EP2141672A1

EP2141672A1 - Display system for playing a game

Info

Publication number: EP2141672A1
Application number: EP09275050A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Gerrard
Original assignee: Barcrest Group Ltd
Current assignee: Barcrest Group Ltd
Priority date: 2008-07-04
Filing date: 2009-06-30
Publication date: 2010-01-06
Also published as: GB0812216D0; GB2461343A

Abstract

An entertainment machine has a cabinet 1 having an upper front glass panel 2 which is screen-printed to define a central window area 3 through which a screen 4 of a VDU 5 is exposed. The VDU screen 4 shows a central rectangular play area 12, and various indicators 16, 17, above and beneath the play area 12. In one embodiment, the display shows a flat surface 20 having a matrix of symbols 19. The surface 20 moves (in simulation) to produce a changing display of multiple symbol combinations. The movement gives the impression of flying over the surface 20 with the surface 20 tilting and moving towards and away from the window 12. The movement takes place at a relatively slow speed so that the player can clearly see the symbol combinations. The final stage of the movement which involves bringing the surface 20 towards the window in flat disposition so that ultimately only three symbol combinations can be seen, occurs via a convoluted course such that the final display is not fully known until the movement terminates. This provides anticipation and entertainment for the player.

Description

This invention relates to a display device, particularly for displaying combinations of selected symbols, for use in playing a game. The invention is particularly although not exclusively concerned with such display devices forming part of a player-operable game-play apparatus or entertainment machine including player-operable coin-operated gaming or amusement machines, and gaming or amusement systems having player-operable terminals connected to remote servers. As used herein the expression coin-operated includes operation by coins, tokens, notes, credit or debit cards, or any other suitable means of providing credit or monetary value.
Conventional reel-based game-play apparatus, such as fruit machines, have a plurality of actual or video-simulated side-by-side symbol-bearing reels, say 3, 4 or 5 reels, which act as symbol selectors. During play of a game, after credit of a predetermined game-play stake value, the reels are rotated and then brought to rest to display, through a window or at a play area, on one or more win lines, one or more combinations of symbols on the peripheries of the reels. The (or each) such combination is evaluated and an award may be made available in the event that the combination is of a predetermined winning nature.
For play interest, and to enable the variety and number of selectable combinations to be enhanced, it is known to provide multiple win lines. For example, each reel may display say three consecutive symbols at the window or play area and there may be multiple straight or angled win lines through different arrangements of the different displayed symbols of the different reels. Also, it is known, particularly in the context of a video-simulated reel display to provide multiple sets of reels and this advantageously can provide a particularly enhanced range of selectable combinations.
Such known reel-based machines, are very well known and widely used, and players are familiar with the manner in which they operate. In particular, the players are aware that the reels have predetermined symbol sequences from which the symbol combinations are selected. With an actual reel, and as imitated with a video-simulated reel, symbols are typically printed on a peripheral reel band, at say 20 equally spaced positions. As the reel rotates the player can see the symbols appearing in sequence through the window or at the play area of the machine. Where the window or play area is large enough to display three consecutive symbols together on each reel, as mentioned above, the player can see near misses as well as final selected combinations, that is, the player can see symbols which might have been included in selected combinations had the rotation of the reels terminated earlier or later. This adds to interest and entertainment value and can also act to inform the player as to the basis on which selections are made, e.g. random selections from predetermined sequences, with reassurance as to the honesty of such selections.
However, one problem with rotatable reels is that the selected symbol combinations cannot be determined by the player until after all reels have rotated and come to rest. This can limit player interest during the selection process and, also, in the case where the player has the option to take further action after attaining a predetermined combination, there may be a delay before the player appreciates that the predetermined combination has been attained, such delays being undesirable in so far as they prolong game play duration.
In addition, having regard to the highly structured and limited mode of operation of reels, involving progression through a fixed sequence of predetermined symbols, limitations are inherently imposed on range and kind of combinations.
There is, therefore, a requirement for a device which can be used for displaying selected symbol combinations which does not have to rely on rotatable symbol-bearing reels, yet which can provide the player with interest, entertainment, information and reassurance, at least comparable with reel-based display devices.
According to the invention therefore, there is provided a display device for a player-operable entertainment machine for playing a game in which a selected outcome image is displayed at a win location and an award is made available to the player in the event that the outcome image is of a predetermined winning kind, the display device being operable to produce at a win location a changing display of a plurality of possible outcome images followed by an outcome display of the selected outcome image, wherein the said plurality of possible outcome images are provided on an area at positions spaced from each other in at least two dimensions and the changing display comprises movement relative to the win location of the said area such that multiple said outcome images are displayed at the win location.
With this arrangement, rather than seeing different parts of an outcome image change separately, as is the case with a conventional reel-based display device in which individual symbols change before an outcome combination is selected, the player can see an entire outcome image before it is selected. This can help the player quickly assess the identity or parameters of the selected outcome image. Also, since the player is seeing possible outcome images, rather than component parts, during the changing display, the player can be provided with clear information as to the nature and the manner of selection of the outcome images even with a very wide range of possible outcome images. This allows, in a manner acceptable to the player, increased or enhanced possibilities for selection of outcome images. Moreover, the movement of outcome images relative to the win location can provide a changing display of particular interest and entertainment value to the player whilst at the same time providing good information and reassurance as to the honesty of selection.
With regard to the area on which the outcome images are provided this may comprise a smooth surface which may be flat or it may be shaped on any regular or irregular basis e.g. it may be curved cylindrically, spherically or otherwise, or it may be polyhedral or otherwise angularly shaped. Alternatively the area may have a contoured configuration and thus may be in the form of a landscape i.e. having peaks and/or troughs projecting above and/or below a mid-plane which may be flat or shaped in like manner to the above mentioned smooth surface. The area may be freely exposed e.g. as an external surface of a body. Alternatively the area may be an internal area of a regular or irregular body such as the interior of one or more hollow bodies or compartments and/or of one or more passageways. Thus, for example, the area may be provided by a series of rooms linked by corridors or halls, or underground spaces linked by tunnels or the like. It is even possible for the area itself to be three dimensional e.g. as an area of space whereby the two-dimensional spacing of the outcome images may be in any two of the three dimensions.
There may be a single area, or multiple areas with provision for transition from one area to another. With such multiple areas, these may be displayed independently, one at a time, to the player. Alternatively, they may be displayed together e.g, as a stack, or side by side, at least during transition from one to another, so that the player can be made aware of the existence of the multiple areas. Such areas may be of the same or different kind and may have the same or different outcome images.
Transition between areas may occur as part of the said changing display. Thus the movement may transfer from one area to another on a random or pseudo random basis or triggered by some event or as initiated by the player. Alternatively or additionally the transition may occur after display of the selected outcome image, in dependence on such image or on any other factor, whereby play transfers to a different area. Alternatively or additionally one of the areas is selected for play in dependence on player choice or a random or pseudo random factor or in dependence on game stake value, as described hereinafter, or otherwise. Different areas may correspond to different levels of play in terms of complexity, value of awards, etc.
The outcome images may be provided on the (or each) area in any suitable manner. Thus, they may be distributed in predetermined regular conformation, such as a regular matrix, with images equally spaced side-by-side and also equally spaced one above another, or in the case of a three dimensional area in two or more of one above the other, side-by-side, and one behind the other. Alternatively a predetermined irregular, or random conformation may be used. The conformation may be fixed or may be changeable on any suitable random or predetermined basis under the control of the display device or under player control. Where multiple areas are provided, they may have the same or different conformations.
