Electronic gaming apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of operating a game machine having a display area, said method comprising the steps of:
- randomly generating a number within a first predetermined range of numbers;
filtering to determine whether said random number is within a second predetermined range of numbers, said second predetermined range of numbers being a subset of said first predetermined range of numbers; and
displaying a winning symbol within said display area if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for operating a microprocessor controlled, reel type slot machine in which payoff is determined before a final game outcome is displayed to a player. A pre-defined count of random numbers is generated and presented to a digital filter having tap outputs which correspond to paytable payline equations. The minimum number of payline equations is equal to the number of distinct paylines in the paytable plus one. Any changes in game outcome are taken into account by modifying variables in computer memory and as such do not require a change in tables stored in computer memory. Several features for attracting players to the apparatus and increasing the enjoyment of playing a game are included.
166 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of operating a game machine having a display area, said method comprising the steps of:
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randomly generating a number within a first predetermined range of numbers; filtering to determine whether said random number is within a second predetermined range of numbers, said second predetermined range of numbers being a subset of said first predetermined range of numbers; and displaying a winning symbol within said display area if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a game machine having a display area, said method comprising the steps of:
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setting a count of randomly generated numbers to zero at the beginning of a gaming period; randomly generating a number within a first predetermined range of numbers; incrementing said count after generating said random number; determining whether said random number is within a second predetermined range of numbers, said second predetermined range of numbers being a subset of said first predetermined range of numbers; determining whether said count is equal to a predetermined count limit; displaying a winning symbol within said display area if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers and said count is equal to said predetermined count limit; and permitting a game player to increase a wager if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers and said count is less than said predetermined count limit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a game machine having a display area, said method comprising the steps of:
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setting a count of randomly generated numbers to zero at the beginning of a gaming period; determining the amount of a wager made by a game player; randomly generating a number within a first predetermined range of numbers; incrementing said count after generating said random number; determining whether said random number is within a second predetermined range of numbers, said second predetermined range of numbers being a subset of said first predetermined range of numbers; incrementing a hit value if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers; determining whether said count is equal to a predetermined count limit; and displaying a winning symbol within said display area if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers and said count is equal to said predetermined count limit, said winning symbol being derived from said hit value and said wager amount. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A game apparatus comprising:
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a random number circuit for generating a random number signal within a first bandwidth; a digital filter circuit electrically connected to said random number circuit such that said digital filter circuit passes said random number signal if said random number signal is within a second bandwidth; and an output device electrically connected to said digital filter circuit such that said output device displays a winning symbol in response to said digital filter circuit passing said random number signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A game apparatus comprising:
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a random number circuit for generating a plurality of random number signals within a first bandwidth; a counter circuit electrically connected to said random number circuit such that said counter circuit increments a count value each time said random number circuit generates one of said plurality of random number signals; a digital filter circuit electrically connected to said random number circuit such that said digital filter circuit passes a portion of said plurality of random number signals that are within a second bandwidth; and an output device electrically connected to said digital filter circuit such that said output device displays a winning symbol in response to said count value being equal to a predetermined count value and said digital filter circuit passing said portion of said plurality of random number signals. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A game apparatus having a display area, said game apparatus comprising:
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means for randomly generating a number within a first predetermined range of numbers; means for filtering to determine whether said random number is within a second predetermined range of numbers, said second predetermined range of numbers being a subset of said first predetermined range of numbers; and means for displaying a winning symbol within said display area if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A game apparatus having a display area, said game apparatus comprising:
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means for setting a count of randomly generated numbers to zero at the beginning of a gaming period; means for determining the amount of a wager made by a game player; means for randomly generating a number within a first predetermined range of numbers; means for incrementing said count after generating said random number; means for determining whether said random number is within a second predetermined range of numbers, said second predetermined range of numbers being a subset of said first predetermined range of numbers; means for incrementing a hit value if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers; means for determining whether said count is equal to a predetermined count limit; and means for displaying a winning symbol within said display area if said random number is within said second predetermined range of numbers and said count is equal to said predetermined count limit, said winning symbol being derived from said hit value and said wager amount. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A method of selecting a reel position to display a game outcome to a player, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of equations describing the position of a symbol; selecting a reel position in a manner based at least in part upon solution of at least one of said equations.
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Specification