GB2065948A - Gaming Machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A slot machine having a playing panel 1 divided into rows 2 and columns 3 of loss regions 4 and win regions 5 displaying a winning sum of money. Starting from a specific region or one chosen randomly, a finite number of regions 4, 5 are illuminated one after another in a random sequence the final one to be lit indicating the player has lost if it is a region 4 or how much the win is if it is a region 5. One of arrows 7 is illuminated, immediately prior to the illumination of the next region 4 or 5 in the sequence, to indicate in which direction the next illumination step will be and device 9 indicates how many illumination steps are left before the final win or loss display occurs. There is a delay of approximately one second between successive steps in the illumination sequence allowing the player to appreciate how the game is going. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slot Machine Indicating the Prospect of a Win The invention relates to a slot machine indicating the prospect of a win.

Slot machines are known having a playing panel provided with a plurality of regions which decide on whether the player wins or loses. The regions can be illuminated in a random sequence by a chance-dependent control member, for example a microprocessor equipped with a random number generator. When illumination is at an end the playing panel decides on a win or a loss. In the presently available, modern slot machines the complete playing sequence is electronically controlled by a microprocessor in which a programme corresponding to the particular playing sequence is fed in. A so-called random number generator is associated with the microprocessor in order to prevent a mathematical interrelationship when determining wins in successive games, so that the result of each game is dependent on chance. Such microprocessors and random number generators are known.In the known slot machines equipped with an illuminatable playing panel lamps are associated with the individual regions of the latter which, during the win determination sequence are illuminated in chance-dependent manner and random order, as a function of the programme fed into the microprocessor and the random number generator. In known slot machines of this type random individual regions are illuminated in a random sequence which cannot be perceived by the player and at the end of the illumination there is in each case a symbol combination consisting of several and generally three symbols by illuminated regions which, in their interaction decide on a win or a loss. The player is unable to observe the win determination sequence and instead must wait until the rapidly flickering illumination of the individual regions is at an end and the symbol combination is shown to him.To enable the player to check whether the indicated symbol combination represents a loss or a win, the machine carries a so-called game plan enabling the player to check whether the machine is paying him the correct amount in the case of a win.

The known slot machines are disadvantageous to the extent that due to the rapid sequence of illuminated regions the player is unable to observe the win sequence, which would increase the stimulus to play and also the entertainment effect.

An object of the invention is to obviate or at least mitigate this disadvantage by providing a slot machine which allows the player to follow the individual successive illuminations of the regions and the level of the loss or win appearing at each illumination step, until the final region illuminated decides whether he has won or lost. Such a machine greatly increases the entertainment and the stimulus to play.

According to the invention there is provided a slot machine indicating the prospect of a win with a playing panel provided with a plurality of regions deciding on a loss or a win, the regions being illuminatable in random sequence by a chance-dependent control member, and at the end of illumination the playing panel decides on a loss or a win, wherein starting from a first said region it is possible to illuminate in a random multiple sequence with a time interval of approximately 1 second other said regions indicating a win or loss, the final region illuminated showing a loss or the level of the win obtained.

The chance dependent control member can be a microprocessor equipped with a random number generator.

At the beginning of the game a region in the playing panel serving as the starting region is illuminated and successively random other regions are illuminated at time intervals of approximately 1 second, so that during the win determination sequence the player can recognise and follow the individual illumination steps in which loss and win regions are illuminated and giving the levels of the wins associated with the win region. The alternating display of losses or wins of different levels encourages the player to follow with interest the win determination sequence, so that the player is offered a high level of entertainment.

A specific region in the playing panel can always be used as the starting region, but the starting region may also be randomly selectable, either by the player operating a pushbutton or on a chance basis through the microprocessor. The individual regions of the playing panel can be arranged in a random manner.

