WO2008055287A1

WO2008055287A1 - Communal gaming feature highlighting paylines

Info

Publication number: WO2008055287A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001587
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terry O'halloran
Original assignee: Stargames Corp Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Stargames Corp Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-10
Filing date: 2007-10-19
Publication date: 2008-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-10
Also published as: AU2006235986A1

Abstract

An arrangement is disclosed for use in a communal slot game or the like, where multiple paylines can be selected. On each player terminal, the winning paylines are shown on a display, corresponding to those active for that player based on player selections.

Description

COMMUNAL GAMING FEATURE HIGHLIGHTING PAYLINES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to slot machines, particularly those intended to be used in a communal outcome mode.

Background Art

Slot machines, known as fruit machines, poker machines, video slots, and the like in various markets, have long been a mainstay of casino operations. A typical video slot machine has 3-5 simulated reels, usually with at least 3 symbols visible at any time in a single column (symbols possibly including blank areas), to make a 3 by 3 or 5 by 3 grid. A payline is a series of symbol positions, generally forming a line that extends across various reels, across which paylines the various winning combinations of symbols must appear to provide a winning event to the player. The simplest payline is the central or middle of three symbols exposed on each reel across all 5 reels. Games with 20 or more paylines are increasingly popular and have come into widespread use. It is known in such games to continuously display the current state of the reels, including some simulation of movement when the game is played, and after each game, to highlight on that display the paylines which have produced a win. The present applicant has proposed a communal slot machine arrangement. In such a system, a single slot game is being played, which is displayed at least on a common screen, and optionally also on each player's terminal. The players may all be seated in one or more specific areas. Al! the players are playing the same set of reels. However, they may have bet upon different paylines, and wagered for different amounts, and so they may have a different result from their wagers, despite the game outcome being common for all of them. Such an arrangement is disclosed in, by way of non-limiting examples, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,570,885 (Omstein); 5,779,545 (Berg et al.); 6,099,408 (Schneir et a!.); 6,264,557 (Schneir et al.); and 7,097,562 (Gagner); and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. - 10/660,963 (O'Halloran), the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

This creates certain complications for the players. If many paylines are in use, it is not always easy to confirm that the correct symbol combinations have been paid out. On a conventional slot machine, the player can take as long as they like to check. However, in a communal slot game, the game generally continues in response to a timer, and the play may have moved on before a player can check all their paylines. It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement whereby the player of a communal slot can readily verify the winning paylines which have been paid out, in a quick and efficient manner.

Summary of the invention

In broad terms, the present invention provides a separate payline display for each player in a communal slot system, so that the player can verify which paylines have been recorded as a win based on the paylines which the player has elected to play.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a communal slot game system, comprising at least a plurality of player terminals, each including a display, and a game controller, wherein each player plays a common visually displayed game, controlled by the game controller, the game including displayed symbols common to all players, the game permitting each particular player to select one or more paylines from their respective terminal, each player terminal providing, at least after each game, a display indicating which paylines have resulted in a win for the particular player.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a communal game system, the system including a plurality of player terminals and a game controller, the game being visually displayed and including symbols and the ability to select paylines, the method including at least the steps of the game system:

Accepting bets, so that each player is permitted to select paylines and place wagers on the game; Closing bets;

Determining the game result, so that a series of symbols are displayed; Calculating and paying any winning bets on selected paylines to the respective player terminal; and Displaying, on each individual player terminal, an indication of the paylines which have won for that player.

Preferably, the display also indicates which paylines have and have not been played in the game displayed. In a communal game, while the final result may be the same in terms of symbols displayed, each player's outcome is also dependant upon the size of bets, and the paylines selected. Embodiments of the present invention provide the player with easily understood information about which paylines have been paid, so that the player can verify and hence have confidence in the game.

Brief Description of Drawings

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first screenshot of one embodiment of the present invention with a single payline win displayed for an individual player. Figure 2 shows a first screenshot of one embodiment of the present invention with a single payline win displayed for an individual player with a distinct time displayed until the next communal wager begins.

