GB2371238A - Accumulated bonus system for game devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus connects 2 game devices which enables a division of an accumulated bonus, comprising a control device 1, input and output means and means to apportion bonus payments to more than one player, ensuring that no bonus payments are made to game devices not in use. Preferably the output may display winning data and information onto a video screen 6 or viewing areas 7 on the top glass of non-video screen game devices and a plurality of audio and visual presentations trough the game device or peripheral devices. Optionally the game devices may be connected at different locations and may be of multiplayer function.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO GAME DEVICES OR THE LIKE SPECIFICATION This invention generally relates to game devices or the like commonly referred to as slot machines.

The present invention is particularly applicable to game devices of the type which are of an electronic nature in that a video screen displays symbols or images set in motion when a player presses a button or uses a touch facility on said screen or viewing area. This invention is also applicable to game devices of the type which have symbol-bearing rotating wheels set in motion when a player pulls a handle or pushes a button. This invention is also applicable to any game device activated by any means and having any viewing area or display device. The invention is also applicable to groups of said game devices in unspecified numbers and combinations of types.

Game devices commonly referred to as slot machines are well known throughout the world and are utilized for gambling entertainment. The proliferation of legalized gambling world-wide has brought about an ever developing technology in game devices. Originally mechanical, slot or fruit machines progressed to electromechanical and then to electronic.

Recent models have video screens which in their latest versions give players a multi-choice option of games triggered by touch.

Advances have also been made in the technology for activating play on game devices. The use of coins or tokens inserted by the player has been supplemented or replaced by acceptors for bank notes, credit cards or similar. Other developments include credits being marked up in the viewing area as well as, or instead ot the physical return of coins or tokens from a hopper located within the game device, and credit being replaced directly onto a player's card used to activate the game device.

The search by manufacturers and gaming operators for game devices to innovate and maintain the interest of their clients led to the development of a system complementary to the game devices, whereby a given percentage of value played accumulates progressively from each participating game device to give a bonus payment to the player hitting the determined winning condition. This system is commonly referred to as a progressive system.

At first limited to individual game devices, the progressive system is now used with numbers of game devices, causing the said bonus payments to accumulate faster and to be of greater amounts than that of an individual game device. Using a telephone network progressive systems can link a wide area of locations and enterprises, potentially awarding a single player with a very large bonus. As these progressive systems are combined with overhead display units as well as, or instead ot display areas on each game device, the frequent upward movement of the payment bonus is highly visible and thus promotes further player interest and participation. These progressive systems award the bonus to only one player at a time.

It should be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention is intended to enhance player interest and enjoyment by the linking of game devices to a novel accumulated bonus system whereby a progressive payout is shared amongst several participating players in a predetermined percentage win ratio. Whilst current progressive systems award the bonus to a single player, the present invention awards the bonus between several players when any one of them hits the determined winning condition. The player who hits the said winning condition is awarded a predetermined percentage of the accumulated bonus and any other players share out the remaining percentage according to preset provisions for awarding the bonus.

The players who share out the bonus are those whose game devices fall within a range of predetermined combinations and conditions of play at the time when the winning condition is hit by any one of the said players. The apparatus of the present invention may include the means to determine the active state of the harnessed game devices at the moment the winning condition is hit, thereby excluding idle game devices but with the respective provisions for average lapses of player activity.

The apparatus of the present invention is intended to promote group involvement and player interaction and additionally to foster team play, to increase the rate at which bonus payments are made, and to reward players on the linked game devices in proportion to amounts wagered, thereby ensuring greater player satisfaction.

As the progressive system of a bonus payment to the player of an individual machine is well documented and known in such systems as the Mikohn Controller and Jackpot Trigger Device, no detailed description is given here of functional operations carried out by microprocessors and associated memories together with appropriate software. While referring to the drawings it should be appreciated that the elements of the block diagram may consist of such functional operations and it is intended that the present invention encompasses such technology.

