ES2199408T3 - GAME MACHINES. - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PLAYER MACHINES ACTIVATED BY THE PLAYER (1), SUCH AS THE "FRUIT" OR "POKER" MACHINES, ARE CONNECTED TO A CURRENT DISPLAY DEVICE, SUCH AS A SELECTION WHEEL (16), OR A REEL ASSEMBLY ( 22), AND A PRIZE IS PROVIDED ON ONE OR MORE OF THE MACHINES (1) DEPENDING ON THE VISUALIZATION OBTAINED IN THE COMMON VISUALIZATION DEVICE (16, 22). THIS CAN PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY OF AWARDS IN EACH MACHINE INDEPENDENTLY FROM OTHER MACHINES. ALTERNATIVELY, THE MACHINE CAN SHARE AN ADDITIONAL PRIZE.

Description

Game machines

Field and background of the invention

The present invention relates to machines of Game manageable by players.

The invention relates more in particular, although not exclusively, to game machines that work with coins from type of "fruit" or "poker" machines that have a main screen to show a selected combination of Symbols in a prize zone. When a game is played, it shows a selection of the combination of symbols and if that combination of symbols constitutes a prize combination determined, the player can get a prize.

As used here, the term "that work with coins "also includes tokens, credit cards or any other means that provides credit or monetary value.

Known fruit machines work from independent way, so the functional parameters limit the range of prizes that can be obtained, for example the Payment frequency, on a particular machine. However, in some circumstances, for example in casinos, in which the machines are operated in places where they are attached or near one of others there is the possibility that individual machines will interrelate and consequently the range of awards.

D1 (DE 39 02 084 TO)

The individual machines are attached to a box common display (6). This box (6) contains a button pressure (7) and indicator lamps (8, 9, 10) of the state of the heading of individual machines. The machines can play a common game and you can select a "high risk game".  However, all games are played on the machines using the screens of the individual machines. There is no screen common that works as a selector device and can perform by Himself a selection.

D2 (GB-A2 295 775)

A roulette machine has a table with a common central selector device (2) and multiple panels of connected bet (4). If a bet is won, a player can manipulate a boat selector (7). This is essentially a individual machine in which several players can play. There is not individual machines with their own items and their own game screens

D3 (WO 96 24421 TO)

It is a proportional boat device. Individual machines are used to play separate games. A common boat accumulates and is displayed visually on a screen common. The value of the boat is available later in the machines individual. The common screen shows only the value of the prize and does not work as a selector device that can perform  by itself a selection.

D4 (US-A-5 292 127)

Device similar to D3. In a common screen a progressive bonus is shown, although all Selections are made on individual machines. The screen common does not incorporate a separate selector.

D5 (GB-A-2 161 008)

Two players can play on a machine So the two are rivals. There is a single selector device (11, 12, 13). Separate machines with selectors not shown not even a separate common selector.

D6 (DE 195 33 418 TO)

Machines that have risk scales (12) are connected to a common screen (17). This screen (17) is the same screen as the one that appears on the machines with which the No players can also watch. This simply has the purpose of expanding the display of a machine. The screen (17) does not work as a selector device that can be operated separately and visually reproduce the determination of another prize.

Brief Description of the Invention

An object of the present invention is provides a game system using multiple game machines ready to improve the chances of prize.

With this provision you get a prize like consequence of a result from each individual machine, which can improve the range of awards that can be get with a machine that is handled so Independent.

How prizes you can get can be different from those that can be achieved with a machine independent and can also be achieved in a different way, by player can be offered a greater variety of games starting and entertainment and also, provided the structure of the award is determined by factors that are added to those that derived from an independent machine, there may be possibilities of improve prizes (i.e. higher prizes or increased frequency thereof). In this last aspect, the screen You can add award determination factors and / or multiple Machines can contribute to the award determination.

In one embodiment, the common screen can provide a reward determination feature additional for each machine, whereby the game moves to the screen from a machine, for example, as a result of a determined result that has been obtained in such a machine, and the player can get a prize through such machines as consequence of the result of an action that is displayed visually on the common screen.

In another embodiment, the common screen provides a reward determination feature for a plurality of machines, which, for example, a prize that has achieved as a result of a result obtained with a machine is shared with other machines, for example with other machines that are currently in play.

Each machine is preferably a machine that they work with machine-type "fruit" or "coin poker "described above. In particular, the machine it can be the type that has parallel rollers that revolve around of a common horizontal axis inside a housing and behind a window that is in the awards area, having each roller symbols in equidistant positions around its periphery and the rollers being arranged to rotate and stop with one or more symbols on each roller that can be seen through the window that is, for example, in a line of awards. Each machine can have manual controls such as "stay still "," squeeze "and the like so that the player intervene in a game, and each machine can have a screen Additional or "game feature" that can be used to improve the entertainment value of the machine and provide additional or alternative opportunities to beat through the game of an additional game.