Figure 3 shows a first screenshot of one embodiment of the present invention with a single payline win displayed for an individual player and the reels progressing their virtual spin for a subsequent event.

Figure 4 shows a first screenshot of one embodiment of the present invention with a single scatter win displayed for an individual player.

Figure 5 shows a first screenshot of one embodiment of the present invention with 6 single payline wins displayed for an individual player on the individual lines on which the wagers had been placed.

Figure 6 illustrates is a conceptual diagram of an exemplary configuration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention will be further described and explained with reference to a particular implementation for a simulated reel slot game. It will be understood that the present invention may be implemented with any suitable simulated reel communal game. It may also be implemented for other video gaming machines, using symbols, for which paylines or similar options may be selected. The present invention may be implemented in a wide variety of ways, and the implementation described is intended to be illustrative, and not limitative of the invention. Figure 1 illustrates a screen on a touchscreen player terminal at a time when the game is prepared to accept a bet and payline selections. Along the top of the screen 12 are indicators of credit, bet placed, and the like. Along the bottom 11 are various functions, for example reserve the machine, cancel bet and play. The screen includes an area 17 where the game symbols will be displayed. There are buttons provide to select both credits per line 16, and lines to be played 15. There is also a countdown 14 to the game being played, which is also when the player terminal is locked down. Three seconds remain. A text display area 13 shows messages appropriate to the state of the game, currently in this screen place your bets. Importantly, there is an area 20 which includes an individual display area corresponding to each payline. The individual paylines are shown provided in two columns in which lines numbers 26 28 are displayed and actual results 30 32 are displayed in correspondence with the individual line numbers. In this instance, the player has selected one credit and one line, and a change of color (not readily visible in black and white) indicates that line 1 is active in area 20. Accordingly, the player knows in advance which paylines are active based upon his payline selections.

At figure 2, the countdown 14 has advanced to 1 second until the next communal spin. The text display indicates that a bet has been registered. At figure 3, the simulated reels can be seen spinning 17, and the game in underway. In figure 4, the game outcome has been determined, and the symbols are displayed in area 17. The display is for a no win on line 1. However, the area 20 also has a lien display for scatters, and the 3 symbols which make up a scatter win are shown is area 21 , together with an indication that the win is 125. The win is also shown in the general win indicator 18. Text area 13 accordingly shows 'winner' to the player.

In figure 5, a different game outcome is shown. Here, the player has selected 25 lines 15, and 100 credits per line 16. Area 20 displays, for each of the many winning paylines, which symbols form the winning combination, and the corresponding win value. Win indicator 18 shows the total of those wins.

Of course, depending upon the player selections, each player will have a different display, particularly in area 17. Alternative payline displays are possible. The winning paylines may be opened out, similar to an opened icon in a computer program. The display may toggle manually or automatically between displaying symbols and the payline display. The invention does not require that a particular form of display be used. Another alternative is for columns of only winning paylines to be displayed rather than the entire columns of all wagered payiines. For example, in Figure 5, only paylines 3, 10, 11 , 13, and 23 would be displayed on the screen, and the remaining paylines would not show up or be displayed at all when they have no winning events, it is also possible for all events on all wagered payiines to be displayed, but only winning events displayed with a highlighted or greater luminescence so that they can be readily distinguished from non-winning events. It is also possible to scroll through winning events, or particularly highlight or display the individual wins one at a time, with the display time coordinated so that complete display would be finished significantly before the time arrived for the next communal wager (e.g., at least 1-5 seconds before the next communal wager), unless the system allowed for continuous wagering input. That is, when the player has entered a command to continue a specific wagering pattern (e.g., maximum wagers on maximum numbers of lines; 10 units of wagers on all even number lines; 25 units of wager on each of lines 1-10; etc.), the display may extend into the spin period for the next event. It is also possible to provide a function where a player can recall a result of an earlier game by entering the session number and/or event number from a session, which is information that can be stored in the system. This might be done while pausing wagers between communal events, at the end of a session, or during another spin event. This could be provided in a box-in-box (screen-in-screen) function where a small portion of the total available screen surface would be dedicated to this "replay" or review capability, such as the area in Figure 5, below "game number: 29" and above the number of paylines to be wagered on by selection. The general technology described herein and claimed includes at least a communal slot game system and method of play on that system. The system may, by way of non-limiting examples, comprise at least a plurality of player terminals, each player terminal including a display and player data input format (e.g., touchscreen, joy-stick, mouse, button panels or combinations thereof). The system also has a game controller (preferably with the plurality of player terminals operating in a thin client mode with the game controller. Each player terminal provides each player in the system with the ability to pfay a common visually displayed game controlled by the game controller. The common visually displayed game usually must include displayed symbols and distributions of symbols common to all players. The game system permits each player to independently select one or more paylines from their respective terminal. Each player terminal provides, at least after a game, a display on the screen or separate supplemental screen indicating which independently selected paylines of that individual player have resulted in a win for the individual player. This may mean, for example, that each individual player screen may have a display of winning events and winning paylines that is different from one or more other individual screens, even though the communal event is the same event upon which all wins on all of the plurality of screens is based. The differences may be as slight as the amounts won, as where a first player places 1 unit on each payline and a second player places 2 units of wager on each payline. Where difference numbers of paylines are wagered on by different players, the perceived individual screen differences may be more pronounced. For example, where a third player wagers on only paylines 1-10, only winning events in paylines 1-10 may be shown on the third player's screen. If at the same time, a fourth player wagered on only paylines 5-15, only winning events in paylines 5-15 may be shown on the fourth player's screen, and the two displays would appear significantly different.

A communal slot game system may provide the additional display on a screen area that is additional to a player display area of the symbol outcome, and include an indication of which paylines are inactive or active for the relevant game. The communal slot game may allow the display to indicate which independently selected paylines of that individual player have resulted in a win for the individual player is a window within the player terminal display. The communal game may provide for each winning payiine, a display of the value won, and the symbols which provide the winning combination. The communal game may be a simulated reels game or any other game determined by randomly provided symbols with multiple paylines available in the palye of the game. A player may freeze or recall the display indicating which independently selected paylines of that individual player have resulted in a win for the individual player for a specific game event.

A method of operating a communal game system may include a plurality of player terminals and a game controller. The game is visually displayed and includes symbols and the ability of individual ones of the plurality of player terminals to select paylines and amounts wagered on selected paylines. The method may include at least the steps of: a) Accepting bets, so that each player is permitted to select paylines and place wagers on the communal game; b) Closing bets; c) Determining the game result by displaying a series of symbols; d) Calculating and paying any winning bets on selected paylines to respective individual player terminals; and e) Displaying, on each individual player terminal, an indication of the paylines which have won for that player.

The method may display a defined position for each payiine on each individual player terminal, but only winning paylines are displayed. The method may provide a defined position for each payiine to be displayed on each individual player terminal, but only winning paylines for the individual player terminal are displayed. The defined position for each payiine to be displayed may be on each individual player terminal and all winning paylines may displayed, with winning paylines for the individual player terminal highlighted.

