GB2149174A - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A "fruit" or other gaming machine has two player positions to enable the machine to be played selectively either in an independent games mode or in a competitive games mode by the players on a "Winner Takes All" basis. The machine may either have one set of drums or reels common to both player positions or a set of drums or reels associated with each player position. Alternatively, two single player machines may be interconnected by an interconnecting module to enable the respective machines to be played individually or on a competitive "Winner Takes All" basis. Fig. 2 shows a typical display panel of a two player position machine or of an interconnecting module for two individual player machines. The display panel has windows 1, 2 showing the stakes placed or the number of games paid-for by each player; windows 3, 4 showing the individual winnings of each player, and a window 9 showing the total winnings due to the winner. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gaming machine The invention relates to gaming machines and particularly, but not exclusively, to gaming machines of the "fruit machine" type.

An object of the invention is to provide a gaming machine or a plurality of interconnected gaming machines which can either be played normally by one or more players playing individual games or two or more players can play games in competition on a "Winner Takes All" basis during which the winner of a round or rounds of competitive games collects the individual winnings of the losers in addition to his own winnings. These two modes of operation are referred to hereinafter as "independent games mode" and "competitive games mode" respectively.

The invention provides either a gaming machine having a plurality of player positions or a plurality of interconnected gaming machines together providing a plurality of player positions, each player position having an operating button or equivalent device to enable a player at that position to play a game independently of other players, the or at least one of the machines, or an interconnecting means linking two or more of the machines, having a selector button or other switch means operable to change the mode of operation of the machine or machines from an independent games mode to a competitive games mode during which two or more players can each play a game or series of games in competition with the other player or players, the or each machine or the interconnecting means also having display means at or associated with each player position to indicate the amount of the winnings credited to the respective player and electric circuitry, whereby, at the end of a round or all the rounds of games played on the machine or machines in the competitive games mode, the total winnings resulting from at least the games played in the competitive games mode are credited to the or another display means at or associated with the player position used by the winning player of the round or rounds of competitive games or are paid-out for collection by the winning player by pay-out means in the machine, the respective machine or the interconnecting means.

Where a single gaming machine has a plurality of player positions there is preferably at each player position a meter indicating the number of competitive games still to be played by that player, the mode of operation being automatically changed from the competitive games mode to independent games mode when both of all said meters have indicated that all the competitive games have been played.During the independent games mode only one of the operating buttons or equivalent devices would be used together with the corresponding meter and winnings display, the electric circuitry being such that the meter therefore indicates the number of games which have been paid for and which remain un-played at the commencement of each independent game and when the selector button or other switch means has been operated to change from independent games mode to competitive games mode, a number of paid-for games still to be played are divided equally between the number of player positions and are displayed at each of the meters.

There may also be a total winnings display means for indicating the total of the amounts of the winnings displayed at each of the display means at or associated with each player position after each game has been played, the amount displayed by said total winnings display means after all the competitive games have been played being the amount credited to the winnings display at or associated with the playing position used by the winner or being the amount paid-out for collection by the winner. Where the gaming machine is of the "fruit machine" type it may either have one set of reels or drums common to both or all the player positions, enabling the players to play the competitive games in succession, or there may be a set of reels or drums associated with each of the player positions, to enable the players to play the competitive games, either simultaneously or in succession.

Alternatively, a plurality of gaming machines each providing a separate player position may be interconnected by interconnecting means, there being at each player position a meter indicating the number of competitive games still to be played by that player, the mode of operation being automatically changed from the competitive games mode to independent games mode when both or all said meters have indicated that all the competitive games have been played or after each completed round of games played in the competitive games mode.Each machine or the interconnecting means may include a total winnings display means for indicating the total of the amounts of the winnings displayed at each of the display means at or associated with each player position after each game has been played, the amount displayed by said total winnings display means after all the competitive games have been played being the amount credited to the winnings display at or associated with the playing position used by the winner or being the amount paid-out for collection by the winner. Each machine may be of the "fruit machine" type and have one set of reels or drums to enable the players to play the competitive games either simultaneously or in succession.

The invention may also include interconnecting means to enable two or more gaming machines to be linked together in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph.

The single gaming machine or at least one of a plurality of interconnected gaming machines or the aforesaid interconnecting means may have electrical circuitry which includes or is associated with one or more computers or micro-processors.

Where the or each gaming machine is of the "fruit machine" type it may include one or more features known per se in gaming machines of the "fruit machine" type, for example, "Hold" and "Nudge" devices. The or each gaming machine may include means for providing a "jack-pot" win and circuitry for paying "jack-pot" winnings.

The term "gaming machine" as used herein also embraces an amusement only equivalent machine and in each case the machine may be of the coin-operated or coin-freed type, the term "coin" embracing both coins of the realm and tokens of no monetary value.

By way of example several embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1-4 each show an alternative display panel lay-out of a gaming machine having two player positions or of an interconnecting module or equivalent means to link together or otherwise to be used in association with two gaming machines, each having a single player position; Figure 5 is a diagram showing the control circuitry for a gaming machine having two player positions, and Figures 6 to 9 are diagrams showing alternative control circuitry for a pair of interconnected gaming machines each having a single player position.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a gaming machine of the "fruit machine" type has two player positions and, common to the two player positions, a single set of, for example, three rotatable drums or reels each carrying a plurality of symbols, for example fruits spaced apart around its circumference, a combination line containing one symbol in each drum or reel being visible through a window in the front face of the machine.

At each player position, there is a "start" or operating button or equivalent device by which a player at one or other of the player positions can operate the machine in the conventional manner to play an independent game. The machine also has a selector button or equivalent device whereby the operational mode of the machine can be changed from an independent games mode to a competitive games mode in which each of two players using a respective "start" or operating button is able to play a game on the machine in succession. The machine has a display panel lay-out like that shown in Figure 1. This includes for each of players 1 and 2 a first display window 1, 2 labelled "stake" which indicates the stake money of or the number of games still to be played and the amount of the winnings acredited to each player.Alongside the "stake" window there is for each player a "winnings" window 3, 4 in which the amount of his winnings from a game or aggregate winnings from a succession of games are displayed.

When the machine is being used by one player he can use either "start" button after inserting a number of coins or tokens as in known "fruit machines". The number of games for which he has paid or the stake is shown in the "stake" window 1, 2 corresponding to the "start" button selected. After the or each game the amount of his winnings, or total winnings, is displayed in the corresponding "winnings" window 3, 4.

In accordance with the invention, a second player can compete with the first player on a "Winner Takes All" basis. For this mode of play, the selector button or the equivalent device is operated to change the mode of play from independent games mode to competitive games mode. This causes the stake or number of games remaining to be split and an appropriate figure is shown in each of the "stake" windows 1, 2. The winnings, if any, from the independent game or games can either have been paid by pay-out means to the appropriate player or remain displayed in the appropriate "winnings" window 3 or 4. This depends upon the circuitry of the machine and whether there is provision for the choice to be made. It is assumed that the previous independent games winnings will remain displayed at the appropriate "winnings" window 3 or 4.Each player then plays a game in succession and his appropriate winnings or total winnings are displayed in the respective "winnings" window 3, 4, the competitive games winnings being added to the previous independent games winnings, where appropriate. When all the rounds of competitive games have been played, that is, the "stake" windows 1, 2 will both show zero, the loser's total winnings are added automatically to the winner's total winnings by the circuitry of the machine and the appropriate amount of winnings is paid-out by the pay-out means of the machine, or in a special competitive games pay-out means. The machine will automatically also revert to the independent games mode of operation. The machine may have all or any of additional features known in "fruit machines", such as Nudge and Hold facilities by which onr or more of the drums or reels can be selectively indexed or held stationary relatively to the other reels. The "fruit machine" may also have a "jack-pot" feature.

The electrical circuitry of the "fruit machine" conveniently includes or is associated with a computer or micro-processor. This is shown diagrammatically in Figure 5. This indicates the machine 5 containing a computer 6 which receives or transmits input/output sig nals I/O, indicated by block 7, from or to all controls and other devices and mechanisms of the machine. The computer 6 transmits appropriate signals to the windows 1-4 and other displays, indicated collectively by block 8.

Figure 2 shows an alternative display layout in which in addition to the individual players winnings windows 3, 4, there is a "Total Winnings" window 9 which at all times during the competitive games mode displays the aggregate of the winnings totals displayed in windows 3, 4. It is this aggregate total which is at the end of the rounds of competitive games is paid by the pay-out means. A counter behind the window 9 receives appropriate signals from the computer 6.

Although the single machine has been described as having a single set of drums or reels common to two player positions it is possible for a single machine to be provided with a single set of drums or reels common to three or more player positions. Iln that case a corresponding number of "start" buttons and "stake" and "winnings" windows would be provided.

Instead of a single machine having a single set of drums or reels common to two or more player positions, the machine may have a plurality of sets of drums and reels corresponding to the number of player positions. In that case two or more players, as appropriate could play independent and competitive games and so in addition to the "stake" windows 1, 2 and "winnings" windows 3, 4, there would, as shown in Figure 3, need to be a display panel lay-out, showing at additional windows 10, 1 1 the numbers of games or stakes held to the credit of the respective players and additional windows 12, 1 3 showing respective independent games winnings totals in respect of independent games.A machine having this facility would be played in the independent games mode using the windows 10, 1 1 and 1 2, 1 3 to show the stakes or numbers of games and individual winnings of the respective players. A selector button or equivalent device common to both or all player positions or a selector button or equivalent device at each player position is operated to change from independent games mode to competitive games mode, the or each button being operated a number of times to transfer an appropriate stake or numbers of games to be played from meters at the respective windows 1 0, 11 to meters at the respective windows 1, 2. The rounds of competitive games are then played by the respective players and the competitive games winnings are displayed at the respective windows 3, 4 as before.At the end of the pre-selected number of rounds of competitive games, the winner is paid-out with or is credited at window 1 2 or 13, as appropriate, with the total winnings of both or all the players and the machine reverts to independent games mode. In a modification of the machine just described, the display panel lay-out, shown in Figure 4, may have a competitive games total winnings window and display 9, as shown in Figure 2. The machine would have an appropriately programmed computer 6, I/O block 7 and display block 8.

Instead of there being a single "fruit machine" capable of operation selectively for independent games and competitive games, a plurality of conventional machines, each nor mally being played by a different player, may be connected together by a linking panel or module to enable players using each of two or more of the interconnected machines to play the respective machines in a competitive games mode on a "Winner Takes All" basis either simultaneously or in succession.

In this case the interconnecting panel or module would, for two interconnected machines have a display panel like that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The players would use the existing display panels on the respective machines for independently played games and would use the special display panel of the interconnecting panel or module when playing games in the competitive games mode. The interconnecting panel or module, or one or more of the interconnected machines would have a selector button or other operating device, whereby the competitive games mode is selected. Desirably, the interconnected machines would have electrical circuitry such that they would automatically revert to independent games mode after each round of competitive games has been completed.However alternatively a pre-selected number of pre-paid games could be automatically transferred on operating the selector button from the stake meters of the interconnected machines to the meters at the "stake" windows 1, 2 of the display panel of the interconnecting panel or module.

The interconnected machines are desirably computer controlled and several arrangements of computer or micro-processor are possible.

These arrangements are shown in Figures 6-9 respectively.

According to Figure 6 a computer 14 is mounted in the interconnecting panel or module 1 5 and is connected to an input/output I/O unit shown by block 16, and a display unit, shown by block 17, associated with the display panel lay-out of the interconnecting panel or module. The computer 14 is also linked to input/output units 18, 1 9 and display units 20, 21 of the respective machines 22, 23, thereby enabling the respective machines when interconnected to be operated selectively in the independent and competitive games modes. The individual machines 22, 23 may also have their own computers, not shown.

According to Figure 7, each of the interconnected machines 22, 23 may have its own computer 24, 25 which receives or transmits input/output signals and which controls the displays associated with both the respective machine and the interconnecting panel or module 1 5. The latter does not in this case have its own computer. The computers 24, 25 of the two machines 22, 23 would also have to be linked by a communication bus 26.

According to Figure 8 each of the interconnected machines 22, 23 and the interconnecting panel or module 1 5 would have its own computer 14, 24, 25 respectively connected to respective input/output and display units.

As for Figure 7, the computers 14, 24, 25 would be linked together by a communicative bus or buses 26.

Finally, according to Figure 9, one or other, but not both, of the machines includes a computer 24 which controls and is connected to input/output units 16, 18, 1 9 of both machines 22, 23 and the interconnecting panel or module 15.

Claims (11)

1. A gaming machine having a plurality of player positions, or a plurality of interconnected gaming machines together providing a plurality of player positions, each player position having an operating button or equivalent device to enable a player at that position to play a game independently of other players, the or at least one of the machines. or an interconnecting means linking two or more of the machines, having a selector button or other switch means operable to change the mode of operation of the machine or machines from an independent games mode to a competitive games mode during which two or more players can each play a game or series of games in competition with the other player or players, the or each machine or the interconnecting means also having display means at or associated with each player position to indicate the amount of the winnings credited to the respective player and electric circuitry, whereby, at the end of a round or all the rounds of games played on the machine or machines in the competitive games mode, the total winnings resulting from at least the games played in the competitive games mode are credited to the or another display means at or associated with the player position used by the winning player of the round or rounds of competitive games or are paid-out for collection by the winning player by pay-out means in the machine, the respective machine or the interconnecting means.

