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Gaming machine varying an award based on the number of games played

Gaming machine varying an award based on the number of games played description/claims

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-002712, filed on 10 Jan. 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming machine which varies an award based on the number of games played.

2. Related Art

Conventionally, regarding a slot machine, which is a type of gaming machine, a game is generally started by inserting a game medium such as coins into the gaming machine. Then, the slot machine displays an image of a symbol line which is rotated in a predetermined area of the gaming machine. After a predetermined amount of time elapses, the slot machine displays an image of the symbol line which is stopped. Finally, the slot machine provides an award to a player based on the combination of the stationary symbols. Whether the combination which provides an award has been formed or not is generally determined based on whether or not a predetermined number of the same type of symbols (for example, “Cherry”, “7”, etc.) is arranged along a predetermined active pay line. In addition, U.S. Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003/0069073 discloses a technique to randomly decide to provide a special award called a jackpot at a single slot machine when the amount of money that a player spends at the slot machine reaches a predetermined value. The technique can offer probabilities to provide more award than the jackpot to a player as well as awards which the player can get at his/her own slot machine, thereby enhancing players' motivation to games.

Since an award which a player can obtain from a jackpot is the cumulative amount of credits bet by a plurality of players or a single player, it can improve further entertainment properties based on a probability for the player to receive a jackpot. However, recently this technique has become ordinary, thereby making the player lose interest.

The object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine which can further improve entertainment properties.

In an aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided, which includes a memory, a counter and a controller. The memory stores data of award tables each having a level of award correlated with a number of played games. The counter stores the number of played games. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) start a game; (b) cause the counter to increase the stored number of played games each time a game is executed; and (c) search the data of award tables for an award table having a level of award that corresponds to the number of played games, and pay a player in accordance with an award extracted from the searched award table.

The gaming machine described above allows the player to have a chance to obtain a higher award in proportion as the player accumulates the number of played games.

Since the player may expect to gradually recover credits lost in the games while increasing the number of games, the gaming machine can provide more fun to the player.

In another aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided, which includes a memory, a counter and a controller. The memory stores data of award tables each having a level of award correlated with a number of played games. The counter stores the number of played games. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) start a game; (b) cause the counter to increase the stored number of played games each time a game is executed; (c) when a result of the game satisfies a predetermined condition, cause the counter to reset the stored number of played games to a certain number; and (d) search the data of award tables for an award table having a level of award that corresponds to the number of played games, and pay a player in accordance with an award extracted from the searched award table.

The gaming machine described above allows the player to have a chance to obtain a higher award in proportion as the player accumulates the number of played games. However, the gaming machine, which resets the number of played games for the predetermined condition, the player has a risk to decrease the award. In this way, the gaming machine allows the player to feel more excited in playing the game.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided, which includes a display device, a memory, a counter and a controller. The display device displays an image related to a game. The memory stores data of award tables each having a level of award correlated with a number of played games and symbol data corresponding to a plurality of types of symbols. The counter stores the number of played games. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) start a game; (b) cause the counter to increase the stored number of played games each time a game is executed; (c) randomly determine symbol data to be displayed on the display device among the symbol data stored in the memory; (d) cause the display device to display symbols corresponding to the determined symbol data; and (e) search the data of award tables for an award table having a level of award that corresponds to the number of played games, and pay a player in accordance with an award corresponding to the symbols displayed on the display device.

The gaming machine described above allows the player to have a chance to obtain a higher award in accordance with the symbols displayed on the display device in proportion as the player accumulates the number of played games. Since the player may expect to gradually recover credits lost in the games while increasing the number of games, the gaming machine can provide more fun to the player.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided, which includes a display device, a memory, a counter and a controller. The display device displays an image related to a game. The memory stores data of award tables each having a level of award correlated with a number of played games and symbol data corresponding to a plurality of types of symbols. The counter stores the number of played games. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) start a game; (b) cause the counter to increase the stored number of played games each time a game is executed; (c) randomly determine symbol data to be displayed on the display device among the symbol data stored in the memory; (d) cause the display device to display symbols corresponding to the determined symbol data; (e) when a combination of the symbols displayed on the display device matches a specific combination, cause the counter to reset the stored number of played games to a certain number; and (f) search the data of award tables for an award table having a level of award that corresponds to the number of played games, and pay a player in accordance with an award corresponding to the symbols displayed on the display device.

The gaming machine described above allows the player to have a chance to obtain a higher award in accordance with the symbols displayed on the display device in proportion as the player accumulates the number of played games. However, the gaming machine, which resets the number of played games for the predetermined condition, the player has a risk to decrease the award. In this way, the gaming machine allows the player to feel more excited in playing the game.

Accordingly, the more a player plays the game, the more the size of awards that the player can receive increases. Consequently, it can gradually increase the probability that the total game cash flow becomes positive. Thus, the player can enjoy the game with further entertainment properties.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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