Gaming Machine Arranging Symbol Based on Rearranged Symbol and Playing Method Thereof

1 . A gaming machine comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i)a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii)a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;

a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and

a center controller programmed to perform the steps of:

(a1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;

(a2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;

(a3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;

(a4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;

(a5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and

(a6) causing the payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.

2 . A gaming machine comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i) a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii)a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;

a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and

a controller programmed to perform the steps of:

(b1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;

(b2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;

(b3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;

(b4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;

(b5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on contribution rates of the combined symbol arrangements of the symbols; and

(b6) causing the payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.

3 . A gaming machine comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals capable of running a game independently from each other, each of which terminals includes (i)a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas and (ii)a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;

a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols and displaying an effect related to the game; and

a controller programmed to perform the steps of:

(c1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;

(c2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;

(c3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;

(c4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;

(c5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, displaying an effect indicating that the payout is awarded on the shared display;

(c6) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and

(c7) causing the payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.

4 . A gaming machine comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals including (i)a terminal display having a matrix of arrangement areas, (ii)a payout awarding device for awarding a player a payout related to the game, and (iii)a terminal controller, and each of which terminals arranges a plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas;

a shared display for arranging therein a plurality of symbols; and

a center controller, wherein

the terminal controller performs the steps of:

(d1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas at a predetermined timing;

(d2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols arranged in the arrangement areas;

(d3) when a predetermined condition is met, transmitting to the center controller symbols arranged in the arrangement areas and the arrangement of the symbols; and

(d4) causing the payout awarding device to award a payout based on an instruction from the center controller, and wherein the center controller is programmed to perform the steps of:

(e1) when a predetermined condition is met, receiving from each of the terminal controllers symbols and the arrangement of the symbols;

(e2) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on the shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;

(e3) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;

(e4) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and

(e5) instructing the terminal controller of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.

5 . A playing method of a gaming machine, in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a matrix of arrangement areas on terminal displays of a plurality of gaming terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

(f1) rearranging symbols in the arrangement areas of each of the gaming terminals, based on running of a game in the gaming terminal;

(f2) awarding a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas;

(f3) combining one symbol arrangement of one gaming terminal with another symbol arrangement of another gaming terminal, and rearranging, on a shared display, symbols identical to those in the one symbol arrangement and the other symbol arrangement, wherein the one symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the one gaming terminal, and the other symbol arrangement includes the symbols arranged in arrangement areas of the other gaming terminal;

(f4) determining whether to award a payout according to a relation among the symbols rearranged on the shared display;

(f5) when the payout is determined to be awarded, determining one of the gaming terminals, based on a predetermined condition; and

(f6) causing the payout awarding device of the determined one gaming terminal to award the payout.