GAMING MACHINE WITH MECHANICAL REEL ROTATABLE THROUGH PLAYER'S OPERATION AND CONFIRMATION METHOD OF SYMBOL

• US 20090227353A1
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Inventors: Yoshizawa, Kazumasa
• Granted Patent: US 8,435,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3265 Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding
• 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

Abstract

The gaming machine includes: a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet; a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate; a plurality of symbols on the reel; a display capable of generating a video image; an input device which receives an input by the player; and a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of: (a1) receiving an input inputted through the input device; (a2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and (a3) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device which receives an input by the player; and

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(a1) receiving an input inputted through the input device;

(a2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and

(a3) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

19. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a result of voice recognition process for the player'"'"'s voice inputted into the microphone is used to determine a win or loss in the special game.

20. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the player wins the special game when the player guess an unseen symbol based on the symbol arrangement visible to the player, and orally outputs the guessed symbol correctly.

2. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel, for use in the game, which is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable;

a plurality of symbols arranged on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device disposed so that at least a part of the display area of the display is visible through the input device, for receiving an input through a press operation by the player;

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(b1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(b2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(b3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted;

(b4) rotating the reel in a rotation direction indicated by the direction symbol while the rotation command is being inputted; and

(b5) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

3. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a special game separately runnable from the game;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device which receives an input by the player; and

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(c1) receiving an input inputted through the input device;

(c2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted;

(c3) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel;

(c4) when a predetermined condition is met as a result of the game, running the special game; and

(c5) based on the result of the special game, displaying, on the display, a video image of all the symbols arranged on the reel.

14. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the step of:

(c5) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

27. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the step of:

(c6) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

4. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a special game separately runnable from the game;

a reel, for use in the game, which is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device disposed so that at least a part of the display area of the display is visible through the input device, for receiving an input through a press operation by the player;

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(d1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(d2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(d3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted;

(d4) rotating the reel in a rotation direction indicated by the direction symbol while the rotation command is being inputted;

(d5) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel;

(d6) when a predetermined condition is met as a result of the game, running the special game; and

(d7) based on the result of the special game, displaying, on the display, a video image of all the symbols arranged on the reel.

5. A confirmation method of a plurality of symbols arranged on a reel mechanically driven to rotate, and used in a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet, comprising steps of:

(e1) receiving an input by the player;

(e2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and

(e3)successively displaying a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

6. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player; and

a controller that is programmed to operate;

(a1) to specify an input position in the input device;

(a2) when the input position corresponds to a front area of the reel, to determine that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted; and

(a3) to rotate the reel in a rotation direction indicated by a rotation direction component of the reel included in a movement direction based on the input position while the rotation command is being inputted.

7. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate to change rotation speed;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player; and

a controller that is programmed to operate;

(b1) to specify an input position in the input device;

(b2) when the input position corresponds to a front area of the reel, to determine that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted;

(b3) to extract a rotation direction component of the reel included in a movement direction based on the input position and to obtain a movement speed relative to the rotation direction component; and

(b4) to rotate the reel in a rotation direction indicated by the rotation direction component so that the symbols are moved at the movement speed relative to the rotation direction component while the rotation command is being inputted.

8. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate to switch a rotation direction;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover the reel and at least a part of a display area of the display and receives an input through a press operation by the player; and

a controller that is programmed to operate;

(c1) to display a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(c2) to specify an input position in the input device

(c3) when the input position corresponds to a front area of the reel, to determine that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted;

(c4) to rotate the reel in a rotation direction indicated by a rotation direction component of the reel included in a movement direction based on the input position while the rotation command is being inputted;

(c5) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, to determine that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted, and

(c6) to rotate the reel in a rotation direction indicated by the direction symbol while the rotation command is being inputted.

9. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate to change rotation speed and to switch a rotation direction;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover the reel and at least a part of a display area of the display and receives an input through a press operation by the player; and

a controller that is programmed to operate

(d1) to display a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(d2) to specify an input position in the input device;

(d3) when the input position corresponds to a front area of the reel, to determine that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted;

(d4) to extract a rotation direction component of the reel included in a movement direction based on the input position and to obtain movement speed relative to the rotation direction component;

(d5) to rotate the reel in a rotation direction indicated by the rotation direction component so that the symbols are moved at the movement speed relative to the rotation direction component while the rotation command is being inputted;

(d6) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, to determine that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted; and

(d7) to rotate the reel in a rotation direction indicated by the direction symbol while the rotation command is being inputted.

10. A confirmation method of a plurality of symbols on a reel that is used in a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet and is mechanically driven to rotate, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an input by a player;

specifying an input position of the input;

when the input position corresponds to a front area of the reel, determining that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted; and

rotating the reel in a rotation direction indicated by a rotation direction component of the reel included in a movement direction based on the input position while the rotation command is being inputted.

11. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device which receives an input by the player; and

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(a1) receiving an input inputted through the input device; and

(a2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to one symbol.

12. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device which receives an input by the player; and

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(b1) receiving an input inputted through the input device;

(b2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, determining whether the rotation command is inputted through tapping or continuous pressing;

(b3) when the input is through tapping, stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to one symbol; and

(b4) when the input is through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted.

13. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel, for use in the game, which is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device disposed so that at least a part of the display area of the display is visible through the input device, for receiving an input through a press operation by the player;

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(c1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(c2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(c3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted; and

(c4) stopping the reel after rotating the reel in a direction indicated by the direction symbol by an amount equivalent to one symbol.

15. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel, for use in the game, which is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device disposed so that at least a part of the display area of the display is visible through the input device, for receiving an input through a press operation by the player;

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(d1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(d2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(d3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted;

(d4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to one symbol;

(d5) when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and

(d6) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

16. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel, for use in the game, which is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device disposed so that at least a part of the display area of the display is visible through the input device, for receiving an input through a press operation by the player;

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(e1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(e2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(e3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted;

(e4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of tapping;

(e5) stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of times input has been conducted;

(e6) when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and

(e7) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

17. A confirmation method of a plurality of symbols arranged on a reel which is mechanically driven to rotate and used in a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet, comprising the steps of:

receiving a player'"'"'s input; and

when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to one symbol.

18. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols arranged on the reel;

an input device that receives an input by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image;

a speaker that outputs a sound to outside;

a microphone which inputs at least the player'"'"'s voice;

a special game using the sound outputted from the speaker and the player'"'"'s voice inputted into the microphone; and

a controller that is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(a1) receiving an input inputted through the input device;

(a2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted;

(a3) when a predetermined condition is met in the game, running the special game; and

(a4) when the special game results in a win, displaying a video image on the display, which indicates at least a part of an arrangement of the symbols on the reel.

21. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate to switch a rotation direction;

a plurality of symbols arranged on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a speaker that outputs a sound to outside;

a microphone which inputs at least the player'"'"'s voice;

a special game using the sound outputted from the speaker and the player'"'"'s voice inputted into the microphone; and

a controller that is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(b1) specifying an input position in the input device;

(b2) when the input position corresponds to a front area of the reel, determining that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted;

(b3) rotating the reel in a rotation direction indicated by a rotation direction component of the reel included in a movement direction based on the input position while the rotation command is being inputted;

(b4) when a predetermined condition is met in the game, running the special game; and

(b5) when the special game results in a win, displaying a video image on the display, which indicates at least a part of an arrangement of the symbols on the reel.

22. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate to switch a rotation direction;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover the reel and at least a part of a display area of the display and receives an input through a press operation by the player; and

a controller that is programmed to carry out the following steps;

(c1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(c2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(c3) when the input position corresponds to a front area of the reel, determining that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted;

(c4) rotating the reel in a rotation direction indicated by a rotation direction component of the reel included in a movement direction based on the input position while the rotation command is being inputted;

(c5) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted;

(c6) rotating the reel in a rotation direction indicated by the direction symbol while the rotation command is being inputted;

(c7) when a predetermined condition is met in the game, running a special game; and

(c8) when the special game results in a win, displaying a video image on the display, which indicates at least a part of an arrangement of the symbols on the reel.

23. A confirmation method of a plurality of symbols on a reel that is used in a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet and is mechanically driven to rotate, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an input by a player;

specifying an input position of the input;

when the input position corresponds to a front area of the reel, determining that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted;

rotating the reel in a rotation direction indicated by a rotation direction component of the reel included in a movement direction based on the input position while the rotation command is being inputted;

when a predetermined condition is met in the game, running a special game using at least the player'"'"'s voice; and

when the special game results in a win, displaying a video image on the display, which indicates at least a part of an arrangement of the symbols on the reel.

24. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device which receives an input by the player; and

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(a1) receiving an input inputted through the input device;

(a2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, counting the number of rotation commands inputted;

(a3) stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted;

(a4) when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs.

25. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device which receives an input by the player; and

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(b1) receiving an input inputted through the input device,

(b2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, determining whether the rotation command is inputted through tapping or continuous pressing;

(b3) when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted.

(b4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of rotation commands inputted;

(b5) rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted; and

(b6) when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs.

26. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel, for use in the game, which is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device disposed so that at least a part of the display area of the display is visible through the input device, for receiving an input through a press operation by the player;

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(c1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(c2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(c3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted and counting the number of rotation commands inputted;

(c4) stopping the reel after rotating the reel in a direction indicated by the direction symbol by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted;

(c5) when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs.

28. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel, for use in the game, which is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

a display capable of generating a video image;

an input device disposed so that at least a part of the display area of the display is visible through the input device, for receiving an input through a press operation by the player;

a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of;

(d1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(d2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(d3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted;

(d4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of rotation commands inputted;

(d5) rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted;

(d6) when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs;

(d7) when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted;

(d8) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

29. A confirmation method of a plurality of symbols arranged on a reel mechanically driven to rotate, and used in a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet, comprising the steps of:

receiving an input by the player;

when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, counting the number of rotation commands inputted;

stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted; and

when more than one rotation commands are inputted;

rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs.