Slot Machine And Control Method Of Game

• US 20080153571A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aruze Gaming America Incorporated (Aruze Gaming America, Inc. /Okada/)
• Original Assignee: Aruze Gaming America Incorporated (Aruze Gaming America, Inc. /Okada/)
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,722 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A slot machine of the present invention comprises a symbol display device capable of rearranging a plurality of symbols; and a controller, the controller programmed to conduct processing of (A) executing a game in which, after game media in number equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number of BETs are bet, the plurality of symbols are rearranged by the symbol display device, and game media in number according to the arranged symbols or combinations are paid out; (B) shifting a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted; (C) counting the number of games played after shifting to the insurance mode, in the insurance mode; (D) paying out a predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in the processing (C) reaches a specific number; and (E) clearing the number of games counted in the processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode, when a game ending condition which enables a player to figure out that the game has ended is established.

Claims

1. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol display device capable of rearranging a plurality of symbols; and

a controller,

said controller programmed to conduct processing of

(A) executing a game in which, after game media in number equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number of BETs are bet, said plurality of symbols are rearranged by said symbol display device, and game media in number according to the arranged symbols or combinations are paid out;

(B) shifting a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted;

(C) counting the number of games played after shifting to said insurance mode, in said insurance mode;

(D) paying out a predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in said processing (C) reaches a specific number; and

(E) clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when a game ending condition which enables a player to figure out that the game has ended is established.

2. The slot machine according to claim 1,

wherein

said controller is further programmed to conduct processing of (F) storing game media possessed by the player as credit, and

said processing (E) includes clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) and shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when said credit runs out.

3. The slot machine according to claim 1,

wherein

said controller is further programmed to conduct processing of (G) determining whether or not a player has been changed, and

said processing (E) includes clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when determined that the player has been changed.

4. The slot machine according to claim 3, further comprising

a reader for reading identification data for identifying the player from a card carried by the player,

wherein

said processing (G) is processing for executing processing of:

(G-1) reading the identification data from said card through said reader,

(G-2) storing the identification data read from said card, and

(G-3) determining that the player has been changed, when it is determined that data different from the identification data stored in said processing (G-2) has been read.

5. The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising

a card slot which allows a card, carried by the player, to be inserted into or removed from said card slot,

wherein

said processing (G) includes clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when it is determined that said card has been inserted into and thereafter removed from said card slot.

6. The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising

a collect button for inputting a command for returning game media stored as credit,

wherein

said processing (E) includes clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when a signal indicative of a command for returning game media is received from said collect button.

7. The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising

a ticket printer for outputting a ticket,

wherein

said processing (E) includes clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when it is detected that said ticket printer outputs a ticket on which information about the number of game media stored as credit is recorded.

8. The slot machine according to claim 1,

wherein

said controller is further programmed to conduct processing of (H) measuring the time elapsed since the last time a game was executed, and

said processing (E) includes clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when the elapsed time measured in said processing (H) reaches a certain time.

9. The slot machine according to claim 8, further comprising a BET button which enables the player to input a BET,

wherein

said processing (H) includes measuring the time elapsed since the last time an input from the BET button was detected.

10. The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising an input button for inputting a command for shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode,

wherein

said processing (E) includes clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when a signal indicating the shift to the non-insurance mode, which is output by the operation of said input button is received, and

said controller is further programmed to conduct processing of (I) paying out game media according to the number of games at the time of receiving a signal indicating the shift to the non-insurance mode, which is output by the operation of said input button.

11. A game control method comprising the steps of:

(A) executing a game in which, after game media in number equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number of BETs are bet, said plurality of symbols are rearranged by said symbol display device capable of rearranging the plurality of symbols, and game media in number according to the arranged symbols or combinations are paid out;

(B) shifting a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted;

(C) counting the number of games played after shifting to said insurance mode, in said insurance mode;

(D) paying out a predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in said step (C) reaches a specific number; and

(E) clearing the number of games counted in said step (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode, when a game ending condition which enables a player to figure out that the game has ended is established.