US 10,121,329 B2Granted

Gaming machine, method and program for providing a game

AssigneeKonami Gaming, Inc.

InventorDaisuke Nakamura

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Abstract

To provide a gaming machine that can provide a new type of game that maintains or improves the interest of a player, and a method and program for providing a game. In the gaming machine 1, by removing symbols of a particular type and moving a following symbol, the ratio of symbols of types other than the particular type becomes higher in the symbol array formed on the display unit 27, and it is easier for the symbol array to configure a winning combination. Because the chance of winning is higher after the particular type of symbol is removed in this manner, it is possible to provide a new type of game where the interest of the player can be maintained or improved after the symbols are removed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media, having computer executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by a processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

display a game screen using computer generated images on a display unit, the game screen including a grid having a plurality of display elements in a predetermined arrangement forming a plurality of rows and columns;
accept operation by a player via an operation unit to initiate a game;
generate a plurality of virtual reels for use with the game, wherein each column is associated with a respective virtual reel, each virtual reel having an associated virtual reel strip, each virtual reel strip having a plurality of symbols disposed thereon, the plurality of symbols including a first set of symbols having a first ranking and a second set of symbols having a second ranking that is different from the first ranking;
and
initiate an instance of the game including:
randomly determine a first outcome of the instance of the game, rotate and stop the plurality of virtual reels to display the first outcome including a symbol displayed in each display element, and provide a first award as a function of the first outcome;
determine a second outcome of the instance of the game by executing a set of secondary steps including:
(a) identifying each symbol from the first set of symbols being displayed within the first outcome;
(b) for each identified symbol from the first set of symbols, moving a corresponding following symbol from the respective virtual reel into an associated display element;
and
(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) upon identifying another symbol from the first set of symbols appearing on the game screen after each display element has been filled;
and
provide a second award as a function of the second outcome.

10 more elements

A gaming machine, comprising:

an operation unit that accepts operation by a player to initiate a game;
a display unit coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a game screen using computer generated images;
and
a control unit coupled to the operation unit and the display unit, including a processor programmed to:
display, on the display unit, the game screen including a grid having a plurality of display elements in a predetermined arrangement forming a plurality of rows and columns;
generate a plurality of virtual reels for use with the game, wherein each column is associated with a respective virtual reel, each virtual reel having an associated virtual reel strip, each virtual reel strip having a plurality of symbols disposed thereon, the plurality of symbols including a first set of symbols having a first ranking and a second set of symbols having a second ranking that is different from the first ranking;
and
initiate an instance of the game including:
randomly determine a first outcome of the instance of the game, rotate and stop the plurality of virtual reels to display the first outcome including a symbol displayed in each display element, and provide a first award as a function of the first outcome;
determine a second outcome of the instance of the game by executing a set of secondary steps including:
(a) identifying each symbol from the first set of symbols being displayed within the first outcome;
(b) for each identified symbol from the first set of symbols, moving a corresponding following symbol from the respective virtual reel into an associated display element;
and
(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) upon identifying another symbol from the first set of symbols appearing on the game screen after each display element has been filled;
and
provide a second award as a function of the second outcome.

13 more elements

A method of operating a gaming machine using computer generated images to automatically display a sequence on a display unit on the gaming machine, the gaming machine including an operation unit, the display unit, and a control unit, the operation unit for accepting operation by a player;

the display unit for displaying a game screen, the control unit connected to the operation unit and the display unit, the method including the steps of:
receiving a signal from the player via the operation device to initiate a game;
displaying, on the display device, the game screen including a grid having a plurality of display elements in a predetermined arrangement forming a plurality of rows and columns;
generating a plurality of virtual reels for use with the game, wherein each column is associated with a respective virtual reel, each virtual reel having an associated virtual reel strip, each virtual reel strip having a plurality of symbols disposed thereon, the plurality of symbols including a first set of symbols having a first ranking and a second set of symbols having a second ranking, wherein the first ranking is lower than the second ranking;
and
initiating an instance of the game, the instance of the game including a first outcome and a second outcome, the instance of the game including:
randomly determining the first outcome of the instance of the game, rotating and stopping the plurality of virtual reels to display the first outcome including a symbol displayed in each display element, and providing a first award as a function of the first outcome;
determining the second outcome by executing a set of secondary steps including:
(a) identifying each symbol from the first set of symbols being displayed within the first outcome;
(b) for each identified symbol from the first set of symbols, moving a corresponding following symbol from the respective virtual reel into an associated display element;
and
(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) upon identifying another symbol from the first set of symbols appearing on the game screen after each display element has been filled;
and
providing a second award as a function of the second outcome.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/884,658Filed 31 Jan 2018 · continuation
Priority: JP 2014-19380724 Sep 2014
Published: US 2018/0151032 A131 May 2018
Granted: 6 Nov 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

G07F 17/34
For games, toys, sports, or amusements: depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
G07F 17/3244
For games, toys, sports, or amusements: payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus

Family

Application14/851,777Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Sep 2015
US 2018/0151032 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 May 2018
US 9,922,504 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0086428 A1Published application
US 10,121,329 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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