Gaming Machine Having a Secondary Game with a Restricted Display Area

• US 20090227345A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Inventors: YOSHIZAWA, Kazumasa
• Application Number:
  US12/390,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20090227345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming machine 10 is provided with a liquid crystal display 30 including a symbol display area divided into a plurality of symbol display regions 301 to 315 for displaying a plurality of kinds of symbols dynamically and statically for each game. The gaming machine 10 has a mode for performing a first game in which an award is determined based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed within the symbol display area including all the symbol display regions 301 to 315, and in addition, has a mode for performing a second game in which a portion of the symbol display area is set as an active symbol display area ASA1. The second game, which is performed with a reduced display area compared to that of the first game, provides a player with an advantageous condition.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a display, having a symbol display area divided into a plurality of symbol display regions, for displaying a plurality of kinds of symbols to be dynamically and statically displayed in each of the symbol display regions for each game;

an input device for starting a game in which a predetermined award is provided based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed in the plurality of symbol display regions within the symbol display area; and

a controller configured to execute the processing comprising;

(a) performing a first game in which an award is determined based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed within the symbol display area including all the symbol display regions; and

(b) performing a second game in which a portion of the symbol display area is set as an active symbol display area, and an award is determined based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed for each unit game in which a plurality of kinds of symbols are dynamically and statically displayed in the active symbol display area.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first game is a basic game and the second game is a bonus game.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the bonus game includes a plurality of free games.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein in a case where at least a predetermined number of symbols for triggering a start of the second game is statically displayed within the symbol display area including all the symbol display regions used in the first game, the controller is configured to cause the first game to be switched to the second game.

5. A gaming machine, comprising:

a display, having a symbol display area divided into a plurality of symbol display regions, for displaying a plurality of kinds of symbols to be dynamically and statically displayed in each of the symbol display regions for each game;

an input device for starting a game in which a predetermined award is provided based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed in the plurality of symbol display regions within the symbol display area; and

a controller configured to execute the processing comprising;

(a) performing a first game in which an award is determined based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed within the symbol display area including all the symbol display regions; and

(b) in a case where a symbol statically displayed in a specified symbol display region within the symbol display area matches a wild symbol substitutable for any kind of symbol, performing a second game in which symbol display regions surrounding the wild symbol as a center and immediately adjacent to the wild symbol are set as an active symbol display area, and an award is determined based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed for each game in which a plurality of kinds of symbols is dynamically and statically displayed in the active symbol display area.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein in the processing of (b), the controller is configured to cause the wild symbol to be fixed as a stationary symbol at the center of the active symbol display area during at least one round of the second game from the beginning thereof.

7. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein in the processing of (b), in a case where the wild symbol is statically displayed in each of a plurality of specified symbol display regions, the controller is configured to cause a total area including symbol display regions immediately adjacent to each of the plurality of specified symbol display regions to be set as an active symbol display area.

8. A gaming machine, comprising:

a display, having a symbol display area divided into a plurality of symbol display regions, for displaying a plurality of kinds of symbols to be dynamically and statically displayed in each of the symbol display regions for each game;

an input device for starting a game in which a predetermined award is provided based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed in the plurality of symbol display regions within the symbol display area; and

a controller configured to execute the processing comprising;

(a) performing a first game in which an award is determined based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed within the symbol display area including all the symbol display regions; and

(b) in a case where a symbol that is statically displayed in a specified symbol display region prior to other symbols to be displayed in any other symbol display region during the first game matches a wild symbol substitutable for any kind of symbol, performing a second game in which symbol display regions surrounding the wild symbol as a center and immediately adjacent to the wild symbol are set as an active symbol display area, and an award is determined based on a number of identical symbols statically displayed for each game in which a plurality of kinds of symbols is dynamically and statically displayed in the active symbol display area.

9. The gaming machine according to claim 8, wherein in the processing of (b), the controller is configured to cause the wild symbol to be statically displayed at the center of the active symbol display area during one of only a first round of the second game and second and subsequent rounds of the second game.

10. The gaming machine according to claim 8, wherein in the processing of (b), in a case where the wild symbol is statically displayed in each of a plurality of specified symbol display regions, the controller is configured to cause a total area including symbol display regions immediately adjacent to each of the plurality of specified symbol display regions to be set as an active symbol display area.