Gaming machine, game control method and game system

• US 8,105,154 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technological Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Aruze Gaming America Incorporated (Aruze Gaming America, Inc. /Okada/)
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US11/262,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,282 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463 26- 29
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A gaming machine determines a winning combination by lottery. A first special game state is determined as a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination. A second special game state is provided in which a predetermined number of game media is paid out when the number of games accumulatively counted each time a game is played reaches a set value. A payout mode is selected in the special game state from a plurality of predetermined payout modes.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a winning combination determination unit configured to determine a winning combination by a lottery;

a first generating unit configured to generate a first special game state which is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination;

a second generating unit configured to generate a second special game state in which a predetermined number of game media is paid out when the number of games accumulatively counted each time a game is played reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with the number of games accumulatively counted; and

a selecting unit configured to randomly select, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of the game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and a predetermined increased payout, are played until the same number of game media are paid out.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein

a reception unit configured to accept for one game an insertion of game media up to a predetermined upper limit value is provided, and said second generating unit configured to generate said second special game state generates a second special game state in a case where the number of inserted game media for the game played by the player is equal to said upper limit when said number of games reaches said set value.

15. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which 1,000 game media tokens are paid out, and a mode in which free games are executed.

16. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the number of game media paid out in the second special game state is varied with a game history.

17. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an insertion of game media up to a predetermined upper limit value for one game,

wherein said second generating unit generates the second special game state when the number of inserted game media for the one game is at the upper limit value for a current game and, the number of games in which the insertion of game media has been conducted at the upper limit value reaches a set value.

2. A gaming machine comprising:

a winning combination determination unit configured to determine a winning combination by a lottery;

a first generating unit configured to generate a first special game state which is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination; and

a second generating unit configured to generate a second special game state in which the predetermined number of game medium is paid out in a case where the predetermined number of the first special game state is not generated until the number of games accumulatively counted each time a game is played reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with the number of games accumulatively counted; and

a selecting unit configured to randomly select, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of the game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

3. A gaming machine comprising:

a winning combination determination unit configured to determine a winning combination by a lottery;

a first generating unit configured to generate a first special game state which is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination;

a second generating unit configured to generate second special game state in which the predetermined number of game medium is paid out in a case where the predetermined number of the first special game state is not generated until the number of games accumulatively counted each time a game is played reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with the number of games accumulatively counted; and

a selecting unit configured to randomly select, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of the game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

18. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which 1,000 game media tokens are paid out, and a mode in which free games are executed.

19. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the number of game media paid out in the second special game state is varied with a game history.

20. The gaming machine according to claim 3, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an insertion of game media up to a predetermined upper limit value for one game,

wherein said second generating unit generates the second special game state when the number of inserted game media for the one game is at the upper limit value for a current game and, the number of games in which the insertion of game media has been conducted at the upper limit value reaches a set value.

4. A gaming machine connected to a control device which accumulatively counts the number of games in for every gaming machine of a plurality of gaming machines through a communication line, comprising:

a winning combination determination unit configured to determine a winning combination by a lottery;

a first generating unit configured to generate a first special game state which is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination;

a transmitter configured to transmit an identification information of the gaming machine to said control device through said communication line each time a game is played;

a receiver configured to receive a command signal transmitted from said control device when the number of games accumulatively counted by the control device based on said identification information of the gaming machine reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with said number of games accumulatively counted;

a second generating unit configured to generate a second special game state in which the predetermined number of game medium is paid out based on said command signal; and

a selecting unit configured to randomly select, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of the game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

21. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which 1,000 game media tokens are paid out, and a mode in which free games are executed.

22. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the number of game media paid out in the second special game state is varied with a game history.

23. The gaming machine according to claim 4, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an insertion of game media up to a predetermined upper limit value for one game,

wherein said second generating unit generates the second special game state when the number of inserted game media for the one game is at the upper limit value for a current game and, the number of games in which the insertion of game media has been conducted at the upper limit value reaches a set value.

