IP Library Granted Patent US 8,858,320
Granted Patent B2
US 8,858,320 · App. 12/544,097 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Slot machine that increases the number of displayed symbols and control method thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,858,320
App. No.
12/544,097
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A slot machine according to the present invention comprises: a symbol display capable of scroll-displaying a symbol array that includes a plurality of symbols; and a controller programmed to execute the processing of: (A) executing a normal game in which the symbol array is scroll-displayed in a single direction and then stop-displayed to the symbol display, and in which game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to the stop-displayed symbol or a combination of the stop-displayed symbols; and (B) displaying an extra symbol being added to the symbol array, while scrolling the symbol array in a direction opposite to the single direction, when a predetermined condition has been satisfied in the normal game executed in the processing (A).

Claims (25)

1. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol display configured to scroll-display a symbol array that includes a plurality of symbols; and

a controller configured to

execute a normal game in which the symbol array is scroll-displayed in a first direction and then stop-displayed to said symbol display, and in which game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to one or a combination of the stop-displayed symbols;

randomly determine a number of extra symbols to be added to one or more reels of the symbol array, when a predetermined condition has been satisfied in an executed normal game; and

display an addition of at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array, based on the randomly determined number of extra symbols to be added to the symbol array, while the one or more reels of the symbol array are scrolled in a second direction opposite to said first direction, the addition of the at least one extra symbol being performed at a speed allowing an external observer to visually recognize the addition of the at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array.

2. The slot machine according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to display the addition of the at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array at a speed lower than a speed of the one or more reels of the scroll-display of the normal game, when the predetermined condition has been satisfied in the normal game.

3. The slot machine according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to display the number of added extra symbols, while displaying the at least one extra symbol being added to said symbol array.

4. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol display configured to scroll-display a symbol array that includes a plurality of symbols;

an input device configured to receive an operation command from a player; and

a controller configured to:

execute a normal game in which the symbol array is scroll-displayed in a first direction and then stop-displayed to said symbol display, and in which game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to one or a combination of the stop-displayed symbols;

randomly determine a number of extra symbols to be added to one or more reels of the symbol array, when a predetermined condition has been satisfied in an executed normal game;

display an addition of at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array, based on the randomly determined extra number of extra symbols to be added to the symbol array, while the one or more reels of the symbol array are scrolled in a second direction opposite to said first direction, the addition of the at least one extra symbol being performed at a speed allowing an external observer to visually recognize the addition of the at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array; and

fast-forward through the display of the at least one extra symbol, when a predetermined input has been made through said input device.

5. The slot machine according to claim 4 , wherein said controller is configured to display the addition of the at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array at a speed lower than a speed of the one or more reels of the scroll-display of the normal game.

6. A control method of a slot machine, the method comprising the steps of:

executing, by the processor of the slot machine, a normal game in which a symbol array including a plurality of symbols is scroll-displayed in a first direction and then stop-displayed to a symbol display, and in which game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to the stop-displayed symbol or a combination of the stop-displayed symbols; and

randomly determining, by the processor of the slot machine, a number of extra symbols to be added to one or more reels of the symbol array, when a predetermined condition has been satisfied in the normal game executed in said executing step; and

displaying an addition of at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array, based on the number of extra symbols determined in the randomly determining step, while the one or more reels of the symbol array are scrolled in a second direction opposite to said first direction, the addition of the at least one extra symbol being performed at a speed allowing an external observer to visually recognize the addition of the at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array.

7. The control method according to claim 6 , wherein said displaying step comprises:

displaying the addition of at least one extra symbol to the one or more reels of the symbol array at a speed lower than a speed of the one or more reels of the scroll-display in said executing step.

8. The control method according to claim 6 , the method further comprising the step of:

displaying the number of added extra symbols, while displaying the at least one extra symbol being added to said symbol array in said displaying step.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2025
From: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGICAL GROUP LIMITED
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070179/0634 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2023
From: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGICAL GROUP LIMITED
Reel/Frame 065516/0064 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2009
From: KADODE, YUTAKA; YOSHIDA, MASAHIRO; KUROYANAGI, HIROYUKI; WATANABE, SATOSHI; HOTTA, YUKA; OHIRA, TSUYOSHI; ABE, HIROKI; SAKATA, TAKANORI
To: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 023342/0965 →