US20080085750A1

US20080085750A1 - Gaming machine and gaming method thereof

Info

Publication number: US20080085750A1
Application number: US11/862,507
Authority: US
Inventors: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
Original assignee: Aruze Corp
Current assignee: Universal Entertainment Corp
Priority date: 2006-10-04
Filing date: 2007-09-27
Publication date: 2008-04-10
Also published as: JP2008086651A

Abstract

A gaming environment, in which an award is provided based on the symbol combination arranged in the symbol display area, is described. Especially a gaming environment, in which the display mode of the symbol display area is changed from a first display mode in which the symbols are displayed to a second display mode in which an award image is displayed, and a special award is provided based on the award image, when a symbol combination displayed on the display area is a predetermined symbol combination, is described.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims a priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-273102 filed on Oct. 4, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field
The present invention relates to a gaming machine and a card game playing method in which an award is provided based on the symbol combination arranged in the symbol display area, especially relates to gaming machine and a card game playing method in which the display mode of the symbol display area is changed from a first display mode in which the symbols are displayed to a second display mode in which an award image is displayed, and a special award is provided based on the award image.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, gaming machines in which an award is provided to a player based on the symbol combination displayed on the symbol display area. Slot machines and card gaming machines (for example, poker gaming machines) are well-known as such gaming machine.
For example, in the slot machine, plural reels are rotatably arranged with plural symbols displayed thereon, and based on the internal lottery result, the game result is notified by stopping and displaying symbols of each reel on a predetermined winning line.
Video slot machines may also be used in additional to above real mechanic slot machines, wherein reels are not actually used, symbol columns including plural symbols are variably displayed, based on the internal lottery result, the game result is notified by stopping and displaying symbol columns.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, one or more aspects of the present invention relate to a gaming machine, a gaming method thereof, a game system, a computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions or the like that the display mode of the symbol display area is changed from a first display mode in which the symbols are displayed to a second display mode in which an award image is displayed, and a special award is provided based on the award image, when a symbol combination displayed on the display area is a predetermined symbol combination, the interest on winning a special award is strengthened.
One or more of the above aspects of the invention is more fully described in the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purpose of illustration only and not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages and principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a lower display during the variable display of a bonus character and target symbols of a slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a lower display before the variable display of the bonus character and the target symbols of a slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a lower display after the variable display of the bonus character and the target symbols, and a bonus award image of a slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the position of each symbol display area of a slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the symbol columns corresponding to each reel display area of a slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an award table showing the content of the awards according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a main control process program in the slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a main game process program in the slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a bonus award process program in the slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a bonus award table in the slot machine according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 13 is an outline view of a poker gaming machine according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a main control process program in the poker gaming machine according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a bonus award table in the poker gaming machine according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing an example of a lower display before the variable display of the bonus character of the poker gaming machine according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing another example of a lower display before the variable display of the bonus character of the poker gaming machine according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing a lower display during the variable display of the bonus character of the poker gaming machine according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a lower display after the variable display of the bonus character, and the bonus award image of the poker gaming machine according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various aspects summarized precedingly may be embodied in various forms. The following description shows by way of illustration of various combinations and configurations in which the aspects may be practiced. It is understood that the described aspects and/or embodiments are merely examples, and that other aspects and/or embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
It is noted that various connections are set forth between items in the following description. It is noted that these connections in general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.
A gaming machine according to one or more aspects of the invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment embodying one or more aspects of the invention as a slot machine, a server, a game system. However, it is appreciated that one or more aspects of the present invention may be embodied in distributable (via CD and the like) or downloadable software games, console games, and the like. Aspects of the invention are described by way of hardware elements. However, it is appreciated that these elements may also be software modules that are executable in a computer. The software modules may be stored on a computer readable medium, including but not limited to a USB drive, CD, DVD, computer-readable memory, tape, diskette, floppy disk, and the like. For instance, aspects of the invention may be embodied in a JAVA-based application or the like that runs in a processor or processors. Further, the terms “CPU” and “processor” are inclusive by nature, including at least one of hardware, software, or firmware. These terms may include a portion of a processing unit in a computer (for instance, in multiple core processing units), multiple cores, a functional processor (as running virtually on at least one of processor or server, which may be local or remote). Further, in network-based gaming systems, the processor may include only a local processor, only a remote server, or a combination of a local processor and a remote server.
It is contemplated that one or more aspects of the invention may be implemented as computer executable instructions on a computer readable medium such as a non-volatile memory, a magnetic or optical disc. Further, one or more aspects of the invention may be implemented with a carrier signal in the form of, for instance, an audio-frequency, radio-frequency, or optical carrier wave.
Hereinafter, concerning with a gaming machine which is used in a video slot machine according to the present invention, the embodiment embodying the present invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings.
A video slot machine is a slot machine including image display devices such as liquid crystal display, and a game is executed by displaying images of symbols on the image display devices.
Here, an outline of a game executed in the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7.
In the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment, when a game is executed, a symbol display portion 7 including five reel display areas 23 to 27 (see FIG. 7) are displayed on a lower display 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the symbol display portion 7 is constructed from fifteen symbol display areas 31 to 45, wherein the symbol display areas 31 to 45 are arranged in a matrix constructed from three rows and five columns. In other words, each of the five reel display areas 23 to 27 includes three symbol display areas arranged in a lengthwise direction. For example, the reel display area 23 includes a symbol display area 31, a symbol display area 32, and a symbol display area 33, which are arranged in a lengthwise direction.
A game is started based on the gaming start operation by a player (for example, operation of the start button 18). In the symbol display portion 7, based on the symbol columns consisting of the symbols 90 (see FIG. 5), variable display of symbol columns is executed in a unit of reel display area. After a predetermined time has passed since the variable display of symbols 90, the determined symbols determined by a symbol determination process (S13) will be stopped and displayed on each symbol display area 31 to 45.
As shown in FIG. 5, five columns of symbols may be variably displayed on each of the reel display areas 23 to 27. There is a total of eleven kinds of symbols 90 which may be displayed on each columns of symbols. They are “Wild” 90A, “Red seven” 90B, “Blue seven” 90C, “Bar” 90D, “Eight” 90E, “Bell” 90F, “Watermelon” 90G, “Plum” 90H, “Orange” 90I, “Cherry” 90J, “Blank” 90K.
In the symbol determination process (S13), the symbols which are stopped and displayed in the middle of each reel display areas 23 to 27 are determined first. Then the symbols 90 which are arranged above or below the middle symbols 90, are determined as the symbols which may be displayed on the upper or the lower display area of the current display area. It is determined that the symbols each of which is stopped and displayed in the fifteen symbol display areas 31 to 45 of the symbol display portion 7, in the symbol determination process (S13). In other words, a group of symbol combination consisting of a game result may be determined in the symbol determination process (S13).
After symbol combinations are determined in the symbol determination process (S13), in a symbol display process (S14), the determined symbols 90 may be stopped and displayed in each of the symbol display areas 31 to 45 respectively.
After a group of symbol combination is stopped and displayed in the symbol display portion 7, in the slot machine 1, an award may be determined to the symbol combination, by an award determination process (S15).
In the award determination process (S15) of the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment, it is determined whether a predetermined winning combination (see FIG. 6) is satisfied. A predetermined winning combination is determined by the numbers of the same symbols 90 each of which is stopped and displayed in the symbol display portion 7. Regarding the last column “Any seven” shown in FIG. 6, the “Red seven” 90B and the “Blue seven” 90C are treated as the same symbols 90 of “Any seven”.
Here, the award determination process (S15) will be explained with concrete examples. For example, for the case as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in the symbol combination each of which is stopped and displayed in symbol display areas 31 to 45, one “Wild” 90A, three “Red seven” 90B, and one “Blue seven” are included. The symbol of the “Wild” 90A is a symbol may be regarded as any of the other ten symbols 90. Therefore, in the symbol combination of above examples, there is a total of five “Any seven” symbols (The “Wild” 90A may be regarded as “Any seven”.). It can be determined that “Any 5” of the “Any seven” is a winning combination (see FIG. 6).
Furthermore, in the symbol combination, one “Wild” 90A and three “Eight” 90E are included. In other words, it can be considered that four of the “Eight” 90E are included in the symbol combination. Therefore, the symbol combination of “ANY 4” of the “EIGHT” may be also determined as a winning combination.
Here, in slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment, if the symbol combination determined in the symbol determination process (S13) satisfies a predetermined bonus award condition, a bonus award will be paid out to a player. The bonus award is an award different from the award based on the award determination process (S15) (abbreviated as “normal award” hereinafter).
In the slot machine 1, as shown in FIG. 4, a number of 31 to 45 is associated with each of the fifteen symbol display areas 31 to 45 respectively. The bonus award condition is that more than three same symbols 90 are stopped and displayed adjacently on the symbol display areas each of which constructs either of the upper row, the middle row or the lower row, in a crosswise direction.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, if three “Eight” 90E are stopped and displayed on the symbol display area 32, 35 and 38, which is arranged on the middle row of the symbol display portion 7, the bonus award condition is satisfied.
In the example of FIG. 2, three “Eight” 90E are stopped and displayed adjacently on the middle row. However, the award condition may also be satisfied if other symbols (for example, “Cherry” 90J are arranged adjacently instead of three “Eight” 90E.
In FIG. 2, three same symbols 90 are arranged adjacently on the middle row of the symbol display portion 7 from the most left side, these same symbols may also be arranged in the middle of the middle row (in the symbol display areas of 35, 38 and 41, as shown in FIG. 4), and may also be arranged on the most right side of the middle row (in the symbol display areas of 38, 41 and 44, as shown in FIG. 4). In either case mentioned above, the bonus award condition is also satisfied.
Furthermore, in FIG. 2, three same symbols 90 are arranged adjacently on the middle row of the symbol display portion 7. However, if more than three same symbols 90 are arranged adjacently on the upper row (the symbol display areas of 31, 34, 37, 40 and 43, as shown in FIG. 4), or on the lower row (the symbol display areas of 33, 36, 39, 42 and 45, as shown in FIG. 4), the bonus award condition is also satisfied.
When the symbol combination which satisfies the bonus award condition is displayed on the symbol display portion 7, on the lower display 6, a model of train is displayed as a bonus character 95 (S22).
The bonus character 95 is displayed on the row which satisfies the bonus award condition, so that the bonus character may cross the row from the left side to the right side (abbreviated as “variable display of the bonus character 95). And if the bonus character 95 passes the symbol displayed on the most right side after crossing the three same symbols 90 (abbreviated as “target symbols”), symbol images corresponding to the target symbols may follow the variable display of the bonus character 95. Images corresponding to the target symbols may also cross the lower display 6 from the left side to the right side (abbreviated as “variable display of the target symbols) (S23).
For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the bonus character 95 is variably displayed cross the middle row of the symbol display portion 7. The three “Eight” 90 E displayed in the symbol display area 32, 35 and 38 consist the target symbols in the example shown in FIG. 2. After the bonus character 9 passes the symbol display area 38, the image of the target symbols is variably displayed cross the lower display 6 from the left side to the right side, corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95.
As shown in FIG. 1, when images of the target symbols are variably displayed corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95, a bonus award image 97 may be displayed in the symbol display area in which the target symbols were once displayed. The bonus award image 97 is an image to show the bonus award which is provided to a player. The bonus award is a kind of award which is determined in the after-mentioned bonus determination process (S21), and is different from the normal award which is determined in the award determination process (S15).
And when the bonus character 95 and the images corresponding to the target symbols, are variably displayed from the left side to the right side gradually, the bonus award image 97 may be displayed slowly on the symbol display area, in which the target symbols were once displayed (in the case of FIG. 1, the symbol display area 32 and 35) (see FIG. 1).
After the bonus character 95 and the images of the target symbols crosses the lower display 6 from the left side to the right side, as shown in FIG. 3, a bonus award image 97 indicating a bonus award of “250” is displayed on the symbol display areas (in this example, the symbol display areas of 32, 35 and 38), on which the target symbols (the three “Eight” 90 E) were once displayed.
And in the slot machine 1, a payout process (S19) is executed when the bonus award image 97 is displayed completely, corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95. In S19, the bonus award corresponding to the bonus award image 97 may be paid out, together with the award based on result of the award determination process (S15).
In the example shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the normal award for the winning combination of “Any 5” of the “Any seven” is “20”, and the normal award for the winning combination of “Any 4” of the “Eight” is “2”. Furthermore, in this example, since a bonus award condition is satisfied, an award of “250” may be also provided to the player. In other words, in the example as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a total of “272” credits may be provided to the player according to the game result.
In the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment, a bonus award in additional to the normal award may be paid out to a player when a predetermined bonus award condition is satisfied. Therefore, in the slot machine 1, interest of receiving a bonus award may be provided to the players who want to receive higher award.
The bonus award image 97 indicating the content of the bonus ward is displayed gradually corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the images of the target symbols, when a predetermined bonus award condition is satisfied. Since a player may understand the content of the bonus award by the bonus award image 97 gradually, the expectation to the content of the bonus award may be strengthened. Therefore, the interest of receiving a bonus award may be strengthened further.
In the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment, after the rotation of the symbols 90 in the lengthwise direction, the bonus character 95 and the target symbols are also variably displayed on the crosswise direction. In other words, even after the symbols 90 are stopped and displayed, the display mode of the lower display 6 is still changing. Therefore, the display mode of the lower display 6 may be diversified. Player's interest on the diversification of the image may be further strengthened.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the slot machine 1, when three of the “Cherry” 90J are displayed on the symbol display portion 7, the normal award may not be provided since the symbol combination of three “Cherry” 90J is not considered as winning combination. However, if three of the “Cherry” 90J are arranged on a same row of the symbol display portion 7, the bonus award condition is satisfied, therefore the bonus award may be provided.
In the slot machine 1, the bonus award is provided independently no matter there is a normal award or not. Players may still have expectation on the bonus award even after the game result concerning the normal award is notified.
Next, an outline construction of a slot machine of the first embodiment will be described with reference to drawings. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment.
The slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment may include a cabinet 2, a top box 3, and a main door 4. The top box 3 may be arranged on the cabinet 2 (for instance, arranged on upper side). The main door 4 may be arranged in front of the cabinet 2.
An upper display 5 is arranged with the slot machine 1 (for example, arranged in front of the top box 3). The upper display 5 may be constructed from well-known liquid crystal display. Here, the upper display 5 may use CRTs, plasma displays, LED displays, OLED displays, and other known display technologies. Gaming information such as the gaming methods and an award table may be displayed on the upper display 5.
A lower display 6 may be arranged on the main door 4. The lower display 6 may be constructed, for instance, from well-known liquid crystal display. Here, the lower image display 6 may use CRTs, plasma displays, LED displays, OLED displays, and other known display technologies. A symbol display portion 7 may be displayed on the lower display 6. The symbol display portion 7 is constructed from fifteen symbol display areas 31 to 45. The symbol display areas 31 to 45, on each of which a symbol 90 is stopped and displayed, are arranged in a matrix constructed from 3 rows and 5 columns (see FIG. 4).
And the symbol display portion 7 also includes five reel display areas 23 to 27, which are arranged in a crosswise direction (see FIG. 7). Each reel display area is composed of three symbol display area in a lengthwise direction.
A touch panel 11 may be arranged on the front plane of the lower display 6, and the player can input various instructions by operating the touch panel 11.
A credit count display portion 8 and a payout number display portion 9 may be arranged on the lower display 6. The credit count which is currently owned by a player, may be displayed on the credit count display portion 8. In the award number display portion 9, the payout number is displayed. The payout number, indicates the payout number which will be provided, when a symbol combination of the symbols stopped and displayed on the symbol display portion 7, is a predetermined combination.
A control panel 15 may be arranged at the lower display 6 (for example, arranged on the lower side). Buttons may be arranged at the control panel 15. The buttons may be the buttons to input the instructions for gaming session by the player. A coin insertion slot 16 and a bill insertion portion 17 can be arranged in relation to the lower display 6 (for example, arranged on lower side). The coin insertion slot 16 may receive the gaming medium into the cabinet 2.
A start button 18, a change button 19, a cash out button 20, a 1-bet button 21, and a max-bet button 22 may be arranged on the control panel 15. The start button 18 can be used when the instruction for the start of the game is input. The change button 19 is used when the exchange is required by a player. The cash out button 20 is used to input the instruction for the payment of the coin (for example, one credit is equal to one coin) or for the print a ticket, on which one or more bar codes may be printed. The ticket may be called GAMING VOUCHER. The coin may be paid through a coin payout opening 28 to a coin tray 29. Here, other than bar code may be used as substitute for the bar code (for example, QR Code (two-dimensional bar code)).
The 1-bet button 21 is used when the instruction for the bet is one credit from the player's credits. The max-bet button 22 is used when the instruction for a bet of a maximum bet count in a game (in the first embodiment, forty credits) is input by the player. Here, 3-bet button or the like may or may not be arranged.
In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the gaming medium may be coins, bills, or electronic value (credits). Here, the gaming medium may be other things as well (including but not limited to medal, token, electronic money, or ticket).
A control system of the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of the slot machine 1.
The control system of the slot machine 1 may be constructed from a mother board 60 and a gaming board 50 as shown in FIG. 7. And a game controller 75, in which the control of the game in the slot machine 1 is executed, is composed of the mother 60 and the gaming board 50.
The gaming board 50 may be constructed from a CPU 51, a ROM 55, a boot ROM 52, a card slot 53S, and an IC socket 54S. The CPU 51, the ROM 55, and the boot ROM 52 are interconnected via internal bus. A card slot 53S is adapted to receive the memory card 53. An IC socket 54S is adapted to receive a GAL (Generic Array Logic) 54. Here, PLD (Programmable Logic Device) which is other than the GAL 54 may be substituted for the GAL 54.
The memory card 53 may be constructed from non-volatile memory. A game program and a game system program (hereinafter, “the game program and the like”) is stored therein. The game program stored in the memory card 53 may include a lottery program. The lottery program is used to determine the symbols 90, symbol combinations and the content of a bonus award. The determined symbols 90 are the symbols to be stopped and displayed on each of the symbols display areas 31 to 45.
And the symbol lottery table is stored in the memory card 53. The symbol lottery table is used to conduct the lottery of the symbols 90 to be displayed in the symbols display areas 31 to 45. Here, the symbol lottery table is a table used to indicate the relation between each of the symbols and one or more random number in predetermined range.
The symbol lottery table may also be used to associate the predetermined range with awards provided to players. In this case, an award provided to a player may be first determined in the lottery process based on the symbol lottery table, and then the combination of the determined symbols 90 which satisfy the predetermined award condition may be selected out by the main CPU 61.
Next, the mother board 60 will be described. The mother board 60 may be constructed from general mother board (printed circuit board which mounts basic components of a personal computer), and may include a main CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, and a communication interface 64.
The ROM 62 may be constructed from a memory device such as the flash memory (for example). The preliminary data such as BIOS program may be stored in the ROM 62. BIOS program can be executed by the main CPU 61.
If the BIOS is executed by the main CPU 61, the initial process for predetermined peripheral devices is executed. And the read process for the game program and the like stored in the memory card 53 will be started via the gaming board 50.
The data and the programs, which are used when the main CPU 61 runs, may be stored in the RAM 63. The verification program (which will be read via the gaming board 50), various programs (such as the game program and the like), the number of the player's credits, and the number of executed games may be stored in the RAM 63.
The communication interface 64 may be a communication device communicating to the servers located in the game hall via a communication line or other communication pathways.
A main PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 70 and a door PCB 80 (which will be described later) are connected to the mother board 60 respectively via USB (for example). A power source unit 65 is connected to the mother board 60. If the power source unit 65 supplies the electric power to the mother board 60, the main CPU 61 on the mother board 60 will be booted up. When the electric power is supplied to the gaming board 50 via the PCI bus, the CPU 51 will be booted up.
A hopper 66, a coin detection portion 67, a graphic board 68, a speaker 69, the touch panel 11, the bill insertion portion 17, and the like may be connected directly or indirectly to the main PCB 70.
The graphic board 68 controls the image display on the upper display 5 and the lower display 6 based on the control signals from the main CPU 61. For example, entire control of displays is executed by the graphic board 68, based on the signals from the main CPU 61, wherein the displays include the variable display or the stopped display of symbols 90 on the symbol display portion 7, and the display of the bonus award image 97.
The graphic board 68 is composed of 2 layers of frame memories. On one of the two layers of the frame memory (abbreviated as “the first layer” hereinafter), image data corresponding to the fifteen symbols 90, and the image data of the bonus character 95 are stored. The fifteen symbols 90 are the symbols displayed in the symbol display areas 31 to 45, on the symbol display portion 7. And the bonus character 95 is a character variably displayed in the bonus award process (S17). On the other layer of the frame memory (abbreviated as “the second layer” hereinafter), image data of bonus award image 97 is stored. In the bonus award process (S17), the bonus award image 97 is displayed in the symbol display area, in which the target symbols are once displayed.
In the graphic board 68, the first layer and the second layer of the frame memory are combined, and are written in the VRAM. When the image data stored in the first layer and the second layer of the frame memory are combined, combination of the image data for the first layer may be preceded. Based on the combined image data written in the VRAM, the lower display 6 is displayed during the gaming session.
In other words, based on the image data combined by the image data stored in the first layer and the second layer, the display mode of the lower display 6 may be controlled. In the slot machine 1, if the bonus character 95 and images of the target symbols (abbreviated as “the bonus character 95 and the like”) are variably displayed, and the bonus award image 97 may be displayed corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the like.
A control panel 15, a coin verifier 16S, a coin counter 16C, and a cold cathode fluorescent lamp 81 are directly or indirectly connected to the door PCB 80.
A start switch 18S, a change switch 19S, a cash-out switch 20S, a 1-bet switch 21S, and a max-bet switch 22S are arranged on the control panel 15. The start switch 18S is associated with the start button 18. The change switch 19S is associated with the change button 19. The cash-out switch 20S is associated with the cash-out button 20. The 1-bet switch 21S is associated with the 1-bet button 21. The max-bet switch 22S is associated with the max-bet button 22. Each of the switches may output the input signal to the main CPU 61 when the button corresponding thereof is operated by the player. Here, a 3-bet switch and a 5-bet switch may be arranged.
A main control program, which is executed in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the main control program.
Concerning the slot machine 1, the memory card 53 is connected to the card slot 53S of the gaming board 50, and the GAL 54 is connected to the IC socket 54S beforehand.
When the power switch of the power source unit 65 is ON, the mother board 60 and the gaming board 50 are booted-up respectively, and the verification read process (S1) is executed. In the verification read process, the mother board 60 and the gaming board 50 execute separate processes in parallel.
In the gaming board 50, the CPU 51 reads the preliminary verification program from the boot ROM 52, and verifies that the verification program is not falsified before the verification program is taken to the mother board 60.
In the mother board 60, the main CPU 61 executes BIOS stored in the ROM 62, and checks and initializes various peripheral devices. Here, BIOS may be compressed, then, BIOS is decompressed. BIOS may be copied to the RAM 63.
The main CPU 61 reads the verification program stored in the ROM 55, and verifies that game program and the like is not falsified. Here, the game program and the like is stored in the memory card 53 which is inserted to the card slot 53S. After the verification process is ended, the main CPU 61 writes the verified game program and the like to the RAM 63. Also, the main CPU 61 acquires award ratio setting data from the GAL 54 via the gaming board 50, and write the award ratio setting data to the RAM 63. After the process mentioned above is finished, the main CPU 61 finishes the verification read process.
In S2, the main CPU 61 reads the game program and the like verified in S1 from the RAM 63, and executes the main game process. The game of the slot machine 1 in the first embodiment is executed by executing the main game process. The main game process is executed repeatedly while the electronic power source is supplied.
The main game process in S2 will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the main game process of the slot machine 1 in the first embodiment. Here, each of the programs shown in the flowcharts in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is stored in the memory card 53. The programs are decompressed to the RAM 63 of the slot machine 1, and the decompressed programs are executed by the main CPU 61.
In S11, the main CPU 61 performs predetermined initial setting, and then executes the start acceptance process as shown in FIG. 10. In the initial setting process, some data set in predetermined data areas (for example, award counter) is cleared.
In the start acceptance process, the coin is inserted by the player, or a bet operation with the use of the 1-bet button 21 or max-bet button 22 is operated by the player during the start acceptance process. Here, 3-bet button and/or 5-bet button may or may not be operated.
In S12, the main CPU 61 determines whether or not the start button 18 is operated. It is determined whether or not the start button 18 is operated based on that whether or not the input signal is received from the start switch 18S.
If the start button 18 is not operated (S12:NO), the procedure will be returned to the start acceptance process (S11) again. In that time, some instructions such as changing the bet count are available. On the other hand, if the start button 18 is operated (S12:YES), the bet count, which is set based on the operation of the 1-bet button 21 and the max-bet button 22, will be subtracted from the credit count which the player owns. And, the bet count will be stored in RAM 63 as the bet information.
In S13, the symbol determination process is executed by the main CPU 61. In the symbol determination process, the symbols 90, which will be displayed on each of the symbol display areas 31 to 45 of the symbol display portion 7, will be determined on a lottery by the main CPU 61.
Concretely, random number values are sampled by executing the random number values generation program by the main CPU 61, wherein the random number values generation program is included in the lottery programs stored in RAM 63. The symbols 90, which are stopped and displayed on each symbol display area 31 to 45, are determined to by the main CPU 61 respectively, referring to the sampled random number values, the symbol lottery table, and code numbers defined to each reels.
One symbol combination as one of the game result is determined by the determination of symbols 90, which are stopped and displayed on each symbol display area 31 to 45. After the determination of the fifteen symbols 90, the result is stored in the RAM 63, and procedure shifts to S14.
In S14, symbol display process is executed by the main CPU 61. In S14, symbols 90 are displayed on each symbol display area 31 to 45, by the main CPU 61, wherein the symbols 90 are determined in the symbol determination process (S13). The signals for variable display are transmitted to the graphic board 68. Variable display of the symbols according to the reel columns (see FIG. 6), are displayed in each reel display area 23 to 27, located on the symbol display portion 7 displayed on lower display 6.
If a predetermined time has passed since the start of the variable display of symbols 90 on the symbol display portion 7, the stop display signals are transmitted to the graphic board 68, by the main CPU 61. The determined symbols 90 (determined in the symbol determination process S13) are stopped and displayed in each symbol display area 31 to 45, on the lower display 6.
When the symbols 90 determined in the symbol determination process S13, are stopped and displayed on the symbol display portion 7, procedure shifts to S15.
Award determination process is executed in S15. The award determination process (S15) is a process to determine whether a predetermined winning combination (see FIG. 6) is satisfied, wherein the predetermined winning combination is determined in the symbol determination process S13.
The winning combination in slot machine 1 is determined by the numbers of the same symbols 90 with a symbol combination. An award is determined to each symbol combination by the main CPU 61, with reference to the result of the symbol determination process S13, and an award table (see FIG. 6)
After the normal award based on the result of the award determination process is stored in the RAM 63 as award data, procedure shifts to S16.
For example, in the case of the concrete example shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the winning combination of “ANY 5” of the “ANY seven”, and also the winning combination of “ANY 4” of the “EIGHT”, are both satisfied, the normal award based on these two combinations (“20” and “2”) are stored in the RAM 63 as the award data.
In S16, it is determined whether a bonus award condition is satisfied. The bonus award condition in slot machine 1 is a winning combination, wherein more than three of the same symbols 90 are arranged on the same row of the symbol display areas (upper row, middle row or the lower row, see FIG. 4), within the fifteen symbol display areas 31 to 45.
In S16, data corresponding to the symbol combination determined in the symbol determination process S13 from the RAM 63 is read out. Based on the read-out data, it is determined whether the bonus award condition is satisfied or not. If the bonus award condition is satisfied (S16: YES), procedure shifts to the bonus award process (S17). If the bonus award condition is not satisfied (S16: NO), procedure shifts to S18.
In the bonus award process (S17), the content of the bonus award is determined by lottery. The display mode of the lower display 6 is changed based on the control signals transmitted to the graphic board 68 from the main CPU 61. In the bonus award process (S17), on the lower display 6, the bonus award images 97 is displayed corresponding to the variably display of the bonus characters 95 and the image of the target symbols. In the bonus award process (S17), the award amount as the content of the determined bonus award is stored in the RAM 63 as award data by the main CPU 61.
Also, the bonus award process (S17) will be described with reference to the figures later.
After the display control of the lower display 6 and the award data corresponding to the bonus award are stored in the RAM 63 as award data, procedure shifts to S18.
In S18, it is determined whether there is an award which should be paid out to the player. In S18, it is determined whether there is award by the main CPU 61, with reference to the normal award data and the bonus award data stored in the RAM 63. If there is an award which should be paid out to the player (S18: YES), procedure shifts to S19. If there is no award which should be paid out to the player (S18: NO), the main game process program will be terminated by the main CPU 61. If the main game process program is terminated, procedure returns to the main control program, and main game process S2 will be executed again.
In S19, the payout process is executed based on the award data stored in the RAM 63 by the main CPU 61. If the cash out button 20 is pressed by a player, it is also possible to payout the coins corresponding to the credits (one credit equals to one coin). And it may also be paid out by a ticket with a bar-code.
If the payout process (S19) is finished, the main game process (S2) is terminated. And procedure returns to the main control program, and main game process S2 will be executed again. In other words, if a game is continued further, then the process will start from S11.
Next, the bonus award process program executed in the bonus award process (S17) will be described with reference of figures. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the bonus award process program.
If the symbol combination satisfies to the bonus award condition (S16: YES), the bonus award process program will be executed in the bonus award process (S17) by the main CPU 61.
In the bonus award process (S17), the bonus award determination process (S21) is executed first. The bonus award determination process (S21) is a process to determine the content of the bonus award provided in the game.
Concretely, one of the random number value is sampled out from the predetermined range of random number values by executing a lottery program, by the main CPU 61. The content of the bonus award provided in the game may be determined based on the random number value and the bonus award table (see FIG. 12).
As shown in FIG. 12, in the bonus table, a predetermined range of random number values is associated with each the four kinds of the bonus award. The content of the bonus award provided in the game, is determined based on the predetermined range of random number values which the sampled random number value belongs to. For example, if the sampled random number value belongs to the predetermined range of “8 to 23”, same as the concrete example as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the content of the bonus award in the game is “250”.
After the determined content of the bonus award is stored in the RAM 63, procedure shifts to S22.
In S22, the character display signal is transmitted to the graphic board 68 by the main CPU 61, to display the bonus character 95 on the lower display 6. On the lower display 6, the bonus character 95 is displayed on the most left side of the row consisting of the symbol display areas.
After the character display signal is transmitted to the graphic board 68 by the main CPU 61, procedure shifts to S23.
In S23, the bonus award content display process is executed. The bonus award content display process (S23) is a process executed by the main CPU 61, based on the variable display signals transmitted to the graphic board 68. In S23, on the lower display 6, the bonus character 95 and the image corresponding to the target symbols are variably displayed, and also the bonus award image 97 is displayed in the symbol display area on which the target symbols are once displayed.
After the variable display signals are transmitted by the main CPU 61, the display mode of the lower display 6 is controlled in a predetermined time period (abbreviated as “unit term” hereinafter).
In the bonus award content display process (S23), the image data to be displayed on the lower display 6 will be generated in each unit term. The image data are displayed sequentially. The image data include the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the images of the target symbols, the display of the bonus award image 97 in the symbol display area, on which the target symbols are once stopped and displayed.
After an unit term has passed since the transmission of the variable display signals, procedure shifts to S24.
Here, the bonus award content display process (S23) will be explained in detail. As mentioned before, the graphic board 68 includes 2 layers of frame memories. On the first layer of the frame memory, the image data the symbols 90 corresponding to the symbol combination displayed on the symbol display portion 7, and the image data of the bonus character 95 are stored. On the second layer of the frame memory, image data of bonus award image 97 is stored. The bonus award image 97 is the image data corresponding to the bonus award content determined in the bonus award determination process (S21).
The combined image data is displayed on the lower display 6, wherein the combined image data is combined by the image data stored in the first layer and the second layer. In the image data combination, the image data stored in the first layer is generated preferentially than the data stored in the second layer.
The image data including the image of the bonus character 95 and the images of the target symbols, are renewed in accordance with the change of the display position of the bonus character 95 and the target symbols in each unit term. Hereby, the bonus character 95 and the target symbols are variably displayed on the lower display 6.
On the second layer of the frame memory, image data of bonus award image 97 is stored, on the symbol display area in which the target symbols are once stopped and displayed. Because the image data stored in the first layer is generated preferentially than the data stored in the second layer, the display of the symbol display area, in which the target symbols are once stopped and displayed, is changed gradually to the display of the bonus award image 97.
After the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the like in the bonus award content display process (S23), it is determined whether the variable display of the images is completed by the main CPU 61. Concretely, it is determined based on whether a variable display term has passed (S24). Here, a variable display term is a time period until the image of the target symbols can not be seen on the lower display 6, by repeating the variable display in the unit term.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the images of the target symbols can not be seen on the lower display 6, the variable display of the image is completed (S24: YES). Then procedure shifts to S25. If the images of the target symbols still exist on the lower display 6, the variable display of the image is not completed (S24: NO), then the procedure may return to S23. Thereby, the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the like in the next unit term may be displayed on the lower display 6.
When the variable display of the bonus character 95 is completed, the bonus award content determined in the bonus award determination process (S21) may be stored in the RAM 63 as award data. And then the bonus award process is terminated by the main CPU 61, procedure shifts to S18 of the main game process program.
As explained above, in the slot machine according to the first embodiment, when the symbol combination, determined in symbol determination process (S13), is a predetermined winning combination (see FIG. 6), the award based on the winning combination may be provided to the player (S19). If the symbol combination satisfies the bonus award condition, the bonus award additional to the normal award may be provided to the player. Therefore, in the slot machine 1, interest on winning of the bonus award besides the interest on winning of the normal award may be provided to the player.
Here, the bonus award condition is that more than three same symbols 90 are arranged on the same row of the symbol display portion 7, in the symbol combination determined in the symbol determination process (S13). Since the player may easily understand whether the bonus award condition is satisfied from the display of the symbol display portion 7, the interest in winning the bonus award may be further cultivated.
The bonus award content may be determined from plural kinds of the bonus award in the bonus award determination process (S21). Therefore, in the slot machine 1, interest on winning of the bonus award may be strengthened by diversifying the bonus award content when a bonus award condition is satisfied.
If the bonus award condition is satisfied, in the bonus award process (S17), the images of the target symbols and the bonus character 95 are variably displayed, wherein the target symbols include more than three same symbols 90, which are arranged on the same row of the symbol display portion 7. The bonus award image 97 is displayed gradually corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the like, in the symbol display area in which the target symbols are stopped and displayed.
In the slot machine 1, in the bonus award process (S17), the bonus award content is noticed by displaying the bonus award image 97 gradually, corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the images of the target symbols. Therefore, the winning of the bonus award may be figured out exactly by the player. In the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment, because the bonus award content is informed step by step, the expectation to the bonus award may be further strengthened.
If the bonus award condition is satisfied, the symbols 90 are stopped and displayed based on the symbol combination determined in the symbol determination process (S13). And then, the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the images of the target symbols are variably displayed. In other words, the display mode of the lower display 6 may be changed even after the symbol combination is stopped and displayed. Therefore, in the slot machine 1, the interest on virtual change of the display by the player may be heightened.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

Next, concerning with a card gaming machine according to the present invention, the second embodiment embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The card gaming machine according to the second embodiment is a Poker gaming machine 100, which is one kind of the card gaming machine.
In the Poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment, same cabinet is used as that of the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment. However, comparing to the first embodiment, different memory card 53 is inserted into the card slot 53S, and different GAL 54 is installed in IC socket 54S. Therefore, the basic structure and the control system of the Poker gaming machine 100 are the same as those of the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment, the detailed explanation will be omitted.
Here, the content of the Poker game executed in the Poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment, will be explained simply. In the Poker gaming machine 100, a video poker game is executed by using a set of trump cards. And in the Poker gaming machine 100, a Draw Poker game is executed, wherein when a player plays a game, he may receive new cards by exchanging all or some of the cards he already had on his hand.
Concretely, in the Poker gaming machine 100, if coins are inserted to start a game, five trump cards are dealt and displayed. In order to achieve a poker hand (such as Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four Card, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three Card, Two Card), a player may hold some of the trump cards which are thought to be necessary in his hand, and exchange the cards that are thought to be non-necessary with new cards. Thereby, if any of the hands mentioned above is completed, coins corresponding to the hand may be paid out to the player, as an award.
Next, an outline construction of the Poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the Poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment.
As mentioned above, the basic structure of the Poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment, is same as that of the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, for the Poker gaming machine 100, only the difference with the slot machine 1 will be explained.
As shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 16 to FIG. 19, on the lower display 6 of the Poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment, a credit display portion 8, a card display area 105, a betted count display area 109, and a card exchange operation area 110 are displayed.
Also a touch panel 11 is arranged on the lower display 6, as same as in the first embodiment.
A card display area 105 is a display area on which images of the trump cards are displayed, wherein the trump cards are dealt by a dealer character 115 displayed on the lower display 6. A card display area 105 includes five different card display areas, which are the first card display area 105A to the fifth card display area 10E. On each of the five different card display areas, an image of a trump card is displayed respectively.
Here, the image of the trump card which is displayed on the first card display area 105A is defined as “the first card image 107A”. Also the image of the trump cards which are displayed on the second card display area 105B to the fifth card display area 10E, are defined as “the second card image 107B” to “the fifth card image 107E”.
The first card image 107A to the fifth card image 107E are displayed on the card display areas 105, based on the deal of the dealer character 115 (see FIG. 16). The touch panel 11 for each of the card display areas 105, is a panel for executing the “hold” operation.
Five trump cards dealt by the dealer are displayed with the first card image 107A to the fifth card image 107E on each area of the first card display area 105A to the fifth card display area 105E. A player may press the touch panel 11 corresponding to the card display areas 105 on each of which the trump card that is thought to be necessary is displayed, and these cards are kept in hand by the player.
Also, as shown in FIG. 13 or FIG. 16, on the right lower portion of the card display area 105, the card exchange operation area 110 is formed. The touch panel 11 corresponding to the card exchange operation area 110, is a panel to be pressed when a player wants to exchange the trumps cards which are not needed with new cards.
On the credit display portion 8, the credits stored in the RAM 63 is displayed. When credits are provided corresponding to the insertion of coins by a player or as an award, or when a bet is made to the Draw Poker game, the credits stored in the RAM 63 fluctuates. Based on the fluctuation of the credits, the credits displayed on the credit display portion 8 varies.
And the betted count display 109 is a display area in which the count betted for the Draw Poker game is displayed. The display in the betted count display 109, is changed to the betted count of the current game at the time, when the operation of the 1-bet button 21 and the max-bet button 22 are executed.
In the Poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment, main control program is executed as same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 9). The content of the verification read process (S1) is the same as that of the first embodiment, here, it will be omitted.
After the verification read process (S1), from the memory card installed in the Poker gaming machine 100, the main game process program is read out and the main game process (S2) is executed.
Since the memory card 53 installed in the Poker gaming machine 100 is different from that of the first embodiment, the main game process program is different. The main game process program will be described with reference to figures. FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the main game process program according to the second embodiment.
In the Poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment, when the main game process program is executed, a bet process is executed first (S51). A bet process (S51) is a process to determine the bet count executed in the current game, by the operation of the 1-bet button 21 and the max-bet button 22 by a player.
In the bet process (S51), the betted count based on the operation of the 1-bet button 21 and the max-bet button 22, may be added to the betted count in the betted count memory area formed in the RAM 63. The credits corresponding to the betted count, may be subtracted from the credits stored in the RAM 63. In the bet process (S51), the process may be continued until the start button 18 is pressed.
Based on the operation of the start button 18, the betted count in this game may be determined. After the bet process is terminated by the main CPU 61, procedure shifts to S52.
In S52, the deal process is executed by the main CPU 61. In S52, based on the internal lottery result the lottery program, five dealt trump cards and five trump cards which may be used in exchange (abbreviated as “five trump cards might be drawn (exchanged)” hereinafter) are determined. The five dealt trump cards which are determined are displayed in the card display area 105.
Concretely, a random number value is sampled from the predetermined range by conducting the lottery program. Based on the random number value sampled, the five dealt trump cards and the five trump cards might be drawn (exchanged), are determined by the main CPU 61.
A deal display signal, which is to display the five dealt trump cards on the card display area 105, is transmitted to the graphic board 68 by the main CPU 61. On the lower display 6, the dealer's character 115 which is dealing cards is displayed. And also on the card display area 105, the first card display area 105A to the fifth card display area 105E, are displayed on a line with a predetermined space between each other.
Then on the lower display 6, the five dealt trump cards dealt by the dealer's character 115 are displayed. On each of the card display areas 105, an image of the dealt trump cards is displayed. At this time, the five dealt trump cards are displayed face down on the card display area 105. After a predetermined time period, the five dealt trump cards may be changed face up, starting from the card on the most left side sequentially (see FIG. 16).
After the five trump cards are dealt by the dealer's character 115, the deal process is terminated by the main CPU 61, and procedure shifts to S53.
In S53, a draw process is executed by the main CPU 61. The draw process (S53) is a process in which a player may randomly select the trump cards to be hold, and exchange one or more cards which are not selected with the cards might be drawn (exchanged).
Here, the draw process will be explained concretely. In S53, on the card display area 105 of the lower display 6, images of the five dealt trump cards, the first card image 107A to the fifth card image 107E, are displayed.
In the draw process (S53), the touch panel 11 corresponding to the card display area 105 is pressed by the player, wherein the card display area 105 are the display area on which the trump cards determined to be held by the player are displayed. The signal of holding the cards will be transmitted to the main CPU 61 from the touch panel. Based on the signal of holding the cards, it is recognized by the main CPU 61 that some of the trump cards are held. These trump cards are the cards on the card display area 105 corresponding to the touch panel 11 pressed by the player, and may be kept in hand by the player.
And then the signal of holding the cards will be transmitted to the graphic board 68 by the main CPU 61. Thereby, on the images corresponding to the selected cards, image of the mark “HOLD” to indicate the cards are held by the player, may be displayed.
If the touch panel 11 corresponding to the card exchange operation area 110 is pressed by the player, the cards which are not selected by the player may be exchanged with new trump cards. The trump cards, which will be displayed on the card display area 105 after exchange, may be specified by the main CPU 61. The trump cards to be displayed after exchange, are selected from the five cards might be drawn, which are determined in the deal process (S52).
Then, card exchange signals are transmitted to the graphic board 68 by the CPU 61. Therefore, on the card display area 105, within the five dealt cards, the cards which are not selected by the player may be exchanged and then displayed, with the cards might be drawn that are determined in the deal process (S52).
When all of the five dealt trump cards are not held, the touch panel 11 corresponding to the card exchange operation area 110 may be pressed directly by the player. Then on the card display area 105, the five cards might be drawn may be displayed. Also, when all the five dealt trump cards are held by the player, on the card display area 105, images corresponding to the five dealt trump cards are displayed directly.
The five cards which are used to be the subject for award determination in this game (abbreviated as “award determination card” hereinafter), are determined by pressing the touch panel 11 corresponding to the card exchange operation area 110. After the five award determination cards are displayed on the card display area 105, the draw process (S53) may be terminated by the main CPU 61. Then procedure shifts to S54.
In S54, an award determination process is executed. In S54, it is determined whether the five award determination cards satisfy a predetermined poker hand.
Concretely, in S54, data of the five award determination cards are read out from the RAM 63 by the main CPU 61, wherein the five award determination cards are determined in the deal process (S52) and the draw process (S53). It is determined whether a poker hand is satisfied based on the comparison between the data of the five award determination cards and the award determination table. If a poker hand is satisfied, the determination result data showing the poker hand may be stored in the RAM 63 by the main CPU 61.
Here, a poker hand is a kind of predetermined combination of the “numbes” and the “suits” of trump card. “suits” are the marks of the trump cards. There are 4 kinds of “suits” including spade, heart, diamond and club. And “numbers” indicate numbers or English Characters in trump cards. There are 13 kinds of numbers or English Characters, which are A (Ace, equivalent to 1), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J (Jack, equivalent to 11), Q (Queen, equivalent to 12), K (King, equivalent to 13).
In the award determination table, a total of eight kinds of poker hand are defined. They are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four Card, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three Card, Two Card. The combination of “suits” and “numbers” forming the poker hands are common knowledge, the detailed explanation will be omitted here.
In S54, the award amount corresponding to a poker hand is determined based on the award determination data and the award determination table. The poker hand is specified by reading out the award determination result data from the RAM 63. And the award corresponding to the poker hand is determined based on the award determination table by the main CPU 61.
As shown in FIG. 15, in the award determination table, the predetermined poker hand and the award amount corresponding to each predetermined poker hand is defined. In S54, the poker hand which is satisfied, and the award amount corresponding to each bet of the poker hand are determined. When the bet count is more than 2, the amount equals to the bet count multiplying the award amount per bet (as shown in FIG. 15), is determined as the award amount to the poker hand (abbreviated as “normal award in the poker game” hereinafter). The normal award in the poker game is stored in the RAM 63. After the normal award in the poker game is stored in the RAM 63 by the main CPU 61, procedure shifts to S55.
Here, concrete example is used to explain the award determination process S54.
For example, the suits for the five award determination cards are all “diamond”, then it falls under the category of “Flush” poker hand. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, the award amount per bet is “20”. The amount of “award amount per bet for the Flush: 20” multiples the “bet count in the game” is determined as the normal award in the poker game, and is stored in the RAM 63.
In S55, it is determined whether the five award determination cards satisfy the bonus award condition. Here, the bonus award condition according to the second embodiment is that more than three images of trump cards with same numbers or with same suits are displayed, among the five image of the first card image 107A to the fifth card image 107E displayed on the card display area 105. In the second embodiment, the cards with either same “suit” or same “number” are treated as the cards with same symbol.
Therefore, data regarding to award determination cards are read out by the main CPU 61, wherein the award determination cards are determined in the deal process (S52) and the draw process (S53). The bonus award condition is determined based on the display position of the five award determination cards, the suits and the numbers shown on the cards. If the award determination cards satisfy the bonus award condition (S55: YES), procedure shifts to the bonus award process (S56). On the country, if the award determination cards do not satisfy the bonus award condition (S55: NO), procedure shifts to S57.
If the award determination cards satisfy the bonus award condition (S55: YES), procedure shifts to the bonus award process (S56), and the bonus award process program is executed. The bonus award process program is almost same as the program of the first embodiment. Since the bonus award process program is already explained with reference of FIG. 11, here the explanation will be omitted.
In the second embodiment, after the termination of the bonus award process program, procedure shifts to S57.
Here, in the Poker gaming machine according to the second embodiment, the display mode of the lower display 6 will be explained with reference to the figures, when the bonus award process (S56) is executed. FIG. 16 to FIG. 19 are explanatory views showing the display modes of the lower display 6 when the bonus award process (S56) is executed.
As same as in the first embodiment, the bonus award content in this game is determined from the four kinds of the bonus award content (see FIG. 12), in the bonus determination process (S21). Then the bonus character display signals are transmitted to the graphic board 68 by the main CPU 61 (S22), wherein the bonus character display signals are the signals to display the bonus character 95 on the most left side of the lower display 6.
Thereby, on the lower display 6, the bonus character 95 is displayed on the most left side of the card display area 105.
Furthermore, in parallel with the display of the bonus character 95, the position of the first card display area 105A to the fifth card display area 105E are changed. As shown in FIG. 17, the intervals between the two adjacent card display areas 105 are shortened.
And then in the bonus award content display process (S23), on the lower display 6, the bonus character 95 and the target card images are variably displayed each unit term. Here, the target card images are the images in which more than three trump cards with same numbers or with same suits are arranged among the five award determination cards.
In the concrete example shown in FIG. 16 to FIG. 19, the images of the five award determination cards, are “Diamond 7”, “Diamond 9”, “Diamond 10”, “Club 5” and “Heart A” from the most left side, displayed in the card display area 105. Since the cards shown in the first card display area 105A to the third card display area 105C, are three trump cards with same suits of “Diamond”, the bonus award condition is satisfied. Therefore, the target card images include the first card image 107A corresponding to the “Diamond 7”, the second card image 107B corresponding to the “Diamond 9”, and the third card image 107C corresponding to the “Diamond 10”.
In the bonus award content display process (S23), the bonus character 95 is variably displayed from the left side to the right side through the target card images. And in the bonus award content display process of the next unit term, the target card images are variably displayed, corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95.
Here, in the second embodiment, on the first layer of the frame memory in the graphic board 68, the image data corresponding to the first card image 107A to the fifth card image 107E, and the image data of the bonus character 95 are stored. On the second layer of the frame memory, image data of bonus award image 97 based on the bonus award determination process (S21) is stored. And as same as in the first embodiment, the combined image data is displayed on the lower display 6, wherein the combined image data is generated by combining by the image data stored in the first layer and the second layer. In the image data combination, the image data stored in the first layer is generated preferentially than the data stored in the second layer.
Therefore, variable display of the target card images are executed each unit term, corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95. The bonus award image 97 is gradually displayed on the display position of the target card images on the card display area 105 (In FIG. 18, the first card display area 106A). Thereby, the player may understand the bonus award content gradually, in the poker gaming machine 100, the expectation to the winning of the bonus award by the player may be further strengthened.
The variable display of the bonus character 95 and the target card images, and the display of the bonus award image 97 corresponding to the variable display, may be repeated in each unit term until the target card images can not be seen on the lower display 6. When the target card images can not be seen on the lower display 6, the bonus award image 97 may be displayed in whole on the card display area corresponding to the target card images (in FIG. 19, the display area include the first card display area 105A to the third card display area 105C). Thereby, the player may understand the content of the bonus award exactly.
When the target card images can not be seen on the lower display 6, the bonus award determined in the bonus award determination process (S21) is stored in the RAM 63 as the award data (S25). After the bonus award is stored in the RAM 63 as the award data, procedure shifts to S57 of the main game process program (see FIG. 14).
In S57, it is determined whether there is an award needed to be paid out to the player by the main CPU 61. It is determined by the main CPU 61, whether there is a normal award based on the poker hand and bonus award based on the bonus award process (S56). If there is an award needed to be paid out to the player (S57: YES), procedure shifts to payout process (S58). If there is not an award needed to be paid out to the player (S57: NO), the main game process program is terminated, and returns back to S2 of the main control program. In other words, in the poker gaming machine 100, the main control program is repeated (see FIG. 14).
In S58, the payout process is executed by the main CPU 61. S58 is a process to payout the award based on the award data stored in the RAM 63, same as the S19 executed in the first embodiment. When the payout process (S58) is terminated, the main game process S2 is terminated.
When procedure is returned to the S2 of the main control program, the main game process program will be executed again (see FIG. 14).
As explained above, in the poker gaming machine 100 according to the second embodiment, among the combination of the suits and the numbers of the five trump cards determined in the deal process (S52), if a predetermined poker hand is satisfied (see FIG. 15), the normal award based on the poker hand may be provided to the player. If the suits and the number of the five trump cards satisfy a predetermined bonus award condition, the bonus award in additional to the normal award will be paid to the player (S19). Therefore, in the poker gaming machine 100, two kinds of interest may be provided to the player, wherein the two kinds of interest include the interest to winning the normal award and the interest to winning the bonus award.
The bonus award condition according to the second embodiment is that more than three trump cards with same numbers or with same suits are arranged, among the five images of the first card image 107A to the fifth card image 107E corresponding to the five award determination cards. Therefore, whether the bonus award condition is satisfied or not, may be easily understood from the combination of the suits and number displayed on the first card image 107A to the fifth card image 107E. This may strengthen the interest of the player to the winning of the bonus award.
In the second embodiment, the bonus award content is determined from the plural bonus award content determined in the bonus award determination process (S21). Therefore, in the poker gaming machine 100, interest on winning of the bonus award may be strengthened by diversifying the bonus award content when the bonus award condition is satisfied.
When the bonus award condition is satisfied, in the bonus award process (S56), the target card images and the bonus character 95 may be variably displayed together, wherein the target card images include the images of the cards with more than three same symbols (same suits or same numbers). Corresponding to the variable display of the target card images and the bonus character 95, the bonus award image 97 may be displayed gradually on the card display area 105, in which the target card images are once displayed.
In the poker gaming machine 100, in the bonus award process (S56), the bonus award content is noticed gradually by displaying the bonus award image 97, corresponding to the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the target card images. Therefore, the winning of the bonus award may be figured out exactly by the player. As same as the first embodiment, since the bonus award content is informed step by step, the expectation of the to the bonus award may be further strengthened.
If the bonus award condition is satisfied, the five award determination cards are determined based on the deal process (S52) and the draw process (S53). The display mode of the lower display 6 may be changed due to the variable display of the bonus character 95 and the target symbols. Therefore, in the poker gaming machine 100, the interest on virtual change of the player may be heightened.
Here, the card gaming machine is not limited to the above embodiments.
For example, in the first embodiment, the award is determined based on the number of the same symbols included in the fifteen symbols 90 displayed on the symbol display area 31 to 45, however, it is not only limited to this case. For example, the award determination may also be executed by first defining plural winning lines in the plural symbol display areas on the symbol display portion 7, and then based on the combination of the symbols 90 stopped and displayed on the winning lines, the award is determined.
Also, in the first embodiment, the bonus award condition is that more than three same symbols 90 are stopped and displayed adjacently on either row of the symbol display portion 7. However, the invention is not so limited.
For example, the symbols 90 which are stopped and displayed, may be first determined by a lottery program of the symbol display area 31 to 45. Then the bonus award condition may be defined as the combination of the same symbols 90 displayed on one of the columns of the symbol display area (in the first embodiment, the reel display area 23 to 27).
In the second embodiment, a gaming machine in which a draw poker game is executed is explained. However, the invention is not so limited. The invention may also be applied to a card game, using plural cards as a hand.
In the second embodiment, the bonus award condition of both the same suits and the same numbers are used. However, the invention is not so limited. Either of the same suits or the same numbers may be used as the bonus award condition.
Furthermore, in the first and the second embodiments, in the bonus award determination process (S21), the bonus award content is determined from the four kinds of the bonus award contents defined in the bonus award table (see FIG. 12). The bonus award table may also include the bonus award content of “0” in additional to the four kinds of the bonus award contents. Thereby, in the bonus award process (S27, S56), the case of no winning of the bonus award may also be generated, the interest in winning the bonus award may further be strengthened.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a display having a plurality of display areas in each of which symbols are displayed;