2. A gaming machine having a plurality of player positions each having an operating button or equivalent device to enable a player at that position to play a game independently of other players, the machine also having a selector button or other switch means operable to change the mode of operation of the machine from an independent games mode to a competitive games mode during which two or more players can each play a game or series of games in competition with the other player or players, the machine also having display means at or associated with each player position to indicate the amount of the winnings credited to the respective player and electric circuitry, whereby at the end of a round or all the rounds of games played on the machine in the competitive games mode.

the total winnings resulting from at least the games played in the competitive games mode are credited to the or another display means at or associated with the player position used by the winning player of the round or rounds of competitive games or are paid-out for collection by the winning player by pay-out means in the machine.

3. A gaming machine as claimed in Claim 2 in which at each player position there is a meter indicating the number of competitive games still to be played by that player, the mode of operation being automatically changed from the competitive games mode to independent games mode when both or all said meters have indicated that all the competitive games have been played.

4. A gaming machine as claimed in Claim 3 in which the operating button or equivalent device at one of the player positions and the corresponding meter and winnings display means are used during the independent games mode, the meter indicating the number of games paid for and which remain unplayed at the commencement of each independent game, the electric circuitry being such that when the selector button or other switch means is operated to change from independent games mode to competitive games mode, a number of paid-for games still to be played is divided equaliy between the number of player positions and is displayed at each of the meters.

5. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4 in which there is a total winnings display means for indicating the total of the amounts of the winnings displayed at each of the display means at or associated with each player position after each game has been played, the amount displayed by said total winnings display means after all the competitive games have been played being the amount credited to the winnings display at or associated with the playing position used by the winner or being the amount paid-out for collection by the winner.

6. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of Claims 2-5 of the "fruit machine" type in which there is one set of reels or drums common to both or all the player positions.

enabling the players to play the competitive games in succession.

7. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of Claims 2-5 of the "fruit machine" type in which there is a set of reels or drums associated with each of the player positions, to enable the players to play the competitive games, either simultaneously or in succession.

8. A plurality of interconnected gaming machines each providing a separate player position having an operating button or equivalent device to enable a player at that position to play a game independently of players using the other machine or machines, the machines being interconnected by interconnecting means whereby the machines can be operated in a competitive games mode during which two or more players, each using a different machine, can play a game or a series of games in competition with the other player or players, one or more of the machines, or an interconnecting means linking two or more of the machines, having a selector button or other switch means operable to change the mode of operation of the machines from an independent games mode to said competitive games mode, each machine or the interconnecting means also having display means at or associated with each player position to indicate the amount of the winnings credited to the respective player and electric circuitry whereby, at the end of the round or all the rounds played on the machines in the competitive games mode, the total winnings resulting from at least the games played in the competitive games mode are credited to the or another display means at or associated with the player position used by the winning player of the round or rounds of competitive games or are paid-out for collection by the winning player by pay-out means in the respective machine or the interconnecting means.

9. A plurality of interconnected gaming machines as claimed in Claim 8 in which at each player position there is a meter indicating the number of competitive games still to be played by that player, the mode of operation being automatically changed from the competitive games mode to independent games mode when both or all said meters have indicated that all the competitive games have been played or after each completed round of games played in the competitive games mode.

1 0. A plurality of interconnected gaming machines as claimed in Claim 8 or 9 in which there is in each machine or in the interconnecting means a total winnings display means for indicating the total of the amounts of the winnings displayed at each of the display means at or associated with each player position after each game has been played, the amount displayed by said total winnings display means after all the competitive games have been played being the amount credited to the winnings display at or associated with the playing position used by the winner or being the amount paid-out for collection by the winner.

11. A plurality of interconnected gaming machines as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, each machine being of the "fruit machine" type in which there is one set of reels or drums in each machine to enable the players to play the competitive games either simultaneously or in succession.

1 2. Interconnecting means to enable two or more gaming machines to be linked together in accordance with any of Claims 8 to 11.

1 3. A gaming machine, plurality of interconnected gaming machines or interconnecting means to link two or more gaming machines, as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the electrical circuitry includes or is associated with one or more computers or micro-processors.

1 4. A gaming machine or plurality of interconnected gaming machines as claimed in Claim 6, 7 or 11, in which the or each gaming machine of the "fruit machine" type includes an additional feature or features, known per se in gaming machines of the "fruit machine" type, such as "Hold" and "Nudge" devices.

1 5. A gaming machine or a plurality of interconnected gaming machines as claimed in any one of Claims 6, 7, 11 and 14, in which the or each gaming machine of the "fruit machine" type includes means for establishing and paying-out a "jack-pot" winnings.

1 6. A gaming machine or plurality of interconnected gaming machines or interconnecting means to enable two or more gaming machines to be linked together substantially as described herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.