In a preferred embodiment the playing panel comprises horizontally and vertically juxtaposed rows or regions, a loss region being arranged in each case between two win regions in certain rows, whilst the win regions of the horizontal rows are displaced with respect to the win regions of the vertical rows, whereas other rows only contain win regions. Starting with the starting region the panels are illuminated from top to bottom or left to right, the particular direction being selected in random manner by the microprocessor. The control is such that on illuminating a region forming the edge of the playing panel, said region is illuminated again during the next stage if the advance direction is towards the edge of the panel. However, the regions can also be illuminated diagonally.The directions in which successive illuminations take place is advantageously simultaneously made visible in a display device which is separate from the playing panel. In addition, on a further display arranged separately from the playing panel, the number of illumination steps can also be revealed for each individual step so that the player can always ascertain how many steps there are until a win or a loss will be finally decided. It is also advantageous that, after a certain number of first advance steps, by operating a pushbutton the player can delete these steps in order to obtain a new start of the win determination sequence. The playing panel can be constructed in random manner. For example some rows can be made longer than adjacent rows and the playing panel can also comprise circular, concentric rows arranged around a central region serving as the starting region.The advance directions can also be of a random nature, e.g. upwards, downwards, to the right, to the left and diagonally.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a front view of an embodiment of a slot machine formed according to the invention.

In the drawing the machine has conventional coin insertion slots, i.e. the credit mechanism, a display device for the individual games and a coin delivery or ejection cup or container. The playing panel 1 is located in the centre and comprises horizontal rows 2 and vertical rows 3 of different lengths, so that at the top and bottom the playing panel is constructed in stepped form. One of the rows 2, 3 contains a loss panel or region 4 having no inscription, whilst between in each case two loss regions 4 there is a win panel or region 5 indicating the win associated therewith. Thus, during the win determination sequence the player can follow which loss regions and which win regions of different levels are displayed until the final illuminated region indicates a loss or a win of a particular level.To the left and alongside the playing panel 1 is provided the display device 6 with four crossing arrows 7 illuminated in accordance with the advance direction of the individual illumination steps, so that the player can eslablish the particular advance direction on device 6. By illuminating the particular arrow 7 it is optionally possible on the device 6 to indicate the direction of the following region to be illuminated on the playing panel 1, before it is actually illuminated on the latter. Thus, the player knows the next region 4 or 5 to be illuminated on playing panel 1.

To the right and alongside playing panel 1 there is a second display device 8. In this embodiment there are seven illumination steps in sequence and the numbers 1 to 7 appear on device 8. For each illumination step the particular number of steps is displayed.

The slot machine carries a pushbutton 10 operable by the player enabling him after the first three advance steps to cancel them out in order to bring about a new start of the win determination sequence.

Claims (13)

Claims

1. A slot machine indicating the prospect of a win with a playing panel provided with a plurality of regions deciding on a loss or a win, the regions being illuminatable in random sequence by a chance-dependent control member, and at the end of illumination the playing panel decides on a loss or a win, wherein starting from a first said region it is possible to illuminate in a random multiple sequence with a time interval of approximately 1 second other said regions indicating a win or loss, the final region illuminated showing a loss or the level of the win obtained.

2. A slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the chance-dependent control member is a microprocessor equipped with a random number generator.

3. A slot machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the starting region can be selected at random.

4. A slot machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the playing panel comprises horizontally and vertically juxtaposed rows of said regions, in some rows a loss region is arranged between two win regions, the win regions of the horizontal rows are displaced with respect to the win regions of the vertical rows and certain rows only contain juxtaposed win regions.

5. A slot machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein during the stepwise sequence of illumination and starting from the previously illuminated region the in each case following regions can be progressively illuminated in a random direction and each region located at the edge of the playing panel can be illuminated again if the advance step is in the direction of the edge.

6. A slot machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the slot machine has a display device reproducing the number of juxtaposed or superimposed regions to be jumped in an advance step.

7. A slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the playing panel comprises a plurality of rows of regions, the number of regions in each row starting from the first row is reduced at the ends and in the rows regions are designated win or loss panels.

8. A slot machine according to claim 7, wherein in the playing panel one row of regions serves as starting regions which can be randomly selected by the player by means of an operating member and starting with the starting regions only the associated row of regions are individually illuminatable in chance-dependent direction in multiple sequence.

9. A slot machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the slot machine has a dispay device reproducing the direction of the individual advance steps.

10. A slot machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot machine has a display device reproducing the number of advance steps.

11. A slot machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the end of a number of advance steps, the first advance steps can be cancelled out by an operating member operable by the player in order to permit the playing sequence to recommence.

12. A slot machine according to claim 11, wherein the first three advance steps can be cancelled by the operating member operable by the player.

13. A slot machine as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.