It should be understood, however, that the invention it is not limited to roll type fruit machines that have been described before. Machines can use simulated rollers (video screens) or other symbol selection devices pseudo-random, and in fact the machines can be of any suitable type AWP (of game with prizes), SWP (of skill with prizes) or other.

As far as the common screen is concerned, you can take any appropriate form and so, for example, you can comprise a selector device, such as a rotating wheel with prizes marked on it, or a plurality of rollers Rotors similar to machine symbol selectors mentioned before. You can also use any other proper screen.

Individual machines can be placed laterally in a row like casing machines that rise from the ground, and the screen can be mounted as a unit separate, on top of machines with connections suitable in between.

Any other arrangement can also be used. suitable, and so the screen can be connected to all machines individual or only those selected, whether or not they are close each other or to the screen.

As regards the prizes that can be to find the invention, these can be of any type and by both can include cash prizes, tokens or any other type of credit, free games, points or any other type of suitable prize.

The invention is described below only by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

- Figures 1 and 2 are front views schematics of the machines that are connected to a screen common according to two embodiments of the invention.

- Figure 3, is a perspective view Schematic of one of the machines.

- Figure 4 and last, is a scheme of block connections illustrating a typical control device for the embodiments of figures 1 and 2.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to the drawings, these show parallel fruit machines that each have a housing in box shape 1 that rises from the ground with a front wall which includes upper and lower glass panels 2, 3, several operating buttons 5, 6, a coin slot 7 and one payment opening 8.

Inside the housing 1, there are three rollers 9 axially aligned having for example 20 symbols in regularly separated positions around its peripheries. The rollers 9 can rotate axially and are connected to motors corresponding 10 staggered. The rollers 9 are placed behind a window 11 defined by an area of the glass panel bottom 3. Each roller 9 can be stopped by its motor 10 corresponding in any of the 20 stop positions in the that a symbol matches a prize line in the center of the window 11 and you see two more symbols, one above and one above below the prize line.

The stepped motors 10 are connected to a control unit based on a microprocessor 12. This unit is also connected to a coin mechanism 13, a Payment mechanism 14 and buttons 5, 6.

In use, the player inserts coins into the coin mechanism 13 through slot 7. The coins have be sufficient to generate credit for one or more items, and the machine is operated so that a game can be played in that moment. The game starts after pressing a start button gear 5 and rollers 9 rotate and then stop to select A combination of symbols shown on the prize line. The control unit 12 evaluates the combination of symbols shown, and if the combination is winning an indication of prize.

Control buttons 5 can be used to perform the functions of "staying still" or "squeeze" when the player is given the opportunity, so that the player can try to influence the outcome of the game of conventional mode

The upper panel 2 is a glass panel transparent and within it there is a display area 15, which can be backlit and provides a feature of additional game.

As shown in figure 1, the machines of Parallel fruits are in fixed positions attached to each other. A screen 16 with its housing, is mounted in a fixed position in the top of the machines in the center of the row, so the player who is driving any of the machines can see easily.

The display has a motorized wheel 17 marked With prize values. The wheel can turn and then stop with one of those values aligned with a fixed marker 18.

The motor and control circuit 19 of the screen 16 are connected via a bus 20 with the units of 12 control of each machine.

Each of the machines connected to the screen 16 has a special feature by which, when getting a specific goal or game result on the machine, such as a specific combination of symbols on the rollers top 10, or a cumulative score, or a prize result of an additional game on screen 15, or similar, the screen 16 and the player has at that time the opportunity to get a prize like the one determined or indicated in the screen 16.

This can occur automatically. when wheel 17 turns automatically and the player gets the prize shown on wheel 17. As an alternative, the player You may be given the opportunity to manipulate the result by pressing a button to turn and / or stop the wheel 17.

The resulting prize can be transmitted from back to the corresponding machine, which activates screen 16, what what makes the prize paid and / or that prize can be accumulated on the machine with existing prizes or can be adopted Any other suitable action.

In this way, the players of each machine are It gives them the opportunity to get a prize. This adds entertainment and variety and also allows players get a prize higher than the maximum prize that can be obtained With an individual machine. Indeed, players can be give the opportunity to get a common boat in addition to the boats What's in the machines

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the arrangement It is similar to that of Figure 1, except that the screen 21 has three rotating rollers 22, each marked with values of prize, which revolve behind a window that has a line of central horizontal awards, same as with rollers 10 of Individual machines Screen 21 is connected to bus 20 similar to screen 16 described in the figure one.

With this provision, the transfer of the item to screen 19 from an individual machine, is produced in a manner similar to that of figure 1. The screen rollers rotate and they stop and the combination shown determines if a prize and if so, what is its value. In this way, you can get a prize if three identical values are shown in the line of awards, the prize being equal to that value.

Once a prize has been won with the screen 21, this is granted to all machines connected to said screen 21 and that are at stake at that time. Each machine can receive the same prize value on your screen, or the party corresponding prize distributed equally.

With this provision you can make the machine have a higher entertainment value and be improved the prizes, and in particular, a player has the opportunity to benefit even if you haven't been able to get a prize in the individual machine on which you are playing.

