US 8,012,012 B2 · Slot machine

Abstract

A processor selects either a first game mode or a second game mode based on the operation by the operator carried out at a server 102. If the first game mode has been selected, a payout is calculated and awarded based on a fixed payout set in advance for each winning combination. Alternatively, if the second game mode has been selected, a payout is calculated and awarded based on a progressive payout and a fixed payout which was set in advance for each winning combination.

Drawings

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Claims4

Dependent claims

A slot machine connected to a plurality of slot machines via a network, the slot machine and the plurality of slot machines being connected to a server that includes a memory area that stores portions of gaming values that have been bet by the slot machine and the plurality of slot machines accumulatively as a progressive payout, each of the slot machines having:

a display that displays a plurality of symbols;
a bet button that inputs a bet operation;
a command accepting portion that accepts a command;
and
a processor that executes processes as follows:
(a) a process of selecting any of a plurality of kinds of game modes, including at least a first game mode and a second game mode, in accordance with a signal inputted from the command accepting portion in response to an operation by an operator of the server or a player;
(b) a process of executing, if the first game mode has been selected, a first game in which a fixed payout is awarded if a specific win has been established, the specific win being associated with a symbol combination displayed on the display;
and
(c) a process of executing, if the second game mode has been selected, a second game in which:
(c-1) a process of transmitting information about a bet amount that is set based on the bet operation with the bet button to the server so as to store the portions of the gaming values that have been bet by the bet operation inputted with the bet button, and
(c-2) if the specific win associated with the symbol combination displayed on the display has been established, a process of obtaining a fixed payout or a progressive payout from the server as award, the fixed payout being predetermined for each established specific win and the progressive payout being an amount stored in the memory area as accumulation of the portions of the gaming values that have been input with the bet button.

8 more elements

a display that displays a plurality of symbols;
a bet button that inputs a bet operation;
a command accepting portion that accepts a command;
and
a processor that executes processes as follows:
(a) a process of selecting any of a plurality of kinds of game modes, including at least a first game mode and a second game mode, in accordance with a signal inputted from the command accepting portion in response to an operation by an operator of the server or a player;
(b) a process of executing, if the first game mode has been selected, a first game in which a fixed payout is awarded if a specific win has been established, the specific win being associated with a symbol combination displayed on the display;
and
(c) a process of executing, if the second game mode has been selected, a second game in which:
(c-1) a process of transmitting information about a bet amount that is set based on the bet operation with the bet button to the server so as to store the portions of the gaming values that have been bet by the bet operation inputted with the bet button, and
(c-2) if the specific win associated with the symbol combination displayed on the display has been established, a process of obtaining a fixed payout or a progressive payout from the server as award, the fixed payout being predetermined for each established specific win and the progressive payout being an amount stored in the memory area as accumulation of the portions of the gaming values that have been input with the bet button,
wherein the kinds of symbols and symbol arrangement order drawn on each of the reels are the same irrespective of a first game mode and a second game mode while payout tables are switched between the first game mode and the second game mode along with the change of game modes.

9 more elements

a display that displays a plurality of symbols;
a bet button that inputs a bet operation;
a command accepting portion that accepts a command;
and
a processor that executes processes as follows:
(a) a process of selecting any of a plurality of kinds of game modes, including at least a first game mode and a second game mode, in accordance with a signal inputted from the command accepting portion in response to an operation by an operator of the server or a player;
(b) a process of executing, if the first game mode has been selected, a first game in which a fixed payout is awarded if a specific win has been established, the specific win being associated with a symbol combination displayed on the display;
and
(c) a process of executing, if the second game mode has been selected, a second game in which:
(c-1) a process of transmitting information about a bet amount that is set based on the bet operation with the bet button to the server so as to store the portions of the gaming values that have been bet by the bet operation inputted with the bet button, and
(c-2) if the specific win associated with the symbol combination displayed on the display has been established, a process of obtaining a fixed payout or a progressive payout from the server as award, the fixed payout being predetermined for each established specific win and the progressive payout being an amount stored in the memory area as accumulation of the portions of the gaming values that have been input with the bet button,
wherein the kinds of symbols and symbol arrangement order drawn on each of the reels are the same irrespective of a first game mode and a second game mode while payout tables are switched between the first game mode and the second game mode along with the change of game modes;
and
wherein a payout table to be displayed in the display of the gaming machine is changed to a payout table corresponding to a switched game mode.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description9,059 words

Summary745 words

#This application is based upon and claims a priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-163989 filed on Jun. 21, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

#1. Field

#The slot machine according to one or more aspects of the present invention relates to a slot machine that has a display that displays a plurality of symbols and is adapted to award a payout based on a symbol combination displayed on the display.

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages and principles of the invention.

#FIG. 1 is a view showing a payout as applied to the case that the operator has selected a first game mode in a slot machine according to the one embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a view showing a payout as applied to the case that the operator has selected a second game mode in a slot machine according to the one embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description7,873 words

#The various aspects summarized previously may be embodied in various forms. The following description shows by way of illustration of various combinations and configurations in which the aspects may be practiced. It is understood that the described aspects and/or embodiments are merely examples, and that other aspects and/or embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

#It is noted that various connections are set forth between items in the following description. It is noted that these connections in general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.

#A slot machine according to one or more aspects of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment embodying one or more aspects of the invention. However, it is appreciated that one or more aspects of the present invention may be embodied in distributable (via CD and the like) or downloadable software games, console games, and the like. In this regard, the slot machine may be a virtual slot machine that is displayed on a multi-purpose computer and/or dedicated kiosk. Aspects of the invention are described by way of hardware elements. However, it is appreciated that these elements may also be software modules that are executable in a computer. The software modules may be stored on a computer readable medium, including but not limited to a USB drive, CD, DVD, computer-readable memory, tape, diskette, floppy disk, and the like. For instance, aspects of the invention may be embodied in a JAVA-based application or the like that runs in a processor or processors. Further, the terms “CPU”, “processor”, and “controller” are inclusive by nature, including at least one of hardware, software, or firmware. These terms may include a portion of a processing unit in a computer (for instance, in multiple core processing units), multiple cores, a functional processor (as running virtually on at least one of processor or server, which may be local or remote). Further, in network-based gaming systems, the processor may include only a local processor, only a remote server, or a combination of a local processor and a remote server.

Facts

Application

12/123,741Filed 20 May 2008

Priority

JP 2007-16398921 Jun 2007

Published

US 2008/0318661 A125 Dec 2008

Granted

6 Sep 2011

Term ends

20 Apr 2030

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 700 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

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

Timeline

21 Jun 2007Priority claimedJP 2007-163989
20 May 2008Application filedUS 12/123,741
20 May 2008Assigned to Aruze Corp.assignment of assignor's interest
25 Dec 2008PublishedUS 2008/0318661 A1
2 Aug 2011Assigned to Universal Entertainment Corporationchange of name
6 Sep 2011GrantedUS 8,012,012 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
20 Apr 2030Term endsEstimated, includes 700 days of adjustment

Slot machine

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Slot machine

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Abstract

Drawings

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Claims4

Description9,059 words

Drawings

Description9,059 words

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent