Gaming machine

• US 5,630,753 A
• Filed: 01/09/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novomatic AG
• Original Assignee: Novo-Invest Casino Development AG
• Inventors: Fuchs, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/367,146
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 273/85 CP, 273/138 A, 273/292, 273/143 R, 364/412, 463/1, 463/9-13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/30-31, 463/36
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters

Abstract

The invention relates to a gaming machine with at least one display area (2) for a number of game symbols (3) which, after the player has pressed a start button (4) to start the game, are selected under the control of a computing unit (5) from a multitude of predetermined symbols and presented at positions in the display area (2) for the player to view. The invention calls for the gaming machine (1) to have, preferably in the display area (2), at least one chance-display zone (7, 7'"'"') in which the computing unit (5), optionally on actuation of a request unit (14), e.g., a request button, by the player, displays possible and/or increased and/or best-possible win chances, and/or instructions for determining them, which are available for the next game or which, on removal of one or more of the game symbols or game-symbol combinations presented for the next game, apply or could possibly be achieved in the next game.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising

(a) a computer including a micro processor;

(b) a first display connected to the computer for displaying a plurality of randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols upon starting the game by initiating a starter,

a first control for paying out possible winnings,

a second control for calling-up additional computer generated gaming symbols,

a plurality of selecting devices associated to each of the plurality of randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols for one of immediately selecting, storing and selecting later each of the plurality of randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols;

a first indicator for indicating a total winning amount,

a second indicator for indicting an available winning amount at any time during the game,

a third indicator for indicating an amount won in a previous game,

a fourth indicator for providing advice as to how to double a winning amount;

(c) a second display for displaying a game-specific combination of gaming symbols selected from the first display by pressing one of the plurality of selecting devices associated to each of the plurality of the randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols and the computer-generated gaming symbols called up by the second control of the first display area and including

a price value display for displaying a price value of the game-specific combination of gaming symbols selected in the second display, and further including

a probability display for indicating winning chances of the game-specific combination of gaming symbols displayed in the second display.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of acoustical and optical indicators for indicating win-related preference for selecting or storing of gaming symbols.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the probability display is accomplished by displaying possible win-related combinations of game symbols.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game symbols identified as representing possible win-related are illuminated.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the win-related combinations of game symbols are displayed when advantageous for selection by the player.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the game symbols are fruit symbols.

7. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the second display is a video display screen.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game symbols are identical to card of card games.

9. A method for playing with a gaming machine comprising the steps of

starting the gaming machine to display randomly selected computer generated gaming symbols;

selecting from a plurality of randomly selected computer generated gaming symbol such gaming symbols which are favorable for winning;

selecting at least one of the steps of storing non-selected gaming symbols from the plurality of randomly selected computer generated gaming symbols for a later use and calling up new randomly selected computer generated gaming symbols;

observing during the selection steps a display indicating a probability of winning which is associated to each gaming symbol selected.

10. The method for playing with a gaming machine according to claim 9, further comprising the step of observing during the selection step the price value of winning.

11. The method for playing with a gaming machine according to claim 9, further comprising the step of enhancing acoustically the selection steps when win-related preferences are selected.

12. The method for playing with a gaming machine according to claim 9, further comprising the step of enhancing optically the selection steps when win-related preferences are selected.

13. A game machine comprising

(a) a computer including a microprocessor;

(b) a first display connected to the computer for displaying a plurality of randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols upon starting a game by initiating a starter, a plurality of selecting devices, each selecting device being associated to one of the plurality of randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols for immediately selecting and storing for later use of at least one of the plurality of randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols, a control for calling-up and displaying in the first display additional randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols by replacing not selected and not stored gaming symbols;

(c) a resulting combination being determined by game-specific combinations including the gaming symbols stored by an actuated one of the plurality of selecting devices associated with the plurality of the randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols and by the computer-generated gaming symbols called up by said control;

(d) a second display for displaying one of at least one attainable winning combination based on and attainable with the game-specific combinations of gaming symbols selected and stored by the actuated selecting devices, and displaying winning probabilities of at least one attainable winning combination based on the game-specific game combinations of gaming symbols selected and stored by the actuated selecting devices; and

(e) a third display for indicating the winning combination resulting in a maximum winning amount.

14. A method for playing with a gaming machine comprising the steps of:

starting the gaming machine to display randomly selected computer generated gaming symbols;

selecting from a plurality of randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols such gaming symbols which are favorable for winning as a game-specific combination;

replacing non-selected gaming symbols from the plurality of randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols by calling up new randomly selected computer-generated gaming symbols for configuring a possible winning combination; and

observing during the selecting step and before the replacing step a display indicating at least one attainable winning combination based on one of the game specific combinations and a probability of winning which is associated to at least one game-specific combination of gaming symbols selected and stored.