# US 2019/0318569 A1 · Gaming machine, control method for machine, and program for gaming machine

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- Number: US 2019/0318569 A1
- Document ID: US20190318569A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/953,171
- Filed: 2018-04-13
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-13
- Assignees: Konami Gaming, Inc.
- Applicants: Konami Gaming, Inc.
- Inventors: Kenichi Kamano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318569A1

## CPC

- G07F 17/3213: {Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members}
- G07F 17/3227: {Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters}
- G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes}
- G07F 17/3267: {Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games}
- G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit programmed to display a primary game screen including a plurality of virtual reels, receive a signal indicating a wager being placed on the primary game, and initiate a bonus feature selection game by displaying a bonus feature selection game screen including a plurality of bonus features. The processor receives a signal indicating one or more wagers being placed on the bonus feature game by the player, and responsive to each wager, randomly selects a bonus feature from the plurality of bonus features and modifies a bonus feature image to indicate a number of times the corresponding bonus feature has been randomly selected. The processor receives a signal to terminate the bonus feature game and initiates an instance of the primary game using the selected bonus features.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gaming machine, comprising:
an operation unit configured to receive an operation input of a player;
a display unit configured to display game screens including computer generated graphics;
a memory device storing a game execution program including computer instructions for generating a primary game including a plurality of virtual reels displaying a plurality of game symbols and a bonus feature selection game including a plurality of bonus features associated with the primary game; and
a game control unit for executing the game, the game control unit including a processor programmed to:
display a primary game screen on the display unit including the plurality of virtual reels and a bonus feature game icon;
receive a signal from the operation unit indicating a wager being placed on the primary game by the player and responsively initiate the bonus feature selection game by displaying a bonus feature selection game screen on the display unit including a plurality of bonus feature images associated with each of the plurality of bonus features;
receive a signal from the operation unit indicating one or more wagers being placed on the bonus feature game by the player;
responsive to receiving each signal indicating a wager being placed by the player:
randomly select a bonus feature from the plurality of bonus features; and
modify a bonus feature image associated with the selected bonus feature to indicate a number of times the corresponding bonus feature has been randomly selected; and
responsive to receiving a signal from the operation unit indicating a request to terminate the bonus feature game by the player:
terminate the bonus feature game;
initiate an instance of the primary game using the selected bonus features; and
provide a primary game award to the player based on an outcome of the instance of the primary game and adjust a credit balance associated with the player based on the primary game award.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to:
receive a signal from the operation unit indicating a request to sell a previously selected bonus feature by the player; and
responsive to receiving the signal indicating a request to sell a previously selected bonus feature:
determine a credit value of the previously selected bonus feature associated with the request to sell; and
adjust the credit balance associated with the player based on the credit value of the previously selected bonus feature associated with the request to sell.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to determine the credit value of the previously selected bonus feature based on a return to player value and a selection probability associated with the previously selected bonus feature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the processor is programmed to adjust the credit balance associated with the player based on the credit value of the previously selected bonus feature after providing the primary game award to the player.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the processor is programmed to:
initiate the bonus feature selection game including:
generate a bonus feature data table including data records associated with the plurality of bonus features, each data record being associated with a corresponding bonus feature and including a predefined credit value and a feature counter indicating a number of times the corresponding bonus feature has been selected during the bonus feature game; and
responsive to randomly selecting a bonus feature, modify the bonus feature data table to increment a corresponding feature counter associated with the selected bonus feature; and
initiate the primary game using the modified bonus feature data table, wherein the processor uses the feature counters to determine a number of times each of the bonus features are used during the primary game.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the processor is programmed to:
responsive to receiving the signal indicating the request to sell a previously selected bonus feature:
modify the bonus feature data table to decrease a corresponding feature counter associated with the previously selected bonus feature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the randomly selected bonus features includes a wild symbol bonus feature, the processor is programmed to:
initiate the instance of primary game using the wild symbol bonus feature by:
randomly selecting a stop position for each of the plurality of virtual reels;
spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels based on a corresponding randomly selected stop position, wherein the plurality of virtual reels are displayed in a grid including a plurality of cells, each cell adapted to display a symbol of a corresponding virtual reel;
randomly selecting a cell from the plurality of cells;
populating the selected cell with a wild symbol; and
evaluating the outcome of the instance of the primary game including the wild symbol and provide the primary game award based on the outcome of the primary game including the wild symbol.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the randomly selected bonus features includes a multiplier bonus feature, the processor is programmed to:
initiate the instance of primary game using the multiplier bonus feature by:
randomly selecting a stop position for each of the plurality of virtual reels;
spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels based on a corresponding randomly selected stop position;
determining an initial award value based on the symbols being displayed with the virtual reels stopped;
determining a multiplier value associated with the multiplier bonus feature; and
determining the primary game award by multiplying the initial award value by the multiplier value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the randomly selected bonus features includes a free game feature, the processor is programmed to:
initiate an instance of primary game using the free game feature by:
randomly generating an outcome of the primary game, spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels based on the randomly generated outcome, and providing the primary award based on the randomly generated outcome;
determining a number of free games associated with the free game feature; and
for each of the number of free games:
randomly generating an outcome of a corresponding free game;
spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels to display the randomly generated outcome of the corresponding free game; and
provide an award based on the randomly generated outcome of the corresponding free game.

