Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02277547 1999-07-14
2
SLOT MACHINE WITH
PATTERN-DRIVEN AWARD FEATURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, more
particularly, to a slot machine with a pattern-driven award feature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Slot machines are well-known gaming devices including a plurality of reels
rotatable about a common axis. In a typical reel-type slot machine, a payoff
of coins) or
credits) is made to a player whenever certain winning combinations of symbols
are
displayed on the reels relative to an active payline. Generally, in order to
stimulate player
interest in such machines, it is desirable that such machines include features
that are
intrinsically entertaining to the player and which present (or will be
perceived to present)
greater payoff opportunities relative to other available gaming options. The
greater the
perceived payoff opportunities associated with a particular machine, and the
more
entertaining the machine, the greater likelihood that such machine will
attract frequent play
and thereby produce greater revenues for the casino operator.
One feature which has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment
and perceived payoff value of a game is that of a special wildcard symbol
which, when
displayed on the recls relative to an active payline, may be substituted for a
winning symbol
if the other reels display part of a winning combination. The wildcard symbol
may trigger
an award of coins) or credits) which is supplemental to the "regular" payout.
One such
game is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,449,173, assigned to the assignee of
the present
invention and incorporated herein by reference. The wildcard symbol may
comprise a
special award multiplier symbol which multiplies the regular payout by a
predefined
amount. Another common feature, which may be provided in games with or without
a
special award multiplier symbol, is that of multiple paylines, "scatter pay"
paylines or
unusually-shaped paylines. Such games award "regular" payouts when winning
combinations occur under an active payline and can provide supplemental or
multiplied
awards when a special wildcard or award multiplier symbol is displayed under
an active
payline.
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Because slot machines offering supplemental and multiplied awards are
generally
more popular than slot machines offering only "regular" payouts, there is a
continuing
need to develop new types of such games to satisfy player and operator
demands. The
present invention is directed to satisfying this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
pattern-based award system for a slot machine having means for randomly
selecting a game
outcome and means for displaying a symbol group associated with the game
outcome, the
symbol group consisting of a plurality of symbols displayed at a plurality of
display
positions. The system includes symbol evaluation means for determining whether
the
symbol group includes a basic winning combination. If the symbol group is
determined to
include a basic winning combination, the display positions of the symbols in
the
combination are compared to a target pattern. ff the symbol group includes a
basic winning
combination which does not match the target pattern, a basic payoff is made to
the player.
Depending on the symbol combination, the basic payoff comprises either a
predefined
amount of coins) or credits) or a randomly selected mystery amount. If the
symbol group
includes a basic winning combination which matches the target pattenn, an
enhanced payoff
is made to the player. In one embodiment, the enhanced payoff is the product
of the basic
payoff associated with the winning combination and a randomly selected mystery
multiplier.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a
pattern-based award system for a slot machine having means for randomly
selecting a game
outcome and means for displaying a symbol group associated with the game
outcome, the
symbol group consisting of a plurality of symbols displayed at a plurality of
display
positions. The system includes symbol evaluation means for determining whether
the
symbol group includes a basic winning combination. If the symbol group is
determined to
include a basic winning combination, a basic payoff is made to the player.
Depending on
the symbol combination, the basic payoff comprises either a predefined amount
of coins)
or credits) or a randomly selected mystery amount. Then, the display positions
of the
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4
symbols in the combination are compared to a target pattern. If the symbol
group includes a
basic winning combination which matches the target pattern, a supplemental
payoff is made
to the player. In one embodiment, the supplemental payoff is the product of
the basic
payoff associated with the winning combination and a randomly selected mystery
multiplier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon
reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings
in which:
FIG. 1 a is a simplified illustration of a spinning reel slot machine with dot
matrix
display on which the present invention may be implemented;
FIG. lb is a block diagram of a control system for the slot machine of FIG.
la;
FIG. 2 is an illustration of three reel strips which may be placed on the
reels of
the slot machine of FIG. 1 to implement the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a pay table identifying various winning combinations and associated
t 5 basic payoff amounts which may occur using the reel strips of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram identifying various steps in implementation of the
pattern-based award multiplier system according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a math table summarizing basic and enhanced payoff probabilities and
expected values associated with the winning combinations identified in FIG. 3.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative
forms,
specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and
will be
described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the
invention is not
intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the
invention is to cover
all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and
scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to the crawings and referring initially to FIG. la, there is
depicted a
slot machine 10 on which the present invention may be implemented. The slot
machine
10 includes a display window 12 through which a player may observe three
spinning
reels, 14, 16 and 18. The slot machine further includes a video display 22 for
displaying
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' S
various graphics associated with the game. The video display 22 may comprise a
dot
matrix, CRT, LED, electro-luminescent display or generally any type of video
display
known in the art. It will be appreciated that the game may be implemented
entirely in
video in embodiments without mechanical reels 14, 16, 18.
FIG. 1 b is a block diagram ~f a control system suitable for operating the
slot
machine 10 of FIG. la. Coin/credit detector 24 signals a processor 26 when a
player has
inserted a number of coins or played a number of credits. Then, after the
player has
activated a switch 28 (e.g., by pulling lever 20 or pushing a button), the
processor 26
initiates basic game play by setting reels 14, 16, 18 in motion, randomly
selecting a stop
position of the reels 14, 16, 18 and, using technology well known in the art,
causing a
reel motor and step controller 32 to stop the reels 14, 16, 18 at the selected
stop position.
A rotational position detector 34 provides feedback to the processor 26 to
ensure that the
reels 14, 16, 18 are stopped at the correct stop position. The symbols
displayed on the
reels at the preselected stop position define the basic game outcome.
A system memory 36 stores control software, operational instructions and data
associated with the slot machine 10. In one embodiment, the memory 36
comprises a
separate read-only memory (ROM) and battery-backed random-access memory (RAM).
However, it will be appreciated that the memory 36 may be implemented on any
of
several alternative types of memory structures or may be implemented on a
single
memory structure. A payoff mechanism 38 is operable in response to
instructions from
the processor to award a payoff of coins or credits to the player in response
to certain
winning combinations stored in memory 36. As will be described in detail
hereinafter,
the payoff amount of certain combinations is predetermined according to a pay
table
stored in system memory 36.
As best observed in FIG. 1 a, the symbols on reels 14, 16, 18 are displayed in
a
symbol group consisting of nine symbols, with each symbol being displayed in
either an
upper, center, or lower display position on one of the reels 14, 16, 18. It
will be
appreciated, however, that any of several alternative symbol group
configurations may be
employed, for example, where the slot machine 10 has fewer or greater numbers
of reels,
and/or where fewer or greater numbers of symbols are visible in the display
window 12.
The symbol group is determined to include a winning combination (e.g., a
symbol
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
6
combination resulting in a payment of coins or credits) if it includes a
combination of
symbols which correspond to a predefined winning comLmation. Predefined
winning
combinations and associated payoff amounts for the game are stored in the
system
memory 36 and are also shown in a pay table. The pay table (not shown in FIG.
1 ) is
typically affixed to the slot machine 10 so that players may view the possible
winning
combinations and associated payoff amounts.
Traditionally, the combination of symbols which determine the game outcome
(and which must correspond to a predefined winning combination to be a winning
combination) consist of only those symbols which are aligned directly "under"
one or
more fixed paylines. Known configurations of fixed paylines include center
paylines
(where the combination of symbols consisting of the center symbol on each reel
comprises the game outcome), upper paylines (where the combination of symbols
consisting of the upper symbol on each reel comprises the game outcome), lower
paylines (where the combination of symbols consisting of the lower symbol on
each reel
comprises the game outcome), angled paylines (where the combination of symbols
consisting of the lower, center and upper symbols, respectively, or upper,
center and
lower symbols, respectively, on the three reels comprises the game outcome) or
diamond-
shaped paylines (where the combination of symbols consisting of the center
symbol on
the first and third reels and either the upper or lower symbol on the second
reel comprises
the game outcome). In either of these games, a "basic" payoff of coins) or
credits) is
made if the symbol combination defining the game outcome corresponds to a
winning
combination identified on the pay table stored in system memory 36.
Supplemental or
bonus payoffs may also be made if one or more of the symbols in the symbol
combination include a special wildcard, bonus or multiplier symbol.
The present invention employs a "scatter pay" concept in which most of the
symbol combinations defining the game outcomes) are not required to be aligned
with
fixed payline(s). More specifically, with the "scatter pay" feature, the
symbol group is
determined to include a basic winning combination if any combination of three
symbols
consisting of one symbol from each of the three reels corresponds to one of
the symbol
combinations identified in the pay table. Thus, for example, suppose the
symbol
combination SYMBOL1, SYMBOL2, SYMBOL3 is a basic winning combination of a
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game played on the slot machine 10. In scatter-pay format, the winning
combination
occurs if reel 14 displays SYMBOL1 in either of the upper, center or lower
display
positions, reel 16 displays SYMBOL2 in either of the upper, center or lower
display
positions (which need not correspond to the display position of SYMBOL 1 on
reel 14)
and reel 18 similarly displays SYMBOL3 in either of the upper, center or lower
display
positions (which need not correspond to the display positions of SYMBOL1 or
SYMBOL2 on reel 14 or 16).
FIG. 2 shows a set of reel strips for use with a slot machine of the type
shown in
FIG. 1 to implement a STROKE OF LUCKTM slot machine game, assigned to the
assignee
of the present invention. The reel strips correspond to the reels 14, 16, 18
in FIG. 1 and
will be identified by corresponding reference numerals 14, 16, 18. Each of the
reel strips
14, 16, 18 include twenty-four symbols (including "blanks"), corresponding to
twenty-four
available reel stopping positions. The symbols which appear on reel strip 14
include, in
sequence, Strawberry, Blank, Mystery, Blank, Strawberry, Blank, Mystery,
Blank,
Diamond, Blank, Strawberry, Blank, 3 Bar, Blank, Orange, Blank, 2 Bar, Blank,
7, Blank, 1
Bar, Blank, 7 and Blank. The symbols which appear on reel strip 16 include, in
sequence,
Strawberry, Blank, 1 Bar, Blank, Strawberry, Blank, 1 Bar, Blank, 7, Blank,
Mystery,
Blank, 3 Bar, Blank, Mystery, Blank, 2 Bar, Blank, Diamond, Blank, 1 Bar,
Blank, Orange
and Blank. Finally, the symbols which appear on reel strip 18 include, in
sequence,
Strawberry, Blank, 7, Blank, Strawberry, Blank, Orange, Blank, Strawberry,
Blank,
Diamond, Blank, 3 Bar, Blank, Mystery, Blank, 2 Bar, Blank, Mystery, Blank, 1
Bar,
Blank, Mystery and Blank.
Winning combinations and payoffs associated with the STROKE OF LUCKTM
game are shown in the pay table of FIG. 3. The "3 Bars," "2 Bars," "1 Bars,"
"Any Bars,"
"Oranges," "Strawberries" and "Mystery Coins" combinations identified in the
left hand
column of FIG. 3 are various basic winning combinations which may arise in the
STROKE
OF LUCK''M game, each of which will result in a basic payoff if they occur in
a scatter-pay
format and an enhanced or supplemental payoff if they occur in a pattern which
matches a
target pattern. The basic winning combination "Any Bars" occurs if any
combination of
"1 Bar," "2 Bar" and "3 Bar" symbols is displayed in scatter pay format on the
reels 14,
16, 18. Otherwise, each of the other combinations require that a designated
symbol (e.g.,
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
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"3 Bar," "2 Bar,'' "1 Bar," "Orange," "Strawberry" and "Mystery") be displayed
in scatter
pay format on the reels 14, 16, 18. The amounts of the basic payoffs
associated with the
respective basic winning combinations are identified in the pay table
corresponding to the
numbers of coins played and are stored in system memory 36. Por example, the
basic
payoff for the "3 BAR" combination is 40 coins or credits for 1 coin played
and 80 coins
or credits for two or more coins played; the basic payoff for the "2 BAR"
combination is
20 coins or credits for 1 coin played and 40 coins or credits for two or more
coins played;
the basic payoff for the "1 BAR" combination is 10 coins or credits for 1 coin
played and
20 coins or credits for two or more coins played; the basic payoff for the
"Any BAR"
combination is 5 coins or credits for 1 coin played and 10 coins or credits
for two or
more coins played; the basic payoff for the "Orange" combination is 4 coins or
credits for
1 coin played and 8 coins or credits for two or more coins played; and the
basic payoff for
the "Strawberry" combination is 2 coins or credits for 1 coin played and 4
coins or credits
for two or more coins played.
The basic payoff for the "MYSTERY COINS" combination is not a
predetermined amount, but rather comprises a "mystery" payoff which is
randomly
selected by the processor from a set of predefined mystery payoff amounts
stored in
system memory 36. The set of mystery payoff amounts from which the mystery
payoff is
selected differs according to the number of coins played. In one embodiment,
the
mystery payoff in a 1-coin game comprises 2, 5 or 10 coins; the mystery payoff
in a 2-
coin game comprises 5, 10 or 15 coins; the mystery payoff in a 3-coin game
comprises
10, 15, 20, 25 or 50 coins; and the mystery payoff in a 4-coin game comprises
15, 20, 25,
50 or 100 coins. It will be appreciated that the number of selection elements
and
associated payoff amounts identified above may be varied to effect different
payouts by
altering the game program.
In a 1-coin game, the set of mystery payoff amounts in one embodiment
comprises 9 individual payoff amounts, each of which has a one-in-nine chance
to be
selected. The individual payoff amounts are: 2 (5 occurrences), 5 (2
occurrences) and 10
(2 occurrences). The probability of selecting a particular payoff amount is
determined by
dividing the number of occurrences of that particular amount in the set by the
total
number of number of payoff amounts in the set. Therefore, in a 1-coin game
with a set
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
of mystery payoff amounts as defined above, the probability of selecting a "2"
is 55%
(five divided by nine), the probability of selecting a "5" is 22% (two divided
by nine) and
the probability of selecting a "10" is 22% (two divided by nine). The average
mystery
payoff amount in the 1-coin game is 4.444.
For a 2-coin game, the set of mystery payoff amounts in one embodiment
comprises 6 individual payoff amounts, having respective payoff amounts of S
(4
occurrences), 10 ( 1 occurrence) and 15 ( 1 occurrence). Therefore, in a 2-
coin game, the
probability of selecting a "5" is 66% (four divided by six), the probability
of selecting a
"10" is 17% (one divided by six), and the probability of selecting a "15" is
17% (one
divided by six). The average mystery payoff amount in the 2-coin game is 7.5.
For a 3-coin game, the set of mystery payoff amounts in one embodiment
comprises 12 individual payoff amounts, having respective payoff amounts of 10
(2
occurrences), 15 (4 occurrences), 20 ( 1 occurrence), 25 (2 occurrences) and
50 (3
occurrences). Therefore, in a 3-coin game, the probability of selecting a "10"
is 17%
(two divided by twelve), the probability of selecting a "15" is 33% (four
divided by
twelve), the probability of selecting a "20" is 8% (one divided by twelve),
the probability
of selecting a "25" is 17% (two divided by twelve) and the probability of
selecting a "50"
is 2590 (three divided by twelve), The average mystery payoff amount in the 3-
coin
game is 25.
2o For a 4-coin game, the set of mystery payoff amounts in one embodiment
comprises 13 individual payoff amounts, having respective payoff amounts of 15
(2
occurrences), 20 (4 occurrences), 25 (5 occurrences), 50 ( 1 occurrence), and
100 ( 1
occurrence). Therefore, in a 4-coin game, the probability of selecting a "15"
is 15% (two
divided by thirteen), the probability of selecting a "20" is 31% (four divided
by thirteen),
the probability of selecting a "25" is 38% (five divided by thirteen), the
probability of
selecting a "50" is 8g0 (one divided by thirteen) and the probability of
selecting a "100"
is 890 (one divided by thirteen). The average mystery payoff amount in the 4-
coin game
is 29.61538.
As may be observed in the pay table of FIG. 3, the 7-7-7 combination is a
basic
winning combination which is available only upon playing three or more coins
in the
STROKE OF LUCKT''' game. Similarly, the "Diamonds" combination is a basic
winning
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
combination which is available only upon playing four coins. These
combinations are
itnown in the art as "buy-a-pay" combinations, in which the play of coins) or
credits) in
an amount exceeding a certain threshold "buys" additional predetermined
winning
combinations. In the STROKE OF LUCKTM game, the "buy-a-pay" concept is used in
5 conjunction with both scatter-pay paylines and the traditional "center"
payline.
Specifically, in the STROKE OF LUCKT"' game, the play of three or more coins
or
credits "buys" the basic symbol combination 7-7-7. Upon the occurrence of the
7-7-7
combination in scatter-pay format, if at least three coins or credits were
played, the player
will be awarded a basic payoff amount of 75 coins or credits. Otherwise, with
less than
10 three coins or credits played, the 7-7-7 combination will be a losing
combination. The
play of four coins or credits "buys" the "DIAMONDS" symbol combination. Upon
the
occurrence of the "DIAMONDS" symbol combination, if four coins or credits are
played,
the player will be awarded a basic payoff amount of 100 coins or credits
if.the
combination is displayed in scatter-pay format or a basic payoff amount of 500
coins if
displayed on the center payline. Otherwise, with less than four coins or
credits played,
the "DIAMONDS" combination will be a losing combination even if it is
displayed on
the center payline.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, any of the basic
payoff
amounts in the STROKE OF LUCKT"' game, including the selected mystery payoff
amount or the "buy-a-pay" combinations, are subject to multiplication by a
"mystery
multiplier" thereby resulting in either an enhanced or supplemental award to
the player.
Generally, as will be described in detail hereinafter, the mystery multiplier
is triggered
only if the winning symbol combination is displayed in a pattern which matches
a target
pattern. Similar to the "mystery coins" award, the particular mystery
multiplier operable
in the game is not predetermined, but rather is determined by the processor
making a
random selection from a predefined set of mystery multipliers stored in game
memory.
The set of mystery multipliers from which the mystery multiplier is selected
differs
according to the number of coins played. In one embodiment, the mystery
multipliers in
a 1-coin game comprise either 2X or 3X multipliers; the mystery multipliers in
a 2-coin
game comprise either 2X, 3X or 4X multipliers; the mystery multipliers in a 3-
coin game
comprise either 2X, 3X, 4X or SX multipliers; and the mystery multipliers in a
4-coin
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game comprise either 2X, 3X, 4X, SX, lOX or 1 ~X multipliers. It will be
appreciated that
the number and/or magnitude of mystery multipliers may be varied to effect
different
payouts by altering the game program.
In a 1-coin game, the set of mystery multipliers in one embodiment comprises 6
individual mystery multipliers, each of which has a one-in-six chance to be
selected. The
individual multiplier values are 2X (4 occurrences) and 3X (2 occurrences).
The
probability of selecting a particular multiplier value is determined by
dividing the
number of occurrences of that particular multiplier in the set by the total
number of
multipliers in the set. Therefore, in a 1-coin game with a set of mystery
multipliers as
defined above, the probability of selecting a "2X" multiplier is 67% (four
divided by six)
and the probability of selecting a "3X" multiplier is 33% (two divided by
six). The
average mystery multiplier value in the 1-coin game is 2.333.
For a 2-coin game, the set of mystery multipliers in one embodiment comprises
5
individual mystery multipliers, having respective values of 2X (3
occurrences), 3X ( 1
occurrence) and 4X ( 1 occurrence). Therefore, in a 2-coin game, the
probability of
selecting a "2X" multiplier is 60% (three divided by five), the probability of
selecting a
"3X" multiplier is 20% (one divided by five), and the probability of selecting
a "4X"
multiplier is 20% (one divided by five). The average mystery multiplier value
in the 2-
coin game is 2.6.
For a 3-coin game, the set of mystery multipliers in one embodiment comprises
8
individual mystery multipliers, having respective values of 2X (4
occurrences), 3X (2
occurrences), 4X ( 1 occurrence), and SX ( 1 occurrence). Therefore, in a 3-
coin game, the
probability of selecting a "2X" multiplier is 50% (four divided by eight), the
probability
of selecting a "3X" multiplier is 25% (two divided by eight), the probability
of selecting
a "4X" multiplier is 12.5°k (one divided by eight) and the probability
of selecting a "SX"
multiplier is 12.5% (one divided by eight). The average mystery multiplier
value in the
3-coin game is 2.875.
For a 4-coin game, the set of mystery multipliers in one embodiment comprises
15 individual mystery multipliers, having respective values of 2X (4
occurrences), 3X (5
occurrences), 4X (2 occurrences), SX (2 occurrences), l OX ( 1 occurrence) and
15X ( 1
occurrence). Therefore, in a 4-coin game, the probability of selecting a "2X"
multiplier
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12
is 27% (four divided by fifteen), the probability of selecting a "3X"
multiplier is 33%
(five divided by fifteen), the probability of selecting a "4X" multiplier is
13% (two
divided by fifteen), the probability of selecting a "SX" multiplier is 13%
(two divided by
fifteen), the probability of selecting a "lOX" multiplier is 7% (one divided
by fifteen) and
the probability of selecting a "15X" multiplier is 7% (one divided by
fifteen). The
average mystery multiplier value in the 4-coin game is 4.4.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. l, a video display 22 is provided
for
displaying various animations associated with the game. These animations
include, for
example, attract mode animations and animations associated with winning game
outcomes. The display 22 may also show the pay table associated with the game.
In one
embodiment, where the symbol group includes a basic winning combination, the
symbols
forming the combination are displayed on the video display 22. Upon occurrence
of the
"Mystery" symbol combination, the video display 22 shows an animation
depicting the
selection of the mystery coin, including a display of the selected mystery
coin amount.
Similarly, upon the occurrence of a symbol combination in a pattern which
triggers the
mystery multiplier, the video display 22 shows an animation depicting the
selection of
the mystery multiplier, including a display of the selected mystery multiplier
value and a
display of the supplemental award value (defined by the product of the mystery
multiplier
value and the basic award). The video display 22 may comprise a dot matrix,
CRT, LED,
electro-luminescent display or generally any type of video display known in
the art. It
will be appreciated that the slot machine game may be implemented entirely in
video
(e.g., with spinning reels simulated in video) in gaming machines not having
mechanical
reels 14, 16, 18.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram identifying various steps in implementation of the
pattern-based award feature of the present invention. Each of the steps will
be described
with reference to the STROKE OF LUCKTM game. It will be appreciated, however,
that
the present invention is not limited to the STROKE OF LUCKTM game or any other
particular game. Start of the game (step 25) is triggered by the play of one
or more coins)
or credits, then pulling a lever or depressing a push button to set the reels
in motion. The
reels may comprise mechanical reels (e.g., reels 14,16,18 of FIG. 1 ) or
simulated
mechanical reels illustrated on a video display. A processor (e.g., CPU) then
operates
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according to its game program to randomly select a game outcome (step 30) and
to
display a symbol group representing the game outcome (step 35). In a slot
machine of
the type shown in FIG. I, the symbol group consists of nine symbols (including
"blanks")
displayed at nine respective display positions, with three symbols being
displayed on each
reel. The symbol group in other en,ihodiments may consist of different numbers
and/or
configurations of symbols, depending on the number of reels (or simulated
reels) and the
number of display positions on each reel.
In step 40, a symbol evaluation means (e.g., the processor) determines whether
the
displayed symbol group includes a basic winning combination. This is
accomplished in
one embodiment by identifying selected symbol combinations in the symbol group
and
comparing the selected symbol combinations to a plurality of predefined basic
winning
combinations stored in game memory (and which are displayed in the pay table
of FIG. 3).
In the STROKE OF LUCK'''' game, for example, the processor identifies 27
different
three-symbol combinations, each consisting of one symbol on each reel in
either of the
three possible display positions. The predefined winning combinations
similarly consist of
various three-symbol combinations (see the pay table of FIG. 3). If either of
the selected
symbol combinations match one of the predefined basic winning combinations,
the
matching combination is identified as a basic winning combination and the game
proceeds
to step 45. A game having reached step 45 is guaranteed to pay at least a
basic payoff (at
step 60) and perhaps an enhanced payoff (at step 65), as will be described
hereinafter. If
none of the selected symbol combinations are determined to match of the
predefined basic
winning combinations at step 40, the game is ended {step 70)without making a
payoff.
Generally, in the STROKE OF LUCKT'~' game, combinations are considered to be
basic winning combinations at step 40 if they occur in "scatter-pay" format,
with one
symbol of the combination appearing on each reel, without regard to whether
they are
displayed on a payline. It will be appreciated, however, that various
alternative symbol
combinations may be used to determine whether the symbol group includes a
basic winning
combination. Such combinations may include, for example, combinations having
fewer or
greater than three symbols and/or combinations consisting of more than one
symbol on
each reel.
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
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In step 45, a pattern recognition means (e.g., the processor) identifies the
pattern of
the symbols in the basic winning combination, as determined by display
positions of the
symbols. In the STROKE OF LUCKT'~' game, the pattern of the basic winning
combination
may be arranged in any of 27 possible configurations, corresponding to the 27
possible
three-symbol combinations consisting of one symbol on each reel. For example,
one
possible pattern might consist of a first symbol being displayed on an upper
display
position of the first reel, a second symbol being displayed on a center
display position of
the second reel and a third symbol being displayed on a center display
position of the third
reel. Still another pattern might consist of a first symbol being displayed on
a lower display
position of the first reel, a second symbol being displayed on a lower display
position of the
second reel and a third symbol being displayed on a lower display position of
the third reel.
The remaining 25 other possible patterns will be apparent to one skilled in
the art and will
not be expressly identified herein.
In step 50, a pattern evaluation means (e.g., the processor) compares the
pattern of
the symbol combination identified by the pattern recognition means to one or
more target
patterns stored in game memory and, if the pattern matches the target
patterns) (step 55),
an enhanced payoff is awarded (step 65). Otherwise, if the pattern does not
match the
target pattern(s), an basic payoff is awarded (step 60). The game is ended
(step 70) after
having made either a basic payoff at step 60 or enhanced payoff at step 65.
In one embodiment, each of the target patterns consists of a number of target
display positions corresponding to the number of symbols in the basic winning
combination. In the STROKE OF LUCKT"' game, where the winning combination
consists
of one symbol on each of three reels, the target patterns) are defined to
include three target
display positions, one on each reel. In one embodiment, for example, a first
target pattern
is defined to consist of an upper target display position on each of the three
reels, a second
target pattern consists of a center target display position on each of the
three reels and a
third target pattern consists of a lower target display position on each of
the three reels. In
this embodiment, therefore, a supplemental payoff is awarded whenever the
symbols
defining the basic winning combination are aligned, from left-to-right, on
either the upper
display position of each reel, center display position of each reel or lower
display position
of each reel.
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
It will be appreciated, however, that the target patterns) may be defined in
any of
several alternative ways. Generally, the target patterns) may be defined to
include any
number of target display positions defining a subset of the universe of
possible display
positions, regardless of the number of symbols in the winning combination.
Thus, for
5 example, in the STROKE OF LUCKTM game, where there are nine possible display
positions, the target patterns) could be defined to include any number of one
to eight
display positions.
In one embodiment, the pattern of the symbol combination is determined to
match
the target pattern at step 55, and an enhanced payoff is awarded at step 65,
if there is a one
10 to-one correspondence between the display positions of the symbol
combination and the
target display positions of the target pattern(s). Otherwise, if there is not
a match, a basic
payoff is awarded at step 60. Thus, for example, where the symbol combination
consists of
a first symbol being displayed on a lower display position of the first reel,
a second symbol
being displayed on a lower display position of the second reel and a third
symbol being
15 displayed on a lower display position of the third reel, that symbol
combination matches the
third target pattern of the STROKE OF LUCKTM game identified above, and
therefore an
enhanced payoff will be awarded at step 65. However, a symbol combination
consisting of
a first symbol displayed on an upper display position of the first reel, a
secoml symbol
displayed on a center display position of the second reel and a third symbol
displayed ~n a
center display position of the third reel does not match either of the three
target patterns,of
the STROKE OF LUCK''" game identified above, and therefore a basic payoff will
be
awarded at step 60.