The communal game may itself have a unique appearance. Appearance - the prime mode of display on a slot machine is the player's screen that represents the results [e.g., the 5 x 3 reel video slot], the player's available credit, how much is won in each game, the player bet level and various rules regarding the game. The design of the communal game is such that the 5 x 3 reel interface may be shown on a communal display with no reference to particular player's information. Each player's unique terminal displays that information as well as game rules and the like. It is preferred that each player terminal and the central display operate under a countdown. A bet must be placed and confirmed before this countdown reaches zero for the player to be involved in the game. A game on a conventional slot machine is activated by the player themselves with no countdown required.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may be used with any suitable slot game, configured for communal play. An underlying format for play of the communal game is on a system such as that described in the aforementioned O'Halloran US Patent Application Serial No. 10/660,963. That system may be described generally as capitalising on higher maximum bets allowable for linked machines whilst still providing a slot machine (moving reel type) game, whereby a central result is dispensed to a series of linked terminals or consoles. The preferred system can be played on a plurality of linked consoles which are, for example, each built similar to a standard slot machine so as to provide users with a familiar outlook. Each console can be linked to a central display via communication means, such as a wired or wireless hook up. This central display is incorporated as part of a central display unit (display means) which is responsible for determining a single result of a slot machine game effective and common for all consoles, such that the outcome of the players' wagers at each console is solely dependent on this single result. That is, a single slot machine game is performed for each of the linked gaming consoles participating in the game. Each player of each console makes an individual wager on the result of the game (i.e., on each move of the moving reels) which is communal to all of the participating consoles. The game is conducted and the single result thereof is effective for each of the participating consoles. Accordingly, the outcome of each of the players' wagers, i.e., win, loss or even, at each participating console, and therefore the payout, depends on this communal game result and on no other factor. Consequently, the players are advantageously enabled to make higher wagers on the slot machine game than is conventionally provided by regulation.

In playing the game, a player is required to undertake no actions other than to select a wager. That is, it is not necessary for a player to initiate the game, rather the central display unit provides the game play and determines a result of the game, preferably at predetermined times or intervals. Ideally the central display unit determines the result, displays the result, and calculates all winning bets based on the individual wagers to provide the individual console outcomes. In the preferred system the linked player consoles are merely used as a terminal for the players to insert money and make wagers on the game. The terminals may have a player interface which displays a history of player wagers, previous results, or other selected data and may assist the player in making wagers on the game by providing information on the game and the manner of placing bets. The consoles need not determine any results themselves if so required by regulatory requirements. If desired, a much simpler terminal can be used rather than a conventional slot machine. For example simple wagering terminals could be arranged in a bar or other area with a large, central display.

In more detail, a communal slot system is provided in which the game played is a slot machine game using moving (rotating) reels, rather than the aforementioned standard simulated Casino-style table games played on multi- terminal machines. The result of the game is a result as created on a slot machine and is a common result to all players on the individual consoles linked to the same central display unit. The players are rewarded for their wager on the game based on the prizes generated by lines and other combinations of symbols displayed on the moving reels.

The central display unit (central controller) determines a result every x units of time (e.g., seconds or minutes) and displays it on a standard display medium. The display unit, and also a screen of each of the individual consoles if desired, shows the number of lines played (selectable from 1 to y, where y is the maximum lines available) and the amount bet per ϋne. The determined result is then fed to the individual consoles dependent on the bet configuration so as to attribute any winnings (payouts) to the players based on their bets.

In summary of the above description, the present invention provides a system and method which creates a slot machine game with a communal result that allows players to experience games together where all players wager their individual bets on the one result of the game. Referring now to Figure. 6 a conceptual diagram of an exemplary arrangement of the present invention is shown. The central controller (1) monitors all player activity on the individual consoles (terminals) (3) linked thereto via communication means (4) and keeps a record of all player transactions and game results. The controller (1) accepts all bet configurations in an allocated timeframe, and then dispenses the result of the game once the game has been played out. For example, in a slot machine game a number of moving reels are rotated to result in a random drawing of a combination of symbols. Winnings are then awarded to the players in accordance with their particular wagers based on the correspondence of this resulting combination with predetermined winning combinations. As such, upon completion of the game through the generation of the result, the relevant winnings (payouts) are awarded to each console (3) that played that game.

The system and method of the present invention is also applicable to the playing of a game having a jackpot mode, in which the controller (1) may, for example, generate and display several consecutive results and award any resulting jackpot amount based on the players' initial wagers. Other game modes and betting configurations possible for slot machine games are also included within the scope of the system and method of the present invention. The individual consoles (3), which act as automated transaction stations, record al! player bets and previous results and are used to place individual bets. These consoles (3) are independent of each other in all respects except their common link to the result determination.

