Entertainment machines

• US 20050208992A1
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barcrest Group Limited (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Barcrest Group Limited (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Randall, Dov L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,749,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

Coin-operated player-operable entertainment machines, such as fruit machines with symbol-selecting reels, are linked to a common display device. The machines are used to play games which may result in wins, dependent upon at least one machine parameter. The machine parameter may be the percentage pay out for which the machines are set, i.e., the proportion of stake value returned as awards. The percentages may be different for different machines and this may be shown on the common display device.

Claims

1. An assembly of a plurality of coin-operated player-operable entertainment machines and at least one common display device for the machines wherein each machine is operable to play games having a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which is a winning outcome, in dependence on at least one machine parameter having at least one characteristic, wherein the common display device is operable to indicate differences in the characteristic of the machine parameter for each of the machines.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the machine parameter characteristics relates to a likelihood of winning.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the machines includes a gaming machine which requires a stake value to be credited for playing of a game and which makes available an award value on attainment of a winning outcome, wherein the machine parameter characteristic for said machine comprises a percentage of the stake value which is provided as the award value.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the differences in the characteristics are indicated so as to relate to said different machines.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the machine parameter characteristic is adjustable.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the common display device includes a device separate from the machines.

7. The assembly of claim 1, which includes a data link between the common display device and the machines.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the data link includes an intermediary device between the common display device and the machines.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the machines includes a fruit or poker game having a combination of symbols displayed on a main display device.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the main display device comprises actual or simulated rotatable side-by-side symbol-bearing reels.

11. A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a display device supported by the cabinet;

at least one outcome associated with the game;

a plurality of likelihoods of occurrence associated with the outcome;

a processor operable to operate the game using different ones of the likelihoods at different times; and

a device operatively coupled to the processor, the device operable to pass data from a server to the processor, said data causing the processor to use one of the likelihoods, the server in communication with a display apparatus selected from the group consisting of the display device supported by the cabinet or a different display device, the display apparatus operable to simultaneously indicate;

(a) a characteristic of said likelihood; and

(b) a characteristic of a likelihood of occurrence of an outcome of a game of another gaming device.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the outcome includes an award.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein each of the characteristics includes a payout percentage.

14. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the display apparatus includes a display panel positioned apart from the gaming devices.

15. A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a display device supported by the cabinet;

at least one outcome associated with the game;

a plurality of likelihoods of occurrence associated with the outcome;

a processor operable to operate the game using different ones of the likelihoods at different times; and

a device operatively coupled to the processor, the device operable to enable data to pass from the processor to a controller of a different display device, said data associated with the likelihood used by the processor at any one time, said different display device operable to simultaneously indicate;

(a) a characteristic of the likelihood used by the processor; and

(b) a characteristic of a likelihood of occurrence of an outcome of a game of a different gaming device.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the outcome includes an award.

17. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein each of the characteristics includes a payout percentage.

18. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the different display device includes a display panel positioned apart from each of the gaming devices.

19. A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a display device supported by the cabinet;

at least one outcome associated with the game;

a plurality of likelihoods of occurrence associated with the outcome;

a processor operable to operate the game using different ones of the likelihoods at different times; and

a device operatively coupled to the processor, the device operable to pass data to the processor, said data associated with a likelihood of occurrence of an outcome of a game of a different gaming device, wherein the display device is operable to simultaneously indicate;

(a) a characteristic of the likelihood used by the processor at any one time; and

(b) a characteristic of the likelihood of the outcome of the game of the different gaming device.

20. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein the outcome includes an award.

21. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein each of the characteristics includes a payout percentage.