Gaming machine and method for controlling gaming machine

Abstract

The preset invention provides a gaming machine which allows a player to enjoy himself/herself with a new game in accordance with effects and rules which have neither been used nor known heretofore. The game machine includes a display unit which is capable of displaying a predetermined game mode using plural kinds of blocks on a screen; a display control unit which allows the display unit to display the game mode in which when the plural kinds of blocks are displayed in a stacked manner within a predetermined region of the screen and the blocks which are arranged next to each other turn out to be the same kind, the blocks which are arranged next to each other are eliminated; and payout means which awards the predetermined number of game mediums to a player in accordance with the number of blocks which are eliminated on the display unit.

1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a display unit which is capable of displaying a predetermined game mode using plural kinds of blocks on a screen;    a display control unit which allows the display unit to display the game mode in which when the plural kinds of blocks are displayed in a stacked manner within a predetermined region of the screen and the blocks which are arranged next to each other turn out to be the same kind, the blocks which are arranged next to each other are eliminated; and    a payout unit which awards the predetermined number of game mediums to a player in accordance with the number of blocks which are eliminated on the display unit.    
   
   
       2 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising, a betting unit for betting the game mediums, wherein the payout unit changes an amount of the game mediums awarded to the player in response to the number of bets.  
   
   
       3 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the display control unit sets the timing that the blocks are eliminated in the display unit to a point of time that the stacked blocks fill the whole inside of the predetermined region.  
   
   
       4 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the display control unit allows the display to sequentially display: 
 (a) forming a space by eliminating the blocks;    (b) moving blocks next to the space toward the space;    (c) forming a new space by the movement of the blocks;    (d) updating the block arrangement of the whole predetermined region by arranging new blocks in the new space;    (e) further eliminating the blocks which are arranged next to each other when the blocks which are arranged next to each other turn out to be the same kind in the updated block arrangement; and    (f) repeating the operations described from (a) to (e).    
   
   
       5 . A gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the display control unit finishes the game mode in the display unit when each block in all stacked blocks differs in kind from another blocks which are arranged next to the block.  
   
   
       6 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the display control unit sets a special block among the plural kinds of blocks, and all blocks which are arranged next to the special block are eliminated.  
   
   
       7 . A gaming machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the display control unit eliminates the special block together with the blocks which are arranged next to the special block.  
   
   
       8 . A gaming machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the display control unit sets a second special block among the plural kinds of blocks, and when the second special block is arranged next to the special block, the special block is eliminated together with the second special block.  
   
   
       9 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising, a block selection unit which allows the player to select at least one of the blocks from among the stacked blocks, wherein the display control unit eliminates the block which is selected by the block selection means.  
   
   
       10 . A method for controlling a gaming machine comprising the steps of: 
 allowing a display unit to display a game mode in which, when plural kinds of blocks are displayed in a stacked manner within a predetermined region of a screen of the display unit and the blocks which are arranged next to each other turn out to be the same kind, the blocks which are arranged next to each other are eliminated; and    awarding the predetermined number of game mediums to a player in accordance with the number of blocks which are eliminated on the display unit.    
   
   
       11 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a display unit which is capable of displaying a predetermined game mode on a screen;    a display control unit which allows the display unit to display a first game mode in which plural kinds of identification information images are variably displayed and stopped on the screen of the display unit, and    a second game mode in which, if a special identification information image is stopped on the screen of the display unit in the first game mode, plural kinds of blocks are displayed in a stacked manner within a predetermined region of the screen and the blocks which are arranged next to each other turn out to be the same kind, the blocks which are arranged next to each other are eliminated; and    a payout unit which awards the predetermined number of game mediums to a player in accordance with the number of blocks which are eliminated on the display unit.    
   
   
       12 . A gaming machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising, a betting unit for betting the game mediums, wherein the payout unit changes an amount of the game mediums awarded to the player in response to the number of bets.  
   
   
       13 . A gaming machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the display control unit sets the timing that the blocks are eliminated in the display unit to a point of time that the stacked blocks fill the whole inside of the predetermined region.  
   
   
       14 . A gaming machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the display control unit allows the display to sequentially display: 
 (a) forming a space by eliminating the blocks;    (b) moving blocks next to the space toward the space;    (c) forming a new space by the movement of the blocks;    (d) updating the block arrangement of the whole predetermined region by arranging new blocks in the new space;    (e) further eliminating the blocks which are arranged next to each other when the blocks which are arranged next to each other turn out to be the same kind in the updated block arrangement; and    (f) repeating the operations described from (a) to (e).    
   
   
       15 . A gaming machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the display control unit finishes the game mode in the display when each block in all stacked blocks differs in kind from another blocks which are arranged next to the block.  
   
   
       16 . A gaming machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the display control unit sets a special block among the plural kinds of blocks, and all blocks which are arranged next to the special block are eliminated.  
   
   
       17 . A gaming machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the display control unit eliminates the special block together with the blocks which are arranged next to the special block.  
   
   
       18 . A gaming machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the display control unit sets a second special block among the plural kinds of blocks, and when the second special block is arranged next to the special block, the special block is eliminated together with the second special block.  
   
   
       19 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising, a block selection unit which allows the player to select at least one of the blocks from among the stacked blocks, wherein the display control unit eliminates the block which is selected by the block selection means.  
   
   
       20 . A method for controlling a gaming machine comprising the steps of: 
 allowing a display unit to display a first game mode in which plural kinds of identification information images are variably displayed and stopped on the screen of the display unit, and    allowing the display unit to display a second game mode in which, if a special identification information image is stopped on the screen of the display unit in the first game mode, the plural kinds of blocks are displayed within a predetermined region of the screen in a stacked manner and the blocks which are arranged next to each other turn out to be the same kind, the blocks which are arranged next to each other are eliminated; and    awarding the predetermined number of game mediums to a player in accordance with the number of blocks which are eliminated on the display unit.