AU631772B2 - - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 AINSWORTH NOMINEES PTY LTD 63 177

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT 0 0 0 0 '9 Invention Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN VIDEO DRAW POKER MACHINES 0 0n 00 0 *u 0 0 0 0'90 0 The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 The present invention relates to improvements in video draw poker machines. Such machines include a video screen on which screen images are displayed, the images being controlled by software associated with a micro-processor/computer. In almost all cases such machines are coin operated.

A video draw poker machine of the kind (hereinafter referred to as "of the kind described") with which the present invention is concerned operates as follows:- 1. A player inserts coins into the machine or by some other method obtains credit on the machine.

2. The player commences the game by pressing a button (or a series of buttons). The button(s) indicates how much money is bet for the game and starts the game.

3. The machine displays 5 cards on the screen.

4. The player can then choose to hold any or all of these cards.

Cards not held are removed from the screen and replacement cards are "drawn".

6. The 5 cards displayed at the end of the "draw" are compared with the scorecard and winning hands are awarded a "win".

The "win" involves the payment or crediting of a prize according to a scoreboard displayed on the machine.

In some video draw poker machines currently in use a facility is provided enabling a player to "gamble" the "win" or a part thereof. The opportunity to "gamble" is effected by presenting to the player an appearance corresponding to the back of a playing card. The player is then invited to make a prediction related to the nature of the face of the card. Various types of gamble are currently in use.

In order to maintain the interest of players in the playing of draw poker video machines it is necessary for manufacturers of such machines to produce a succession of 3 machines each exhibiting novel features and the object of the present invention is to provide a machine having such a feature.

The present invention provides a video poker machine in which the "gamble" consists in inviting the player to predict whether the front of the card displayed is a red card in the high range, that is to say between 9 and Ace, a red card in the low range, that is to say between 2 and 7, a black card in the high range, or a black card in the low range. For the purposes of this gamble the "8" cards are disregarded.

The present invention consists in a video draw poker machine of the kind described above the machine including a video screen the display on which is controlled by micro-processor/computer means, said micro-processor/ uo computer means being programmed to display on the video screen a representation of a poker hand, manually operable means to enable a player to select certain of the cards displayed to be held, the program thereafter substituting alternative cards for those not held and in the event of a winning poker hand being displayed the programme acting to display the back of a playing card and providing an indication of a win and an invitation to a player to "gamble" all or a part of the win, manually operable means permitting a player to accept an invitation to gamble or to take the win characterised in that in the event of the player accepting the invitation operation of manually operable means enables the player to predict the appearance of the face of the card the back of which is displayed as being a red card in the low range, a red card in the high range, a black card in the low range or a black card in the high range and, in the event of the player making a correct prediction the programme acting to record a credit to the player equal to four times the amount gambled.

-4- In order that the invention may be better understood a preferred form thereof is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying logic chart which displays diagrammatically the sequence of events.

In the preferred form the invention is applied to a video draw poker machine of a kind well known in the art.

The application of the invention to such a machine is effected by software used to programme the micro-processor/ computer controlling the operation of the machine rather than the physical construction of the machine.

It is not necessary to provide full details of a particular programme in that the writing of a suitable programme is a routine task for persons skilled in the art on the basis of the accompanying logic chart.

The basic operation of the machine is described above. In the event of a player achieving a "win" the programme causes the back of a playing card to be displayed on the screen with an invitation to the player either to "gamble" all or part, for example half, of the win, a prescribed amount, or simply to take the win. By a message on the screen the player is called on to press one of five buttons on the front of the machine according to whether he wishes simply to take the win or to predict whether the card the back of which is displayed is a red card in the low range, a red card in the high range, a black card in the low range, or a black card in the high range. The player then presses a button corresponding to one of these possibilities or opts to take the "win" and not "gamble" it by pressing a fifth button.

If the player selects to take the win the gamble ends and the machine resets itself for a new game.

If the player presses a button relating to one of the possibilities referred to above the programme acts to "turn-over" the card revealing the colour and value of the card. If the colour and value of the card match the possibilities selected by the player the player wins four times the amount gambled. If, however, the player is wrong the amount gambled is lost.

The main attraction of the particular form of gamble offered by the present invention is its novelty and the fact that it pays an amount of four times the amount gambled.