US 6,471,588 B2Granted

Game machine and method that adjusts stop instructions of reels with random numbers

AssigneeAruze Corp.

InventorYoshikazu Sakamoto

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Abstract

A game machine comprises a plurality of cylindrical reels each provided with various kinds of symbols on its outer surface. The reels are axially aligned and independently rotatable about an axis in first and second directions. Part of symbols of the respective reels are displayed on a window having a predetermined winning line crossing over the symbol of the respective reels to define the symbols on the winning line as a symbol combination The reels start rotating in the first direction in response to an operation of a start lever. The reels independently stop rotating in response to respective operations of stop buttons to bring the symbol of the corresponding reel to a standstill on the winning line to obtain the symbol combination after all reels are stopped rotating. The symbols are shifted in the first and second directions within a predetermined waiting time to change the symbol combination.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A game machine for allowing a player to play a game comprising:

displaying means capable of displaying a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements each having various kinds of symbols arranged in a predetermined order;
scrolling means for allowing said displaying means to display part of said symbols of said respective symbol arrangements on a window having a predetermined winning line crossing over said symbol of said respective symbol arrangements to define said symbols positioned on said winning line as a symbol combination and to scroll said symbols of said symbol arrangements within said window in two different predetermined scroll directions including first and second scroll directions;
scroll starting means for allowing said scrolling means to start to scroll said symbols of said symbol arrangements within said window in said first scroll direction in response to a predetermined start instruction;
receiving means for receiving a plurality of stop instructions corresponding to said plurality of symbol arrangements;
random number generating means for generating a random number;
stop instruction adjusting means for adjusting said plurality of stop instructions received by receiving means, on the basis of the random number generated by said random number generating means;
scroll stopping means for allowing said scrolling means to independently stop scrolling said symbols of said symbol arrangements in response to said plurality of stop instructions, respectively, adjusted by said stop instruction adjusting means to bring the symbol of said corresponding symbol arrangements to a standstill on said winning line to obtain said symbol combination after all of said symbols are stopped scrolling;
shifting means for allowing said displaying means to shift said symbols of said symbol arrangements in said first and second scroll directions within a predetermined waiting time after said stop instructions, respectively, are received by said receiving means to change said symbol combination;
and
evaluating means for evaluating said symbol combination on the basis of a predetermined winning combination for winning.

7 more elements

A method of controlling a game machine for allowing a player to play a game comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements each having various kinds of symbols arranged in a predetermined order;
(b) displaying part of said symbols of said respective symbol arrangements on a window having a predetermined winning line crossing over said symbol of said respective symbol arrangements to define said symbols positioned on said winning line as a symbol combination;
(c) scrolling said symbols of said symbol arrangements within said window in a first predetermined scroll direction in response to a predetermined start instruction;
(d) receiving a plurality of stop instructions corresponding to said plurality of symbol arrangements;
(e) generating a random number;
(f) adjusting said plurality of stop instructions received in the step (d), on the basis of the random number generated in the step (e):
(g) stopping scrolling said symbols of said symbol arrangements in response to said plurality of said stop instructions, respectively, adjusted in the step (f) to bring the symbols of said corresponding symbol arrangements to a standstill on said winning line;
(h) obtaining said symbol combination after all of said symbol arrangements are stopped scrolling in the step (g);
(i) shifting said symbols of said symbol arrangements in said first scroll direction within a predetermined waiting time after the step (d);
(j) shifting said symbols of said symbol arrangements in a second predetermined scroll direction different from said first scroll direction within said waiting time;
(k) performing the steps (i) and (j) to change said symbol combination;
and
(l) evaluating said symbol combination on the basis of a predetermined winning combination for winning.

10 more elements

A game machine for allowing a player to play a game comprising:

displaying means capable of displaying a predetermined symbol arrangement having various kinds of symbols arranged in a predetermined order;
scrolling means for allowing said displaying means to display part of said symbols of said symbol arrangement on a window having a predetermined winning point and to scroll said symbols within said window in a first predetermined scroll direction;
scroll starting means for allowing said scrolling means to start to scroll said symbols within said window in said first scroll direction in response to a predetermined start instruction;
receiving means for receiving a predetermined stop instruction;
random number generating means for generating a random number;
stop instruction adjusting means for adjusting said stop instruction, received by receiving means, on the basis of the random number generated by said random number generating means;
scroll stopping means for allowing said scrolling means to stop scrolling said symbols in response to said stop instruction adjusted by said stop instruction adjusting means to bring one of said symbols to a standstill at said winning point;
shifting means for allowing said displaying means to shift said symbols in said first scroll direction and a second predetermined scroll direction different from said first scroll direction within a predetermined waiting time after said stop instruction is received by said receiving means to change the kind of the symbol positioned at said winning point;
and
evaluating means for evaluating the kind of the symbol positioned at said winning point on the basis of a predetermined kind of symbol for winning.

7 more elements

A method of controlling a game machine for allowing a player to play a game, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a predetermined symbol arrangement having various kinds of symbols arranged in a predetermined order;
(b) displaying part of said symbols of said symbol arrangement on a window;
(c) scrolling said symbols within said window in a first predetermined scroll direction in response to a predetermined start instruction;
(d) receiving a predetermined stop instruction;
(e) generating a random number;
(f) adjusting said stop instruction received in the step (d), on the basis of the random number generated in the step (e);
(g) stopping the scroll of said symbols in response to said stop instruction adjusted in the step
(f) to bring one of said symbols to a standstill at a predetermined winning point provided with said window;
(h) shifting said symbol in said first scroll direction within a predetermined waiting time after the step (d);
(i) shifting said symbol in a second predetermined scroll direction different from said first scroll direction;
(j) performing the steps (h) and (i) to change the kind of the symbol positioned at said winning point;
and
(k) evaluating the kind of the symbol positioned at said winning point on the basis of a predetermined kind of symbol for winning.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/899,061Filed 6 Jul 2001 · division
Priority: JP 10-32763618 Nov 1998
Published: US 2001/0041611 A115 Nov 2001
Granted: 29 Oct 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

G07F 17/3265
Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played: influencing…
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus