Slot machine game—find the prize

• US 6,572,471 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Bennett, Nicholas Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/614,237
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16-19, 463/20, 463/12, 463/13, 463/30, 463/31, 463/40, 463/42, 463/25, 463/37, 463/21-23, 463/26-27, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/236, 273/237, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A slot machine is provided in a cabinet 10 including a prize display 12, a coin entry slot 13, a payout tray 14 and internally mounted game control processor circuits. The game display 11 comprises a video display screen ii controlled to display a game image divided into a matrix of elements or player selectable zones. The video screen is preferably of the touch sensitive variety, having an array of touch sensitive areas located on its display surface with one such area associated with each matrix element 40-75. The player may select one of the matrix elements (eg. 41) by touching the screen within the area of the respective element to be selected, thereby causing the image in the element to change to reveal whether or not a prize value is associated with that zone.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines connected to a tournament controller and each gaming machine comprising;

display means arranged to display a game being played on the gaming machine;

initiating means to initiate the game on the gaming machine;

game control means responsive to the game initiating means to control the playing of the game, wherein;

the display means is arranged to display at least one game image or game images having a plurality of player selectable zones;

the control means includes player zone selection means;

a prize being randomly associated with at least one of the player selectable zones, the prize being hidden from the player until the respective player selectable zone is selected, such that if that player selectable zone is selected by the player after the game image is displayed, the gaming machine will indicate to the tournament controller a winning condition, wherein the tournament controller is arranged to initiate a tournament to be played simultaneously on at least two participating gaming machines of the plurality of gaming machines, and monitors the selections of the players of each of the participating gaming machines and substantially simultaneously advises each participating gaming machine of the selections made on each other participating gaming machine, and wherein the game control means of each participating gaming machine reveals selections made by the player of the respective gaming machine and the players of the other participating gaming machines whereby selected zones are removed from player selectable the set of zones available to the player of a gaming machine for selection if already selected by the player of another participating gaming machine and when one or more gaming machines indicate to the tournament controller that a winning condition has occurred, the tournament controller will select the gaming machine that first achieved the winning condition, award a prize to the selected gaming machine and end the tournament.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least two zones of a gaming machine are associated with one another and if the player selects two associated zones, a winning condition is indicated to the tournament controller and each player of each participating gaming machine is awarded two selections per game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the player of each participating gaming machine is awarded only one selection opportunity per game.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the display means displays a background image of the game image for the game which is a static image.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the background image is a fixed. pattern.

6. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the display means displays a background image of the game image for the game which is a dynamic image.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the background image is an animation.

8. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 4 or 6, wherein the game image is an image of a golfer teeing off, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

9. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 4 or 6, wherein the game image is an image of a football player kicking a ball, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

10. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 4 or 6, wherein the game image is an image of a rugby player passing a ball, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

11. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 4 or 6, wherein the game image is an image of an angler casting a fly, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

12. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 4 or 6, wherein the game image is an image of a battleship dropping depth charges, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

13. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 4 or 6, wherein the game image is an image of a battleship firing missiles, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

14. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the display means displays a matrix of zone images which form the game image.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein each zone image has a static image.

16. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein each zone image is a fixed pattern.

17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein each zone image is a dynamic image.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein each zone image is an animation.

19. The gaming system as claimed in claim 3, wherein clues the player selectable zones having associated prizes are permanently or temporarily revealed in zones that have been randomly selected by the game control means.

20. The gaining system as claimed in claim 3, wherein clues to the player selectable zones having associated prizes are permanently or temporarily displayed in unselected zones.

21. The gaming system if claim 3, wherein the display means is a video screen;

and the control means includes player zone selection means including touch sensors associated with the display means and located such that touching the display means within one of the player selectable zones causes the respective player selectable zone to be selected.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the display image or images provide clues as to the probability of each player selectable zone having an associated prize.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the display image is an image of a golfer teeing off, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

24. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the display image is an image of a football player kicking a ball, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

25. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the display image is an image of a rugby player passing a ball, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

26. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the display image is an image of an angler casting a fly, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

27. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the display image is an image of a battleship dropping depth charges, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

28. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the display image is an image of a battleship firing missiles, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

29. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein clues to player selectable zones having associated prizes are displayed in unselected zones.

30. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the display means is an LCD panel and is arranged to display the game image having a plurality of player selectable zones;

the control means includes player zone selection means includes touch sensors associated with the display means and located such that touching the display means within one of the player selectable zones causes the respective zone to be selected.

31. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein the display means displays a background image for the game which is a static image.

32. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein the image is a fixed pattern.

33. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein the display means displays a background image for the game which is a dynamic image.

34. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein the game image is an animation.

35. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein the display means displays a matrix of zone images.

36. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein each zone image has a static image.

37. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein each zone image is a fixed pattern.

38. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein each zone image is a dynamic image.

39. The gaming system of claim 21 or 30, wherein each zone image is an animation.

40. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the player of each participating gaming machine is awarded only one selection opportunity per game.

41. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines connected to a tournament controller and each gaming machine comprising;

display means arranged to display a game being played on the gaming machine;

game initiating means to initiate a game on the gaming machine;

game control means responsive to the initiating means to control the playing of the game, wherein;

the display means is arranged to display at least one game image or game images having a plurality of player selectable zones;

the game control means includes player zone selection means;

a prize being randomly associated with at least one of the player selectable zones, the prize being hidden from the player until the respective player selectable zone is selected, such that if that player selectable zone is selected by a player after the image is displayed, the gaming machine will indicate to the tournament controller a winning condition, wherein the tournament controller is arranged to initiate a tournament to be played simultaneously on at least two participating gaming machines of the plurality of gaming machines and randomly selects zones of the plurality of zones while the games are in progress and instructs the game control means of each participating gaming machine to substantially simultaneously reveal the tournament controller selected zones and to indicate to the player for each tournament controller selected zone whether that zone has an associated prize, thereby removing the tournament controller selected zones from the player selectable zones of a participating machine, the random selection being continued by the control means until either, the player of each participating machine has selected a zone, or all of the zones with associated prizes have been selected, and when one or more machines indicate to the tournament controller that a winning condition has occurred, the tournament controller will select the machine that first achieved the winning condition, award a prize to the selected machine and end the tournament.

42. The gaming system of claim 41, wherein the control means selects the player controllable zones one at a time.

43. The gaming system of claim 41, wherein the control means selects a plurality of player selectable zones at one time.

44. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines connected to a tournament controller and each gaming machine comprising;

display means arranged to display a game being played on the gaming machine;

game initiating means to initiate a game on the gaming machine;

game control means responsive to the gaming initiating means to control the playing of the game, wherein;

the display means is arranged to display at least one game image or game images having a plurality of player selectable zones;

the game control means includes player zone selection means;

a plurality of prizes being randomly associated with the player selectable zones, each prize being associated with a different one of the player selectable zones and each prize being hidden from a player until the respective zone is selected, such that if that zone is selected by the player after the game image is displayed, the gaming machine will indicate to the tournament controller a winning condition, wherein the tournament controller is arranged to initiate a tournament to be played simultaneously on at least two participating gaming machines of the plurality of gaming machines and wherein the tournament controller monitors selections of the players of each of the participating gaming machines and substantially simultaneously advises each participating gaming machine of the selections made on each other participating gaming machine, and the game control means of each participating gaming machine reveals the selections made by the player of the respective gaming machine and the players of the other participating gaming machines whereby the selected player selectable zones are removed from the player selectable set of zones available to the player of a gaining machine for selection if already selected by the player of another participating gaming machine.

45. The gaming system of claim 44, wherein the player of each participating machine is awarded more than one selection per game.

46. The gaming system of claim 45, wherein each player may continue selecting until there are no player selectable zones remaining to be selected.

