[0001] This invention relates to coin- (or token-) operated entertainment machines of the
kind which is operable to play games resulting in the selection and display of combinations
of symbols and with which a win indication is given in the event that a symbol combination
of a predetermined winning nature is obtained. The invention is more particularly,
although not exclusively, concerned with such a machine which is a fruit machine and
with which the displayed symbols (typically representations of fruit) are selected
at random, for example, by rotation of reels or by change of a video display simulating
the rotation of reels.
[0002] With a view to promoting the entertainment value of fruit machines it is known to
provide a jackpot feature. With traditional mechanical fruit machines this customarily
involves the provision of a mechanism which diverts occasional inserted coins into
an exposed glass-fronted receptacle, the accumulated contents of the receptacle being
discharged to the player on attaining a predetermined jackpot symbol combination.
With modern electronic fruit machines it is known to provide a display simulating
this traditional jackpot feature comprising a number of representations of coins which
are successively illuminated to simulate the filling of a receptacle, a payout determined
by the number of illuminated coin representations being made, and illumination of
the representations being correspondingly extinguished, when a jackpot win is obtained.
This modern jackpot feature is commonly linked to an auxiliary display with which
different display regions, such as letters of a word or sections of a path or ladder,
are illuminated in correspondence with selection of auxiliary symbols such as numbers
or letters accompanying (e.g. printed over) the main combination symbols, the jackpot
win being obtained for example when all letters of a word have been illuminated or
illumination has progressed along a path or ladder to reach a jackpot indicator.
[0003] With this known jackpot arrangement two problems arise. Firstly, in so far as the
accumulated jackpot prize value is carried forward at the end of each game and displayed
prior to purchase and commencement of the next game, an element of predictability
is introduced which may be undesirable or unacceptable. Secondly, after payout of
a jackpot prize the feature may be of little interest to the player until sufficient
games have been played to give rise to the accumulation of an appreciable prize value.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment machine having
a jackpot feature and with which the above-described problems can be avoided or at
least appreciably reduced.
[0005] According to the invention therefore there is provided a coin- (or token-) operated
entertainment machine which is operable to play games resulting in the selection and
display of combinations of symbols and with which a win indication is given in the
event that a symbol combination of a predetermined winning nature is obtained, characterised
in that there is also a plurality of jackpot displays between which jackpot prize
value is transferred as successive games are displayed, and the arrangement is such
that the player has the opportunity in at least some games of achieving a prize award
equal to the acccumulated value of at least one of the jackpot displays.
[0006] With this arrangement it will be understood that additional entertainment value arises
in that the player can observe the accumulation of prize value occurring in one jackpot
display by transfer from the other display or displays, but at the same time there
is the possibility of avoiding undue predictability in so far as the player may not
know in advance which jackpot prize value will be awarded should he achieve a jackpot
win. Moreover, following a jackpot win, player interest can be maintained since it
is feasible immediately to reset the jackpot displays so that appreciable prize value
is again available for award. In this respect, it is to be understood that the jackpot
arrangement of the invention relies essentially on the re-distribution rather than
overall accumulation of prize value whereby the total prize value can be maintained
at an appreciable level at all times. Indeed, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the invention the overall prize value may be maintained constant or substantially
constant at all times.
[0007] Conveniently there may be three separate jackpot displays although any suitable number
may be provided as desired. The displays may comprise simulated coin receptacles,
numerical displays or any other suitable display or combination of displays.
[0008] The arrangement may be such that transfer occurs at the start or end of a game or
during the course of a game on a regular predictable basis or at random or in response
to selection of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols as desired. Transfer
may involve simulated movement, e.g. of a coin, from one to another of the jackpot
displays. Transfer may occur in a predetermined direction and in a predetermined manner.
In a particularly preferred embodiment transfer occurs from display to display in
a predetermined order until an end display is filled. The displays may then reset
or, alternatively, transfer may then occur from the filled display back to the other
display or displays either moving in reverse or continuing around a loop.
[0009] The jackpot prize value may be a value of coins (or tokens) or may constitute one
or more game features (such as fruit machine "hold" or "nudge" steps) or any other
suitable award.
[0010] Award of jackpot prize value may be made available in response to selection of a
predetermined symbol combination. Alternatively the jackpot feature may be linked
to an auxiliary display whereby it is necessary to reach a predetermined position
on a ladder or path or to illuminate a word or the like, by attaining successively
appropriate auxiliary symbols accompanying the main symbol display, in order for a
jackpot prize award to be made available. Alternatively or additionally the jackpot
prize award may be made available on a random basis.
[0011] When made available the appropriate jackpot value may be awarded automatically. Alternatively
it may be necessary for the player to take appropriate action, for example, by pressing
a jackpot payout button and in this case an element of skill or choice may be introduced
in that, for example, the jackpots and/or different combinations of the jackpots are
made available in turn and the player has to press the button at the appropriate instant
to obtain a desired payout.
