Video slot machine and slot machine gaming method therefor

Abstract

A video slot machine includes a display unit, a game-processing unit performing a slot machine gaming method, and an input unit. The slot machine gaming method includes: (a) displaying a matrix of cells of (m) columns and (n) rows; (b) activating one of the rows of the cells to form an activated row and at least an unactivated row; (c) consecutively displaying in the cells a plurality of indicia for a time interval, and maintaining display of the indicia last appearing in the cells; (d) determining if the indicia displayed in the cells of the activated row(s) comply with winning criteria; (e) if so, awarding points to a player; (f) determining if there is at least an unactivated row remaining; (g) if so, activating one of the unactivated rows; and (h) repeating steps (c)through (g).

1 . A slot machine gaming method to be implemented using a video slot machine having a screen, said slot machine gaming method comprising: 
 (a) displaying on the screen of the video slot machine a video image including a matrix of cells of (m) columns and (n) rows, where m>1 and n>1;    (b) activating one of the rows of the cells to form an activated row and at least an unactivated row, thereby initiating start of an initial game stage;    (c) consecutively displaying in each of the cells of at least the activated row(s) a plurality of indicia for a predetermined time interval, and maintaining display of the indicia last appearing in the cells after elapse of the predetermined time interval;    (d) determining if the indicia displayed in the cells of the activated row(s) comply with predetermined winning criteria;    (e) if it is determined that the indicia displayed in the cells of the activated row(s) comply with the predetermined winning criteria, awarding points to a player on the basis of the predetermined winning criteria to thereby complete a game stage;    (f) determining if there is at least an unactivated row remaining in the matrix of the cells, thereby initiating start of a new game stage;    (g) activating one of the unactivated rows of the cells if it is determined that there is at least an unactivated row remaining; and    (h) repeating steps (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g).    
   
   
       2 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (b) and (g) further include drawing a pay line through the cells in each activated row.  
   
   
       3 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of: 
 performing control to allow the player to decide on a number of betting points to be wagered on the pay line prior to step (c) and subsequent to step (b).    
   
   
       4 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of: 
 automatically calculating betting points and equally distributing the automatically calculated betting points to the pay lines prior to step (h) and subsequent to step (g).    
   
   
       5 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 4 , wherein, in step (e) , the points are awarded on the basis of both the predetermined winning criteria and the automatically calculated betting points.  
   
   
       6 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 4 , wherein the betting points automatically calculated are a function of the betting points of a prior game stage.  
   
   
       7 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 4 , wherein the betting points automatically calculated are a predetermined multiple of the betting points of a prior game stage.  
   
   
       8 . A video slot machine, comprising: 
 a display unit including a screen;    a game-processing unit connected to said display unit and performing consecutive steps of a slot machine gaming method; and    an input unit connected to said game-processing unit and allowing input by a player;    said slot machine gaming method comprising:    (a) displaying on said screen of said display unit a video image including a matrix of cells of (m) columns and (n) rows, where m>1 and n>1;    (b) activating one of the rows of the cells to form an activated row and at least an unactivated row, thereby initiating start of an initial game stage;    (c) consecutively displaying in each of the cells of at least the activated row(s) a plurality of indicia for a predetermined time interval, and maintaining display of the indicia last appearing in the cells after elapse of the predetermined time interval;    (d) determining if the indicia displayed in the cells of the activated row(s) comply with predetermined winning criteria;    (e) if it is determined that the indicia displayed in the cells of the activated row(s) comply with the predetermined winning criteria, awarding points to a player on the basis of the predetermined winning criteria to thereby complete a game stage;    (f) determining if there is at least an unactivated row remaining in the matrix of the cells, thereby initiating start of a new game stage;    (g) activating one of the unactivated rows of the cells if it is determined that there is at least an unactivated row remaining; and    (h) repeating steps (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g).    
   
   
       9 . The video slot machine of  claim 8 , wherein steps (b) and (g) further include drawing a pay line through the cells in each activated row.  
   
   
       10 . The video slot machine of  claim 9 , wherein said slot machine gaming method further comprises the step of: 
 performing control to allow the player to decide on a number of betting points to be wagered on the pay line prior to step (c) and subsequent to step (b).    
   
   
       11 . The video slot machine of  claim 10 , wherein said slot machine gaming method further comprises the step of: 
 automatically calculating betting points and equally distributing the automatically calculated betting points to the pay lines prior to step (h) and subsequent to step (g).    
   
   
       12 . The video slot machine of  claim 11 , wherein, in step (e) , the points are awarded on the basis of both the predetermined winning criteria and the automatically calculated betting points.  
   
   
       13 . The video slot machine of  claim 11 , wherein the betting points automatically calculated are a function of the betting points of a prior game stage.  
   
   
       14 . The video slot machine of  claim 11 , wherein the betting points automatically calculated are a predetermined multiple of the betting points of a prior game stage.