IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,019,867

Granted Patent B2

US 10,019,867 · App. 15/210,618 · Granted Jul 10, 2018

Gaming machine, control method for machine, and program for gaming machine

Inventor: Kazutaka Shiraishi (Zama, JP)

Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.

G07F17/3213 G07F17/32

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,019,867
App. No.: 15/210,618
Filed: Jul 14, 2016
Granted: Jul 10, 2018
Kind: B2
Examiner: D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
Art Unit: 3716
USPC: 463/20

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Abstract

A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells is arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. The control unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, randomly establishes a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells. The control unit is further configured to provide a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and to automatically add a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game.

Claims (91)

1. A gaming machine for providing a game to a player, comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive an operation of the player;

a display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns; and

a control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

provide a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically add a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the control unit, in automatically adding a new row of cells, is configured to add automatically add a plurality of new rows of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game.

2. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each column of cells includes an identical number of cells.

3. A gaming machine for providing a game to a player, comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive an operation of the player;

a display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns; and

provide a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically add a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein at least one of the columns of the plurality of cells includes m cells and wherein at least one other column includes n cells, where n<m.

4. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the game is a feature game, the gaming machine for providing a main game, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a trigger condition in the main game and to initiate the feature game in response to detecting the trigger condition.

5. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the main game and the feature game are video slot games, wherein each column of the plurality of cells has an associated virtual reel, the control unit being configured to rotate and stop the virtual reel during each instance of the main and feature games.

6. A gaming machine for providing a game to a player, comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive an operation of the player;

a display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns; and

provide a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically add a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the game is a feature game, the gaming machine for providing a main game, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a trigger condition in the main game and to initiate the feature game in response to detecting the trigger condition, wherein the main game and the feature game are video slot games, wherein each column of the plurality of cells has an associated virtual reel, the control unit being configured to rotate and stop the virtual reel during each instance of the main and feature games, wherein the feature game includes a predetermined number of free spins of the virtual reels.

7. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 6 , where at least one row of the plurality of cells includes m cells, and wherein during each free spin, the control unit is configured to:

dim a visual representation of reel ( 2 ) through reel (m),

stop reel ( 1 ), and,

while reel ( 2 ) through reel (m) are still spinning, highlight any symbols on reel ( 2 ) through reel (m) that are similar to symbols being displayed in the first column.

8. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in a grid having r rows and c columns.

9. A gaming machine for providing a game to a player, comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive an operation of the player;

a display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns; and

provide a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically add a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the plurality of cells are initially arranged in a 3-4-4-4-3 grid.

10. A gaming machine for providing a game to a player, comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive an operation of the player;

a display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns; and

provide a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically add a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, where the plurality of cells are arranged in a 3-4-4-4-4-3 grid.

11. A gaming machine for providing a game to a player, comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive an operation of the player;

a display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns; and

provide a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically add a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the game is a feature game, the gaming machine for providing a main game, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a trigger condition in the main game and to initiate the feature game in response to detecting the trigger condition, wherein, during the main game, the cells are displayed in a two-dimensional plane on the display unit and during the feature game, the cells are displayed inside of a virtual three-dimensional space on the display unit.

12. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the symbols displayed in the cells for each instance of the game form an outcome associated with a respective instance of the game, wherein the control unit being further configured to award a payout to the player as a function of each outcome.

13. A control method for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the method including the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the step of automatically adding a new row of cells, includes the step of automatically adding a plurality of new rows of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game.

14. A control method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein each column of cells includes an identical number of cells.

15. A control method for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the method including the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein at least one of the columns of the plurality of cells includes m cells and wherein at least one other column includes n cells, where n<m.

16. A control method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the game is a feature game, the gaming machine for providing a main game, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a trigger condition in the main game and to initiate the feature game in response to detecting the trigger condition.

17. A control method, as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the main game and the feature game are video slot games, wherein each column of the plurality of cells has an associated virtual reel, the control unit being configured to rotate and stop the virtual reel during each instance of the main and feature games.

18. A control method for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the method including the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the game is a feature game, the gaming machine for providing a main game, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a trigger condition in the main game and to initiate the feature game in response to detecting the trigger condition, wherein the main game and the feature game are video slot games, wherein each column of the plurality of cells has an associated virtual reel, the control unit being configured to rotate and stop the virtual reel during each instance of the main and feature games, wherein the feature game includes a predetermined number of free spins of the feature reels.

19. A control method, as set forth in claim 18 , where at least one row of the plurality of cells includes m cells, and wherein during each free spin, the control unit is configured to:

dim a visual representation of reel ( 2 ) through reel (m),

stop reel ( 1 ), and,

while reel ( 2 ) through reel (m) are still spinning, highlight any symbols on reel ( 2 ) through reel (m) that are similar to symbols being displayed in the first column.

20. A control method, as set forth in claim 13 wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in a grid having r rows and c columns.

21. A control method for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the method including the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in a 3-4-4-4-3 grid.

22. A control method for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the method including the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, where the plurality of cells are arranged in a 3-4-4-4-4-3 grid.

23. A control method for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the method including the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the game is a feature game, the gaming machine for providing a main game, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a trigger condition in the main game and to initiate the feature game in response to detecting the trigger condition, wherein, during the main game, the cells are displayed in a two-dimensional plane on the display unit and during the feature game, the cells are displayed inside of a virtual three-dimensional space on the display unit.

24. A control method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in a grid having/rows and m columns.

25. A control method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the symbols displayed in the cells for each instance of the game form an outcome associated with a respective instance of the game, wherein the control unit being further configured to award a payout to the player as a function of each outcome.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable memory including a plurality of instructions of a program for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the program of the gaming machine performing the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

27. A non-transitory computer-readable memory including a plurality of instructions of a program for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the program of the gaming machine performing the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

28. A non-transitory computer-readable memory including a plurality of instructions of a program for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the program of the gaming machine performing the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

29. A non-transitory computer-readable memory including a plurality of instructions of a program for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the program of the gaming machine performing the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in a 3-4-4-4-3 grid.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable memory including a plurality of instructions of a program for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the program of the gaming machine performing the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, where the plurality of cells are arranged in a 3-4-4-4-4-3 grid.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable memory including a plurality of instructions of a program for a gaming machine for providing a game to a player, the gaming machine including a control unit, an operation unit, and a display unit, the operation unit configure to receive operation from the player, the display unit operably coupled to the operation unit and being configured to display a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the control unit operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, being configured to randomly establish a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells, the program of the gaming machine performing the steps of:

providing, by the control unit, a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and,

automatically adding a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game, wherein the game is a feature game, the gaming machine for providing a main game, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a trigger condition in the main game and to initiate the feature game in response to detecting the trigger condition, wherein, during the main game, the cells are displayed in a two-dimensional plane on the display unit and during the feature game, the cells are displayed inside of a virtual three-dimensional space on the display unit.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2016

From: SHIRAISHI, KAZUTAKA

To: KONAMI GAMING, INC.

Reel/Frame 039161/0728 →

Continuity (2)

Provisional Application 62233581 · Sep 28, 2015

Related Publication 20170092043A1 · Mar 30, 2017