WO2011030222A1

WO2011030222A1 - Entertainment machine having a symbol gaming unit

Info

Publication number: WO2011030222A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/002529
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johann F. Graf
Original assignee: Novomatic Ag
Priority date: 2009-09-14
Filing date: 2010-10-06
Publication date: 2011-03-17
Also published as: EP2489022A1; WO2011030222A8

Abstract

An entertainment machine (100), comprising a symbol gaming unit (12) for displaying a losing or winning symbol combination, a bonus game value memory (27) for storing a bonus game value, a wager memory (26) for storing at least one wager value that is made, and a control unit (11) for controlling the flow of the entertainment machine, and wherein bonus game value scaling means (28) are provided and designed to scale the bonus game value on the basis of wagers that are made.

Description

Amusement machine with a symbol game device

The invention relates to an amusement machine with a control unit and a symbol game device.

The invention further relates to a method for operating an amusement machine with a control unit and a symbol game device.

Entertainment machines of the generic type have long been known. For example, DE4135447 (method for operating a gaming machine) discloses an amusement machine in which a central control unit in a winning play more different counters differentiated after plays with special or free-play winning possibility increments, and that upon reaching a

Maximalzählerstandes at one of the separate counters by the central control unit an additional or a higher-quality playout with special or

Freispielgewinnmöglichkeit is started and that the respective separate counter, the maximum count was reached, after the given special or higher-quality play back to an initial value.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved

To create entertainment machine, which in particular has an improved display and beyond an effective Auszahlmöglichkeit and allows a user fatigue-free operation of the amusement machine.

To achieve the above object are at a

Entertainment machine according to the invention features provided according to the invention, so that an entertainment machine according to the invention can be characterized in the following manner, namely:

Amusement machine, comprising

a symbol game device for representing a loss or winning symbol combination, and

- a free play value memory for storing a free play value, and

CONFIRMATION COPY a betting memory for storing at least one bet value placed, and

and a free game value scaling means are provided and adapted to scale the free game value based on wagers made.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, features according to the invention are provided in a method according to the invention, so that a method for operating an amusement machine according to the invention can be characterized in the following manner, namely:

A method of operating an amusement machine, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing a symbol game device for displaying a verbal or profitable symbol combination; and

Providing a free game value memory for storing a free game value, and providing a wager memory for storing at least one made

Bet value, and

- Providing a control unit for sequencing the amusement machine, and

- Activate the symbol game device depending on the free play value and

- Scaling the free play value by means of free game value scaling means based on bets made.

By providing the features according to the invention, an improved entertainment machine is created in a comparatively simple manner, which in particular has an improved display and also offers an effective payout possibility of realized profits. Furthermore, a user fatigue-free operation of the entertainment machine is enabled.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The above-mentioned aspects and further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below and are explained with reference to these embodiments.

The invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, to which the invention, however, is not limited.

FIG. 1 shows in a schematized manner in the form of a block diagram of a device for detecting and displaying free games on a computer

Entertainment machine according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a controller for starting and determining free spins according to the invention. FIG.

3 shows a pay table according to an embodiment.

Figs. 4-7 are graphical views of a display unit of the amusement machine at certain operating conditions according to others

Embodiments.

In a block diagram denoted by 100 in FIG. 1, the parts of an amusement machine with profit possibility according to a first exemplary embodiment that are essential for understanding the invention are shown. Of the

Entertainment machine has a control unit 11 and a symbol game device 12. The symbol game device 12 in the present case comprises a first

Circulating body 13, a second circulating body 14 and a third circulating body 15, wherein the circulating bodies have various symbols with which a symbol game can be made. The symbol game device (12) is further designed to represent a combination of symbols, wherein a profit or non-profit can be displayed via the symbol combination.

The control unit 11 has a microcomputer 16 and a

Control device 17 for not shown drive motors of the rotating body 13 to 15.

It may be mentioned that the symbol game device 12 may have fewer or more circulating bodies, for example only two circulating bodies, or four or five circulating bodies having symbol.

The microcomputer 16 comprises, in addition to a random number generator 18, an input / output unit 19 for peripheral unit interface, such as a

Input / control unit 20, lighting means 21 of the amusement machine, a display unit 22, for example, for profit and / or special games and to display free games.

