Gaming machine and method of controlling the same

• US 20030232644A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Katsumi, Suzuki, Takayuki, Suda, Satoshi
• Application Number:
  US10/401,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20030232644A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3265 Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding

Abstract

A random number selector selects at least one random number. A display displays at least one of plural symbols in accordance with the selected random number, the plural symbols including at least one first symbol which is associated with a second symbol in a one-to-one correspondence. A replacement controller replaces the first symbol with the second symbol when a predetermined requirement is satisfied under a condition that the first symbol is displayed in the display.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a random number selector, which selects at least one random number;

a display, which displays at least one of plural symbols in accordance with the selected random number, the plural symbols including at least one first symbol which is associated with a second symbol in a one-to-one correspondence; and

a replacement controller, which replaces the first symbol with the second symbol when a predetermined requirement is satisfied under a condition that the first symbol is displayed in the display.

2. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display first displays the plural symbols variably, and then displays at least one of the plural symbols stationarily in accordance with the selected random number.

3. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plural symbols includes plural kinds of first symbols appearances of which are different from each other.

4. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the predetermined requirement is that a plurality of first symbols are stationarily displayed in the display.

5. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plural symbols includes at least one third symbol, and the predetermined requirement is that the first symbol and the third symbol are stationarily displayed in the display.

6. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein the predetermined requirement is that the first symbol and a plurality of third symbols are stationarily displayed in the display.

7. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the predetermined requirement is that a predetermined time period elapses from when the first symbol is stationarily displayed in the display.

8. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a cluster in which the plural symbols are arranged according to a predetermined order with regard to the first symbol,

wherein the display comprises a plurality of display areas, each operable to display the plural symbols arranged in the cluster.

9. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of clusters in which the plural symbols are arranged according to different orders with regard to the first symbol,

wherein the display comprises a plurality of display areas, each operable to display the plural symbols arranged in one of the clusters.

10. A method of controlling a gaming machine, comprising steps of:

selecting at least one random number;

displaying, in a display, at least one of plural symbols in accordance with the selected random number, the plural symbols including at least one first symbol which is associated with a second symbol in a one-to-one correspondence; and

replacing the first symbol with the second symbol when a predetermined requirement is satisfied under a condition that the first symbol is displayed in the display.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the plural symbols are variably displayed first, and then at least one of the plural symbols is displayed stationarily in accordance with the selected random number.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the predetermined requirement is that a plurality of first symbols are stationarily displayed in the display.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the plural symbols includes at least one third symbol, and the predetermined requirement is that the first symbol and the third symbol are stationarily displayed in the display.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the predetermined requirement is that the first symbol and a plurality of third symbols are stationarily displayed in the display.

15. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the predetermined requirement is that a predetermined time period elapses from when the first symbol is stationarily displayed in the display.