GB2033638A

GB2033638A - Improvements relating to coin- operated gaming or amusement machines

Info

Publication number: GB2033638A
Application number: GB7842602A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: J P M AUTOMATIC MACHINES Ltd
Current assignee: J P M AUTOMATIC MACHINES Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-31
Filing date: 1978-10-31
Publication date: 1980-05-21
Also published as: GB2033638B

Abstract

A fruit machine with a nudge feature has a single button which can index the reels or drums all together, forwards or backwards, in addition to the individual nudge buttons associated with each reel.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to coin operated gaming or amusement machines This invention relates to coin-operated or coin-freed gaming machines or amusement-with-prizes machines of the kind in which a series of symbols are displayed to view when the machine is operated and then stops, and if a line of these symbols shows a winning combination on a combination line, a pay-out mechanism is rendered operable or a prize is awarded and indicated.

The invention will be described as applied to a machine of this kind (generally known as fruit machines) in which the symbols are displayed on rotary drums, reels or discs, but it will be understood that it can also be applied to machines of this kind in which symbols are displayed on a display device on which individual symbols can be illuminated or otherwise distinguished to constitute the equivalent of the combination line.

It has already been proposed that, to add interest to such a machine, it should incorporate a "nudge" feature. This is described, for example, in British Patent No. 1292712. This involves providing a button or other mechanism associated with each drum which, if the feature is made available, can be operated when the drum has stopped spinning, to move the drum on one symbol space to produce a different combination line. Thus if the drums have stopped with one symbol missing from a winning combination, and that symbol is visible in the next space of the appropriate drum, the operation of the nudge button of that drum brings the symbol into line and produces a win.

It is the aim of this invention to provide more variety in the "nudge" feature.

According to the present invention there is provided a coin-operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement with prizes machine of the kind hereinbefore described, wherein each drum or its equivalent has associated therewith, to provide an adjustment feature, an adjustment button or mechanism the operation of which, at any time when the drum or its equivalent is stationary and the feature is enabled, causes the respective drum or its equivalent to be indexed to display on the combination line another symbol which was previously visible to the player but not on the combination line, and wherein, to provide a further adjustment feature, another adjust ment button or mechanism is provided the operatic of which, at any time when the drum or its equivalent is stationary and the further feature is enabled, causes all the drums or their equivalent to index together to change all the symbols on the combination line, either feature making it occasionally possible to achieve a winning combination by indexing.

Thus, not only is there an ordinary "nudge" feature but also a further one which gives the player the opportunity to change the whole combination line at once, for example if he sees a winning combination in the line above the combination line.

These features need not be mutually exclusive.

They may both be enabled, allowing the player to shift all the drums or their equivalents at once and then to change the new combination line by bringing in a single new symbol, orto achieve the same result by "nudging" one drum first, and then all together.

The availability of these features will be determined by random selector means.

These features may be combined with those described in our co-pending Application No. 38819/ 78, which proposes forward and reverse "nudging".

Thus if both the present features were enabled, a new combination line might be achieved by indexing all the drums together forwards one step, and then indexing one of the drums back two steps.

1. A coin-operated or coil-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machine of the kind hereinbefore described, wherein, to provide an adjustment feature, there is an adjustment button or mechanism the operation of which, at any time when the drums or their equivalent are stationary and the feature is enabled, causes all the drums or their equivalents to be indexed together to display on the combination line a row of symbols previously visible to the player but not on the combination line, thereby making it occasionally possible to achieve a winning combination by collective indexing.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each drum or its equivalent has associated therewith, to provide an adjustment feature, an individual adjustment button or mechanism the operation of which, at any time when the drum or its equivalent is stationary and the feature is enabled, causes the respective drum to be indexed to display on the combination line another symbol which was previously visible to the player but not on the combination line, thereby making it occasionally possible to achieve a winning combination by individual indexing.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein simultaneous enablement of both features is possible.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the drums or their equivalents can be indexed selectively forwards or backwards.

5. A coin-operated or coin-feed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machine substantially as hereinbefore described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to coin operated gaming or amusement machines This invention relates to coin-operated or coin-freed gaming machines or amusement-with-prizes machines of the kind in which a series of symbols are displayed to view when the machine is operated and then stops, and if a line of these symbols shows a winning combination on a combination line, a pay-out mechanism is rendered operable or a prize is awarded and indicated. The invention will be described as applied to a machine of this kind (generally known as fruit machines) in which the symbols are displayed on rotary drums, reels or discs, but it will be understood that it can also be applied to machines of this kind in which symbols are displayed on a display device on which individual symbols can be illuminated or otherwise distinguished to constitute the equivalent of the combination line. It has already been proposed that, to add interest to such a machine, it should incorporate a "nudge" feature. This is described, for example, in British Patent No. 1292712. This involves providing a button or other mechanism associated with each drum which, if the feature is made available, can be operated when the drum has stopped spinning, to move the drum on one symbol space to produce a different combination line. Thus if the drums have stopped with one symbol missing from a winning combination, and that symbol is visible in the next space of the appropriate drum, the operation of the nudge button of that drum brings the symbol into line and produces a win. It is the aim of this invention to provide more variety in the "nudge" feature. According to the present invention there is provided a coin-operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement with prizes machine of the kind hereinbefore described, wherein each drum or its equivalent has associated therewith, to provide an adjustment feature, an adjustment button or mechanism the operation of which, at any time when the drum or its equivalent is stationary and the feature is enabled, causes the respective drum or its equivalent to be indexed to display on the combination line another symbol which was previously visible to the player but not on the combination line, and wherein, to provide a further adjustment feature, another adjust ment button or mechanism is provided the operatic of which, at any time when the drum or its equivalent is stationary and the further feature is enabled, causes all the drums or their equivalent to index together to change all the symbols on the combination line, either feature making it occasionally possible to achieve a winning combination by indexing. Thus, not only is there an ordinary "nudge" feature but also a further one which gives the player the opportunity to change the whole combination line at once, for example if he sees a winning combination in the line above the combination line. These features need not be mutually exclusive. They may both be enabled, allowing the player to shift all the drums or their equivalents at once and then to change the new combination line by bringing in a single new symbol, orto achieve the same result by "nudging" one drum first, and then all together. The availability of these features will be determined by random selector means. These features may be combined with those described in our co-pending Application No. 38819/ 78, which proposes forward and reverse "nudging". Thus if both the present features were enabled, a new combination line might be achieved by indexing all the drums together forwards one step, and then indexing one of the drums back two steps. CLAIMS