.,
`
`(11) Document No. AU-A-43488/99
`(12} PATENT ABSTRACT
`(19} AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE
`
`(22) Application Date : 10/08/99
`
`(33) Country
`AU AUSTRALIA
`
`(54) Title
`GAMING CONSOLE WITH TRANSPARENT SPRITES
`International Patent Classification(s)
`(51)6
`A63F 009/22
`G07F 017 /34
`(21)
`Application No. : 43488/99
`(30)
`Priority Data
`(31) Number
`(32) Date
`PP5184
`10/08/98
`(43) Publication Date : 02/03/00
`(71) Applicant(s)
`ARISTOCRAT LEISURE INDUSTRIES PTY LTD
`lnventor(s)
`DAVID TIMPERLEY
`(74) Attorney or Agent
`F BRICE & CO , i)Of!';5~B~a,..rili<i~-~tr.,.ee,..tt-,-f'Bhll<'!.t-l;""'lvl"'A>t!lf~41'N~S~'f.'<t-' ?<26tt.4H-1
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`t0/1'82318
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`Dn.PCJIPIO 26JUl 311,
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`1
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`AUSTRALIA
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`Patents Act 1990
`
`Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd
`
`ORIGINAL
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`COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
`STANDARD PATENT
`
`Invention Title:
`
`Gaming console with transparent sprites
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`The following statement is a full description of this invention
`including the best method of performing it known to us:-
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`Introduction
`The present invention relates to gaming machines of the type generally
`referred to as slot machines, fruit machines or poker machines, and in
`particular the invention provides an improvement to a game played on such a
`machine.
`Players who regularly play gaming machines quickly tire of particular
`games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of these machines to
`come up with innovative game features that add interest to the games
`provided on such machines in order to keep the players amused and
`therefore willing to continue playing the game.
`Description of the Prior Art
`Gaming or poker machines have been well known for many years and
`have more recently gained considerable popularity, with quite substantial
`amounts of money wagered on these machines. There is a growing tendency
`for Governments to legalise the use of gaming machines by licensing
`operators, with resulting revenue gains through licence fees and taxation of
`monies invested. The licensed operation of gaming machines is the subject
`of legislation and regulation. This regulation almost always dictates a
`minimum percentage payout for a gaming machine. For example, a
`minimum of 85o/o of monies invested must be returned as winnings, and
`manufacturers of gaming machines therefore must design their machines
`around these regulatory controls.
`With the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine market there
`is intense competition between manufacturers to supply the various existing
`and new venues. When selecting a supplier of gaming machines, the
`operator of a venue will often pay close attention to the popularity of various
`games with their patrons. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are
`keen to devise games which are popular with players, as a mechanism for
`improving sales.
`Many various strategies have been tried in the. past to make games
`more enticing to players, including the commonly known double-up feature,
`whereby, if a player wins a particular game, they can then risk the winnings
`of that game in a double-or-nothing mode in which they gamble on a
`subsequent, and often different, game such as whether a red or black card
`will be the next card drawn.
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`Other techniques adopted in the past have been to provide complexity
`in the numbering and combinations of indicia which would result in a win,
`thereby hoping to convince the player that there is a greater chance of
`winning and to keep their interest in a particular game.
`Many gaming control authorities do not permit images to be
`superimposed over a game image if they obliterate a part of the game image
`that would be used to display the outcome of a game. In the past, game
`designers were therefore forced to squeeze auxiliary images into small spaces
`on the periphery of the screen or to make the game area of the screen
`proportionally smaller, however neither of these are desirable options as they
`reduce the attractiveness of the game for the player. On the one hand if
`feature indicators are small they might not be seen by the player and the
`player might not take advantage of a feature currently on offer by the
`console. On the other hand if the main game image is too small it will not be
`attractive to players.
`Summary of the Invention
`The present invention consists in a gaming console having display
`means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the
`display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game
`wherein a plurality of symbols are randomly selected and displayed on the
`display means and, if a winning combination results, the console pays a
`prize, the game being characterised in that the displayed images include a
`first image component which displays basic game features and a second
`image component which displays image features which appear superimposed
`on the first image component, the second image component being
`transparent, whereby the first image component is visible through the second
`image component under the control of the control means.
`The second image component can take various forms such as an
`animated or fixed character, a window or a graphic and may.be used to
`indicate a feature game or special prize, or a message to the player about an
`available option or feature, a condition or mode of the console, or a service
`message broadcast by the establishment in which the console is installed.
`Examples of second image components include sprites which appear during
`games and move about the screen to indicate special or bonus symbols,
`function indicators such as "reserved" indicators and message text or boxes
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`containing message text broadcasting service messages such as operating
`hours, corning attractions (theatre performances etc.) or bonus prize periods.
`The second image may be variably transparent, and may be varied in
`transparency from "solid" where the underlying first image is totally
`obliterated, to a faint ghost like image where the underlying image is clearly
`visible through the second image.