[0012] The machine of the invention is preferably a fruit machine of the kind described
above.
[0013] The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the front of one form of an entertainment machine
according to the invention; and
Figure 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the machine.
[0014] The entertainment machine shown in the drawings is a fruit machine and comprises
a floor-standing box-shaped housing 1 having a front wall which includes a screen-printed
glass sheet 2 and, below this sheet 2 a series of operating buttons including a start
button 3, hold/nudge buttons 4, and a jackpot button 5. The front wall also contains
a payout opening 6 and a coin slot 7.
[0015] Within the housing there are three axially aligned reels 8 having, say, 20 symbols
(such as pictures of fruit) at regularly spaced positions around their peripheries.
The reels 8 are axially rotatable and are drivably connected to respective stepper
motors 9. The reels 8 are arranged behind a window 10 defined by a printed region
of the glass panel 2. Each reel 8 can be arrested, by the respective stepper motor
9, in any of 20 stopping positions in which one symbol is in precise registration
with a horizontal win line 11 in the centre of the window 10 and two further symbols
are visible above and below the win line 11.
[0016] The stepper motors 9 are connected to a microprocessor-based control unit 12. This
control unit 12 is also connected to a coin mechanism 13, a payout mechanism 14, the
buttons 3-5, various lamps 15 behind printed display regions of the panel and lamps
16 in the buttons 3-5.
[0017] The panel 2 bears printed matter additional to the window 10 including the following:-
information relating to the playing of the game including details of awards which
can be achieved;
an auxiliary display constituting a ladder 17;
three jackpot displays 18 (indicated 18a, 18b, 18c);
a series of display indicators 19 alongside the displays;
a "double" indication 20 beneath each display 18.
[0018] The jackpot displays 18 constitute three sets of 10 representations 21 of coins linked
by a circular path made up of further representations 22 of coins.
[0019] In use, when the machine is first switched on, selected ones up to half in total
(preferably half i.e. 15) of the coin representations 21 are back-illuminated. The
illuminated representations 21 are distributed between the three displays 18 (e.g.
say five in each). This start-up procedure, as in the case with the subsequent game
playing procedure yet to be described, is controlled by the control unit 12 in accordance
with a game programme stored in ROM memory addressed by the microprocessor of the
unit.
[0020] When the player inserts coins into the coin mechanism 13 through the coin slot 7
sufficient to generate credit for one or more games, the machine is actuated such
that a game can now be played. In conventional manner the player can press the start
button 3 to cause the reels 8 to rotate and come to rest after different respective
random periods of time so as to display a selected symbol combination on the win line
11. At random at the start of some games the player is given the opportunity of arresting
one or more reels 8 against rotation by pressing one or more hold/nudge buttons 4.
At random at the end of some games the player is given the opportunity of stepping
one or more reels 8 through one or more steps by pressing one or more hold/nudge buttons
4.
[0021] At the end of the game the combination of symbols on the win line 11 is known by
the control unit 12 since the original starting position of the reels 8 and the number
of steps through which each reel has rotated is known (because each stepper motor
9 is driven by a counted number of impulses fed from the control unit 12). If the
final combination is of a predetermined winning nature corresponding to a payout,
the payout mechanism 14 is appropriately actuated.
[0022] One or more symbols on the periphery of each reel is overprinted in conventional
manner with a number. Initially (e.g. when credit is first accumulated by insertion
of coins), the bottom "rung" 23 of the ladder 17 is illuminated. At the end of a game
the illumination moves up the ladder, in conventional manner, in correspondence with
the value of any overprinted number which is on the win line 11. On reaching the top
of the ladder 17 the illumination returns to the bottom "rung" 23. The top four positions
24-27 on the ladder correspond to jackpot features. If the top position 24 is illuminated,
the player can press the jackpot button 5 and a payout equal to the total contents
of all jackpot displays 18 is made (e.g. 15 coins). If the next position 25 is illuminated
the indicators 19 alongside the displays 18 are illuminated slowly in sequence and
the player can press the button 5 at the appropriate instant to obtain a payout equal
to the contents of a selected one of the displays 18 (i.e. that display 18 which has
the corresponding indicator 19 illuminated). If the next position 26 is illuminated
the player can again press the button 5 to obtain payout equal to the contents of
one of the displays 18 which has a corresponding indicator 19 illuminated but the
sequencing of the illuminated indicators 19 occurs rapidly so that skill must be exercised
in order to select a desired display 18. If the position 27 is illuminated one display
18 is selected at random for payout purposes.
[0023] In randomly selected occasional games the "double" indicators 20 are illuminated.