The random number generator 18 in the present case is for generating pseudo-random numbers. Trained random numbers. He can also be trained to generate real random numbers.

A supply unit, not shown, takes over the electrical power supply of the entire entertainment machine. In the present case, for example, the required voltages are derived, rectified and made available to the various assemblies by a mains transformer. The supply unit can also be formed by a switching power supply.

The circulating bodies 13 to 15 of the symbol game device 12 are not shown in detail position detecting means for detecting a rotational position associated with the control device 17 for the drive motor control are in operative connection.

The microcomputer 16 further comprises a microprocessor, not shown in detail in FIG. 1, and a read-only memory, in which read-only memory, inter alia, a profit plan or paytable 23 is stored, and an operating data memory and the individual said elements connecting data and memory address busses.

Furthermore, the control sequence for controlling the entertainment machine or its components or units is stored in the read-only memory.

The microcomputer 16 further includes a bet memory 26 and a free game value memory 27. The free game value memory 27 is formed in the present example for storing a fixed point number, wherein the fixed point number

for example, may have two digits before and two decimal places. In an alternative embodiment, the free game value memory 27 may be configured to store a floating point number. The storage may be done, for example, in a Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) code or otherwise. Furthermore, in the microcomputer 16, a free game value scaling means 28 is formed, which is designed in particular for determining a scaling factor on the basis of bets made. The free game value scaling means 28 are in particular also designed for calculations with floating-point operations. The bet insert memory 26 is formed in the present case for storing the value of a respective bet made, if the value has changed to a previous value of the bet. Alternatively, all bets made could simply be successively saved.

The amusement machine further includes a credit entry device 24 to receive credit. The credit can be supplied to the amusement machine in the form of monetary means such as coins, banknotes, credit cards or tickets.

In the present case, the credit entry device 24 also has a coin payout unit (not shown in detail in the figures), which coin payout unit is made of coin-specific coin containers, each with a respective associated power-operated one

Payout mechanism, which is connected to the control unit 11. Alternatively, the

Münzauszahleinheit accomplish a ticket payment in which an amount to be paid in the form of a monetary code is printed on a ticket medium.

The loan supplied to the amusement machine is in one

Credit value memory 25 electronically detected, wherein the count of the credit value memory 25 with an associated display means of the display unit 22 to a user can be displayed.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram 200 for free-play control according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The process begins according to a block 201 after a start key has been pressed, after which it is checked in accordance with a branch block 202 with the aid of betting change detection means whether a change of the wager has been made, for example by a user of the amusement machine by means of a wager input key 20a of the input / control unit 20. The wager change detection means may here by an analog

Be formed comparator or through a computing stage which falls back on entered stored bet rate values.

If the check according to the branch block 202 indicates that the wager has not been changed, then the flow proceeds to a branch block 203, wherein it is checked according to the branch block 203, whether in the

Free play value stored free game value FSZ greater than or equal to one

Is decimal value "1.00", and in the affirmative case, the free game value FSZ is decreased (subtracted, decremented) by a decimal value "1.00" according to an operation block 204, and then the operation is continued according to an operation block 205.

According to the operation block 205, a game sequence is started, in which game sequence, controlled by the control unit 11, the circulating bodies 13 to 15 of the symbol game device 12 circulated and subsequently influenced by the

Random generator 18 are shut down in random predetermined detent positions. In one Subsequent branching block 206 checks whether the symbol combination displayed with the shut-down revolving bodies is assigned a profit, wherein it is checked whether this symbol combination is assigned a free-play profit in accordance with the winning plan. If there is a free game win, according to an operation block 207, the number of free spins won is registered, the free spin value FSC being increased (added, incremented) and in the number of free spins won

Free game value memory 27 is stored and an update of the free play display means 22a is performed. Thereafter, the process at the block 201 is continued. If it is determined at branch block 206 that no free game win is given then the process continues at block 201, i. the process 200 can be started again.

If it is determined in the test according to the branch block 203 that the free play value FSZ stored in the free play value memory is less than a decimal value "1.00", then flow proceeds to a branch block 208 at which branch block 208 a check is made Game use can be debited from the credit value memory 25, wherein in the affirmative case of the game use is deducted from the credit value memory 25 and the process is continued at the operation block 205, so a game sequence as above in

In connection with the block 205 described is started. If no stake can be deducted from the credit value memory 25, then the process is terminated or the

User is prompted to populate the credit value store by means of the credit entry device 24.