5. A gaming machine comprising:

a winning combination determination unit configured to determine a winning combination by a lottery;

a first generating unit configured to generate a first special game state which is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination;

a counter configured to accumulatively count the number of games each time a game is played;

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not said number of games has reached a set value that is an object of comparison with said number of games accumulatively counted;

a second generating unit configured to generate a second special game state in which the predetermined number of game medium is paid out when said number of games is determined to have reached said set value; and

a selecting unit configured to randomly select, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of the game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

24. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the modes include a mode in which 1,000 game media tokens are paid out, and a mode in which free games are executed.

25. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the number of game media paid out in the second special game state is varied with a game history.

26. The gaming machine according to claim 5, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an insertion of game media up to a predetermined upper limit value for one game,

wherein said second generating unit generates the second special game state when the number of inserted game media for the one game is at the upper limit value for a current game and, the number of games in which the insertion of game media has been conducted at the upper limit value reaches a set value.

7. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein said processing device executes:

determining one winning combination selected from plural kinds of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device;

reading from said storage device a first program for generating a first special game state that is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said first program;

reading from the storage device a second program for generating a second special game state in which the predetermined number of game media is paid out when the number of games accumulatively counted each time a game is played reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with said number of games accumulatively counted, and executing said second program; and

randomly selecting, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

11. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein

said processing device executes a second program for generating said second special game state in a case where the number of inserted game media for the game played a player is predetermined upper limit value of the number of game media to be inserted for one game when said number of games accumulatively counted reaches said set value.

8. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein said processing device executes:

determining one winning combination selected from plural kinds of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device;

reading from said storage device a first program for generating a first special game state that is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said first program;

reading from said storage device a second program for generating a second special game state in which the predetermined number of game media is paid out in a case where the predetermined number of the first special game state is not generated until the number of games accumulatively counted each time a game is played reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with the number of games accumulatively counted, and executing said second program; and

randomly selecting, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

9. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, and connected through a communication line to a control device which counts the number of games accumulatively for every gaming machine of plural gaming machines, wherein said processing device executes:

determining one winning combination selected from plural kinds of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device;

reading from said storage device a first program for generating a first special game state that is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said first program;

transmitting an identification information on a gaming machine stored in said storage device to said control device through said communication line each time a game is played;

receiving a command signal transmitted from said control device when said number of games counted accumulatively by said control device based on said identification information on the gaming machine reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with said number of games accumulatively counted;

reading from the storage device based on said command signal a second program for generating a second special game state in which the predetermined number of game media is paid out, and executing said second program; and

randomly selecting, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

10. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein

said processing device executes:

determining one winning combination selected from plural kinds of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device;

reading from said storage device a first program for generating a first special state that is a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said first program;

counting the number of games accumulatively each time a game is played;

determining whether or not said number of games has reached said set value that is an object of comparison with said number of games accumulatively counted;

reading from the storage device a second program for generating a second special game state in which the predetermined number of game media is paid out when said number of games is determined to have reached said set value, and executing said second program; and

randomly selecting, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of game medium in said second special game state from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

12. A gaming machine comprising:

a payout unit configured to pay out to the player the number of game media corresponding to the number of games played by a player; and

a selecting unit configured to randomly select, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of the number of game media corresponding to said number of games from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

13. A game control method comprising:

paying out to the player the number of game media corresponding to the number of games played by a player; and

randomly selecting, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of the number of game media corresponding to said number of games from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.

14. A control system equipped with a gaming machine and a control device, wherein said control device includes:

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal to said gaming machine according to said number of games played by a player in said gaming machine, said gaming machine including,

a payout unit configured to pay out the number of game media corresponding to said number of games to the player based on said signal received from said control device; and

a selecting unit configured to randomly select, after the number of games accumulatively counted reaches the set value, a payout mode of the number of game media corresponding to said number of games from plural kinds of predetermined payout modes, wherein

each predetermined payout mode provides a same number of game media for payout and employs different processing while providing the same number of game media for payout, and

the plural kinds of predetermined payout modes include a mode in which games, having a payout equal to a sum of a normal payout based on a winning combination and an increased payout, are played until the predetermined number of game media are paid out.