IP Library Granted Patent US 8,272,943
Granted Patent B2
US 8,272,943 · App. 12/569,505 · Granted Sep 25, 2012

Slot machine executing free game and slot machine that increases the number of displayed special symbols

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,272,943
App. No.
12/569,505
Granted
Sep 25, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to a slot machine of the present invention, a first specific number of free games are executed when a first predetermined condition is established in a normal game. Further, a second specific number of free games are executed, when a second predetermined condition is established. Furthermore, when the first predetermined condition is established in the free game executed triggered by the establishment of the second predetermined condition, a third specific number of free games are further executed after the second specific number of free games are executed. Here, the third specific number is larger than the first specific number.

Claims (75)

1. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol display capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols; and

a controller, said controller programmed to perform the processing steps of:

(A) executing a normal game, in which said plurality of symbols are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display after a bet of game media, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols;

(B) executing a first specific number of free games, when a first predetermined condition is established in the normal game executed in said processing step (A), said free game being executed without a bet of game media;

(C) executing a second specific number of free games, when a second predetermined condition different from said first predetermined condition is established;

(D) executing a third specific number of free games after executing said processing step (C), when said first predetermined condition is established before completing the execution of said processing step (C), said third specific number being larger than said first specific number; and

(E) counting a number of maximum bet games, which is a number of normal games executed with the bet of game media at a predetermined maximum bet number; and

wherein the third specific number is based on the number of maximum bet games counted in said processing step (E).

2. The slot machine according to claim 1 ,

wherein

said processing step (B) is the processing step of

executing the first specific number of free games, in which said plurality of symbols are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols in a free game without the bet of game media, when a first predetermined condition is established in the normal game executed in said processing step (A), wherein the first predetermined condition is a stop-display of the symbols in a predeterminded stopped state, and

said processing step (D) is the processing step of

executing a third specific number of free games after executing said processing step (C), when the symbols are stop-displayed in said predetermined stopped state in said free game before completing the execution of said processing step (C), the third specific number being larger than said first specific number.

3. The slot machine according to claim 2 ,

wherein

said controller is further programmed to perform the processing steps of:

(F) counting a number of normal games executed in said processing step (A), and

said processing step (C) is the processing step of

executing the second specific number of free games, when the number of the normal games counted in said processing step (F) has reached a prescribed number.

4. The slot machine according to claim 3 ,

wherein

said processing step (A) is the processing step of

executing the normal game, in which said plurality of symbols are scroll-displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display after the bet of game media in a number equal to or less than the predetermined maximum bet number, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to the stop-displayed symbol or a combination of the stop-displayed symbols.

5. The slot machine according to claim 3 ,

wherein

said controller is further programmed to perform the processing steps of:

(G) shifting a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on condition that a predetermined number of game media has been inserted, and

said processing step (F) is the processing step of

counting the number of the normal games executed in said insurance mode in said processing step (A).

6. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol display capable of variably displaying symbols, including a special symbol; and

a controller, said controller programmed to perform the processing steps of:

(A) executing a normal game, in which said symbols, including said special symbol, are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display after a bet of game media, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols;

(B) executing a normal free game, in which said symbols including said special symbol, are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols, when a first predetermined condition is established in the normal game executed in said processing step (A), said normal free game being executed without the bet of game media;

(C) determining a payout of a predetermined amount of game media and executing a special free game, in which said symbols, including said special symbol, are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols, when a second predetermined condition different from said first predetermined condition is established, said special free game being executed without the bet of game media and being more advantageous than said normal free game; and

(D) increasing a number of said special symbol that can be displayed to said symbol display, when the second predetermined condition different from said first predetermined condition is established.

7. The slot machine according to claim 6 ,

wherein

said controller is further programmed to perform the processing steps of:

(E) counting a number of normal games executed in said processing step (A), and

said processing step (C) is the processing step of

determining the payout of the predetermined amount of game media and executing the special free game when the number of the counted normal games has reached a prescribed number, the special free game being executed without the bet of game media and being more advantageous than said normal free game.

8. The slot machine according to claim 6 ,

wherein

said processing step (B) is the processing step of

executing a first specific number of normal free games when a first predetermined condition is established in the normal game executed in said processing step (A), said normal free game being executed without the bet of game media, and

said processing step (C) is the processing step of

determining a payout of a predetermined amount of game media and executing a second specific number of special free games, when a second predetermined condition different from said first predetermined condition is established, said second specific number being larger than said first specific number.

9. The slot machine according to claim 8 ,

wherein

said processing step (B) is the processing step of

executing the first specific number of normal free games, in which said symbols including said special symbol, are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display without the bet of game media, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols, when the first predetermined condition is established in the normal game executed in said processing step (A), wherein the first predetermined condition is a stop-display of the symbols in a predetermined stopped state.

10. The slot machine according to claim 6 ,

wherein

the first predetermined condition is a stop-display of the symbols in a predetermined stopped state.

11. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol display capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols; and

a controller, said controller programmed to perform the processing steps of:

(A) executing a normal game, in which said plurality of symbols are scroll-displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display after a bet of game media in a number equal to or less than a predetermined maximum bet number, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols;

(B) executing a first specific number of free games, in which said plurality of symbols are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols in a free game without the bet of game media, when a first predetermined condition is established in the normal game executed in said processing step (A), said free game being executed without a bet of game media, wherein the first predetermined condition is a stop-display of the symbols in a predetermined stopped state;

(C) executing a second specific number of free games, when a second predetermined condition different from said first predetermined condition is established;

(D) executing a third specific number of free games after executing said processing step (C), when said first predetermined condition of stop-display of the symbols in said predetermined stopped state is established in a free game before completing the execution of said processing step (C), said third specific number being larger than said first specific number;

(E) counting a number of normal games executed in said processing step (A); and

(F) counting a number of maximum bet games, which is a number of normal games executed with the bet of game media at the predetermined maximum bet number;

wherein the second predetermined condition occurs when the number of the normal games counted in said processing step (E) has reached a prescribed number; and

wherein the third specific number is based on the number of maximum bet games counted in said processing step (F).

12. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol display capable of variably displaying symbols, including a special symbol; and

a controller, said controller programmed to perform the processing steps of:

(A) executing a normal game, in which said symbols, including said special symbol, are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display after a bet of game media, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols;

(B) executing a normal free game, in which said symbols, including said special symbol, are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols, when a first predetermined condition is established in the normal game executed in said processing step (A), said normal free game being executed without the bet of game media, wherein the first predetermined condition is a stop-display of the symbols in a predetermined stopped state;

(C) determining a payout of a predetermined amount of game media and executing a special free game, in which said symbols, including said special symbol, are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display, and game media are paid out in an amount corresponding to a stop-displayed symbol or a combination of stop-displayed symbols, when a second predetermined condition different from said first predetermined condition is established, said special free game being executed without the bet of game media and being more advantageous than said normal free game; and

(D) increasing a number of said special symbol that can be displayed to said symbol display, when the second predetermined condition different from said first predetermined condition is established.

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 Sep 29, 2009
From: SAITO, HIROKI; YOSHIZAWA, KAZUMASA; ABE, FUMIYA
To: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 023299/0652 →