[0001] This invention relates to gaming machines. More particularly, the invention relates
to a system for, and method of, displaying an outcome on a gaming machine.
[0002] One of the requirements for designing a gaming machine is that an outcome of the
game is deterministic and is generated by a random number generator (RNG). This is
a requirement since an RNG can be extensively tested for bias and predictability.
If an alternative method of generating outcomes were to be used, the game would have
to be submitted for extensive testing to ensure that there were no bias or other predictability
problems associated with the simulation. With the increasing power of processors used
in gaming machines, the ability arises for presenting outcomes in an attractive and
entertaining way using simulations.
[0003] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for displaying
an outcome on a gaming machine, the system including:
a display for displaying images of a game played on the gaming machine;
a controller for controlling the display of the images on the display; and
a simulation engine comprising
a first part for imparting a simulation of at least one force acting on elements
of the images so that the elements move as if in response to the at least one force;
and
a second part which, on a selected element of the image, imparts a simulation of
a different force so that the selected element behaves in a different manner to the
remaining elements, the selected element having been selected by the controller as
a part of the outcome.
[0004] The different force imparted to the selected element may operate in such a way that,
to a viewer, it is not apparent that a different force is acting on the selected element.
[0005] The physics-based simulation used in the controller of the gaming machine may be
used in any image where elements are required to move in the image.
[0006] For ease of explanation, the invention will be described with reference to its application
to keno balls in a transparent container.
[0007] The outcome may be represented by a selection of at least some of the plurality of
the elements, or symbol carriers, such as the balls of a set of keno balls, the elements
initially being displayed in a representation of a container in such a way that the
elements are visible to a player of the gaming machine.
[0008] Initially, all the elements in the container are subjected to the at least one force
in the form of a first set of forces. The first set of forces may encompass forces
associated with a fluid stream so that the elements appear to be floating in the container
and moving with a random, or Brownian, motion, colliding randomly with each other
and against walls of the container.
[0009] The fluid stream simulation may be effected through a representation of a conduit
having a first end which opens out into a floor of the container. Thus, the first
part of the simulation engine may simulate the fluid stream, which may be invisible,
which enters the container through the conduit into the interior of the container
so that the elements are subjected to fluid flow and float about within the interior
of the container with the apparently random motion.
[0010] When an outcome has been determined by the controller, i.e. a random number has been
generated by a random number generator (RNG) of the controller, a simulation run by
the simulation engine may select a first one of the elements, a symbol on the element
constituting a first part of the outcome. When that element has been selected, the
different force may be imparted to the selected element so that the selected element
does not respond to the effects of the first set of forces, the remaining elements
continuing to be subjected to the first set of forces.
[0011] The second force may, for example, be a simulation of a suction force which sucks
the selected symbol carrier towards and into the conduit to be discharged into a receptacle,
forming part of the image, the receptacle being arranged at a second end of the conduit.
[0012] The process may be repeated until all the elements constituting the outcome have
been selected and discharged from the container into the receptacle.
[0013] It will be appreciated that, therefore, two different physics-based simulations are
used. Preferably, the simulations are performed simultaneously but, as the effects
of the second force are not readily visible to the viewer, it appears as if only one
simulation were taking place to provide an appearance of apparently random selection
of the symbol carriers constituting the outcome.
[0014] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of displaying
an outcome on a gaming machine, the method including
displaying an image comprising a plurality of elements on a display of the gaming
machine;
applying a physics-based simulation to the elements so that the elements move as
though being affected by at least one force;
selecting one of the elements to be a part of the outcome; and
applying a different force to the selected element so that it behaves differently
from the remaining elements of the image.
[0015] The method may include imparting the different force to the selected element in such
a way that, to a viewer, it is not apparent that a different force is acting on the
selected element.
[0016] Further, the method may include representing a game outcome by a selection of at
least some of the plurality of the elements and initially displaying the elements
in a representation of a container in such a way that the elements are visible to
a player of the gaming machine. The method may include, initially, subjecting all
the symbol carriers in the container to the at least one force in the form of a first
set of forces.
[0017] Then, the method may include simulating the first set of forces to represent forces
associated with a fluid stream so that the elements appear to be floating in the container
and moving with a random motion, colliding randomly with each other and against walls
of the container.
[0018] The method may include effecting the fluid stream simulation through a representation
of a conduit having a first end which opens out into a floor of the container. Thus,
the method may include simulating the fluid stream entering the container through
the conduit into the interior of the container so that the elements are subjected
to fluid flow and float about within the interior of the container with the random
motion.
[0019] The method may include, when an outcome has been determined by the controller selecting
a first one of the elements, a symbol on the element constituting a first part of
the outcome. When that element has been selected, the method may include imparting
the different force to the selected element so that the selected element does not
respond to the effects of the first set of forces, the remaining elements continuing
to be subjected to the first set of forces.
[0020] The method may include repeating the process until all the elements constituting
the outcome have been selected.
[0021] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a simulation engine
for simulating a system to which the laws of physics are applied for displaying a
game outcome on a gaming machine, the simulation engine including
a first part for simulating the imparting of at least one physical force to symbol
carriers, at least some of which are used in displaying the game outcome; and
a second part for simulating the imparting of at least one further, different force
to each of those symbol carriers selected to represent the game outcome.
[0022] The simulation engine may be implemented in a controller associated with the gaming
machine.
[0023] The invention extends also to a gaming machine including a system as described above.
[0024] The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a three dimensional, perspective view of a gaming machine, including
a system for displaying an outcome, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming machine;
Figures 3-8 show various screen displays of a physics-based simulation for displaying
the outcome on the gaming machine of Figure 1; and
Figure 9 shows a flow chart of the physics-based simulation.
[0025] In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a gaming machine, including
a game, an outcome of which is displayed in accordance with the invention. The machine
10 includes a console 12 having a display in the form of a video display unit (VDU)
14 on which a game 16 is played, in use. The video display unit 14 may be implemented
as a cathode ray screen device, a liquid crystal display, a plasma screen, or the
like. A midtrim 20 of the machine 10 houses a keypad 22 for enabling a player to play
the game 16. The midtrim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 including a coin
input chute 24.1 and a bill collector 24.2.
[0026] The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is carried. The artwork
28 includes paytables, details of bonus awards, etc.
[0027] A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash payouts from the machine
10.
[0028] Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, a controller or control circuit 32 is illustrated.
A program which implements the game and user interface is run on a processor 34 of
the controller 32. The processor 34 forms part of a controller 36 that drives the
screen of the video display unit 14 and that receives input signals from sensors 38.
The sensors 38 include sensors associated with the bank 22 of buttons and touch sensors
mounted in the screen of the video display unit 14. The controller 36 also receives
input pulses from the mechanism 24 to determine whether or not a player has provided
sufficient credit to commence playing. The mechanism 24 may, instead of the coin input
chute 24.1 or the bill collector 24.2, or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader
(not shown) or any other type of validation device.
[0029] Finally, the controller 36 drives a payout mechanism 40 which, for example, may be
a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray 30 to make a pay out to a player
when the player wishes to redeem his or her credit.
[0030] The game 16 played on the gaming machine 10 is, in this example, a keno game. In
the keno game, a plurality of elements or symbol carriers, in the form of balls 50
(Figure 3), are selected and placed in a container 52 as shown in Figure 3 of the
drawings. Hence, an initial display 54 on the VDU 14 of the gaming machine 10 shows
the balls 50 being deposited into the container 52.
[0031] In the modelling of the keno style game, if it were to be modelled on a computer
system, a three dimensional representation of a keno machine, complete with a set
of keno balls would be provided. Using a three dimensional visualisation system in
combination with a physics-based simulation engine of the controller 32, it is possible
to animate the keno balls as if they were affected by forces such as forces arising
from a wind or fluid generator. This causes the balls 50 to move in an apparently
random manner colliding with each other and the container 52.
[0032] However, using a true physics-based simulation, the balls 50 that would be selected
by the processor 34 of the gaming machine 10 would be derived purely from the motions
and collisions of the balls 50. This would not result in the generation of a determinable
random number and could possibly exhibit bias. Furthermore, it is possible that the
desired outcome of the game be predetermined and it would therefore be necessary to
make an exact choice of balls 50.
[0033] In order to achieve the desired result, the balls 50 in the container 52 are subjected
to a simulation of forces generated by the physics-based simulation engine. The forces
impart effects to the balls 50 as though the balls 50 were in a fluid stream such
as would result from a wind generator.
[0034] Therefore, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, once all the balls 50 have been
deposited in the container 52, they lie on a floor 56 of the container.
[0035] A simulation of a wind generator being started is then effected so that the balls
50 rise from the floor 56 of the container under the effect of an invisible fluid
stream, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, and begin moving randomly about in the
container 52. The fluid stream is discharged through an end 58.1 of a conduit 58,
the end 58.1 of the conduit 58 opening out into the floor 56 of the container 52.
[0036] The conduit 58 has a second end 58.2 which overlies a receptacle 60.
[0037] The simulation of the wind generator uses "real world" physics so that the balls
50 in the container 52 appear to move with apparently random motion, colliding with
each other and with the walls of the container 52.