The outcome images may take any suitable form and may be fixed or changeable. The outcome images may be of an elongate nature and may all extend in a common direction on the (or each) area. Most preferably the outcome images comprise symbol combinations which may be of the kind used in reel-based gaming apparatus as described above. Thus, for example, there may be say five symbols in a line which may be selected from playing card indications, e.g. A, K, Q, J, and/or fruit representations, and/or other symbols such as dice, numbers, pictorial representations of roulette wheels, a joker, etc. In the case of symbol combinations collectively the outcome images may be provided by continuous rows and columns of symbols. Each outcome image may have the same number of symbols, say five, and these may be equally spaced from each other and such spacing may be equal to the spacing of the outcome images whereby the entire display may consist of equally spaced rows of equally spaced symbols.
In one embodiment the outcome images are predetermined and fixed. It is however also possible to allow for changing of the images, e.g. by movement of individual symbols in a symbol combination image by simulation of rotation of symbol-bearing reels or otherwise. This changing may take place as part of the aforesaid changing display or at a different stage and may be under the control of the display device and/or under the control of the player.
The changing display movement may be of any suitable kind. In one embodiment, where the area constitutes a flat or contoured surface, the movement takes place over the surface in the said two dimensions along a continuous course which may be of any suitable straight, angular or curved configuration, preferably smoothly curved. Thus, the movement may simulate flight over the area, or, in the case of an internal area as described above, the movement may simulate travel within the body e.g. travel from room to room along corridors in a building or though tunnels or otherwise. In addition to movement in the said two dimensions over the surface there may also be movement in the third dimension towards and away from the surface of the area. This third dimension may always be perpendicular to the surface, or it may be at a fixed or variable angle e.g. such that the area tilts towards or away from the win location.
In the case of an area which is a three dimensional space, the movement may simulate flight through outer space or under water or the like.
Additionally or alternatively, the movement may involve change in conformation of the (or each) area e.g. such that it stretches or distorts or deflects.
The win location may comprise a window or a play area and the outcome images may only be displayed at such window or play area. It is however also possible for the images to be displayed additionally around the window or play area to give a greater area for the changing display.
The arrangement may be such that only a single selected outcome image is displayed at the win location after the changing display. Alternatively, multiple selected outcome images may be displayed. In the case where the images are lines of symbol combinations, three such images may be displayed, with the symbols in alignment, one above the other in simulation of reel-based gaming apparatus which displays three symbols from each reel at the window or game play area.
The display device described above is preferably incorporated in a player-operable game-play apparatus or an entertainment machine. The display device may be operable, as described above, in playing the sole, or main game of the apparatus. Alternatively, the display device may be operable as described above for playing a subsidiary game, such as a feature game or bonus game which is made available in dependence on the outcome of a different main game or which is made available as a consequence of some bonus event or otherwise. In this case the main game may be a conventional reel-based symbol-selection game.
Most preferably, the game-play apparatus or entertainment machine is coin-operated whereby operation of the display device may be dependent on actuation of the apparatus with a predetermined game-play stake. Where multiple areas are provided the number of areas available for play may be determined by the stake value selected by the player. Alternatively, the number of areas available for play may depend on the outcome of a previous main game or play with a first area.
The (or each) selected outcome image displayed with the display device may be evaluated, by evaluation means, and utilised to determine an award which may then be made available to the player with award means. Where the outcome image is a symbol combination win evaluation may be effected along one or more win lines at the win location e.g. in simulation of a reel-based gaming machine.
All awards may be a monetary value paid or credited to the player. Alternatively or additionally there may be other kinds of awards, such as transfer to a bonus or feature game which may have enhanced possibilities for attaining monetary awards.
The game play may also take place via the internet, mobile telephone, handheld console, or any other device. In that case, the play area is provided by the video screen area of the said device.
The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1: is a diagrammatic representation of one form of an entertainment machine incorporating a display system according to the invention;
Figure 2: is a diagrammatic block circuit diagram of the machine of Figure 1;
Figures 3 & 4: are detailed views of displays of the machine of Figures 1 and 2.

