IP Library Granted Patent US 8,002,627
Granted Patent B2
US 8,002,627 · App. 11/808,254 · Granted Aug 23, 2011

Slot machine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,002,627
App. No.
11/808,254
Granted
Aug 23, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A slot machine includes a symbol displaying device, a start switch, a display, a memory, and a controller. The controller implements a process including: (a) controlling the symbol displaying device; (b) determining whether or not symbols displayed in the symbol displaying device are entitled to a bonus game; (c) controlling a transition from a basic gamer to the bonus game; (d) controlling the display to operate as a touch panel; (e) executing a lottery to select one of first and second reduction values to be subtracted from the capacity of the character, with respect to a selectable element selected by the player via the touch panel; (f) executing a subtraction with the selected reduction value and controlling the memory to store the resulting capacity; and (g) controlling a transition from the bonus game to a basic game in accordance with the stored capacity.

Claims (30)

1. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol displaying device for displaying a plurality of symbols;

a start switch for receiving an instruction for starting a basic game given by a player;

a display for displaying an image of a character, an image indicating a capacity of the character and a plurality of images of selectable elements;

a memory; and

a controller configured to implement a process comprising:

(a) controlling the symbol displaying device;

(b) determining whether or not the symbols displayed in the symbol displaying device are entitled to a bonus game;

(c) controlling a transition from a basic game to the bonus game if the controller determines that the symbols are entitled to the bonus game;

(d) controlling the display to operate as a touch panel;

(e) executing a lottery to select one of first and second reduction values to be subtracted from the capacity of the character, with respect to a selectable element selected by the player via the touch panel;

(f) executing a subtraction with the reduction value selected by the lottery in the process (e) and controlling the memory to store the resulting capacity; and

(g) controlling a transition from the bonus game to a basic game if the capacity stored in the process (f) is less than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

2. A slot machine according to claim 1 , further comprising an alarm, wherein

the alarm alerts the player to the capacity of the character if the capacity stored in the process (f) is less than or equal to a second predetermined threshold which is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

3. A slot machine according to claim 1 , wherein the controller independently executes the process (a) for one column of the symbol displaying device.

4. A slot machine according to claim 1 , wherein the start switch receives the instruction for starting a basic game for each game.

5. A slot machine according to claim 1 , wherein the symbol displaying device includes mechanical reels.

6. A slot machine according to claim 1 , wherein the symbol displaying device includes electrically simulated reels.

7. A method for controlling a slot machine comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a signal indicative of an instruction for starting a basic game given by a player;

(b) displaying a plurality of symbols used for the basic game dynamically;

(c) terminating the step (b) and displaying the symbols statically;

(d) determining whether or not the symbols statically displayed are entitled to a bonus game;

(e) performing a transition from a basic game to the bonus game if the step (d) determines that the symbols are entitled to the bonus game;

(f) displaying an image of a character, an image indicating a capacity of the character and a plurality of images of selectable elements;

(g) controlling a display of the slot machine to operate as a touch panel

(h) executing a lottery to select one of first and second reduction values to be subtracted from the capacity of the character, with respect to a selectable element selected by the player via the touch panel;

(i) executing a subtraction of the reduction value selected by the lottery in the step (h) from the capacity of the character and storing the resulting capacity; and

(j) performing a transition from the bonus game to a basic game if the capacity stored in the step (i) is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 18, 2011
From: ARUZE KABUSHIKI KAISHA (ARUZE CORP)
To: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026610/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2007
From: KOJIMA, SAKIKO
To: ARUZE CORP.
Reel/Frame 019837/0459 →