Gaming machine executing free game shifted from normal game and method of controlling same

A method of controlling a gaming machine executing a normal game and a free game shifted from the normal game,

• the gaming machine including:
• a storage configured to store a normal game video reel group which is used in the normal game and free game video reel groups which are different from one another in layout of symbols and are used in the free game;
• a display device configured to display a game result by rearranging the normal game video reel group and the free game video reel groups;
• an input device configured to receive an input from a player;
• and
• a controller,
• under the control by the controller, the method comprising the steps of:
• (2A) as the normal game, randomly determining which symbols laid out on the normal game video reel group are to be rearranged on the display device;
• (2B) rearranging the symbols determined in the step (2A) on the display device and awarding a benefit in accordance with a combination of the rearranged symbols;
• (2C) when the awarded benefit is a right to execute the free game, randomly associating the free game video reel groups with options displayed on the display device, respectively;
• (2D) by the input device, receiving an input indicating which one of the options displayed on the display device is selected;
• (2E) determining the video reel group associated with the option selected by the input device as a video reel group used in the free game;
• (2F) by using the video reel group determined in the step (2E), randomly determining, as the free game, which symbols laid out on the free game video reel group are to be rearranged on the display device, rearranging the determined symbols on the display device, and awarding a benefit of the free game in accordance with a combination of the rearranged symbols;
• (2G) after repeating the step (2F) for a predetermined number of times, randomly determining whether to award the right to execute the free game as the benefit again;
• (2H) when it is determined in the step (2G) that the right to execute the free game is awarded as the benefit, repeating the steps (2C) to (2G);
• and
• (2I) when it is determined in the step (2G) that the right to execute the free game is not awarded as the benefit, terminating the free game.

A gaming machine executing a normal game and a free game shifted from the normal game,

• the gaming machine comprising:
• a storage configured to store a normal game video reel group which is used in the normal game and free game video reel groups which are different from one another in layout of symbols and are used in the free game;
• a display device configured to display a game result by rearranging the normal game video reel group and the free game video reel groups;
• an input device configured to receive an input from a player;
• and
• a controller,
• the controller being programmed to execute the processes of:
• (3A) as the normal game, randomly determining which symbols laid out on the normal game video reel group are to be rearranged on the display device;
• (3B) rearranging the symbols determined in the process (3A) on the display device and awarding a benefit in accordance with a combination of the rearranged symbols;
• (3C) when the awarded benefit is a right to execute the free game, selecting one of the free game video reel groups as a video reel group used in the free game, by automatic random determination;
• (3D) by using the video reel group selected in the process (3C), randomly determining, as the free game, which symbols laid out on the free game video reel group are to be rearranged on the display device, rearranging the determined symbols on the display device, and awarding a benefit of the free game in accordance with a combination of the rearranged symbols;
• (3E) after repeating the process (3D) for a predetermined number of times, randomly determining whether to award the right to execute the free game as the benefit again;
• (3F) when it is determined in the process (3E) that the right to execute the free game is awarded as the benefit, repeating the processes (3C) to (3E);
• and
• (3G) when it is determined in the process (3E) that the right to execute the free game is not awarded as the benefit, terminating the free game.

A gaming machine comprising:

• a symbol display device configured to display a game result by rearranging symbols;
• and
• a controller,
• the controller being programmed to execute the processes of:
• (A1) randomly determining the symbols to be rearranged on the symbol display device;
• (A2) rearranging the symbols determined in the process (A1) on the symbol display device, and determining whether the game result is a win based on a combination of positions of the rearranged symbols;
• (A3) when it is determined in the process (A2) that the game result is the win, setting the combination of the positions of the rearranged symbols achieving the win as a winning line region;
• and
• (A4) relatively decreasing the brightness of a symbol provided outside the winning line region as compared to the brightness of the symbols rearranged in the winning line region in the process (A3).

A method of controlling a gaming machine including a symbol display device configured to display a game result by rearranging symbols, comprising the steps of:

• (A1) randomly determining the symbols to be rearranged on the symbol display device;
• (A2) rearranging the symbols determined in the step (A1) on the symbol display device, and determining whether the game result is a win based on a combination of positions of the rearranged symbols;
• (A3) when it is determined in the step (A2) that the game result is the win, setting the combination of the positions of the rearranged symbols achieving the win as a winning line region;
• and
• (A4) relatively decreasing the brightness of a symbol provided outside the winning line region as compared to the brightness of the symbols rearranged in the winning line region in the step (A3).