WO2008114097A1

WO2008114097A1 - A method of playing a computerized game

Info

Publication number: WO2008114097A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/051005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tiit Lankots
Original assignee: Playtech Software Limited
Priority date: 2007-03-22
Filing date: 2007-03-22
Publication date: 2008-09-25

Abstract

A method of playing a game, including; providing a computerized game that emulates a slot machine and credits and debits a player's account, defining a bonus occurrence responsive to specific results occurring due to playing with the computerized game, offering the player to play a skill based game responsive to the bonus occurrence, and crediting the player according to the results of the bonus game.

Description

A METHOD OF PLAYING A COMPUTERIZED GAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a method of playing a computerized game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Casino Slot machines were originally implemented as mechanical devices. Typically a player would insert a coin into the machine and pull a lever to play one round. Three or more reels with various symbols drawn on the circumference of the reels would spin around and eventually stop to display for the player one or more symbols for each reel. Responsive to the resulting symbols and/or sequence formed by the symbols the player would be paid a preset number of coins by the machine, for example if the reels displayed the same symbol on all the reels. Typically certain symbols provided a larger payout than other symbols, for example "777".

In recent years computerized game machines have generally replaced the older mechanical devices. This enabled implementation of more complex games, with better graphics, better audio output and more complex rules. Some games are based entirely on chance, whereas others may allow the outcome of the game to be affected by skill, for example blackjack and poker.

Some systems are implemented as dedicated stand alone devices, which are programmed to serve as game stations without a connection to any other device. Other systems are connected over a network to a central server, which controls the outcome of the game.

Originally, the computerized game stations were located at a dedicated location and supervised by the hosting establishment. In recent years with the increase in popularity of the Internet many computerized games are implemented as programs that are executed from the comfort of the player's home. Typically, payment for playing the game and winnings coming to the user may be charged and credited to the player's credit card.

When choosing to play at a dedicated location, the player may consider the environment and surrounding conditions in addition to the quality of the game application. In contrast, when playing remotely from a player's home computer, the environment and surrounding conditions have no bearing on attracting a player to a specific game, instead the options provided by the game and quality of the user interface are used to attract players.

One method of making a game more interesting is by providing a bonus play when a certain outcome is achieved as a result of standard game play. Typically the player is first provided with credit for the standard game play and then allowed to play a bonus round, for example to spin a wheel or throw a die to determine an additional amount of credit, which is awarded to the player.

In general there is an interest in finding new ways to make a specific game more attractive to the potential players so that they will choose to play the game offered by a specific server over similar implementations of the game offered by the competition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of an embodiment of the invention, relates to a system and method for providing a computer game, which credits and debits a player's account. Responsive to specific occurrences during the game the player is entitled to a bonus game, which provides the player with additional credit. When the player is entitled to a bonus game the player is provided the option to select to play a game of skill or a game of chance to determine the additional credit to be awarded for the bonus game.

Optionally, the computerized game may be a game of skill or a game of chance. In some embodiments of the invention, the computerized game emulates a slot machine on the computer display. In some embodiments of the invention, the computer game includes multiple rounds and the player can select a sum to invest for the play of each round. Optionally, the additional credit from the bonus game is a multiple of the sum invested by the player for the round, which entitled the player to play the bonus game.

