Slot Machine

Abstract

A slot machine is provided, which includes a display, a memory, and a controller. The display displays an image of a game. The memory stores symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols. The controller is configured with a process including: starting the game, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data; controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of the display arranged in matrix; recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group.

1 . A slot machine comprising:
 a display that displays an image of a game;   a memory that stores symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols; and   a controller configured with a process including:
 starting the game, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data; 
 controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of the display arranged in matrix; 
 recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and 
 providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group. 
   
   
   
       2 . A slot machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller is further configured with a process including:   setting an active pay area in the display; and   providing the predetermined award for the adjoining group within the active pay area.   
   
   
       3 . A slot machine according to  claim 2 , wherein
 when the controller recognizes a plurality of adjoining groups, the controller calculates an award for each adjoining group, and provides the resulting sum to the player.   
   
   
       4 . A slot machine according to  claim 3 , wherein
 when a single adjoining group fills the active pay area, the controller provides an extra award to the player.   
   
   
       5 . A slot machine comprising:
 a display that displays an image of a game;   a memory that stores symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols; and   a controller configured with a process including:
 starting the game, setting an active pay area in the display, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data; 
 controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of the active pay area arranged in matrix; 
 recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and 
 providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group. 
   
   
   
       6 . A slot machine comprising:
 a display that displays an image of a game;   a memory that stores symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols; and   a controller configured with a process including:
 starting the game, setting an active pay area in the display, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data; 
 controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of the active pay area arranged in matrix; 
 recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and 
 providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group, wherein 
 when the controller recognizes a plurality of adjoining groups, the controller calculates an award for each adjoining group, and provides the resulting sum to the player. 
   
   
   
       7 . A slot machine comprising:
 a display that displays an image of a game;   a memory that stores symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols; and   a controller configured with a process including:
 starting the game, setting an active pay area in the display, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data; 
 controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of the active pay area arranged in matrix; 
 recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and 
 providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group, wherein 
 when the controller recognizes a plurality of adjoining groups, the controller calculates an award for each adjoining group and provides the resulting sum to the player, and 
 when a single adjoining group fills the active pay area, the controller provides an extra award to the player. 
   
   
   
       8 . A method of controlling a game comprising the steps of:
 (a) storing symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols; and   (b) starting the game, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data;   (c) controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of a display arranged in matrix;   (d) recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and   (e) providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group.   
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  further comprising the step of (f) setting an active pay area in the display, wherein
 when the adjoining group lies within the active pay area, the step (e) is performed.   
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 when a plurality of adjoining groups is recognized in the step (d), an award is calculated for each adjoining group and the resulting sum is provided to the player in the step (e).   
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein
 when a single adjoining group fills the active pay area, an extra award is provided to the player.   
   
   
       12 . A method of controlling a game comprising the steps of:
 (a) storing symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols;   (b) starting the game, setting an active pay area in a display, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data;   (c) controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of the active pay area arranged in matrix;   (d) recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and   (d) providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group.   
   
   
       13 . A method of controlling a game comprising the steps of:
 (a) storing symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols;   (b) starting the game, setting an active pay area in a display, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data;   (c) controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of the active pay area arranged in matrix;   (d) recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and   (e) providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group, wherein   when a plurality of adjoining groups is recognized in the step (d), an award is calculated for each adjoining group and the resulting sum is provided to the player in the step (e).   
   
   
       14 . A method of controlling a game comprising the steps of:
 (a) storing symbol data on attributes indicating a plurality of types of symbols;   (b) starting the game, setting an active pay area in a display, and randomly selecting data to be displayed from the symbol data;   (c) controlling the selected data to be displayed in a plurality of cells of the active pay area arranged in matrix;   (d) recognizing cells adjacent to one another that have a same attribute as an adjoining group; and   (e) providing a predetermined award to a player in accordance with the attribute and a number of the cells belonging to the adjoining group, wherein   when a plurality of adjoining groups is recognized in the step (d), an award is calculated for each adjoining group and the resulting sum is provided to the player in the step (e), and   when a single adjoining group fills the active pay area, the controller provides an extra award to the player in the step (e).