As described before, the screen is mounted on and connected to all machines in a row of machines They are connected. It should be understood that the invention is not Limit this provision.

Screen 16 or 21 can join a number limited of machines (for example between 2 and 5). By way of alternative, you can join more machines, which not necessarily They have to be attached to each other. Nor is it necessary that the display is next to or near the machines, provided it is in a position in which it is visible. Thus, the screen can join All the machines of a casino.

The screen can also be joined so selective only to some of the machines.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of the previous embodiment, which are described by way of example only.

So, for example, when a screen prize It is available for several machines, it can be shared, as described, in the sense that it is divided between machines that are playing at that time. As an alternative, without However, every machine that is currently playing can receive a prize equal to the value shown or you can use any Another base to share or double the prize.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the system it works so that when screen 16 is activated, it will be associated only with one of the machines 1, with which only you can use that machine to start and / or stop the wheel 17 (in the case where the opportunity to intervene in the selection with the wheel), and it's just that machine that benefits from any prize that can be get with screen 16. During such operation the screen 16, any association of the other machines is blocked 1 with said screen 16. That is, the other players machines can observe screen 16 although their machines do not they can enter a mode in which the game moves to the screen 16. This blocking may consist in preventing the opportunity to transfer the result from these other machines, or as an alternative, you can get the result but delay your run until you finish using the screen, for example, the result can be displayed visually to the player in the machine individual with a message that the transfer is being delayed, or any other machine action can be initiated before Inform the player that the transfer can be started.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, when activates screen 21 as a result of an achieved result in a machine, this can have the effect of getting in the way machines that are already at stake causing the game to be playing at that time is interrupted or canceled pending result of the operation of the screen 21, or as an alternative, you can let the current games continue simply paying any prize resulting from the operation of the screen 21 to the other machines that are in play by showing it to you to the player at the end of a game or at any other time suitable. The player can be informed of the potential prize additional by activating screen 21 and / or the activation of a signal, for example a blinking light, a illuminated or similar message on the individual machine, which can be Produce during or after the game being played.

As already said, the additional prize that is can get with screen 16 or 21 can have nature of a boat whose value may be higher than what can be achieved with an individual machine without using screen 16 or 21. The can be awarded randomly, or it can be determined depending on the operation of the individual machines, since the value accumulates on screen 16 or 21 depending on the set of the individual machines (for example according to the results certain achieved, the number of games played, etc.,) with which can be available when the value achieved in all the machines it has reached the determined boat level, paying this in a predictable, random way or according to another base. It is understood, however, that screens 16 and 21 can be also use to add other prizes besides the boat or alternative awards to it, and screen 16 or 21 can provide the opportunity to get a single prize or a range of awards.

Although reference has been made to machines Coin-operated fruits, machines 1 can be of other types. In addition, it is also possible to use various types of machines, for example at least one fruit machine in combination with one or more other machines.

Claims (13)

1. Game system comprising a plurality of machines (1) attached to a common screen (16), each machine being able to play a game that produces a first visual image (9) in said machine, and a first available prize in said machine (1) in the case where said first visual image (9) has a determined winning nature, characterized in that the common screen (16) comprises a selector device (17, 22) that is handled separately from said machines (1) to carry out an action comprising the selection of another screen, another prize being available on one or more machines (1) depending on the other selected screen mentioned. 2. Game system according to claim 1, characterized in that the other mentioned prize is available for one of the mentioned machines (1). 3. Game system according to claim 2, characterized in that the game can be transferred from one of said machines (1) to said common screen (16) as a result of a determined result that has been achieved in such a machine. 4. Game system according to claim 1, characterized in that the other prize mentioned is available for a plurality of said

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5. Game system according to claim 4, characterized in that the other mentioned prize is achieved as a result of a result that is achieved with one of said machines (1) and is shared or duplicated between one or more of the mentioned machines (1 ). 6. Game system according to claim 5, characterized in that the other prize mentioned is shared or duplicated between one or more of the aforementioned machines (1) participating at that time. 7. Game system according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the other prize mentioned is a jackpot that has a value greater than any of the first prizes mentioned. 8. Game system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each of the aforementioned machines (1) is a gaming machine that works with coins of the "fruit" or "poker" machine type mentioned above. before. 9. Game system according to claim 9, characterized in that each of the aforementioned machines (1) is of the type having multiple parallel rollers (9) that rotate around a common horizontal axis within a housing and behind a window ( 11) located in the prize area, each roller (9) having symbols in equidistant positions around its periphery and the rollers (9) being arranged to rotate and stop with one or more symbols on each roller (9) visible through the window (11). 10. Game system according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the common screen (16) comprises a rotating roller (17) in which the prizes are indicated. 11. Game system according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the common screen (16) comprises a plurality of rotating rollers (22). 12. Game system according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said machines (1) are arranged in a row. 13. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the common screen (16) is mounted as a separate unit on the top of the machines (1) with intermediate connections.