In the STROKE OF LUCKTM game, if a basic payoff is to be awarded at step 60,
the amount of the basic payoff comprises a predetermined amount for any symbol
combination other than the "Mystery" combination and a "mystery" amount for
the
"Mystery" symbol combination. The predetermined amount of coins or credits for
each
combination other than the "Mystery" combination is stored in game memory and
shown
on the pay table (FIG. 3). The amounts of the basic payoffs differ for each
respective
combination and for different numbers of coins played. The "mystery" payoff
awarded in
response to the occurrence of a "Mystery" combination is determined by
randomly selected
a mystery payoff amount from a set of predefined mystery payoff amounts. As
described
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16
in relation to FIG. 3, the set of mystery payoff amounts differs for different
numbers of
coins played:
In one embodiment, if an enhanced payoff is to be awarded at step 65, the
amount
of the enhanced payoff is the product of the basic payoff amount corresponding
to the
winning combination and a randomly selected "mystery multiplier." In one
embodiment,
the mystery multiplier is randomly selected by an "enhanced payoff means"
(e.g.,
processor) from a set of mystery multipliers stored in game memory. As
described in
relation to FIG. 3, the set of mystery multipliers from which the mystery
multiplier is
selected varies according to the number of coins or credits played. In one
embodiment, the
mystery multipliers in a 1-coin game comprise either 2X or 3X multipliers; the
mystery
multipliers in a 2-coin game comprise either 2X, 3X or 4X multipliers; the
mystery
multipliers in a 3-coin game comprise either 2X, 3X, 4X or SX multipliers; and
the
mystery multipliers in a 4-coin game comprise either 2X, 3X, 4X, SX, lOX or
15X
multipliers. It will be appreciated, however, that any of several alternative
payoff
schemes may be implemented in response to the symbol pattern matching the
target
pattern. For example, the enhanced payoff might consist of a predetermined
amount in
excess of the basic payoff, or it might consist of the product of the basic
payoff with a
predefined (rather than mystery) multiplier. Moreover, any of these
alternatives may be
used in combination. For example, a first predefined multiplier (e.g., 1X)
might be
implemented if the symbol pattern matches a first target pattern, a second
predefined
multiplier (e.g., 2X) might be used if the symbol pattern matches a second
target pattern
and a mystery multiplier might be used if the symbol pattern matches a third
target
pattern.
Another alternative payoff scheme contemplated in the present invention is
that
of a supplemental, rather than enhanced, award in response to the symbol
pattern
matching the target pattern. In this embodiment, the basic payoff could be
made at any
time after having determined the symbol group to include a basic winning
combination.
Then, after having made the basic payoff, a supplemental payoff may be awarded
if the
pattern of the combination is determined to match the target pattern. Like the
enhanced
payoff discussed in relation to FIG. 4, the supplemental payoff may consist of
the product
of the basic award with a mystery multiplier or predefined multiplier, or it
might consist
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17
of a predetermined amount of coins) or credit(s). Either of these alternatives
could be
dependent on the symbol combination and/or the number of coins played.
For purposes of illustration, three examples corresponding to three different
game
outcomes of the STROKE OF LUCKTM game will be discussed in relation to FIG. 4.
As a
first example, suppose that the symbol group displayed at step 35 includes: on
the first reel,
a "Strawberry" symbol in the upper display position, a "Blank" in the center
display
position and a "3 Bar" symbol in the lower display position; on the second
reel, a
"Strawbenry" symbol in the upper display position, a "Blank" in the center
display position
and a "1 Bar" symbol in the lower display position; and on the third reel, a
"Blank" symbol
in the upper display position, a "Diamond" symbol in the center display
position and a
"Blank" symbol in the lower display position. In this symbol group, there is
no
combination of three symbols displayed in scatter pay format which correspond
to a
winning combination identified in the pay table and therefore the game is
ended.
As a second example, suppose that the symbol group displayed at step 35
includes:
on the first reel, a "Strawberry" symbol in the upper display position, a
"Blank" in the
center display position and a "3 Bar" symbol in the lower display position; on
the second
reel, a "Blank" symbol in the upper display position, a "Strawbeny" in the
center display
position and a "Blank" symbol in the lower display position; and on the third
reel, a
"Strawberry" symbol '~n the upper display position, a "Blank" symbol in the
center display
position and an "Orange" symbol in the lower display position. This symbol
group, which
is shown in FIG. 1, will be determined by the symbol evaluation means in step
40 to
' include a basic winning combination because the "Strawberries" combination
identified in
the pay table of FIG. 3 appears in scatter pay format in the display window
12.
Next, the game proceeds to step 45, where the pattern recognition means
identifies
the pattern of the symbols in the basic winning combination. In the present
example, the
pattern consists of a first symbol of the combination (i.e., Strawberry) being
displayed on
an upper display position of reel 14, a second symbol of the combination
(i.e., Strawberry)
being displayed on a center display position of reel 16 and a third symbol of
the
combination (i.e., Strawberry) being displayed on an upper display position of
the reel 18.
3o Next, in step 50, the pattern evaluation means compares the pattern of the
"Strawberry"
combination to throe target patterns stored in game memory. A first target
pattern consists
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
18
of an upper target display position on each of the three reels, a second
target pattern
consists of a center target display position on each of the three reels and a
third target
pattern consists of a lower target display position on eacn of the three
reels. In this
example, the "Strawbenry" pattern does not match either of the target patterns
and, after
making a basic payoff (step 60) of 2 coins or credits (in a 1-coin game) or 4
coins or credits
(in a 2-or-more coin game), the game is ended (step 70).