In some embodiments of the invention, the player may select to play the non selected game after selecting the selected game. Optionally, the additional credit is determined as an average of the outcome from playing both bonus games. There is thus provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of playing a game, comprising: providing a computerized game that emulates a slot machine and credits and debits a player's account; defining a bonus occurrence responsive to specific results occurring due to playing with the computerized game; offering the player to play a skill based game responsive to the bonus occurrence; and crediting the player according to the results of the bonus game. Optionally, the player is offered to select between the skill based bonus game and a chance based bonus game. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the player can select the non-selected bonus game after completing the selected bonus game. Optionally, the player is credited by the average between the results from the skill based bonus game and the chance based bonus game. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the computerized game is implemented as a skill based game. Optionally, the bonus occurrence occurs when the computerized game outcome causes a specific symbol to be displayed a specific number of times on the computer display. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the computerized game credits and debits the players account for real monetary value. Optionally, the computerized game is played with a server via a network. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the computerized game is played without a live connection between the computer it is executed on and a server. Optionally, the computerized game comprises multiple rounds, and the player controls the sum invested to play each round. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the credit awarded to the player resulting from the bonus game is a multiple of the credit invested for the round, which entitled the player to play the bonus game. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and better appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. Identical structures, elements or parts, which appear in more than one figure, are generally labeled with the same or similar number in all the figures in which they appear, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system for playing a computerized game with an enhanced bonus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of a method of playing a computerized game with an enhanced bonus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a display of a computerized game with an enhanced bonus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system 100 for playing a computerized game, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, system 100 comprises a computer 130, which executes a computerized game 140, with an enhanced bonus option to make game 140 more attractive to potential players. In some embodiments of the invention, computer 130 is a standalone computer for executing computerized game 140. Optionally, the game may be played in a practice mode, wherein the player is credited and debited by points and not by items with actual monetary value. Alternatively, the player may play for real money, for example by calling a credit provider and receiving a password to load credit to computerized game 140. Similarly, the player may be awarded credit, for example when exiting the game by receiving a code to redeem credit by calling a credit provider. Optionally, the credit provider can debit or credit the player's credit card or bank account.

In some embodiments of the invention, computer 130 is connected to a network 120, for example the Internet or an intranet. Optionally, the network provides access from computer 130 to a server 110, which credits the player or debits the player according to the outcome of the game 140, In some embodiments of the invention, server 110 provides computer 130 with the outcome of each round of game play, in order to reliably control the outcome of the game.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram 200 of a method of playing computerized game 140 with an enhanced bonus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Initially a player begins playing (210) computerized game 140 with computer 130. Optionally, during game play the player is awarded credit and/or debited credit according to player selections and/or outcome of the player's game play. If the player is awarded with a bonus (220), the player is given the option to play a skill based game or to choose (230) between playing a skill based game and a chance based game, to determine the award that will be provided to the player for the bonus.

™O"" In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, if the player selects a chance based game, the player is provided to play a chance based game (240), for example the player may be shown a display of flashing figures and be required to "shoot" (e.g. by pointing and clicking with a mouse) a specific number of figures to finish the game. Optionally, once the player "shoots" the required number of figures, the player is credited (260) with a random amount of credit. Alternatively, the player may be shown a dial which the player spins to randomly select an award option.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, if the player selects a skill based game, the player is provided to play a skill based game (250), for example the player may be shown a display of flashing figures, wherein different colored figures have different values and the player may be given a time limit. Optionally, the player is required to "shoot" (e.g. by pointing and clicking with a mouse) as many figures as he/she possibly can within the provided time limit. The player is then awarded credit (260) according to the number and value of the figures, which he/she managed to "shoot" during the allocated time. Optionally, once the player finishes with the bonus game the player returns to normal game play (210).

Fig. 3 is a display 300 of a computerized game 140 with an enhanced bonus option, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, display 300 shows a slot machine array with 3 rows 315 of symbols 305 on five reels 310 (a total of 15 symbols). In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a player defines betting parameters and then selects spin button 355 to activate rotation of reels 310. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, system 100 debits the player with the bet value defined by the betting parameters set by the player. Optionally, system 100 then randomly determines an outcome of the spin and updates the array on display 300 with the results of the spin. System 100 then calculates the sum to credit the player for each line according to the defined parameters and the rules set by system 100. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a line is a sequence of symbols, wherein one symbol is selected from each reel 310. Altogether with three rows and five reels 310 there may be 3⁵=243 different combinations for defining lines, for example each row can be defined as a line. Additionally a line may be defined as a random sequence of symbols from the displayed array, for example one line may be defined as the first three symbols from the first row, the fourth symbol from the third row and the fifth symbol from the second row. Optionally, game 140 may permit selection of any number of line sequences from the possible combinations, for example 1 line, 10 lines, 25 lines 50 lines or any other number of lines. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a pay-table, which is accessible by selecting a pay-table button 325 provides a list of the line combinations and designated line numbers that are recognized by the game.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the betting parameters include:

1. A controllable unitary bet value 365, which determines the base sum for calculating a bet placed by the player, for example $0.01 to $0.50.