[0038] When the outcome of the game has been determined by the processor 34 of the gaming
machine 10, each of the balls to be selected for the outcome is subjected to a simulation
of a different force to the remaining balls 50. For the sake of illustration, it is
to be noted that a ball 62 of the set of balls 50 has a different shading from the
remaining balls in the example illustrated in Figures 3-8 of the drawings. This ball
62 is assumed to be the first ball of the outcome, in other words, the first selected
ball.
[0039] When the ball 62 has been determined by the processor 34 as being a selected ball,
the ball 62 is subjected to the different force which is a suction force, once again,
using a "real world" physics stimulation effected by an exception component, or a
second part, of the simulation engine of the controller 32. The suction force imparted
to the ball 62 is a suction force applied at the outlet end 58.1 of the conduit 58
but only has an effect on the selected ball 62. Thus, as shown in Figures 6 and 7
of the drawings, the ball 62 is drawn towards the outlet end 58.1 of the conduit 58.
[0040] Thereafter, the selected ball 62 is drawn into the conduit 58 and is discharged through
the end 58.2 of the conduit 58 into the receptacle 60 as the first selected ball.
[0041] The process is repeated on the remaining balls 50 by subjecting each of the other
selected balls for that outcome to the effects of the exception component while the
remaining balls 50 in the receptacle 52 continue to be subjected to the first set
of forces.
[0042] It will be appreciated that the second, suction force is applied to the selected
balls in such a manner that, to a viewer, it is not apparent that the suction force
is being imparted to the selected ball. Both the wind generator forces and the suction
force are applied concurrently to impart an appearance of randomness to the motion
of the balls 50 in the container 52.
[0043] Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention that a system of, and method for,
displaying a game outcome are provided which, on the face of it, appear to result
in random selections. However, due to the concurrent application of the two physics-based
simulations, a predetermined outcome is effected thereby minimising problems associated
with bias and predictability. This obviates the need for the game to be submitted
for extensive testing to ensure that bias and predictability problems are not present
in the game.
[0044] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or
modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present
embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive.
1. A system for displaying an outcome on a gaming machine, the system including:
a display for displaying images of a game played on the gaming machine;
a controller for controlling the display of the images on the display; and
a simulation engine comprising
a first part for imparting a simulation of at least one force acting on elements
of the images so that the elements move as if in response to the at least one force;
and
a second part which, on a selected element of the image, imparts a simulation of
a different force so that the selected element behaves in a different manner to the
remaining elements, the selected element having been selected by the controller as
a part of the outcome.
2. The system of claim 1 in which the different force imparted to the selected element
operates in such a way that, to a viewer, it is not apparent that a different force
is acting on the selected element.
3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the outcome is represented by a selection
of at least some of the plurality of the elements, the elements initially being displayed
in a representation of a container in such a way that the elements are visible to
a player of the gaming machine.
4. The system of claim 3 in which, initially, all the elements in the container are subjected
to the at least one force in the form of a first set of forces.
5. The system of claim 4 in which the first set of forces encompasses forces associated
with a fluid stream so that the elements appear to be floating in the container and
moving with a random motion, colliding randomly with each other and against walls
of the container.
6. The system of claim 5 in which the fluid stream simulation is effected through a representation
of a conduit having a first end which opens out into a floor of the container.
7. The system of claim 6 in which the first part of the simulation engine simulates the
fluid stream which enters the container through the conduit into the interior of the
container so that the elements are subjected to fluid flow and float about within
the interior of the container with the random motion.
8. The system of claim 7 in which, when an outcome has been determined by the controller,
a simulation run by the simulation engine selects a first one of the elements, a symbol
on the element constituting a first part of the outcome.
9. The system of claim 8 in which, when that element has been selected, the different
force is imparted to the selected element so that the selected element does not respond
to the effects of the first set of forces, the remaining elements continuing to be
subjected to the first set of forces.
10. The system of claim 9 in which the process is repeated until all the elements constituting
the outcome have been selected.
11. A method of displaying an outcome on a gaming machine, the method including
displaying an image comprising a plurality of elements on a display of the gaming
machine;
applying a physics-based simulation to the elements so that the elements move as
though being affected by at least one force;
selecting one of the elements to be a part of the outcome; and
applying a different force to the selected element so that it behaves differently
from the remaining elements of the image.
12. A simulation engine for simulating a system to which the laws of physics are applied
for displaying a game outcome on a gaming machine, the simulation engine including
a first part for simulating the imparting of at least one physical force to symbol
carriers, at least some of which are used in displaying the game outcome; and
a second part for simulating the imparting of at least one further, different force
to each of those symbol carriers selected to represent the game outcome.
13. The simulation engine of claim 12 which is implemented in a controller associated
with the gaming machine.
14. A gaming machine including a system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.