Slot machine and playing method thereof

Abstract

When symbols are arranged on a display, an object is displayed in order to notify the symbols that can be linked based on a relationship among an in-marker, an out-marker, and a direction, and further, a special symbol that can provide a special award independent of the number of links is set. When a start point and an end point set at prescribed positions in a symbol matrix can be linked based on the relationship among the in-markers, the out-markers, and the directions in the symbols neighboring one another, an award is provided in accordance with the number of links of the linked symbols and the set special symbol.

1 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a display on which display areas are formed in a matrix form, the display areas scrolling symbol columns in which a plurality of symbols in which an in-marker indicative of an entrance, an out-marker indicative of an exit, and a direction are specified is arranged, and which arranges a symbol matrix of symbols stopped and displayed in each of the display areas; and    a controller operable to:    after scrolling the symbol columns arranged on the display in one direction, in order to rearrange them as a new symbol matrix,    (a) select and determine symbols to be arranged in the symbol matrix from among the plurality of symbols, and    (b) stop the scroll state to display the determined symbols; and    when the symbols are arranged on the display and if a start point and an end point set at prescribed positions in the symbol matrix are linked to each other based on the relationship among the in-markers, the out-markers, and the directions in the symbols neighboring one another,    (c) provide an award in accordance with the number of the linked symbols.    
   
   
       2 . The slot machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the controller is further operable to display an object in order to notify the symbols linked based on the relationship among the in-marker, the out-marker, and the direction.    
   
   
       3 . The slot machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the controller is further operable to    (d) set a special symbol that can provide a special award independent of the number of links in any of the display areas forming the symbol matrix, and    (e) provide an award in accordance with the special symbol and the number of links of the linked symbols.    
   
   
       4 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a display on which display areas are formed in a matrix form, the display areas scrolling symbol columns in which a plurality of symbols in which an in-marker indicative of an entrance, an out-marker indicative of an exit, and a direction are specified is arranged, and which arranges a symbol matrix of symbols stopped and displayed in each of the display areas; and    a controller operable to:    after scrolling the symbol columns arranged on the display in one direction, in order to rearrange them as a new symbol matrix,    (a) select and determine symbols to be arranged in the symbol matrix from among the plurality of symbols, and    (b) stop the scroll state to display the determined symbols;    (c) display an object in order to notify the symbols linked based on the relationship among the in-marker, the out-marker, and the direction; and    when the symbols are arranged on the display and if a start point and an end point set at prescribed positions in the symbol matrix are linked to each other based on the relationship among the in-markers, the out-markers, and the directions in the symbols neighboring one another,    (d) provide an award in accordance with the number of the linked symbols.    
   
   
       5 . The slot machine according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the controller is further operable to:    (e) set a special symbol that can provide a special award independent of the number of links in any of the display areas forming the symbol matrix; and    (f) provide an award in accordance with the special symbol and the number of links of the linked symbols.    
   
   
       6 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a display on which display areas are formed in a matrix form, the display areas scrolling symbol columns in which a plurality of symbols in which an in-marker indicative of an entrance, an out-marker indicative of an exit, and a direction are specified is arranged, and which arranges a symbol matrix of symbols stopped and displayed in each of the display areas; and    a controller operable to:    after scrolling the symbol columns arranged on the display in one direction, in order to rearrange them as a new symbol matrix,    (a) select and determine symbols to be arranged in the symbol matrix from among the plurality of symbols, and    (b) stop the scroll state to display the determined symbols;    (c) set a special symbol that can provide a special award independent of the number of links in any of the display areas forming the symbol matrix;    (d) display an object in order to notify the symbols linked based on the relationship among the in-marker, the out-marker, and the direction; and    when the symbols are arranged on the display and if a start point and an end point set at prescribed positions in the symbol matrix are linked to each other based on the relationship among the in-markers, the out-markers, and the directions in the symbols neighboring one another,    (e) provide an award in accordance with the number of links of the linked symbols.    
   
   
       7 . A playing method of a slot machine, comprising: 
 an arrangement step of forming a symbol matrix by arranging display areas in a matrix form on a display, the display areas scrolling symbol columns in which a plurality of symbols in which an in-marker indicative of an entrance, an out-marker indicative of an exit, and a direction are specified is arranged, selecting and determining, after scrolling the arranged symbol columns in one direction, symbols to be arranged in the symbol matrix from among the plurality of symbols, and stopping the scroll state to display the determined symbols to rearrange them as a new symbol matrix; and    an award step of, when the symbols are arranged on the display in the arrangement step and if a start point and an end point set at prescribed positions in the symbol matrix are linked to each other based on the relationship among the in-markers, the out-markers, and the directions in the symbols neighboring one another, providing an award in accordance with the number of links of the linked symbols.    
   
   
       8 . The playing method of a slot machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a display step of displaying an object in order to notify the symbols linked based on the relationship among the in-marker, the out-marker, and the direction.    
   
   
       9 . The playing method of a slot machine according to  claim 7 , wherein: a special symbol that can provide a special award independent of the number of links is set in any of the display areas forming the symbol matrix, and in the award step, an award is provided in accordance with the special symbol set in any of the display areas and the number of links of the linked symbols.  
   
   
       10 . A playing method of a slot machine, comprising: 
 an arrangement step of forming a symbol matrix by arranging display areas in a matrix form on a display, the display areas scrolling symbol columns in which a plurality of symbols in which an in-marker indicative of an entrance, an out-marker indicative of an exit, and a direction are specified is arranged, selecting and determining, after scrolling the arranged symbol columns in one direction, symbols to be arranged in the symbol matrix from among the plurality of symbols, and stopping the scroll state to display the determined symbols in order to rearrange them as a new symbol matrix;    a step of displaying an object in order to notify the symbols linked based on the relationship among the in-marker, the out-marker, and the direction: and    an award step of, when the symbols are arranged on the display in the arrangement step and if a start point and an end point set at prescribed positions in the symbol matrix are linked to each other based on the relationship among the in-markers, the out-markers, and the directions in the symbols neighboring one another, providing an award in accordance with the number of links of the linked symbols.    
   
   
       11 . The playing method of a slot machine according to  claim 10 , wherein: a special symbol that can provide a special award independent of the number of links is set in any of the display areas forming the symbol matrix, and in the award step, an award is provided in accordance with the special symbol set in any of the display areas and the number of links of the linked symbols.  
   
   
       12 . A playing method of a slot machine, comprising: 
 an arrangement step of forming a symbol matrix by arranging display areas in a matrix form on a display, the display areas scrolling symbol columns in which a plurality of symbols in which an in-marker indicative of an entrance, an out-marker indicative of an exit, and a direction are specified is arranged, selecting and determining, after scrolling the arranged symbol columns in one direction, symbols to be arranged in the symbol matrix from among the plurality of symbols, and stopping the scroll state to display the determined symbols in order to rearrange them as a new symbol matrix;    a step of setting a special symbol that can provide a special award independent of the number of links in any of the display areas forming the symbol matrix;    a step of displaying an object in order to notify the symbols linked based on the relationship among the in-marker, the out-marker, and the direction: and    an award step of, when the symbols are arranged on the display in the arrangement step and if a start point and an end point set at prescribed positions in the symbol matrix are linked to each other based on the relationship among the in-markers, the out-markers, and the directions in the symbols neighboring one another, providing an award in accordance with the number of links of the linked symbols.