All results that are generated by the controller (1) may be visually displayed via a designated display unit (display means) (2) that also provides a visual representation of the game being played. This representation may show the random drawing of the combinations and all resulting winning combinations, and display a countdown to each game (i.e., the time remaining until the result of the next game is to be determined) based on the time allocation of the x units of time.

In the above description the controller (1) acts as processing means of the gaming machine system according to the present invention and the display unit (2) is provided in addition thereto, however the controller and display unit may alternatively both be part of the processing means in accordance with the present invention as shown by the dashed line box in Figure. 6.

Depending on the specific application in which the system and method of the present invention is being utilised a number of display units (2) may be included for easier viewing by players, or in circumstances where the controller

(1) is linked to consoles (3) in remote locations from the controller (1), such as in an adjoining room.

As described in the foregoing, the present invention involves the use of a slot machine game as a central determinant of game results to a number of players selecting wagers on the game. In this way a number of terminals playing a slot machine game can be linked as a multi-terminal gaming machine within regulatory requirements, since the results of the game are independent of the players' actions on the individual terminals. As a result, a higher return is provided for the players of the slot machine game than is typically possible for players of standalone slot gaming machines.

It is preferred that the payline indications indicate in some way that they have become active based upon the player selecting the payiine. This may be by changing color or pattern, blinking, changing to a color from a grey state, or any other suitable way. The game shown allows for a number of paylines to be selected, and the particular lines which are active is then determined automatically by the game.

Alternatively, means could be provided to allow the player to select particular paylines, for example by touching them on a touchscreen.

It will be appreciated that the present invention can be readily implemented using conventional GUI techniques, using the data which is generated by the communal game. Additional features could readily be implemented in the display, according to the wishes of the game designer, as is conventional in interface design.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A communal slot game system, comprising at least a plurality of player terminals, each terminal including a display, and a game controller, wherein each player in the system plays a common visually displayed game controlled by the game controller, the common visually displayed game including displayed symbols and distributions of symbols common to all players, the game system permitting each player to independently select one or more paylines from their respective terminal, each player terminal providing, at least after a game, a display indicating which independently selected paylines of that individual player have resulted in a win for the individual player.

2. A communal slot game system according to claim 1 , wherein the additional display is on a screen area that is additional to a player display area of the symbol outcome, and includes an indication of which paylines are inactive or active for the relevant game.

3. A communal slot game according to claim 1 , wherein the display indicating which independently selected paylines of that individual player have resulted in a win for the individual player is a window within the player terminal display.

4. A communal game according to claim 2, wherein for each winning payline, a display of the value won, and the symbols which provide the winning combination, is provided.

5. A communal game according to claim 1 , wherein the game is a simulated reels game.

6. A communal game according to claim 1 wherein a player may freeze or recall the display indicating which independently selected paylines of that individual player have resulted in a win for the individual player for a specific game event.

7. A method of operating a communa! game system, the system including a plurality of player terminals and a game controller, the game being visually displayed and including symbols and the ability of individual ones of the plurality of player terminals to select paylines and amounts wagered on selected paylines, the method including at least the steps of: a) Accepting bets, so that each player is permitted to select paylines and place wagers on the communal game; b) Closing bets; c) Determining the game result by displaying a series of symbols; d) Calculating and paying any winning bets on selected paylines to respective individual player terminals; and e) Displaying, on each individual player terminal, an indication of the paylines which have won for that player.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a defined position for each payline to be displayed is on each individual player terminal, but only winning paylines are displayed.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein a defined position for each payline to be displayed is on each individual player terminal, but only winning paylines for the individual player terminal are displayed.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein a defined position for each payline to be displayed is on each individual player terminal and all winning paylines are displayed, with winning paylines for the individual player terminal highlighted.