US6174233B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game machine
Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-17
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Granted: 2001-01-16
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Expires: 2017-11-17
Abstract
Abstract In a game machine, game result conditions may be randomly selected for a predetermined number of games among a plurality of given game result conditions and a demonstration may be made to provide a player of the game with a feeling of higher probability of winning a prize in the game when the randomly selected game result conditions include a given specific game result condition. The demonstration may be made by a variety of possible techniques, including using a flashing light or changing the volume or tone of a sound. Random numbers may be sampled in advance for random selection of game result conditions for the current game and for one or more games that will follow the current game, i.e., ranging several games down from the current game. These random numbers may be used to determine whether or not a demonstration should be made in the current game. As a result, more games will have demonstrations than in existing games, in which only the current games status can be considered, and more effective demonstrations may be made to enhance a player's interest in playing more games. The present invention is a game machine that randomly selects the game result conditions of a first game by lottery from among a plurality of conditions, and that determines the game results on the basis of the randomly selected results, wherein the player is alerted by a presentation to the fact that a “Second Game Win” condition exists among randomly selected conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Isao Sunaga
- 👤 Hiroyuki Danjo
- 👤 Yukinori Inamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3225; G07F17/3227
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A game machine that randomly selects a plurality of game result conditions corresponding to a plurality of different games including a current game and at least one subsequent game, and that determines a game result for the current game on the basis of one of the plurality of game result conditions for the plurality of different games, the game machine including an alert to a player when there is a “Second Game Win” condition among the plurality of game result conditions indicating a free game.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A game machine that randomly selects a plurality of game result conditions corresponding to a plurality of different games including a current game and at least one subsequent game, and that determines a game result for the current game on the basis of one of the plurality of game result conditions for the plurality of different games, the game machine including an alert to a player when there is a “Second Game Win” condition among the plurality of game result conditions indicating a free game.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A game machine according to claim 1 , further comprising: random selection means for randomly selecting, at the beginning of the current first game, game result conditions for a predetermined prescribed number of games from among the plurality of such conditions, storage means for storing a prescribed number of game result conditions; actuating means for actuating the start of a game; determination means for determining whether or not a “Second Game Win” condition is present among the randomly selected results for a prescribed number of games; and demonstration means for displaying prescribed sensory information to the player when the “Second Game Win” condition is present.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A game machine according to claim 1 , further comprising: second random selection means for randomly selecting in advance several kinds of current game result conditions at the beginning of the current first game; selecting one of the several kinds of randomly selected results by a prescribed method; and actualizing the current game results, wherein a demonstration is made during the current game when the aforementioned “Second Game Win” condition is present among the several kinds of conditions randomly selected in advance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A game machine, comprising: random selection means for randomly selecting a plurality of game result conditions of a plurality of games, including a first game and at least one subsequent game, from among a plurality of possible game result conditions; and demonstration means for demonstrating that there is a “Second Game Win” condition among the plurality of game result conditions associated with the first game wherein said “Second Game Win” corresponds to a free game.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A game machine, comprising: random selection means for randomly selecting a plurality of game result conditions of a plurality of games, including a first game and at least one subsequent game, from among a plurality of possible game result conditions; and demonstration means for demonstrating that there is a “Second Game Win” condition among the plurality of game result conditions associated with the first game wherein said “Second Game Win” corresponds to a free game.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
145 words
A game machine comprising: random selection means for randomly selecting, at the beginning of the game, game result conditions for a predetermined number of games, including a first game and at least one subsequent game, from among a plurality of given game result conditions; storage means for storing game result conditions selected for the predetermined number of games; actuating means for actuating the start of a game; determination means for determining whether the game result conditions randomly selected for the predetermined number of games include a “Second Game Win” game result condition associated with the first game corresponding to a free game; and demonstration means for indicating a higher probability of obtaining a “Second Game Win” game result in the game when said randomly selected game result conditions include said “Second Game Win” game result condition as one of said plurality of game result conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
A game machine comprising: random selection means for randomly selecting, at the beginning of the game, game result conditions for a predetermined number of games, including a first game and at least one subsequent game, from among a plurality of given game result conditions; storage means for storing game result conditions selected for the predetermined number of games; actuating means for actuating the start of a game; determination means for determining whether the game result conditions randomly selected for the predetermined number of games include a “Second Game Win” game result condition associated with the first game corresponding to a free game; and demonstration means for indicating a higher probability of obtaining a “Second Game Win” game result in the game when said randomly selected game result conditions include said “Second Game Win” game result condition as one of said plurality of game result conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A game machine according to claim 5 , further comprising: bonus game play means for allowing a player to play a second game without requiring the player to enter additional tokens after a “Second Game Win” condition has been obtained in the first game.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
A game machine, comprising: result selection means for randomly selecting game result conditions for a plurality of games including a current game and at least one subsequent game; determining means for determining whether the results selected by said result selection means include at least a predetermined “Second Game Win” game result corresponding to a free game; and demonstration means, responsive to said determining means, for indicating when the “Second Game Win” game result is included in the results selected by said result selection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A game machine, comprising: result selection means for randomly selecting game result conditions for a plurality of games including a current game and at least one subsequent game; determining means for determining whether the results selected by said result selection means include at least a predetermined “Second Game Win” game result corresponding to a free game; and demonstration means, responsive to said determining means, for indicating when the “Second Game Win” game result is included in the results selected by said result selection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A game machine according to claim 7 , wherein said result selection means selects a plurality of sets of randomly selected game results for the plurality of games, and then selects one result from the plurality of sets of randomly selected game results as the result for the current game.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A game machine, comprising: a main unit; an actuator coupled to said main unit; a result selector coupled to said main unit and having a random result selection component and a plurality of game result storage areas; a demonstrator coupled to said main unit; and an activator coupled to said demonstrator and responsive to said result selector, whereby said activator activates said demonstrator when at least one of said game result storage areas contains a “Second Game Win” game result corresponding to a free game.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
A game machine, comprising: a main unit; an actuator coupled to said main unit; a result selector coupled to said main unit and having a random result selection component and a plurality of game result storage areas; a demonstrator coupled to said main unit; and an activator coupled to said demonstrator and responsive to said result selector, whereby said activator activates said demonstrator when at least one of said game result storage areas contains a “Second Game Win” game result corresponding to a free game.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A game machine according to claim 9 , wherein said demonstrator includes at least one light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A game machine according to claim 9 , wherein said demonstrator includes at least one speaker.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of playing a game, comprising: randomly selecting game results for a plurality of games for a current game and at least one subsequent game; and demonstrating when the randomly selected game results include at least one “Second Game Win” game result corresponding to a free game from said game results for the current game and at least one subsequent game.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of playing a game, comprising: randomly selecting game results for a plurality of games for a current game and at least one subsequent game; and demonstrating when the randomly selected game results include at least one “Second Game Win” game result corresponding to a free game from said game results for the current game and at least one subsequent game.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 12 , further comprising: storing the randomly selected game result conditions before demonstrating.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 12 , further comprising: starting the game after storing the randomly selected game result conditions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 12 , further comprising: starting the game before storing the randomly selected game result conditions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein randomly selecting game results for a plurality of games includes selecting a plurality of sets of randomly selected game results and selecting a game result for the current game from the plurality of sets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein randomly selecting game result conditions for a plurality of games includes selecting a plurality of sets of randomly selected game result conditions and randomly selecting a game result for the current game from the plurality of sets.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 12 , further comprising: starting the game by placing at least one token in at least one slot.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein demonstrating includes indicating when the randomly selected game results include a “Second Game Win” game result and an additional predetermined game result.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
91 words
A game machine comprising: random selection means for randomly selecting a plurality of game result conditions of a plurality of games corresponding to a first game and at least one subsequent game; storage means for storing said plurality of game result conditions for a predetermined number of games; determining means for determining whether a “Second Game Win” condition is one of said plurality of game result conditions indicating a free game; and demonstration means for demonstrating that there is a “Second Game Win” condition among the plurality of game result conditions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
91 words
A game machine comprising: random selection means for randomly selecting a plurality of game result conditions of a plurality of games corresponding to a first game and at least one subsequent game; storage means for storing said plurality of game result conditions for a predetermined number of games; determining means for determining whether a “Second Game Win” condition is one of said plurality of game result conditions indicating a free game; and demonstration means for demonstrating that there is a “Second Game Win” condition among the plurality of game result conditions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The game machine of claim 20 , further comprising: actuating means for actuating a start of a game.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The game machine of claim 21 , further comprising: bonus game play means for allowing a player to play a second game without requiring the player to enter additional tokens after a “Second Game Win” condition has been obtained in a first game.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The game machine of claim 20 , wherein said demonstration means includes at least one light.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The game machine of claim 20 , wherein said demonstration means includes at least one speaker.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
77 words
The game machine of claim 20 , wherein said determining means is first determining means, and the game machine further comprising: second determining means for determining whether one of said plurality of game result conditions indicates another game result condition; and wherein said demonstration means, coupled to said first determining means and said second determining means, is activated when it has been determined that there is a “Second Game Win” condition or said other game result condition.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The game machine of claim 25 , wherein said another game result condition is one of: a “Big Jackpot”, a “Small Jackpot”, and a “One Shy” condition.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The game machine of claim 20 , wherein one of said plurality of game result conditions is associated with a single game play.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
The game machine of claim 20 , wherein at least two of said plurality of game result conditions are associated with a single game play and the game machine further comprises: means for selecting a first of said at least two plurality of game results conditions for said single game play.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of playing a game comprising: randomly selecting a plurality of game result conditions of a plurality of games corresponding to a first game and at least one subsequent game; storing said plurality of game result conditions for a predetermined number of games; determining whether a “Second Game Win” condition is one of said plurality of game result conditions indicating a free game; and demonstrating that there is a “Second Game Win” condition among the plurality of game result conditions.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of playing a game comprising: randomly selecting a plurality of game result conditions of a plurality of games corresponding to a first game and at least one subsequent game; storing said plurality of game result conditions for a predetermined number of games; determining whether a “Second Game Win” condition is one of said plurality of game result conditions indicating a free game; and demonstrating that there is a “Second Game Win” condition among the plurality of game result conditions.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising: starting a game by placing at least one token in at least one slot.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 30 , further comprising: playing a second game without entering additional tokens after a “Second Game Win” condition has been obtained in a first game.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein said demonstrating includes displaying at least one light.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein said demonstrating includes using at least one speaker.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising: determining whether one of said plurality of game result conditions indicates another game result condition; and demonstrating that said other game result condition is one of the plurality of game result conditions.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein said another game result condition is one of: a “Big Jackpot”, a “Small Jackpot”, and a “One Shy” condition.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising: associating a single one of said plurality of game result conditions with a single game play.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising: associating at least two of said plurality of game result conditions with a single game play; and selecting a first of said at least two plurality of game results conditions for said single game play.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-16 | 2004-07-17 | 2005-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-16 | 2008-07-17 | 2009-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-16 | 2012-07-17 | 2013-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |