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Gaming machineRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationGaming machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070021178, Gaming machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-211741, filed on Jun. 21, 2005; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a function of variably displaying a plurality of symbols. [0004] 2. Related Background of the Invention [0005] Slot machines have been conventionally known as a gaming machine which pays out media such as medals and coins used in a game according to the detail of winning in the game. [0006] A slot machine realizes a function of variably displaying a plurality of symbols by a plurality of mechanical reels each having a plurality of patterns on a outer surface or by image display which displays images showing a plurality of reels (reels displayed by images being also referred to as "pseudo reels"). When a player performs a predetermined operation, the slot machine causes the reels to start variably displaying symbols. According to the combination of symbols displayed on a predetermined activated pay line at the time when the reels are stopped, the player can recognize whether a game is won or not and the winning combination. [0007] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-329297 discloses a slot machine which includes a plurality of independent reels constituting a display area. The slot machine variably displays symbols of the reels simultaneously when a game is started upon an operation by the player, and stops the reels at a predetermined timing after the lapse of a predetermined time. [0008] When a player starts a game, a gaming machine is occupied by the player until the player stops gaming regardless of the number of games, whereby other players cannot play games. It is desirable for arcades installed with slot machines that a large number of games are played regardless of who plays games. This can be achieved by shortening the time between games. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] However, since the operation for starting a game is an operation of pushing down a spin switch by a player, conventional slot machines have been hard to increase the number of playing games as long as the machines are occupied by players who are slow to proceed with games. [0010] For overcoming the problem mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine which can urge a player to shorten the interval between start operations, thereby increasing the number of games played in a unit time. [0011] According to the present invention, a gaming machine comprises variable display means, operating means, determining means and award providing means. The variable display means includes a plurality of variable display portions for variably displaying symbols. The operating means causes the variable display means to start variably displaying the symbols. The determining means determines whether a player performs an in-time start operation to cause the variable display means to start variably displaying the symbols with the operating means before an elapsed time measured after ending a game exceeds a time limit. The award providing means provides the player with an award if the determining means determines that the player has performed the in-time start operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a slot machine which is the gaming machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the slot machine focused on an inner structure; [0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the inner structure of the image control circuit; [0015] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a main process from the start to the end of a game in the slot machine; [0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a starting entry process; [0017] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a base game process; [0018] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a bonus game process; [0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a starting entry process in a modified example; [0020] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of an award providing process in the modified example; Continue reading about Gaming machine... Full patent description for Gaming machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gaming machine 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 or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Gaming machine Next Patent Application: Gaming machine Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Gaming machine patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.35836 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
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