2. A bet per line selector 330, which selects the number of unit values to bet for each selected line, for example 1-10.

3. A line selector 340, which selects the number of lines the player is betting on. Optionally, the player can select from the lines listed in the pay-table according to their designated number, for example if a player selects five lines; the first five line sequences listed will be used for calculating the player's winnings.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the player selects a unit value (e.g. $0.05). Additionally, the player selects the number of unit values to bet per line (e.g. 5). Further additionally, the player selects the number of lines that will participate (e.g. 9). The total bet is the multiple of these three selected values (e.g. 9x5x0.05=2.25). In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a value display line 320, displays these values for the player. The player selects spin button 355, then system 100 debits the player's account, spins reels 310 and displays a result. Additionally, system 100 checks each participating line selected by the player to determine if the player has won anything. System 100 records the total win value for all the participating lines on value display line 320 and credits the player. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, display 300 provides indicators 390 that are lit up to show, which lines will currently participate when spin button 355 is selected.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the pay-table lists the symbols that provide winnings and a multiplier value for multiplying the line bet according to the number of times the symbol appears in the line, for example if a winning symbol appears 3 times in a specific line the line bet value is multiplied by the value specified for the symbol appearing 3 times in a line. In some embodiments of the invention, the winning symbols are required to appear sequentially in the line in order to credit the user. Optionally, the sequence of winning symbols is required to start from the left or right end of the line in order for the player to deserve credit,

In some embodiments of the invention, the player may select a bet-max button 345, which automatically bets the maximum bet per line value for all possible lines allowed by system 100, and then spins the reels. Optionally, display 300 also provides a current balance box 370, which shows the current credit available to the player. In some embodiments of the invention, display 300 has a selection button 375 for choosing if to play for real money or not. Optionally, selection button 375 toggles the status of game play from playing for real money to playing in practice mode and vice versa.

In some embodiments of the invention, a result with a specific number of appearances of a specific symbol, either in all of the display array or for a specific participating line combination, provides the player with a bonus round. Optionally, as explained above the player can select to play a skill based game or a chance based game to determine the sum, which will be credited to the players balance, In some embodiments of the invention, the player may select both the skill based game and the chance based game for determining a sum to be credited. Optionally, the resulting sum to be credited will be the average of the result of the skill based game and the chance based game.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the bonus game provides a multiplier value which is to be multiplied by unitary bet value 365 to determine the sum for crediting the player.

In some embodiments of the invention, game 140 is a skill based game with a selectable bonus option as described above.

It should be noted that the exact details of the game implementation described above are only exemplary and other variations may be implemented.

It should be appreciated that the above described methods and apparatus may be varied in many ways, including omitting or adding steps, changing the order of steps and the type of devices used. It should be appreciated that different features may be combined in different ways. In particular, not all the features shown above in a particular embodiment are necessary in every embodiment of the invention. Further combinations of the above features are also considered to be within the scope of some embodiments of the invention.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims, which follow.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game, comprising: providing a computerized game that emulates a slot machine and credits and debits a player's account; defining a bonus occurrence responsive to specific results occurring due to playing with the computerized game; offering the player to play a skill based game responsive to said bonus occurrence; and crediting the player according to the results of the bonus game.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said player is offered to select between the skill based bonus game and a chance based bonus game.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said player can select the non- selected bonus game after completing the selected bonus game.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said player is credited by the average between the results from the skill based bonus game and the chance based bonus game.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computerized game is implemented as a skill based game.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said bonus occurrence occurs when the computerized game outcome causes a specific symbol to be displayed a specific number of times on the computer display.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computerized game credits and debits the players account for real monetary value.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computerized game is played with a server via a network.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computerized game is played without a live connection between the computer it is executed on and a server.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computerized game comprises multiple rounds, and the player controls the sum invested to play each round.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the credit awarded to the player resulting from the bonus game is a multiple of the credit invested for the round, which entitled the player to play the bonus game.