47. The gaming system of claim 44, wherein the tournament controller randomly selects player selectable zones of the plurality of player selectable zones and instructs the game control means of each participating gaming machine to substantially simultaneously reveal the randomly selected player selectable zones, thereby removing the tournament controller selected zones from the player selectable zones of a participating machine, and to indicate to the player for each selected zone whether that player selectable zone has an associated prize, the random selection being continued by the control means until either, the player of each participating machine has selected a player selectable zone, or all of the player selectable zones with associated prizes have been selected.

48. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the game control means selects zones one at a time.

49. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the control means selects a plurality of zones at one time.

50. The gaming system of claim 44, wherein at least two zones of a gaming machine are associated with one another and if the player selects two associated player selectable zones, a winning condition is indicated to the tournament controller and each player of each participating gaming machine is awarded two selections per game.

51. The gaming system of claim 44, wherein the display means displays a background image of the game image for the game which is a static image.

52. The gaming system of claim 51, wherein the background image is a fixed pattern.

53. The gaming system of claim 44, wherein the display means displays a background image of the game image for the game which is a dynamic image.

54. The gaming system of claim 53, wherein the background image is an animation.

55. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 51 or 53, wherein the game image is an image of a golfer teeing off, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

56. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 51 or 53, wherein the game image is an image of a football player kicking a ball, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

57. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 51 or 53, wherein the game image is an image of a rugby player passing a ball, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

58. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 51 or 53, wherein the game image is an image of an angler casting a fly, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

59. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 51 or 53, wherein the game image is an image of a battleship dropping depth charges, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

60. The gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 51 or 53, wherein the game image is an image of a battleship firing missiles, such that the game image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

61. The gaming system of claim 44, wherein the display means displays a matrix of zone images which form the game image.

62. The gaming system of claim 61, wherein each zone image has a static image.

63. The gaming system of claim 61, wherein each zone image is a fixed pattern.

64. The gaming system of claim 61, wherein each zone image is a dynamic image.

65. The gaming system of claim 64, wherein each zone image is an animation.

66. The gaming system as claimed in claim 45, wherein clues to player selectable zones having associated prizes are permanently or temporarily revealed in zones that have been randomly selected by the game control means.

67. The gaming system as claimed in claim 44, wherein clues to player selectable zones having associated prizes are permanently or temporarily displayed in unselected zones.

68. The gaming system if claim 44, wherein the display means is a video screen;

and

the control means includes player zone selection means including touch sensors associated with the display means and located such that touching the display means within one of the player selectable zones causes the respective zone to be selected.

69. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein the display means displays a matrix of zone images.

70. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein each zone image has a static image.

71. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein each zone image is a fixed pattern.

72. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein each zone image is a dynamic image.

73. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein each zone image is an animation.

74. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein the display image or images provide clues as to the probability of each player selectable zone having an associated prize.

75. The gaming system of claim 74, wherein the display image is an image of a golfer teeing off, such that the screen images gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

76. The gaming system of claim 74, wherein the display image is an image of a football player kicking a ball, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

77. The gaming system of claim 74, wherein the display image is an image of a rugby player passing a ball, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

78. The gaming system of claim 74, wherein the display image is an image of an angler casting a fly, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

79. The gaming system of claim 74, wherein the display image is an image of a battleship dropping depth charges, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the player selectable zone having a prize associated with it.

80. The gaming system of claim 74, wherein the display image is an image of a battleship firing missiles, such that the screen image gives a clue to the player as to the zone having a prize associated with it.

81. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein clues to player selectable zones having associated prizes are revealed in zones that have been randomly selected by the game control means.

82. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein clues to player selectable zones having associated prizes are displayed in unselected zones.

83. The gaming system of claim 44, wherein the display means is an LCD panel and is arranged to display the game image having a plurality of player selectable zones;

the control means includes player zone selection means includes touch sensors associated with the display means and located such that touching the display means within one of the player selectable zones causes the respective zone to be selected.

84. The gaming system of claim 68 or 83, wherein the display means displays a background image for the game which is a static image.

85. The gaming system of claim 68 or 83, wherein the image is a fixed pattern.

86. The gaming system of claim 68 or 83, wherein the display means displays a background image for the game which is a dynamic image.

87. The gaming system of claim 68 or 83, wherein the image is an animation.