`The second image may be static in the case of a "reserved" lock or
`service message, or may move about the screen as in the case of a sprite
`indicating bonus symbols in a spinning reel game. The image may also be
`animated such that the sprite may change shape or attitude, for example walk
`or run about the screen with moving arms pointing at feature symbols. Other
`animated effects may be used, for example in a game with a vampire or
`ghoulish theme, the "reserved 11 sign may drip blood, with an image of a
`growing puddle of blood at the bottom of the screen.
`In cases >·vhere the second image takes the form of an animated
`character, it may further be animated such that it "reacts" to certain
`conditions. For example, in a game with a ghoulish theme, the second image
`may appear to be frightened when it is situated next to a certain game
`symbol, for example a ghoul. In other cases, when the second image is acting
`as a wild card symbol, it may appear to be happy and excited when it causes
`winning combinations to occur.
`The present invention is applicable to video gaming consoles of the
`traditional poker machine style (also known as slot machines or fruit
`machines) in which the display means comprises a video simulation of a set
`of rotatable reels, each carrying a plurality of symbols. The invention is
`equally applicable to video draw poker consoles in which a poker hand is
`displayed on a screen, the cards of the hand being selected from a standard
`52 or 53 card deck.
`The occun-ence of the second image may be triggered by the
`occurrence of a special symbol or a predetermined combination of special
`symbols displayed in a particular arrangement.
`In cases where the second image takes the form of an animated
`character and acts as a wild card symbol, the second image may be moved
`from one location to another via an animated walking motion.
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`Brief Description of the Drawings
`An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of
`example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:(cid:173)
`Figur~ 1 illustrates a gaming console with a video simulation of a
`rotating reel display incorporating a first embodiment of the invention;
`Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a gaming console control circuit;
`Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the
`transparent second image is displayed on the display means and
`superimposed on elements of the first image; and
`Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the
`second image component functions as a message to the player.
`Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`In the following detailed description the methodology of the
`embodiments will be described, and it is to be understood that it is within
`the capabilities of the non-inventive worker in the art to introduce the
`methodology on any standard microprocessor-based gaming console by
`means of appropriate programming.
`Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the first embodiment of the
`invention is illustrated in which a gaming console 40, of the type having a
`video display screen 41 which displays a plurality of rotatable reels 42
`carrying symbols 43, is arranged to pay a prize on the occurrence of a
`predetermined symbol or combination of symbols.
`In the gaming console 40 illustrated in Figure 1, the game is initiated
`by a push button 44, however, it will be recognised by persons skilled in the
`art that this operating mechanism might be replaced by a pull handle or other
`type of actuator in other embodiments of the invention. The top box 45 on
`top of the gaming console 40 carries the artwork panel ?5 which displays the
`various winning combinations for which a prize is paid on this console.
`The program wbich implements the game and game feature is run on a
`standard gaming console control processor 100 as illustrated schematically in
`Figure 2. This processor forms part of a controller 110.which drives the
`video display screen 141 and receives input signals from sensors 144. The
`sensors 144 may be touch sensors, a pull handle or another type of actuator
`in other embodiments of the invention. The controller 110 also receives
`input signals from a mechanism 120 indicating the user has provided
`sufficient credit to begin playing. The mechanism 120 may be a coin input
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`chute, a credit card reader, or other type of validation device. The controller
`120 further drives a payout mechanism 130 which for example may be a coin
`output.
`The game played on the console shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a
`relatively standard game which includes a 3 by 5 symbol display and allows
`multiple pay lines. The game also includes a special feature embodying the
`invention, the special feature being that the displayed images include a first
`image component which displays basic game features and a second image
`component which displays image features which appear superimposed on
`the first image component, the second image component being transparent,
`whereby the first image component is visible through the second image
`component under the control of the control means.
`Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the
`transparent second image component 50 appears superimposed over
`elements 31 of the first image. The second image component 50 cioes not
`prevent the user from determining the type of the symbol(s) "underneath" it.
`In this case the second image component 50 appears as an animated
`ghostlike character, and may be animated by its arms waving to the user or
`pointing at particular features on the screen, or it may be animated as it
`moves about the screen. Furthermore, the transparency of the ghostlike
`character 50 may vary. For example, if the character 50 moves about the
`screen to a position where it is located close to a certain image, for example a
`ghoul, the character 50 may be animated to appear shocked or scared, and to
`further become pale and highly transparent in response, possibly to the point
`of only just being visible to the user as a faint ghostly image. On the other
`hand, if for example the second image 50 moves to a position where it creates
`a winning combination, it may be animated to appear to be happy that the
`user has won, and it may become less transparent, and more solid and visible
`to the user. The transparency of the second image 50 may also be
`continuously va1ying, such that the image 50 will appear to flash or pulse,
`which will attract the user's eye to the current feature of interest.
`Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the second image component
`50 has been displayed in response to a mode of the console, in this case the
`console has been reserved. As the second image component 50 is transparent
`it serves both the function of informing potential users that the console is
`unavailable to them, while still allowing potential users to see the features
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`and symbols 31 of the game "through" the reserved sign, thereby attracting
`potential users for the future. Although the second image component is
`static in Figure 4, it may alternatively be animated in various ways. For
`example, in a game with a vampire theme, the "reserved" sign may be
`animated in such a way that it appears to slowly drip blood, and an image of
`a pool of blood may gradually grow or collect at the bottom of the screen.
`Although the invention has been described with reference to particular
`examples of the invention, it should be appreciated that it may be
`exemplified in other forms. For instance, the second image component can
`take various forms such as a fixed character, a window or a graphic and may
`be used to indicate a feature game or special ·prize, or a message to the player
`about an available option or feature, a condition or mode of the console, or a
`service message broadcast by the establishment in which the console is
`installed.
`The present invention is applicable to video gaming consoles of the
`traditional poker machine style (also known as slot machines or fruit
`machines) in which the display means comprises a video simulation of a set
`of rotatable reels, each carrying a plurality of symbols .. The invention is
`·equally applicable to video draw poker consoles in which a poker hand is
`displayed on a screen, the cards of the hand being selected from a standard
`52 or 53 card deck.
`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.
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`THE CLATht!S DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
`A gaming console having display means, and game control means
`1.
`arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control
`means being arranged to play a game wherein a plurality of symbols are
`randomly selected and displayed on the display means and, if a winning
`combination results, the console pays a prize, the game being characterised
`in that the displayed images include a first image component which displays
`basic game features and a second image component which displays image
`features which appear superimposed on the first image component, the
`second image component being transparent, whereby the first image
`component is visible through the second image component under the control
`of the control means.
`The gaming console according to claim 1 wherein the second image
`2.
`component takes the form of an animated or fixed character.
`The gaming console according to claim 1 wherein the second image
`component takes the form of a window or a graphic.
`The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the
`4.
`second image component is used to indicate a feature game.
`The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the
`5.
`second image component is used to indicate a special prize.
`The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the
`6.
`second image component is used to indicate a message to the player about an
`available option or feature.
`The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the
`7.
`second image component is used to indicate a condition or mode of the
`console.
`The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the
`8.
`second image component is used to indicate a service message broadcast by
`the establishment in which the console is installed.
`The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the
`9.
`second image component takes the form of a sp1ite.
`10. The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the
`second image component appears during a game and moves about the screen
`to indicate special symbols.
`11. The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the
`second image component draws attention to function indicators such as
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`"reserved" indicators, message text or boxes containing message text,
`broadcasting service messages such as operating hours, coming attractions
`(theatre performances etc.) or bonus prize periods.
`12. The g13.ming console according to any one of claims 1to11 wherein the
`second image is variably transparent.
`13. The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the
`second image is varied in transparency from "solid" where the underlying
`first image is totally obliterated, to a faint ghost like image where the
`underlying image is clearly visible through the second image.
`14. - The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the
`second image moves about the screen. -
`15. The gaming console according to any one of claims 1to14 wherein the
`second image is animated.
`16. The gaming console according to claim 15 wherein the second image is
`animated such that it is moved from one location to another via an animated
`walking motion.
`17. The gaming console according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the second
`image is animated such that it reacts to certain stimulii.
`18. The gaming console according to claim 17 wherein the second image is
`animated such that, in a game with a ghoulish theme, the second image is
`animated to appear frightened when it is situated next to a particular game
`symbol.
`19. The gaming console according ~o claim 17 or 18 wherein the second
`image is animated such that, when the second image is acting as a wild card
`symbol, it appears happy and excited when it causes winning combinations
`to occur.
`20. The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the
`second image is static.
`21.
`The gaming console according to any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the
`gaming console is of the traditional poker machine style in which the display
`means comprises a video simulation of a set t_Jf rotatable reels, each carrying
`a plurality of symbols.
`22. The gaming console of any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the gaming
`console is a video draw poker console in which a poker hand is displayed on
`a screen, the cards of the hand being selected from a standard 52 or 53 card
`deck.
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`The gaming console according to any preceding claim, wherein the
`23.
`occurrence of the second image is triggered by the occurrence of a special
`symbol or a predetermined combination of special symbols displayed in a
`particular arrangement.
`24. A gaming console substantially as herein described and with reference
`to the accompanying drawings. .
`
`Dated this tenth day of August 1999
`
`Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd
`Patent Attorneys for the Applicant:
`
`FB RICE & CO
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`ABSTRACT
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`The present invention provides a gaming console 40 having display
`means 41, and game control means 100 arranged to control images displayed
`on the display means 41. The game control means 100 are arranged to play a
`game wherein a plurality of symbols 43 are randomly selected and displayed
`on the display means 41 and, if a winning combination results, the console
`40 pays a prize. The console 40 is characterised in that the displayed images
`include a first image component 31 which displays basic game features and a
`second image component 50 which displays image features which appear
`superimposed on the first image component 31. The second image
`component 50 is transparent, whereby the first image component 31 is visible
`through the second image component 50 under the control of the control
`means 100.
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