As shown in Figure 1, the entertainment machine has a floor-standing, wall-mounted, or table-top box shaped cabinet 1 having an upper front glass panel 2 which is screen-printed to define a central window area 3 through which a screen 4 of a VDU 5 is exposed.
Above or below the panel 2 at a convenient location there is located a coin or note slot 6 for introduction of coins, tokens or notes, and below the panel 2 there is a pay-out opening 7.
As shown in Figure 2, within the cabinet 1 there is mounted the VDU 5, a receiving mechanism 8 for coins, tokens or notes connected to the slot 6, a pay-out or award device 9 connected to the outlet 7, and a processor unit 10 with an evaluator 10a to which these parts are connected.
Beneath the panel 2 there are player-operable push buttons 11 which are also connected to the processor unit 10. It is also possible to use touch-screen controls.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the VDU screen 4 shows a central rectangular play area 12, and various indicators 16, 17, above and beneath the play area 12. Some of the indicators 16 relate to functions, such as 'Start', 'Autoplay', 'Help', 'Exit' and these may relate to corresponding press buttons 11, or may be touch screen areas. Other indicators 1'7 provide digital or alphanumeric displays recording e.g. game-play credit and winnings.
As shown in Figure 3, the play area 12 can provide a display simulating five side-by-side fruit machine reels 1 &, that is reels having symbols 19 at equally spaced positions around their peripheries and which have each rotated to come to rest to display three consecutive symbols 19, in a vertical column one above the other at the play area 12 with the symbols of the different reels 18 aligned in three horizontal rows.
In accordance with conventional practice, the machine includes an evaluator 10a which evaluates combinations of the symbols 19 displayed at the play area 12 along one or more win lines, such as the central horizontal win line 15. If desired any one or more of the three rows of horizontally aligned symbols 19, and various diagonal, stepped, zig zag or other angular paths across the five columns of symbols 19 may be win lines. The award device 9 of the machine is associated with the evaluator 10a whereby an award can be made available when an evaluated symbol combination is of a predetermined winning nature.
After insertion of coins, tokens or notes into the slot 6 to an amount at least equal to a predetermined game-play stake value, the machine can be operated to play a game. Credit is shown on the credits indicator 17.
The player may now have the option of playing a conventional game using the reels 18 shown at the main play area 12 with multiple win lines. In that case, after pressing the start button 16 the reels 18 rotate and then come to rest and winnings are indicated on the winnings indicator 17 in the event that a winning combination is attained on a win line 15. By operating an exit button 16 the player can obtain a payout of accumulated winnings or transfer this to credit for use in playing further games. If desired the buttons 16 may include one or more of gamble, nudge, hold or other buttons whereby the player can seek to influence the selection of the winning combinations and/or gamble an attained award.
Alternatively or additionally the player can play a different selection game. This may be available automatically for all games, or it may be available at the option of the player e.g. by utilising a higher stake value or by substituting the multiple selection game for the multiple win line game described above, or it may become available on an occasional e.g. random basis or as a bonus game triggered by a bonus event.
This different selection game involves a changing display of symbol combinations within the window 12 ending with three static symbol combinations one above the other, as shown in Figure 3, but not using rotatable reels.
As shown in Figure 4, after pressing the start button 16, a display appears within the window 12 of a flat surface 20 having a matrix of symbols 19 equally spaced in horizontal rows and vertical columns. The symbols 19 are those which appear on the simulated rotatable reels 18, namely, playing card indications A, K, Q, J, numbers and pictorial symbols. The symbols 19 are arranged with various winning and non-winning five-symbol combinations. As shown in Figure 4 several rows and columns, in excess of the rows and columns which can be seen in Figure 3, can be seen through the window 12, this being possible because the displayed surface 20 is shown (in simulation) as being spaced behind the window 12.
The surface 20 moves (in simulation) behind the window 12 to produce a changing display of multiple five-symbol combinations which are defined by each set of five adjacent symbols in each of the rows of the matrix of continuous rows and columns of equally-spaced symbols 19. The movement gives the impression of flying over the surface 20 with the surface 20 tilting and moving towards and away from the window 12. This tilting may be angular movement of the surface 20 or it may incorporate a twisting affect whereby some symbols 19 may become distorted as well as being angled away from the window. The movement is along a smoothly curved course which is randomly, or pseudo-randomly determined. After a predetermined period of time, the course of the movement focuses on a set of three symbol combinations and these are then displayed, in static representations, in the window 12 in like manner to Figure 3.
The movement along the course and to the target symbol combinations takes place at a relatively slow speed so that the player can clearly see the symbol combinations. The final stage of the movement which involves bringing the surface 20 towards the window in flat disposition so that ultimately only three symbol combinations can be seen, occurs via a convoluted course such that the final display is not fully known until the movement terminates. This provides anticipation and entertainment for the player in so far as it may appear that the movement is likely to bring a high value combination on to the win line, yet finally an adjacent losing or lower value combination may be selected.
The operation of the display may be wholly under the control of the machine whereby the final display is selected on a random or pseudo-random machine-controlled basis. Alternatively, provision may be made for some intervention by the player whereby, by operating buttons 16, the player may be able to influence the course of movement or final selection.
The final static display is subjected to win evaluation in the same manner as that described above, in relation to the central win line 15, and/or to other win lines, and any resulting award is credited to the player as described above.
The movement effect may be achieved in any suitable manner, as also may be the display of the selected outcome images. Thus, for example, there may be in software a predetermined matrix of symbols which is converted to a moving image by suitable 3D conversion software, the course of movement also being determined by software, and the end position being determined by reference to the known position of a pre-selected one of the combinations on the predetermined matrix.
The movement over the surface 20 simulates the movement of a 'flying carpet' over a ground surface, finally landing at a position on the surface. Thus, the affect may be that of gliding, swooping, twisting, diving and finally homing-in and landing on an area which fills, in enlarged view, the window 12.
With this arrangement, the player is provided with an interesting and entertaining selection display alternative to rotation of reels. Since the player is presented with moving symbol combinations, rather than changing symbols within combinations, the player can more readily see and assess a selected combination. Further, the number and range of possible combinations does not have to be unduly limited, as is the case with rotatable reels, because the player can see, during the changing display, all of the combinations from which the selection is being made and is therefore reassured as to the manner in which the selection occurs and its honesty. In particular, the player can see very many different combinations at the same time and knows that all of these are therefore available. With rotatable reels, the player can only see three combinations at the same time and cannot be aware of other available combinations.
It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.

Claims

A display device for a player-operable entertainment machine for playing a game in which a selected outcome image is displayed at a win location and an award is made available to the player in the event that the outcome image is of a predetermined winning kind, the display device being operable to produce at a win location a changing display of a plurality of possible outcome images followed by an outcome display of the selected outcome image, wherein the said plurality of possible outcome images are provided on an area at positions spaced from each other in at least two dimensions and the changing display comprises movement relative to the win location of the said area such that multiple said outcome images are displayed at the win location.
A display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the area on which the outcome images are provided comprises a smooth surface which is any one of: flat, shaped on a regular or irregular basis, of a contoured configuration, an external surface of a body or an internal area of a body.
A display device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the area is a three dimensional area of space whereby the two-dimensional spacing of the outcome images is in any two of the three dimensions.
A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is a single area, or multiple areas with provision for transition from one area to another the areas being displayed one at a time or together, and the areas being either of the same or of a different kind and having either the same or different outcome images.
A display device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the movement transfers from one area to another on a random or pseudo random basis or triggered by some event or as initiated by the player and the transition occurs after display of the selected outcome image, in dependence on such image or on any other factor, whereby play transfers to a different area, the area selected for play being determined in dependence on player choice or a random or pseudo random factor or in dependence on game stake value.
A display device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the outcome images are provided on the (or each) area in a predetermined regular, irregular, or random conformation, the conformation being fixed or changeable on any suitable random or predetermined basis under the control of the display device or under player control.
A display device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein each area has the same conformation or has a different conformation.
A display device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the outcome images are of an elongate nature and all extend in a common direction on the (or each) area.
A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outcome images are provided by continuous rows and columns of symbols and wherein each outcome image has the same number of symbols, equally spaced from each other and such spacing equal to the spacing of the outcome images whereby the entire display may consist of equally spaced rows of equally spaced symbols.
A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outcome images are fixed or changeable.
A display device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the changes take place as part of the aforesaid changing display or at a different stage under the control of the display device and/or under the control of the player.
A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein in addition to movement in the said two dimensions over the surface there is movement in the third dimension towards and away from the surface of the area.
A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the movement may involve change in conformation of the (or each) area.
A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the win location comprises a window or a play area and the outcome images are only displayed at such window or play area or wherein the images are displayed additionally around the window or play area
A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a single selected outcome image is displayed at the win location after the changing display or wherein multiple selected outcome images are displayed at the win location after the changing display.
A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the display device described above is incorporated in a player-operable game-play apparatus or an entertainment machine and operation of the display device is dependent on actuation of the apparatus with a predetermined game-play stake.
A display device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the display device is operable in playing the sole, or main game of the apparatus or wherein the display device is operable for playing a subsidiary game of the apparatus.
A display device as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the number of areas available for play is determined by the stake value selected by the player or on the outcome of a previous main game or play with a first area.
A display device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the (or each) selected outcome image displayed with the display device is evaluated, by evaluation means, and utilised to determine an award which may then be made available to the player with award means, the awards being a monetary value paid or credited to the player or the awards are a transfer to a bonus or feature game.
A display device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein when the outcome image is a symbol combination win evaluation is effected along one or more win lines at the win location.