### Claim 10

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 primary game screen including computer-generated graphics displaying a primary game on a display unit, the primary game screen including a plurality of virtual reels and a bonus feature game icon;
receive a signal from an operation unit indicating a wager being placed on the primary game by the player and responsively initiate a bonus feature selection game by displaying a bonus feature selection game screen on the display unit including a plurality of bonus feature images associated with a plurality of bonus features;
receive a signal from the operation unit indicating one or more wagers being placed on the bonus feature game by the player;
responsive to receiving each signal indicating a wager being placed by the player:
randomly select a bonus feature from the plurality of bonus features; and
modify a bonus feature image associated with the selected bonus feature to indicate a number of times the corresponding bonus feature has been randomly selected; and
responsive to receiving a signal from the operation unit indicating a request to terminate the bonus feature game by the player:
terminate the bonus feature game;
initiate an instance of the primary game using the selected bonus features; and
provide a primary game award to the player based on an outcome of the instance of the primary game and adjust a credit balance associated with the player based on the primary game award.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
receive a signal from the operation unit indicating a request to sell a previously selected bonus feature by the player; and
responsive to receiving the signal indicating a request to sell a previously selected bonus feature:
determine a credit value of the previously selected bonus feature associated with the request to sell; and
adjust the credit balance associated with the player based on the credit value of the previously selected bonus feature associated with the request to sell.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
determine the credit value of the previously selected bonus feature based on a return to player value and a selection probability associated with the previously selected bonus feature.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
adjust the credit balance associated with the player based on the credit value of the previously selected bonus feature after providing the primary game award to the player.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
initiate the bonus feature selection game including:
generate a bonus feature data table including data records associated with the plurality of bonus features, each data record being associated with a corresponding bonus feature and including a predefined credit value and a feature counter indicating a number of times the corresponding bonus feature has been selected during the bonus feature game; and
responsive to randomly selecting a bonus feature, modify the bonus feature data table to increment a corresponding feature counter associated with the selected bonus feature; and
initiate the primary game using the modified bonus feature data table, wherein the processor uses the feature counters to determine a number of times each of the bonus features are used during the primary game.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
responsive to receiving the signal indicating the request to sell a previously selected bonus feature:
modify the bonus feature data table to decrease a corresponding feature counter associated with the previously selected bonus feature.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein at least one of the randomly selected bonus features includes a wild symbol bonus feature, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
initiate the instance of primary game using the wild symbol bonus feature by:
randomly selecting a stop position for each of the plurality of virtual reels;
spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels based on a corresponding randomly selected stop position, wherein the plurality of virtual reels are displayed in a grid including a plurality of cells, each cell adapted to display a symbol of a corresponding virtual reel;
randomly selecting a cell from the plurality of cells;
populating the selected cell with a wild symbol; and
evaluating the outcome of the instance of the primary game including the wild symbol and provide the primary game award based on the outcome of the primary game including the wild symbol.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein at least one of the randomly selected bonus features includes a multiplier bonus feature, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
initiate the instance of primary game using the multiplier bonus feature by:
randomly selecting a stop position for each of the plurality of virtual reels;
spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels based on a corresponding randomly selected stop position;
determining an initial award value based on the symbols being displayed with the virtual reels stopped;
determining a multiplier value associated with the multiplier bonus feature; and
determining the primary game award by multiplying the initial award value by the multiplier value.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the randomly selected bonus features includes a free game feature, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
initiate an instance of primary game using the free game feature by:
randomly generating an outcome of the primary game, spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels based on the randomly generated outcome, and providing the primary award based on the randomly generated outcome;
determining a number of free games associated with the free game feature; and
for each of the number of free games:
randomly generating an outcome of a corresponding free game;
spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels to display the randomly generated outcome of the corresponding free game; and
provide an award based on the randomly generated outcome of the corresponding free game.

### Claim 19

A mobile computing device, comprising:
a touch display unit configured to display game screens using computer generated graphics;
a memory device storing a game execution program including computer instructions for generating a primary game including a plurality of virtual reels displaying a plurality of game symbols and a bonus feature selection game including a plurality of bonus features associated with the primary game; and
a processor programmed to:
display a primary game screen on the touch display unit including the plurality of virtual reels and a bonus feature game icon;
receive a signal from the touch display unit indicating a wager being placed on the primary game by the player and responsively initiate the bonus feature selection game by displaying a bonus feature selection game screen on the display unit including a plurality of bonus feature images associated with each of the plurality of bonus features;
receive a signal from the touch display unit indicating one or more wagers being placed on the bonus feature game by the player;
responsive to receiving each signal indicating a wager being placed by the player:
randomly select a bonus feature from the plurality of bonus features; and
modify a bonus feature image associated with the selected bonus feature to indicate a number of times the corresponding bonus feature has been randomly selected; and
responsive to receiving a signal from the touch display unit indicating a request to terminate the bonus feature game by the player:
terminate the bonus feature game;
initiate an instance of the primary game using the selected bonus features; and
provide a primary game award to the player based on an outcome of the instance of the primary game and adjust a credit balance associated with the player based on the primary game award.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The mobile computing device of claim 19, wherein the processor is programmed to:
receive a signal from the touch display unit indicating a request to sell a previously selected bonus feature by the player; and
responsive to receiving the signal indicating a request to sell a previously selected bonus feature:
determine a credit value of the previously selected bonus feature associated with the request to sell; and
adjust the credit balance associated with the player based on the credit value of the previously selected bonus feature associated with the request to sell.