a processor programmed to

(a) determine a symbol combination with the symbols displayed in each of the symbol display areas,

(b) provide a normal award based on the symbol combination determined,

(c) change a display mode of the symbol display areas in which a predetermined symbol combination is displayed from a first display mode in which the symbols are displayed to a second display mode in which an award image indicating a special award different from the normal award is displayed when the symbol combination displayed on the display is the predetermined symbol combination, and

(d) provide the special award based on the award image displayed in the second display mode.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines the award image indicating the special award different from the normal award.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the processor changes the display mode of the symbol display areas from the first display mode to the second display mode when the symbol combination displayed on the display becomes a symbol combination in which the same symbols with a predetermined number are aligned in a line.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the processor changes the display mode of the symbol display areas to the second display mode in which the award image is displayed by movably displaying a symbol image displayed in the symbol display areas when the display mode of the symbol display areas is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the processor displays a character image on the display and changes the display mode of the symbol display areas from the first display mode to the second display mode by displaying the character image so as to move the symbol images displayed in the symbol display areas in which the same symbols are displayed, when the symbol combination displayed on the display becomes a symbol combination in which the same symbols with a predetermined number are aligned in a line.

6. A gaming method comprising steps of:

(a) determining a symbol combination with symbols displayed in each of symbol display areas on a display;

(b) providing a normal award based on the symbol combination determined,

(c) changing a display mode of the symbol display areas in which a predetermined symbol combination is displayed from a first display mode in which the symbols are displayed to a second display mode in which an award image indicating a special award different from the normal award is displayed when the symbol combination displayed on the display is the predetermined symbol combination, and

(d) providing the special award based on the award image displayed in the second display mode.

7. The gaming method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of determining the award image indicating the special award different from the normal award.

8. The gaming method according to claim 6, wherein the display mode of the symbol display areas is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode under a condition that the symbol combination displayed on the display becomes a symbol combination in which the same symbols with a predetermined number are aligned in a line.

9. The gaming method according to claim 6, wherein the display mode of the symbol display areas is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode by movably displaying a symbol image displayed in the symbol display areas.

10. The gaming method according to claim 7, wherein a character image is displayed on the display and the display mode of the symbol display areas is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode by displaying the character image so as to move the symbol images displayed in the symbol display areas in which the same symbols are displayed, when the symbol combination displayed on the display becomes a symbol combination in which the same symbols with a predetermined number are aligned in a line.