Slot machine and control method of game

• US 7,985,131 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/734,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20080064474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463/42, 2731381- 2, 273/143.R
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A slot machine of the present invention comprises: a symbol display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols; an image display device; and a controller, the controller programmed to execute the processing of: (A) executing a game in which the plurality of symbols are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to the symbol display device after game media are BET in number equal to or less than a previously set maximum number of BETs, and game media are paid out in number according to the stop-displayed symbols or a combination thereof; (B) shifting a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted; (C) counting the number of games played after shifting to the insurance mode, in the insurance mode; (D) paying out a predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in the processing (C) reaches a specific number; and (E) displaying an image showing that the current gaming state is the insurance mode, in the insurance mode.

Claims

1. A slot machine comprising:

a symbol display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols;

an image display device; and

a controller,

said controller programmed to;

(A) execute a game in which said plurality of symbols are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to said symbol display device after game media are BET in number equal to or less than a previously set maximum number of BETs, and game media are paid out in number according to the stop-displayed symbols or a combination thereof;

(B) shift a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on a condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted;

(C) count, in the insurance mode, a number of games played after shifting to the insurance mode;

(D) pay out a predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in said counting the number of games in (C) reaches a specific number;

(E) display, in the insurance mode, a first image showing that the current gaming state is the insurance mode, and display a second image showing the number of games left to be played until the number of games counted in said counting the number of games in (C) reaches a specific number;

(F) sequentially display, when displaying the second image, a video of a character performing a series of actions in accordance with the number of games left to be played; and

(G) display, in the non-insurance mode, a third image showing that the current gaming state is the non-insurance mode, and display a fourth image for selecting whether to shift the gaming state from the non-insurance mode to insurance mode.

2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein

said symbol display device is a mechanical reel device provided with a plurality of reels each having a plurality of symbols drawn on its peripheral face,

said image display device including,

a first image display device which is provided at a front of said mechanical reel device and is configured to display a screen image in such a manner that a plurality of symbols displayed by said plurality of reels can be seen through said screen image, and

a second image display device provided above said first image display device, and

said display in the insurance mode in (E) comprises displaying said second image showing the number of games left to be played to said first image display device, as well as displaying said first image showing that the current gaming state is the insurance mode to said second image display device.

3. A game control method comprising:

(A) executing, via a processor of a slot machine, a game in which a plurality of symbols are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to a symbol display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols after game media are BET in number equal to or less than a previously set maximum number of BETs, and game media are paid out in number according to the stop-displayed symbols or a combination thereof;

(B) shifting, via the processor, a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on a condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted;

(C) counting, in the insurance mode, via the processor, a number of games played after shifting to the insurance mode;

(D) paying out, via the slot machine, a predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in said counting the number of games in (C) reaches a specific number;

(E) displaying, in the insurance mode, via the slot machine, a first image showing that the current gaming state is the insurance mode, and displaying a second image showing the number of games left to be played until the number of games counted in said counting the number of games in (C) reaches a specific number;

(F) sequentially displaying, via the slot machine, when displaying said second image, a video of a character performing a series of actions in accordance with the number of games left to be played; and

(G) displaying, in the non-insurance mode, via the slot machine, a third image showing that the current gaming state is the non-insurance mode, and displaying a fourth image for selecting whether to shift the gaming state from the non-insurance mode to insurance mode.