As a third example, suppose that the symbol group displayed at step 35
includes:
on the first reel, a "Strawberry" symbol in the upper display position, a
"Blank" in the
center display position and a "Mystery" symbol in the lower display position;
on the second
reel, a "7" symbol in the upper display position, a "Blank" in the center
display position and
a "Mystery" symbol in the lower display position; and on the third reel, a "3
Bar" symbol in
the upper display position, a "Blank" symbol in the center display position
and an
"Mystery" symbol in the lower display position. This symbol group will be
determined by
the symbol evaluation means in step 40 to include a basic winning combination
because the
"Mystery" combination identified in the pay table of FTG. 3 appears in scatter
pay format in
the display window 12.
Then, the pattern recognition means in step 45 identifies the pattern of the
symbols
in the basic winning combination. In the present example, the pattern consists
of a first
symbol of the combination (i.e., Mystery) being displayed on a lower display
position of
reel 14, a second symbol of the combination (i.e., Mystery) being displayed on
a lower
display position of reel 16 and a third symbol of the combination (i.e.,
Mystery) being
displayed on a lower display position of the reel 18. Next, in step 50, the
pattern evaluation
means compares the pattern of the "Mystery" combination to three target
patterns stored in
game memory. Where the target patterns are the same as described in the second
example
above, the "Mystery" pattern does indeed match one of the target patterns,
specifically the
third target pattern, and the enhanced payoff means is triggered to award an
enhanced
payoff to the player.
In one embodiment, the enhanced payoff is the product of the basic payoff
associated with the winning symbol combination (e.g., the Mystery combination
in the
present example) and a mystery multiplier selected from an appropriate set of
mystery
multipliers corresponding to the number of coins or credits played. In the
present
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19
example, the amount of the basic payoff is a "mystery" amount to be selected
from an
appropriate set of mystery values corresponding to the number of coins or
credits played.
Similarly, the multiplier has a "mystery" value to be selected from an
appropriate set of
mystery multipliers Suppose that two coins or credits have been played, and
that the
enhanced payoff means selects a basic mystery amount of 5 coins or credits
(from a set of
mystery payoff values consisting of four "5's", one "10" and one "15"). Then,
suppose
that the enhanced payoff means selects a mystery multiplier of "4X" (from a
set of
mystery multipliers consisting of three "2X" multipliers, one "3X" multiplier
and one
"4X" multiplier). In the present example, then, the amount of the enhanced
payoff will
be 20 coins or credits (i.e., 5 coins multiplied by 4).
FIG. 5 summarizes the probabilities and expected values for the winning
combinations in the STROKE OF LUCK'''M game. The left-hand column of FIG. 5
identifies the various winning combinations (corresponding to the pay table of
FIG. 3)
that may occur in the STROKE OF LUCKTM game. The notation "(scatter-pay)"
following the combination is used to identify those combinations occurring in
scatter-pay
format that will result in a basic payoff. The notation "(target)" following
the
combination is used to identify those combinations occurring in a pattern
which matches
a target pattern and thereby will result in an enhanced payoff. The notation
"(center)"
following the "Diamond" combination is used to identify the "Diamond"
combination
occurring on the center payline which will result in an enhanced payoff. The
"1 coin," "2
coin," "3-coin" and "4-coin" columns of FIG. S lists the pay values of the
respective
winning outcomes for a 1-coin, 2-coin, 3-coin and 4-coin game. The pay values
represent basic payoff amounts for the scatter-pay combinations and enhanced
payoff
amounts for the combinations matching a target pattern. The pay values
associated with
the "Mystery" (scatter-pay) combination represent the average mystery amounts
available
in the 1-coin, 2-coin, 3-coin and 4-coin game, respectively.
The enhanced payoff amounts for the combinations matching a target pattern
represent the product of the basic payoff amount for those combinations and an
average
mystery multiplier for the number of coins played. For example, the enhanced
pay value
for the "Diamond" combination occurring on the center payline (available only
with 4
coins played) is 2200, which is the product of the basic payoff amount of the
"Diamond"
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combination occurring on the center payline (e.g., S00) and the average
mystery
multiplier for a 4-coin game (e.g., 4.4). Similarly, the enhanced pay value
for the
"Mystery" combination is 10.37037 (for a 1-coin game), 19.5 (for a 2-coin
game), 71.875
(for a 3-coin game) and 130.3077 (for a 4-coin game). Each of these enhanced
pay
5 values is the product of respective basic payoff amounts for the "Mystery"
combination
(e.g., 4.444 for a 1-coin game, 7.5 for a 2-coin game, 25 for a 3-coin game
and 29.61538
for a 4-coin game) and the respective mystery multipliers for a 1-coin, 2-
coin, 3-coin and
4-coin game (e.g., 2.333 for a 1-coin game, 2.6 for a 2-coin game, 2.875 for a
3-coin
game and 4.4 for a 4-coin game). The enhanced pay values for the remaining
10 combinations are computed in like fashion and will not be described in
detail herein.
The "Probability" column identifies, for each respective symbol combination in
the STROKE OF LUCK'''"' game, the probability of hitting that combination in a
single
spin. This is computed, generally, by multiplying the numbers) of each symbol
on reels
14, 16, 18 to define the number of possible combinations of those symbols
relative to a
15 single payline, multiplying that product by the number of paylines
attributed to that
symbol combination to define an intermediate value, then dividing that
intermediate
value by the total number of possible symbol combinations, which is 13,824
(e.g., 24 x
24 x 24) in the STROKE OF LUCKTM game.
Because no two symbol combinations may be attributed to the same winning
20 outcome, the number of symbol combination supporting a particular outcome
is defined
to include the combinations which would support only that particular outcome.
For
example, in the STROKE OF LUCKT"' game, the "Any Bar" combination would appear
to be supported by 45 different cumbinations (e.g., 3 x 5 x 3), because the "1
Bar," "2
Bar" and "3 Bar" symbols occupy, in the aggregate, 3 positions on reel 14, 5
positions on
reel 16 and 3 positions on reel 18. However, because these 45 combinations
include five
"1 Bar," "2 Bar" or "3 Bar" combinations, and because those five combinations
are
attributed to different winning outcomes, the number of combinations
supporting only
the "Any Bar" combination is 40.