Since the present invention is particularly adapted for use in slot machines it will be described in that environment and it is understood that other types of game devices may advantageously utilize the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an electrical block diagram illustrating one embodiment of electronic circuitry for practising the present invention; and Figure 2 is a diagramatic illustration of one arrangement of linked slot machines embodying the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. l, according to the present invention there is provided apparatus to connect an unspecified number of game devices to a control logic board comprising: means for linking the logic boards of said game devices one to another and each to a central control and communication device (1) by way of a harness (2) of fibre optic, wire signal transmittors, or other; means for inputting, storing and outputting data in a control and communication device (1) having the necessary RAM and EPROM capability; means for providing input data signals to a control and communication device (1) by digital terminal (3), computer keyboard or other ; means for providing input data signals to a control and communication device (1) from game device logic boards (4) linked by harness (2); means for reading and cycling said input data signals and providing selected data output signals responsive to the input data signals; means for outputting data responsive to the control and communication device (1) providing for a plurality of peripheral visual and audio effects to include lights, music, Light Emitting Diodes, sound, animation, virtual reality and other, within the harnessed game devices as well as other viewing areas and audio devices (5).

Referring now to Fig. 2, the embodiment of the present invention provides means for data signals output from a control and communication device (1) to open viewing windows (6) on video screen game devices for displaying winning data and other preprogrammed selected information; means for displaying said winning data and selected information in viewing areas on the top glass (7) or other non video screen game devices; means for outputting data signals from any game device connected by the harness (2); means to output data signals from any such harnessed game device hitting the winning condition and inputting said data into the control and communication device (1) thereby triggering a signal stopping motion on all the harnessed game devices having player activity at completion of current playing sequence ; means for reading and cycling subsequent output data from all said harnessed game devices; means to output data signals awarding bonus payouts according to preset percentages of the total accumulated bonus amount; means for the control and communication device (1) to initiate a chain reaction signal to harnessed game devices, the computed win rank of said game devices ordering said signal; means to output signal triggering predetermined audiovisual displays to each harnessed game device; means to read and store data of machine activity so as to prevent bonus payouts to non-active game devices.

From the foregoing description it should be appreciated that apparatus for a multi share-out progressive system bonus payout has been shown and described which can be varied to suit particular game devices and peripheral devices resulting in flexibility of operation and permitting the operator of an establishment to select from a variety of options, including all multiplayer game devices such as horse-racing machines, roulette machines and others.

It is of course understood that although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, various modifications therof will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and, accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims and equivalent thereof Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS 1. Apparatus enabling a predetermined division of an accumulated bonus means to connect logic boards of game devices one to another and each to a control device by way of a harness of fibre optic, wire signal transmittors or other ; means for inputting, storing and outputting data in a control device; means for providing input data signals to a control device by digital terminal, computer keyboard or other ; means for providing input data signals to a control device from game device logic boards connected by harness ; means for reading and cyclinginput data signals and providing selected data output signals responsive to the input data signals; means for outputting data signals from any game device connected by the harness and means to output data signals from any said game device hitting the winning condition, imputting said data into the control device; means for outputting signals stopping player activity simultaneously on all game devices connected by the harness; means for reading and cycling subsequent output data from all game devices connected by the harness ; means to output data signals apportioning bonus payments by predetermined percentages of the total accumulated bonus to each connected game device; means to initiate a chain reaction signal, the computed win rank of each game device ordering said signal and triggering predetermined audiovisual displays; means to read and store data of machine activity preventing bonus payments to game devices not player activated.
2. 2. Apparatus as in Claim 1 further comprising means for data signals output from a control device to open viewing windows on video screen game devices for displaying winning data and other pre-programmed selected information.
3. 3. Apparatus as in Claim 1 or 2 further comprising means for displaying winning data and selected information in viewing areas on the top glass of non video screen game devices.
4. 4. Apparatus as in Claim 1 or 2 or 3 further comprising means for displaying winning data and selected information in a plurality of audio and visual presentations both within each connected game device and to peripheral devices.
5. 5. Apparatus as in Claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 further comprising means for connecting game devices at different locations.
6. 6. Apparatus as in Claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 further comprising means for connecting game devices of multiplayer function.
7. 7. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.