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Gaming machine and methodRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationGaming machine and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070004495, Gaming machine and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based upon the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-135766, filed on May 9, 2005, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a gaming machine, such as a slot machine and gaming method. More particularly, this invention relates to a gaming machine and method that can grant a predetermined award to a player, in addition to a regular award granted in a game performed normally. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Conventionally, a gaming machine called "slot machine" has a plurality of reels rotatably arranged in a casing and provided, on each outer circumferential surface, with several kinds of symbols. These symbols on the reels are visible through display windows on the front side of the gaming machine. Around the display windows, there are represented paylines that can be activated corresponding to the number of bets. Thus, when symbols are aligned along an activated payline, a winning becomes definite (Japanese Patent Publication Laid-open 2002-159624). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] In the conventional gaming machine, however, it is difficult to enhance a player's fin and excitement in playing a game sufficiently. Because, under so-called "nailed-down" circumstance about the paylines, a player can do nothing but selecting the number of activated paylines by changing the number of bets. Particularly, in a current environment where an interaction between a gaming machine (e.g. slot machine) and a player is required, the above-mentioned shortage in terms of the player's fun and excitement becomes more obvious. [0007] Under the above-mentioned circumstances, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can improve an interaction between the gaming machine and a player and enhance the player's fun and excitement sufficiently. [0008] In order to attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming machine comprising: a display for variably displaying a plurality of symbols; a processor programmed to operate with the display to (a) accept a player's anticipation of a stop position for a specific symbol in the display, (b) determine symbols for a stationary state, (c) display the symbols determined on the display, and (d) provide an award to the player if the specific symbol is positioned on the stop position anticipated by the player. [0009] According to the gaming machine with a configuration described above, when the specific symbol stops on the stop position anticipated by the player, an award is granted to the player. That is, as the gaming machine can provide a slot game allowing the player to participate in the game positively, it is possible to improve an interaction between the gaming machine and the player and also possible to enhance the player's fun and excitement sufficiently. [0010] According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine comprising: a slot game; a display for the slot game, which variably displays a plurality of symbols; a processor programmed to operate with the display to (a) accept a player's anticipation of a stop position for a specific symbol in the display, (b) determine symbols for a stationary state in the slot game, (c) display the symbols determined on the display, (d) provide a first award to the player if a combination of the symbols is won, and (e) provide a second award to the player if the specific symbol is positioned on the stop position anticipated by the player. [0011] In this case, when the specific symbol stops in the stop position anticipated by the player, a second award is granted to the player. That is, as the gaming machine of the second aspect can provide a slot game allowing the player to participate in the game positively, it is possible to improve an interaction between the gaming machine and the player and also possible to enhance the player's fun and excitement sufficiently. [0012] In the gaming machine of the second aspect of the present invention, the slot game may include a base game, and the processor may accept a player's anticipation of a stop position for a specific symbol in the display in the base game. [0013] In the gaming machine above, the first award may be to shift a gaming mode of the slot game from a base game to a bonus game profitable for the player to acquire a game medium. [0014] In this case, when the combination of symbols displayed on the display unit in the stopped condition in the base game coincides with the predetermined winning combination, the base game of the gaming machine is changed to the bonus game which is a profitable game for the player. Then, the player's fin and excitement can be enhanced [0015] In the gaming machine of the first aspect of the present invention, the processor may accept a player's anticipation of a stop position for a specific symbol in the display in the bonus game. [0016] In this case, when the specific symbol stops on the stop position anticipated by the player in the bonus game, the second award is granted to the player. Then, the player's fun and excitement can be further enhanced in comparison with the player's fun and excitement in the gaming machine. [0017] In the gaming machine of the second aspect of the present invention, the processor may accept the player's plural anticipations about the stop positions for the specific symbol. [0018] In this case, it is expected that the gaming machine could expand in application, for example, possibility of modifying the contents of award corresponding to the number of player's anticipations for the stop positions of the specific symbol. Then, it is possible to improve an interaction between the gaming machine and the player in anticipating the stop position of the specific symbol and also possible to enhance the player's fun and excitement sufficiently. [0019] In the gaming machine of the second aspect of the present invention, the processor may allow the player to select the specific symbol from the plurality of symbols. [0020] Also in his case, it is expected that the gaming machine could expand in application, for example, possibility of modifying the contents of award corresponding to the kind of the specific symbol selected by the player. Thus, it is possible to improve an interaction between the gaming machine and the player in anticipating the stop position of the specific symbol. [0021] In the gaming machine of the second aspect of the present invention, the second award may be to shift gaming mode of the slot game from a base game to a bonus game. Continue reading about Gaming machine and method... Full patent description for Gaming machine and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gaming machine and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Gaming machine and method or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Apparatus and method for gaming, gameplay and betting Next Patent Application: Method for determining gaming device outcomes Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Gaming machine and method patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.41728 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
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