Similarly, the number of paylines supporting a particular outcome is defined
to
include the paylines that would support only that particular outcome. For
example, in the
STROKE OF LUCKT"~' game, any of the scatter-pay combinations identified in
FIG. 5
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21
would appear to be supported by 27 different "paylines" because there are 27
possible
three-symbol scatter-pay combinations. However, because these 27 paylines
include the
three "target" paylines which will result in enhanced payoffs, the number of
paylines
supporting only the scatter-pay combinations is 24.
A number of representative calculations of the "Probability" value will
hereinafter be described in detail. First, consider the "Diamond (center)"
symbol
combination. The number of "Diamond" symbols appearing on reels 14, 16 and 18
are l,
1 and 1, respectively. Because only one payline (e.g., the center payline) is
attributable to
the "Diamond (center)" symbol combination, the intermediate value is 1 (i.e.,
1 x 1 x 1 x
1 ). Thus, there is only one unique symbol combination out of 13,824 possible
symbol
combinations that will result in a "Diamond (center)" outcome and the
probability of
hitting that combination in a single spin is therefore 7.23E-OS (i.e., 1 =
13,824).
Next, consider the "Diamond" (scatter-pay) combination. The number of
"Diamond" symbols appearing on reels 14, 16 and 18 are 1, 1 and 1,
respectively. The
number of paylines supporting the scatter-pay combination is 24 and thus the
intermediate value is 24 (i.e., 1 x 1 x 1 x 24). Thus, there are 24 symbol
combinations out
of 13,824 possible symbol combinations that will result in a "Diamond"
(scatter-pay)
outcome and the probability of hitting that combination in a single spin is
therefore
0.001736 (i.e., 24 = 13,824).
2o Next, consider the "Diamond" (target) combination. The number of "Diamond"
symbols appearing on reels 14, 16 and 18 are 1, 1 and 1, respectively. In the
embodiment
of the STROKE OF LUCKT"' game having thr~ target patterns (e.g., a first
target pattern
consisting of three upper target display Positions, a second target pattern
consisting of
three center target display positions and a third target patter consisting of
three lower
target display positions), there would appear to be three "paylines"
supporting the
combination. However, because one of those paylines is the center payline
attributed to
the "Diamond (center)" combination, the number of paylines supporting the
"Diamond"
(target) combination is 2. Thus, the intermediate value is 2 (i.e., 1 x 1 x 1
x 2) and there
are 2 symbol combinations out of 13,824 possible symbol combinations that will
result in
the "Diamond" (target) outcome of FIG. 5. Therefore, the probability of
hitting that
combination in a single spin is 0.000145 (i.e., 2 = 13,824). The "Probability"
values for
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
22
the remaining combinations are computed in like fashion. The value at the
bottom of the
"Probability" column (i.e., 0.154297) represents the probability of hitting
any winning
combination in a single spin.
The "Pulls/Hit" column in FIG. 5 indicates the number of pulls, on average,
that
would be required to "hit" the various winning combinations. This is simply
the inverse
of the "Probability" value for each respective combination. Thus, for example,
it would
take 576 pulls ( 1 = 0.001736), on average, to "hit" the "Diamond" (scatter-
pay)
combination, and it would take 6.48 pulls ( 1 = 0.154297), on average, to
"hit" any
winning combination.
The "1 coin EV" column lists, for each winning outcome, the contribution to
expected value attributed to that outcome for a 1-coin game. Each "EV"
contribution is
computed by multiplying the 1-coin pay value of that combination by the
probability of
hitting that combination. Thus, for example, the 1-coin EV contribution of the
3 Bar
(scatter-pay) combination is 0.069444 (40 x 0.001736). The EV contribution of
the
remaining combinations are computed in like fashion. The sum of the various "1
coin
EV" values (i.e., 0.859616) is the expected value for the STROKE OF LUCKTM
game
with 1-coin played.
The "2 coin EV," "3 coin EV" and "4 coin EV" columns list, for each winning
outcome, the normalized contribution to expected value attributed to that
outcome for a
2-coin, 3-coin and 4-coin game, respectively. The normalized contributions to
expected
value are computed by multiplying the pay value of the combination
(corresponding to
the number of coins played) by the probability of hitting that combination,
then dividing
that product by the number of coins played. Thus, for example, the normalized
EV
contribution of the 1 Bar (target) combination is 0.016927 (i.e., 52 x
0.000651 = 2) for 2-
coins played, 0.012478 (i.e., 57.5 x 0.000651 = 3) for 3-coins played and
0.014323 (i.e.,
88 x 0.000651 = 4) for 4-coins played. The normalized EV contributions of the
remaining combinations are computed in like fashion. The sum of the various "2
coin
EV" values (i.e., 0.86263) is the normalized expected value for the STROKE OF
LUCKT"' game with 2-coins played. Similarly, the sum of the various "3 coin
EV"
values (i.e., 0.87321) and "4 coin EV" values (i:e., 0.883107) are,
respectively, the
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CA 02277547 1999-07-14
23
normalized expected values for the STROKE OF LUCKT"' game with 3 and 4 coins
played.
As will be appreciated, different embodiments of the STROKE OF LUCKTM
game (or games other than the STROKE OF LUCKTM game) will likely effect
different
probabilities and expected values in the table of FIG. 5. Such embodiments may
include,
for example, different mystery payoff values, different mystery multiplier
values,
different numbers and/or configurations of target pattern patterns, different
numbers of
reels or different configurations of symbols.
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more
particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many
changes may be
made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Each
of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling
within
the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the
following claims.
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