Slot machine and control method of game

• US 8,083,580 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• 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:
  US11/735,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20080064476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463/42, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 includes a symbol display device that variably displays a plurality of symbols, and a controller. A mode shifts from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on a condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted. A number of games in which game media are BET in a number equal to a previously set maximum number of BETs after shifting to said insurance mode, in said insurance mode, is counted. A game in which game media are BET in a number not equal to said previously set maximum number of BETs is not counted. A predetermined number of game media are paid out when the number of games counted in the counting reaches a specific number. The mode shifts from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode while holding the number of games counted in the counting when a predetermined insurance canceling condition is established.

Claims

1. A game control method implemented by a controller in a game machine, the game control method comprising:

executing 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 a number equal to or less than a previously set maximum number of BETs, and game media are paid out in a number according to a combination of said plurality of stop-displayed symbols;

shifting a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on a condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted;

counting, with the controller, a number of games in which game media are BET in a number equal to said previously set maximum number of BETs after shifting to said insurance mode, in said insurance mode, and not counting a game in which game media are BET in a number not equal to said previously set maximum number of BETs;

paying out a second predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in said counting reaches a specific number; and

shifting the mode from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode while holding the number of games counted in said counting when a predetermined insurance canceling condition is established.

2. A slot machine, comprising:

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

a controller,

said controller programmed to execute a processing of;

(A) executing 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 a number equal to or less than a previously set maximum number of BETs, and game media are paid out in a number according to a combination of said plurality of stop-displayed symbols;

(B) shifting 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 a number of games in which game media are BET in a number equal to said previously set maximum number of BETs after shifting to said insurance mode, in said insurance mode, and not counting a game in which game media are BET in a number not equal to said previously set maximum number of BETs;

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

(E) shifting the mode from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode while holding the number of games counted in said processing (C) when a predetermined insurance canceling condition is established.

3. The slot machine according to claim 2, wherein said controller counts in said processing (C) the number of games played after shifting to said insurance mode in addition to the number of games held in said processing (E), when the mode is shifted from said non-insurance mode to said insurance mode in said processing (B) after shifting the mode from the insurance mode to said non-insurance mode while holding said number of games counted in said processing (E).

4. The slot machine according to claim 2, wherein said controller is programmed to further execute a processing of:

(F) clearing the number of games counted in said processing (C) when a game is played in which game media are paid out in a number equal to or more than a predetermined number before the number of games counted in said processing (C) reaches said specific number.

5. The slot machine according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined insurance canceling condition is that games have been played in which the number of game media are paid out in a number equal to or more than a set number, and said set number is smaller than said predetermined number.