , which is in data communication with the processor  102 . Typically, the gaming machine  100  will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory  103 . 
     The gaming machine has hardware meters  104  for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface  105  for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine  100 . The input/output interface  105  and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module  113  generates random numbers for use by the processor  102 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , a player interface  120  includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller  101  comprise one or more displays  106 , a touch screen and/or buttons  107 , a card and/or ticket reader  108 , a printer  109 , a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism  110  and a coin output mechanism  111 . Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine  100 , or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation. 
     In addition, the gaming machine  100  may include a communications interface, for example a network card  112 . The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database. 
       FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory  103 . The memory  103  includes RAM  103 A, EPROM  103 B and a mass storage device  103 C. The RAM  103 A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor  102  and related data. The EPROM  103 B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device  103 C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor  102  using protected code from the EPROM  103 B or elsewhere. 
     It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine  100  to be distributed, for example input/output devices  106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111  to be provided remotely from the game controller  101 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a gaming system  200  in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system  200  includes a network  201 , which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines  202 , shown arranged in three banks  203  of two gaming machines  202  in  FIG. 5 , are connected to the network  201 . The gaming machines  202  provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines  10 , 100  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks  203  of two gaming machines are illustrated in  FIG. 5 , banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged. 
     One or more displays  204  may also be connected to the network  201 . For example, the displays  204  may be associated with one or more banks  203  of gaming machines. The displays  204  may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines  202 , and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material. 
     In a thick client embodiment, game server  205  implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine  202  and the gaming machine  202  implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server  206  may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices  202  in a database  206 A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server  207  will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server  212  may also be provided. 
     In a thin client embodiment, game server  205  implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine  202  and the gaming machine  202  essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server  205  provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components. 
     Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network  200 , including for example a gaming floor management server  208 , and a licensing server  209  to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal  210  is provided to allow an administrator to run the network  201  and the devices connected to the network. 
     The gaming system  200  may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall  211 . 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server  205  could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals. 
     Further Detail of Gaming System 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the player operates game play mechanism  56  to input an initiate play instruction selected from one of a plurality of available initiate play instructions. As described above, the game play mechanism can be in the form of a touch screen and/or buttons. In the embodiment, irrespective of the initiate play instruction that is entered the outcome evaluator  623  evaluates the same plurality of combinations of display positions in accordance with at least one game rule  642 . 
     In one embodiment, the outcome evaluator  623  will evaluate a plurality of win lines specified by game rule data  641 .  FIG. 8  shows an example of a game play mechanism  56  for such an embodiment. In this example, there are 25 win lines evaluated. A player can choose between four different initiate play instructions by pressing (or touching in a touch screen embodiment) one of buttons  561 , 562 , 563 , 564 . Button  561  corresponds to a bet of 25 credits, button  562  corresponds to a bet of 50 credits and button  563  corresponds to a bet of 250 credits. “Play Again” button  564  may be employed to initiate play using the previously placed bet again. 
     The outcome generator  622  operates in response to the player&#39;s operation of game play mechanism  56  to generate a game outcome which will then be evaluated by outcome evaluator  623 . The outcome generator forms the game outcome by employing random number generator  621  to randomly select symbols from a set of symbols specified by symbol data  641 . The selected symbols are advised to the display controller  625  which causes them to be displayed on display  54  at a set of display positions. Outcome generator  622  selects symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels. Thus, the symbol sets  641  specify a sequence of symbols for each reel such that the outcome generator  622  can, in one example, select symbols for display by selecting a stopping position in the sequence. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display  54 . To obtain a desired return to player, a probability table having weighted outcomes is typically employed when selecting the symbols. 
     Outcome evaluator  623  evaluates each of the plurality of win lines to determine which, if any, of the win lines corresponds to a winning combination specified in the prize data  642 A based on game rules. For example, the game rules may specify that all combinations are evaluated left to right or can be evaluated right to left or both. Depending on the specific rules of the game implemented by the embodiment, the outcome evaluator may evaluate the win lines to determine whether they provide a trigger for a feature (or secondary) game. 
     The outcome evaluator  623  may also make additional evaluations known in the art, for example “scatters” where a player is awarded a prize or a feature game for a designated number of symbols, irrespective of whether they are on a win line. By way of example, the feature game may be a series of free games, in which case outcome evaluator  623  triggers outcome generator  622  to carry out a series of free games and outcome evaluator  623  evaluates each of these games to determine any awards to be made. Prize awarder  624  determines the quantum of the award to be made from the initiate play instruction (e.g. based on the size of the bet) and the prizes are accumulated to a win meter stored as meter data  643 . Once all outcomes have been generated and a further game play instruction is required before any further play can occur, credits are transferred to a credit meter in meter data  643 . In embodiments, where a gamble feature is offered it may be possible, for example to seek to double the accumulated win at the risk of losing it. In such embodiments, it may be necessary for a player to operate the game play mechanism  56  to indicate they want to take an accumulated win or to initiate a further play of the game before credits are transferred from the win meter to the credit meter. 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that win lines are formed by a combination of displayed symbol positions, one from each reel, the symbol positions being located relative to one another such that they form a line. Examples of win lines are given in Australian patent 684195 owned by Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd. 
       FIG. 6  shows an operator interface  66  which is deployed in some embodiments to enable the operator of the venue at which the game can be played to configure the number of lines which constitute the plurality of win lines. In this example, the operator can select between 4 options,  661 , 662 , 663 , 664  corresponding to different numbers of a plurality of win lines offerable under the game rules  642 . For example, 6, 9, 15 or a maximum of 25 lines. In such embodiments, the game rules  641  may default to the maximum number of lines offerable under the game rules. In such embodiments, it may be desirable for the game play mechanism to be provided by touch screen buttons to make it easy to change the text displayed to each player on the buttons. 
     In the above description it will be appreciated that the various of the above functional modules are implemented by processor  62  executing code stored in memory  64 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments are possible including dedicated circuits. 
     Persons skilled in the art, will appreciate that in other embodiments, the outcome evaluator may evaluate symbol combinations in a different way. For example, in the manner in which outcomes are evaluated in games marketed under the trade name “Reel Power” by Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,102. In such games symbol combinations are made by forming combinations from each selected reel by combining it with all the selected positions of other reels. In other words, all symbol positions of a selected reel can be used to form symbol combinations with designated, symbol display positions of other reels. This means that in embodiments where there are three symbols displayed for each reel and five reels, there are 243 different symbol combinations (35) to be evaluated by the outcome evaluator (also known as “ways” to win). Thus in this embodiment, the game rules  641  may specify for example the evaluation of 2, 3, 4 or 5 reels irrespective of the game play instruction. This may be configurable by the operator in the manner described above. 
     The method  700  is summarised in  FIG. 7  and involves receiving  710  an initiate game play instruction, generating  720  a game outcome, and evaluating  730  plural different combination of symbol positions irrespective of the initiate play instruction. 
     Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of the embodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory  103 ) or as a data signal (for example, by downloading it from a server which results in the program code being transmitted from the server to a gaming machine or computer which receives it). 
     It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 
     In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.