Gaming machine with mechanical reel rotatable through player's operation and confirmation method of symbol

• US 8,435,109 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshizawa, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudhuri, Olik
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEFFERSON, QUOVAUNDA
• Application Number:
  US12/396,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20090227353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/21, 463/25, 463/29, 463/17, 463/18
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

The gaming machine includes: a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet; a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate; a plurality of symbols on the reel; a display capable of generating a video image; an input device which receives an input by the player; and a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of: (a1) receiving an input inputted through the input device; (a2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and (a3) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image; and

a controller that is programmed to operate;

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the reel is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable, and

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of;

(d1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(d2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(d3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted; and

in the step (a1),

when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to one symbol;

when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and

successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

2. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image; and

a controller that is programmed to operate;

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the reel is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable, and

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of;

(e1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(e2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(e3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted;

(e4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of tapping, and

in the step (a1),

stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of times input has been conducted;

when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and

successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

3. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player; and

a controller that is programmed to operate;

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of;

(b1) receiving an input inputted through the input device;

(b2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, determining whether the rotation command is inputted through tapping or continuous pressing;

(b3) when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted;

(b4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of rotation commands inputted, and

in the step (a1),

rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted; and

when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs.

4. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image; and

a controller that is programmed to operate;

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the reel is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable, and

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of;

(c1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(c2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(c3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted and counting the number of rotation commands inputted, and

in the step (a1),

stopping the reel after rotating the reel in a direction indicated by the direction symbol by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted;

when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the step of:

(c6) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

6. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player'"'"'s bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image; and

a controller that is programmed to operate;

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the reel is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable, and

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of;

(d1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(d2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(d3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted;

(d4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of rotation commands inputted, and

in the step (a1),

rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted;

when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs;

when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted;

(d5) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.