Gaming machine and method for displaying symbols

Abstract

A gaming machine comprises a display unit that displays video reels using computer graphics. Symbols are moved and stopped on each video reel. A game controller unit selects a type of symbols and an arrangement of symbols at random, and provides a player with an award if a winning combination appears on a payline in the arrangement of symbols and the player has placed a bet on the payline. A display controller unit causes the display unit to move symbols on each video reel, and then stop symbols in the arrangement. The display controller unit further causes the display unit to change a symbol of the selected type to a special symbol while moving symbols. Special symbols appear in a prominent form, e.g., in a background color complementary to a background color of other symbols, or in a metallic color, or in a blinking, flashing, or sparkling pattern.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a gaming machine that is installed in a casino or the like, and in particular conducts a slot game.[0003]2. Background Information[0004]Gaming machines such as slot machines, poker machines, fruit machines, and the like generally attract enormous popularity from players in casinos. Such a gaming machine displays an arrangement of symbols on the front thereof, and changes the types of symbols in the arrangement at random. A player guesses on which payline in the arrangement of symbols a winning combination will appear, and then places a bet on a desired payline before symbols are changed in the arrangement. If a winning combination appears on the payline where the player has placed a bet, the player will win an amount of a payout that depends on the amount of the bet and the type of the winning combination.[0005]This type of gaming machine is generally equipped with mechanical reels that ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]This game machine selects a type of symbols at random, and changes symbols of the selected type to a special symbol while moving symbols. This not only increases a number of symbol types, thereby raising an upper limit of payouts, but also excites a player by raising his / her expectations for winning, while symbols are moved, preferably, during a spin of reels.

[0013]The display controller unit is preferably configured to provide a higher probability of displaying candidates for a type of symbols to be changed to a special symbol at adjacent positions while the display unit moves symbols, than other types of the symbols. In this case, there is a good chance that a group of special symbols appear in a visible position while symbols are moved. This can cause a player to more reliably notice the changes of the selected symbol to a special symbol.

[0015]The game controller unit is preferably configured to select two or more types of symbols at random. In this case, the display controller unit is preferably configured to cause the display unit to change symbols of the types selected by the game controller unit to special symbols in turn while moving symbols. This visual effect can excite a player by gradually raising his / her expectation of winning while moving symbols.

Problems solved by technology

However, prior art gaining machines limit changes in visual effects to visible symbols in stopped positions in order to produce the changes in a recognizable manner.

However, the changes after stop of reels tend to increase an amount of time per game round.

This prevents the changes from achieving higher degrees of flexibility and variety, since excessively longer time per game round is not attractive to players.

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