Any jackpot made in relation to a display 18 corresponding to an illuminated "double"
indicator 20 is of a value equal to double the contents of that display 18.
[0024] At appropriate occasions, e.g. at random or at the start or end of each game, the
contents of the displays 18 are redistributed. On each such occasion there is a change
representing movement of one or more coins. Movement may occur successively from display
18
a to display 18
b to display 18
c and then back to display 18
a. In more detail, initially coins move alternately from display 18
a to display 18
b and then from display 18
b to display 18
c until the end display 18
c is full. Then coins move from display 18
c to display 18
a and so on. Other patterns of movement are also possible. Movement occurs by extinguishing
a lamp 15 in one display 18, temporarily illuminating the lamp 15 (or successive lamps
15) between this display 18 and the next display 18 (at location 22) and then illuminating
a lamp 15 in the latter display 18. At the end of a game not resulting in a jackpot
win the distribution of coins in the displays 18 is maintained for the next game,
even if there is no credit remaining for the playing of the next game. The lamps 15
of the displays 18 may remain lit during this carry over period between games. In
the event that a jackpot win is obtained the machine resets with regard to the displayed
pattern of coins. Thus, the display may return to the original starting pattern. Alternatively,
and particularly where the jackpot payout corresponds to only part of the total available,
that part may be reset whereby the overall pattern is maintained as it was before
the payout.
[0025] With the arrangement described there is carry over of a jackpot feature from game
to game but there is little predictability because the player cannot know in advance
which jackpot will be awarded on achieving a jackpot win. Moreover, it will be seen
that the total possible jackpot payout is always the same since it is the distribution,
not the overall accumulation, which changes.
[0026] With regard to the indicators 19, more of these are shown than the displays 18a,
18b, 18c. The arrangement may be such that there is one indicator for each display
and the indicator is appropriately identified to correspond to the respective display.
Thus, three indicators may respectively bear the printed information POT 1, POT 2,
POT 3. The other indicators may be appropriately identified to correspond to other
options e.g. 'lose', 'chance' etc. whereby selection of these during the jackpot phase
results correspondingly in a lost jackpot or a randomly selected jackpot payout or
otherwise.
[0027] Whilst reference is made to movement of features on and interpretation of the displayed
information on the front panel 2, it is of course to be appreciated that the motivation
for the changes in the displays and the interpretation of such changes occurs within
the control unit 12.
[0028] Thus, when lights advance up rungs of the ladder 17 in correspondence with overprinted
numbers on the reel displays, this occurs because the unit 12 knows the stopping positions
of the reels (as discussed above) and is therefore able to derive a numerical value
(corresponding to the overprinted number) from stored data. This numerical value is
used to control the transmission of switching pulses to the ladder lights and the
finally illuminated rung is known as a function of the number of such switching pulses.
Similarly, movement of the coins and illumination of indicators 19, 20 is controlled
by feed of switching pulses from the unit and response to a final display (in terms
of payout to be made) is determined by the unit 12 on assessment of the pattern or
sequence of light switching pulses with reference to stored data. In effect therefore
the pots 18a, 18b, 18c correspond to the contents of respective incremented and decremented
memories or respective stored numerical values in a memory area of the unit 12.
[0029] It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted
to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.
1. A coin (or token-) operated entertainment machine which is operable to play games
resulting in the selection and display of combinations of symbols and with which a
win indication is given in the event that a symbol combination of a predetermined
winning nature is obtained, characterised in that there is also a plurality of jackpot
displays (18a, 18b, 18c) between which jackpot prize value is transferred as successive
games are played, and the arrangement is such that the player has the opportunity
in at least some games of achieving a prize award equal to the accumulated value of
at least one of the jackpot displays.
2. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that there are three separate
jackpot displays (18a, 18b, 18c).
3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the said transfer of
value involves simulated movement from one to another of the jackpot displays (18a,
18b, 18c).
4. A machine according to claim 3, characterised in that the displays (18a, 18b, 18c)
comprise simulated coin receptacles and the simulated movement involves movement of
coins (21, 22).
5. A machine according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that transfer occurs from
display to display (18a, 18b, 18c) in a predetermined order until an end display (18c)
is filled.
6. A machine according to claim 5, characterised in that after filling of the end
display (18c) transfer then occurs from the filled display back to the other display
or displays (18a, 18b).
7. a machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a jackpot
prize award is made available after attaining a predetermined position (24-27) on
an auxiliary display path or ladder (17).
8. A machine according to claim 7, characterised in that progression along the path
or ladder (17) is achieved in dependence on the attainment of successive symbols auxiliary
to the said symbol combination.
9. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a jackpot
payout is arranged to be awarded, when made available, only after pressing a payout
button (5).
10. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it is a
fruit machine and the said symbol combination is selected by random rotation of reels
(8).