[0001] This invention relates to a coin-(or token-) operated entertainment machine 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.
[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 receptable 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 auuxiliary 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 there is the problem that, 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 problem can be avoided or at
lest 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 and
wherein at least one jackpot display is provided and the player has the opportunity
in at least some games of achieving a jackpot win and thereby obtaining a prize award
determined by an accumulated value shown on such jackpot display, characterised in
that there is provided means for augmenting the displayed accumulated value and the
corresponding prize award when the player achieves the jackpot win.
[0006] With this arrangement it will be understood that following a jackpot win, player
interest can be maintained since it can be ensured that an appreciable award is obtained
even in cases where the displayed jackpot award immediately prior to the win is of
a low value.
[0007] The augmenting may be effected on a random or predetermined basis. In a preferred
embodiment the prize award is augmented such that a predetermined maximum prize value
is obtained irrespective of the displayed value prior to the win. It is also possible
to carry over a displayed jackpot award from one game to a next game which is already
credited (or even to a next game which is not yet credited) without having to rely
on the inducement of an increasing jackpot award to sustain player interest: the player
knows that a substantial award (preferably of a predetermined maximum value) is available
irrespective of the actual displayed award. The actual jackpot display therefore
performs the function of demonstrating in an attractive way the availability of a
substantial jackpot award without having to do this by actually making available an
initial low level award.
[0008] There may be any suitable number of a separate or related jackpot displays as desired.
The or each display may compromise simulated coin receptacles, numerical displays
or any other suitable display or combination of displays.
[0009] The arrangement may be such that the or each jackpot display is progressively "filled"
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. Such
filling may involve simulated movement, e.g. of a coin, into the jackpot display.
When a jackpot win is achieved "filling" of the jackpot display may be completed e.g.
by simulated movement of the requisite number of coins into the display.
[0010] The jackpot prize value may be of 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 and the nature of the jackpot display will be of a corresponding format.
[0011] 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.
[0012] When made available the 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 ofskill or choice may be introduced
in that, for example, there may be an opportunity of "gambling" the award value. 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 1: 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 button 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 rotable 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 the game including details of awards which
can be achieved;
an auxiliary display constituting a ladder 17;
a jackpot disply 18 made up of printed display regions representing coins adding
up to a maximum prize value (say twenty 10p coins)
[0018] In use, when the machine is first switched on, a few of the coin representations
19 may be back-illuminated. 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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 appropriate actuated.
[0021] 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 "run" 23 of the ladder 17 is illuminated. At the end of a game
the illumination moves up the ladder, in convention 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 "run" 23. The top position
24 on the ladder corresponds to a jackpot feature. If the top position 24 is illuminated,
the player can press the jackpot buttom 5 and a payout equal to a jackpot prize award
is made. The value of the award is always the same i.e. the maximum possible displayed
value (£2.00) even if the actual displayed value immediately before achieving the
win is less than the maximum (e.g. it may correspond to only say 30p or 40p represented
by 3 or 4 illuminated regions 19). However, before the payout of the award is made
an augmenting device 20 is actuated and this causes the jackpot display 18 to fillup
to the maximum level by successive illumination of those regions 19 which are not
already illuminated. The successive illumination may simulate coins falling into the
jackpot whereby on uppermost region 19 is first illuminated and then this is extinguished
and in its place the next lowest region 19 is illuminated and so on. The device 20
which in practice may form part of the game programme may be actuated automatically
when the jackpot win is achieved or when the button 5 is pressed.
[0022] At appropriate occasions, e.g. at random or at the start or end of each game, the
contents of the display 18 may be increased. On each such occasion there may be a
change representing dropping of one or more coins into the display 18.
[0023] At the end of the game not resulting in a jackpot win the distribution of coins in
the display 18 may be maintained for the next game, even if there is no credit remaining
for the playing of the next game and the lamps 15 of the displays 18 may remain lit
during this carry over period between games so as to display the distribution to the
player. In the event that a jackpot win is obtained the machine resets and returns
to the start-up displayed pattern of coins.
[0024] This carry over of a jackpot feature from game to game is only of a simulated nature.
The available jackpot payout is always the same irrespective of the number of filled
regions 9 in the jackpot display.
[0025] 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. 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, movemet of the coins and illumination of region
19 is controlled by feed of switching pulses from the unit and the operation of the
device 20 and the payout to be made are determined by the unit 12. with reference
to stored data and not by reference to the region 19 illuminated.
[0026] 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 describ by way of example only. In
particular, although reference is made to coins and to a payout it is to be understood
that the jackpot may represent nudges or other features rather than coins.
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 and wherein at least one jackpot display (18) is provided
and the player has the opportunity in at least some games of achieving a jackpot win
and thereby obtaining a prize award determined by an accumulated value shown on such
jackpot display, characterised in that there is provided means (20) for augmenting
the displayed accumulated value and the corresponding prize award when the player
achieves the jackpot win.
2. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the prize award is augmented
such that a predetermined maximum prize value is obtained irrespective of the displayed
value prior to the win.
3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that there are different
jackpot displays (18).
4. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the or each
jackpot display (18) comprises a simulated coin receptacle with a plurality of regions
(19) whereat simulated coins can be displayed.
5. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the or each
jackpot display is progressively visually changed during the course of a game in a
manner simulating filling thereof.
6. A machine according to claim 5, characterised in that said simulated filling comprises
simulated movement of coins into the jackpot display (18).
7. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that when made
available the jackpot value is only awarded after operation of a player control (5).
8. A machine according to claim 7, characterised in that an opportunity is provided
for gambling the award value.
9. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8 which is a fruit machine.