On the other hand, if the check according to the branch block 202 indicates that the wager has been changed, then the flow is continued according to an operation block 209. According to the operation block 209, the free game value scaling means 28 is used to scale the free game value FSZ on the basis of bets made. In the present case, a new free game value FSZ is calculated from a product of the old free-play value FSZ previously stored in the free-play value memory 27 and a scaling factor. In the present case, the scaling factor is determined by the value of the quotient from the old value CBET of the

Wager and the new value NBET of the wager formed. The old value CBET of the bet is taken from the bet memory 26 and the new value NBET of the bet places the bet through the activated (current)

Value provided by the bet change the free game value FSZ come to a decimal value with decimal places, which is desired. It may be mentioned that a rounding of the free play value can take place, for example to two decimal places.

4 shows, according to a further embodiment 400, a part of an amusement machine with a symbol game device 410, wherein here the symbol game device 410 has no electromechanical circulating bodies, but is designed as a TV monitor or flat screen, are represented on the matrix-like arranged symbols. The matrix for displaying the symbols in the present case comprises five columns Sl to S5 and three rows ZI to Z3. In a game, each of the columns may appear as a simulation of a rotating, fictitious cylindrical roller body, wherein just a partial section of the rotating body in the form of three successive symbols of the rotating body according to the lines ZI to Z3 is shown. The monitor or screen is controlled by a control unit, not shown, similar to the control unit 11 of Figure 1. In comparison to the control unit 11 of FIG. 1, here the control device 17 of the motor control of the circulating bodies 13, 14, 15 is replaced by a control device for controlling the matrix-like symbols of the symbol game device 410, whereby, for example, a graphics controller can be used.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows a display unit 450, which is likewise realized with the aid of the monitor or screen, wherein a credit value display 451 and a wager value display 452 and a free-play display 453 are provided, each of which is assigned a specific area of the screen ,

The free-play display 453 is in this case for representing the precompression points in numerical form, here in the form of a number segment 454, and for representing the decimal places in a graphic form, here in the form of a straight bar 455 formed. The straight bar 455 can assume a color change in at least one subsection corresponding to the value of the decimal place.

Part of the symbol game device shown in Figure 4 are five paylines, wherein a first payline 461 is shown horizontally between the left marker 461a shown in the picture and the right marker 461b.

Based on the first payline, in the present case, the profit is determined according to a paytable 300 shown in FIG. In concrete terms, in FIG. 4, a profit is shown on the basis of the first payline in accordance with the appearance of two "cherry symbols", in which case, according to the paytable 300, a spin-bonus gain occurs, ie Free games are given. For the case shown in FIG. 4, three free games are given and consequently a decimal value "3.00" is assigned to the free game value FSZ and displayed in the free game display 453.

FIG. 5 now shows a changed game state compared to that shown in FIG. 4, wherein here a wager change required by the user is shown

the wager has been changed from 0.50 to 1.00 units (EURO). This change now scales the free play value with a scaling factor, which is the ratio of the previous one

In the present case, the scaling factor is given as 0.50 / 1.00 = 0.50 and thus results in a free play value of 3.00 x 0.50 = 1.50. This is illustrated in the free play display 453, where the digit segment 454 indicates the pre-mum digit "1" and the fractional digit ("0.50") is indicated by a "half-filled" bar 455, respectively.

FIG. 6 now shows a modified one from that shown in FIG

Game state, where here is a desired by the user wager change

the wager has been changed from 1.00 to 1.50 units (EURO). This change now scales the free play value with a scaling factor, which is the ratio of the previous one

Is the bet value at the currently entered bet value, in the present case the scaling factor being 1.00 / 1.50 = 0.66 (periodic) and subsequently a free play value of 1.50 x 0.666 (periodic) = 1, 00 results. This is illustrated in the free play display 453, where the digit segment 454 is the

Decimal point "1" indicates and the fractional part ("0.00") is indicated by an "unfilled" bar 455 accordingly.

5, for example, the single free game ("1") present according to the free game display 453 could be made or called up by the user, so that then only one would remain

Free play value of 1.50 - 1.00 = 0.50 left, so only a "half" free play that can not be played, however, there is now advantageously for the user the opportunity to make another bet change, for example, from the wager 1 00 on a bet 0.50 units (EURO) This change will now scale the free play value with the

Scaling factor 1.00 / 0.50 = 2.00 which subsequently results in a free play value of 0.50 x 2.00 = 1.00 results. Thus, a "whole" free game would be given again and the

Free spins profit would not be partially expired.

FIG. 7 shows a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, wherein compared to the illustration in FIG. 5, the free-play display 453 has such a design that the representation of the decimal places takes place in a graphic form in the form of a semicircular bar 755. The presentation of the

Numerals in numerical form in the form of a number segment 454 are given in a center area which is given by the semicircular bar 755. This allows a particularly clear presentation for a user. In the present case, the semicircular beam 755 is shown half filled, which corresponds to half a free spin. By an appropriate made by the user

Reduction of the bet value from 1.50 units (EURO) to 0.50 units (EURO) will result in a single (whole) free play and half a free spin, thus three full free spins. It is understood that only each free games are used as an insert for activating a roll run.

It can be mentioned that the amusement machine can be designed as a stand device and can have a roughly man-sized, roughly box-shaped device housing whose upper half of the receptacle serves a display unit, which in one embodiment also consists, for example, of two large screens arranged one above the other, it being understood that more than two screens could be provided. Furthermore, it can be provided that the

Device housing in its front two cutouts, which include an obtuse angle to each other, so that the superposed screens are also mutually tilted obtuse about a horizontal axis to each other. In a further development, the game device can also be designed as a slant-top device.

The arrangement may be such that below the two screens, the device housing has a control panel section projecting towards the player, which extends over the entire width of the device housing and is substantially box-shaped. The top of the panel section may be approximately planar and may include the input / operator unit 20 that includes a plurality of manually operable control buttons in the form of pressure switches. The control buttons can be mechanical switches or actuatable according to other principles of action, in particular be part of a touch screen. In a conventional manner, the

Control panel section further comprise a cash input and / or output unit, the may be formed differently in a conventional manner and, for example, in addition to a coin and bill module and a token and / or ticket module or electronic card reading and writing device may include, so that the slot machine coin and money value is actuated.

According to a further embodiment, it may be provided that in an entertainment machine according to the invention, the display unit 22 and / or input / control unit 20 is / are designed as a client in a server / client environment. The control program of the entertainment machine can be retrievable as a server application, which also provides the necessary storage means for the process. The communication or the data exchange between the server / client can run via an Internet protocol wired or wirelessly by means of radio signals.

Claims

I-claims:

1. amusement machine (100), comprising

a symbol game device (12) for representing a verbal or profitable symbol combination, and

a free game value memory (27) for storing a free game value, and

- A bet insert memory (26) for storing at least one done

Bet value, and

- A control unit (11) for sequencing the amusement machine (100), characterized in that free play value scaling means (28) are provided and adapted to make a scaling of the free play value based on wagers made.

2. entertainment machine (100) according to claim 1, further comprising

Wager change detection means (202) for detecting a change in the wager value, wherein scaling the free game value after a recognized

Change in the bet value is vornehmbar.

The amusement machine (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scaling of the free game value is by a factor which is a factor from the ratio of an earlier bet value to a currently entered one

Bet value is formed.

The amusement machine (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the free game value memory (27) is for storing a fixed point number or

Floating point number is formed.

An amusement machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein free play display means (22a) are provided for displaying the free play value, which free play display means are adapted to display the fixed point number or floating point number.

6. entertainment machine (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the free play display means are designed to represent the numerical digits before the decimal places and the decimal places in a graphic form.

7. Entertainment machine (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the graphic form for representing the decimal places in the form of a straight bar or a curved bar.

8. A method of operating an amusement machine (100), wherein the

Procedures following steps include:

- providing a symbol game device (12) for representing a lossy or profitable symbol combination; and

- Providing a free game value memory (27) for storing a free game value, and - Providing a bet insert memory (26) for storing at least one done

Bet value, and

- Providing a control unit (11) for sequence control of the amusement machine, and

activating the symbol game device as a function of the free game value, characterized in that

- Scaling the free play value by means of free play value scaling means (28) based on bets made bet (BET) takes place.