Gaming machine apparatus performing a multi-player-type playing game and game rules

Abstract

A gaming machine apparatus includes gaming machines and a central controller. Each gaming machine includes a memory storing a game program, a display and an input device. The display device displays a result of a first game performed in accordance with a first game program applied to a single game. The input device allows a player to set a number of times to perform selection per round of game to a second game program, which is applied to a multi-player-type game and different from the first game program. The central controller is configured with logic to: randomly determine with predetermined timing a transition to a second game; (b) transmit a signal indicating a start of the second game to the plurality of gaming machines; (c) receive data related to the number of times to perform selection per round of game, and execute the second game program.

Description

[0001]This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-002555, filed on 10 Jan. 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a gaming machine apparatus having a plurality of gaming machines performing a multi-player-type playing game and the game rule.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Regarding a slot machine which is one of the conventional gaming machines, U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,174 discloses a gaming system and a method where qualification to play a bonus game is linked to play of a normal playing mode. Specifically, multiple players may qualify for the bonus game by achieving preselected criteria associated with play of the normal playing mode. Each qualified player may also eliminate other qualified players by occupying the same space in the bonus game. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,267 discloses a technique for conn...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In an aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine apparatus is provided, which includes a plurality of gaming machines and a central controller. Each of the plurality of gaming machines includes a memory storing a game program, a display and an input device. The display device displays a result of a first game performed in accordance with a first game program that is applied to a single game and stored in the memory. The input device allows a player to set a number of times to perform selection per round of game to a second game program, which is applied to a multi-player-type game played by participants and different from the first game program, in response to receiving a signal. The central controller is configured with logic to: randomly determine with predetermined timing a transition to a second game performed in accordance with the second game program; (b) transmit a signal indicating a start of the second game to the plurality of gaming machines; (c) receive data related to the number of times to perform selection per round of game, and execute the second game program.

[0010]The gaming machines of the gaming machine apparatus described above, which can provide the multi-player-type game in addition to the single game, allows players to enjoy these two types of games, particularly the multi-player-type game played by participants that allows the players to feel excited about playing the common game. Since the gaming machines are communicatively connected with each other to execute the common game, the gaming machine apparatus can realize an efficient use of communication lines.

[0013]As described above, the central controller does not distribute the credit to the particular gaming machine that has transmitted the specific data, but distributes the credit corresponding to each of other gaming machines, in response to the result of second game played by the plurality of gaming machines. In this way, the gaming machine apparatus allows a player to enjoy the second game that determines whether the credit is distributed according to selection made by the player.

[0018]Accordingly, the present invention is able to provide a gaming machine with further novel entertainment properties, where a plurality of players can participate in the game simultaneously and have opportunities to play the game equally.

Problems solved by technology

However, since the gaming machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,174 is configured so that multiple players may qualify for the bonus game by achieving preselected criteria associated with play of the normal playing mode, it is difficult for a plurality of players to play a bonus game simultaneously.

Furthermore, since each qualified player may also eliminate other qualified players by occupying the same space in the bonus game, the other qualified players thus eliminated cannot perform the bonus game.

Therefore, it cannot provide bonus game opportunities evenly to all of the players, thereby making the players who cannot participate in the bonus games lose interest.

Furthermore, updating software in a plurality of slot machines from a remote location through a communication link, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,267, can only be performed as a single play game, thereby failing to effectively utilize the communication link.

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