IP Library Granted Patent US 8,317,594
Granted Patent B2
US 8,317,594 · App. 12/406,621 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Gaming machine which is likely to increase player's expectation for bonus game and playing method thereof

Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,317,594
App. No.
12/406,621
Granted
Nov 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a game-number addition symbol is rearranged in arrangement areas, a value determined based on the number of game-number addition symbols rearranged is added to a bonus game-number. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, executed is a bonus game of which scale depends on the bonus game-number.

Claims (114)

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a matrix of arrangement areas in which scatter symbols are arranged;

a count device which increments/decrements an accumulated value;

a controller which is programmed to operate in the following steps of

(a1) rearranging scatter symbols in the arrangement areas,

(a2) giving a payout according to the number of scatter symbols rearranged,

(a3) when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, adding, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged to update the accumulated value, and

(a4) when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy a predetermined condition, executing a bonus game including one or more free games, wherein the number of one or more free games is equal to the accumulated value; and

an input device which receives plural types of bet operations from outside,

wherein in step (a3) when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller adds, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device.

2. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a matrix of arrangement areas in which scatter symbols are arranged,

a count device which increments/decrements an accumulated value; and

a controller which is programmed to operate in the following steps of:

(a1) rearranging scatter symbols in the arrangement areas;

(a2) giving a payout according to the number of scatter symbols rearranged;

(a3) when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, adding, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged to update the accumulated value; and

(a4) when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy a predetermined condition, executing a bonus game including one or more free games, wherein the number of one or more free games is equal to the accumulated value,

wherein:

in step (a4), when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy the predetermined condition and the accumulated value is not 0, the controller executes a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value; and

in step (a4), when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy the predetermined condition and the accumulated value is 0, the controller executes, at a timing that the accumulated value becomes 1 or greater, a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value of 1 or greater.

3. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a matrix of arrangement areas in which scatter symbols are arranged;

a count device which increments/decrements an accumulated value; and

a controller which is programmed to operate in the following steps of:

(a1) rearranging scatter symbols in the arrangement areas;

(a2) giving a payout according to the number of scatter symbols rearranged;

(a3) when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, adding, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged; and

(a4) when a predetermined condition is satisfied, executing a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value, wherein:

in step (a4), when the predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is not 0, the controller executes a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value; and

in step (a4), when the predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is 0, the controller executes an accumulated value determination game to determine an accumulated value of 1 or greater, and then executes a bonus game whose scale depends on the determined accumulated value.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 3 , further comprising

an input device which receives plural types of bet operations from outside; wherein:

in step (a3), when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller adds, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 3 , further comprising:

an input device which receives plural types of bet operations from outside; and

a timer which measures time,

wherein the controller is further programmed to operate in the following step of:

(a5) resetting the accumulated value when a period during which the sensor senses no presence of the player lasts a predetermined time,

wherein:

in step (a3), when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller adds, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device;

in step (a4), when the predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is not 0, the controller executes a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value;

in step (a4), when the predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is 0, the controller executes an accumulated value determination game to determine an accumulated value of 1 or greater, and then executes a bonus game whose scale depends on the determined accumulated value; and

in step (a5), the controller triggers the timer, when the sensor which has sensed the presence of the player senses no presence of the player, to measure a period during which the sensor senses no presence of the player, and resets the accumulated value when the period during which the sensor senses no presence of the player lasts the predetermined time.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 3 , wherein:

in step (a4), when the predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is 0, the controller executes, at a timing that the accumulated value becomes 1 or greater, the bonus game.

7. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a matrix of arrangement areas in which scatter symbols are arranged;

a count device which increments/decrements an accumulated value;

a controller which is programmed to operate in the following steps of

(a1) rearranging scatter symbols in the arrangement areas,

(a2) giving a payout according to the number of scatter symbols rearranged,

(a3) when a first symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, adding, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of first symbols rearranged to update the accumulated value,

(a4) when a second symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, subtracting, from the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of second symbols rearranged to update the accumulated value, and

(a5) when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy a predetermined condition, executing a bonus game including one or more free games, wherein the number of one or more free games is equal to the accumulated value; and

an input device which receives plural types of bet operations from outside,

wherein:

in step (a3), when a first symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller adds, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of first symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device; and

in step (a4), when a second symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller subtracts, from the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of second symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device.

8. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a matrix of arrangement areas in which scatter symbols are arranged;

a count device which increments/decrements an accumulated value; and

a controller which is programmed to operate in the following steps of:

(a1) rearranging scatter symbols in the arrangement areas;

(a2) giving a payout according to the number of scatter symbols rearranged;

(a3) when a first symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, adding, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of first symbols rearranged to update the accumulated value;

(a4) when a second symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, subtracting, from the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of second symbols rearranged to update the accumulated value; and

(a5) when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy a predetermined condition, executing a bonus game including one or more free games, wherein the number of one or more free games is equal to the accumulated value,

wherein:

when a predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is not 0, executing a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value; and

in step (a5) when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy the predetermined condition and the accumulated value is 0, the controller executes, at a timing that the accumulated value becomes 1 or greater, a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value of 1 or greater.

9. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a matrix of arrangement areas in which scatter symbols are arranged;

a count device which increments/decrements an accumulated value; and

a controller which is programmed to operate in the following steps of:

(a1) rearranging scatter symbols in the arrangement areas;

(a2) giving a payout according to the number of scatter symbols rearranged;

(a3) when a first symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, adding, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of first symbols rearranged;

(a4) when a second symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, subtracting, from the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of second symbols rearranged; and

(a5) when a predetermined condition is satisfied, executing a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value, wherein:

in step (a5), when the predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is 0, the controller executes an accumulated value determination game to determine an accumulated value of 1 or greater, and then executes a bonus game whose scale depends on the determined accumulated value.

10. The gaming machine according to claim 9 , further comprising:

an input device which receives plural types of bet operations from outside, wherein:

in step (a3), when a first symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller adds, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of first symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device;

in step (a4), when a second symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller subtracts, from the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of second symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device; and

in step (a5), when the predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is not 0, the controller executes a bonus game whose scale depends on the accumulated value.

11. The gaming machine according to claim 9 , wherein:

in step (a4), when the predetermined condition is satisfied and the accumulated value is 0, the controller executes, at a timing that the accumulated value becomes 1 or greater, the bonus game.

12. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a matrix of arrangement areas in which scatter symbols are arranged;

a count device which increments/decrements an accumulated value;

a sensor which senses the presence of a player;

a controller which is programmed to operate in the following steps of

(a1) rearranging scatter symbols in the arrangement areas,

(a2) giving a payout according to the number of scatter symbols rearranged,

(a3) when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, adding, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged to update the accumulated value,

(a4) when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy a predetermined condition, executing a bonus game including one or more free games, wherein the number of one or more free games is equal to the accumulated value, and

(a5) resetting the accumulated value when a period during which the sensor senses no presence of the player lasts a predetermined time; and

an input device which receives plural types of bet operations from outside, wherein

in step (a3), when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller adds, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device.

13. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a matrix of arrangement areas in which scatter symbols are arranged;

a count device which increments/decrements an accumulated value;

a sensor which senses the presence of a player;

a controller which is programmed to operate in the following steps of

(a1) rearranging scatter symbols in the arrangement areas,

(a2) giving a payout according to the number of scatter symbols rearranged,

(a3) when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, adding, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged to update the accumulated value,

(a4) when the rearranged scatter symbols satisfy a predetermined condition, executing a bonus game including one or more free games, wherein the number of one or more free games is equal to the accumulated value, and

(a5) resetting the accumulated value when a period during which the sensor senses no presence of the player lasts a predetermined time;

an input device which receives plural types of bet operations from outside; and

a timer which measures time, wherein:

in step (a3), when a specific symbol is rearranged in the arrangement areas as a result of a rearrangement of scatter symbols, the controller adds, to the accumulated value, a value determined based on the number of specific symbols rearranged and a type of bet operation received by the input device; and

in step (a5), the controller triggers the timer, when the sensor which has sensed the presence of the player senses no presence of the player, to measure a period during which the sensor senses no presence of the player, and resets the accumulated value when the period during which the sensor senses no presence of the player lasts the predetermined time.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 1, 2011
From: ARUZE CORP.
To: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027309/0876 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2009
From: YOSHIZAWA, KAZUMASA
To: ARUZE CORP.
Reel/Frame 022420/0237 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 61037496 · Mar 18, 2008
Provisional Application 61037737 · Mar 19, 2008
Provisional Application 61037745 · Mar 19, 2008
Related Publication 20090239649A1 · Sep 24, 2009