Gaming machine and method of play thereof

Abstract

A gaming machine, comprising a game controller 100 for providing a predetermined amount of credits to a player for each award in a case where a game is started after the player inputs a bet and a game result causing an award to be provided to the player occurs, and a display device 30 for displaying the game result to the player. The game controller 100 is configured to perform the operations of: determining whether to store a predetermined amount of credits in a credit retaining memory installed either inside or outside the game controller in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide an award to the player is performed, and, in a case of determining to store the amount of credits, storing the amount of credits which is the amount of credits thus determined cumulatively added to the amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory; in a case of determining to store the amount of credits in the credit retaining memory, displaying the amount of credits thus determined on the display device 30 ; determining whether or not to provide a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide the award to the player is performed; and, in a case of determining to provide a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player, providing a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player and subtracting the amount of credits thus provided to the player from the amount of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory.

1 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a game controller for providing a predetermined amount of credits to a player for each award in a case where a game is started after the player inputs a bet and a game result causing an award to be provided to the player occurs; and   a display device for displaying the game result to the player,   wherein the game controller is configured to perform the operations of:   (a) determining whether to store a predetermined amount of credits in a credit retaining memory installed either inside or outside the game controller in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide an award to the player is performed, and, in a case of determining to store the amount of credits, storing the amount of credits which is the amount of credits thus determined cumulatively added to the amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory;   (b) in a case of determining to store the amount of credits in the credit retaining memory, displaying the amount of credits thus determined on the display device;   (c) determining whether or not to provide a portion of a total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide the award to the player is performed; and   (d) in a case of determining to provide a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player, providing a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player and subtracting the amount of credits thus provided to the player from the amount of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a game controller for providing a predetermined amount of credits to a player for an award in a case where a game is started after the player inputs a bet and a game result causing the award to be provided to the player occurs; and   a display device for displaying the game result to the player,   wherein the game controller is configured to perform the operations of:   (e) determining whether to store a predetermined amount of credits in a credit retaining memory installed either inside or outside the game controller in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide an award to the player is performed, and, in a case of determining to store the amount of credits, storing the amount of credits which is the amount of credits thus determined cumulatively added to the amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory;   (f) determining whether or not to provide a portion of a total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide the award to the player is performed;   (g) in a case of determining to provide a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player, providing the portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player and subtracting the amount of credits thus provided to the player from the amount of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory; and   (h) determining to provide the portion of the total amount of credits to the player over a plurality of numbers of games after a unit game in the unit game or until a subsequent unit game is started.   
   
   
       3 . A gaming machine according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the game controller is configured to further perform the operations of displaying the amount of credits thus determined on the display device in a case of determining to store the amount of credits in the credit retaining memory.   
   
   
       4 . A gaming machine according to any one of  claim 1  through  claim 3 ,
 wherein the game controller is configured to perform a processing of a bonus game where relatively more credits are provided to a player than a normal game and perform operations of (a) to (d) or (e) to (h) after the bonus game is completed, in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied.   
   
   
       5 . A gaming machine according to any one of  claim 1  through  claim 3 ,
 wherein a unit game where the game controller performs the operation (g) or (d) of providing a portion of the total amount of credits to the player is a free game where a game can be started without using a credit.   
   
   
       6 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the game controller is configured to determine whether to provide a portion of the total amount of credits to the player in such a manner that the portion of the total amount of credits is provided to the player over a plurality of numbers of games after the game, in a case of determining to provide the portion of the total amount of credits to the player.   
   
   
       7 . A gaming machine according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the game controller is configured to determine whether to provide a portion of the total amount of credits to the player over a plurality of numbers of games after the game based on a numeric value determined by random numbers.   
   
   
       8 . A gaming machine according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein, in a case of providing a portion of the total amount of credits to the player over a plurality of numbers of games after the game, the game controller is configured to determine whether to provide the portion continuously at a predetermined probability using a random number, and further to determine a probability whether to provide the portion based on a random number.   
   
   
       9 . A gaming machine according any one of  claim 1  to  claim 8 ,
 wherein a game which the gaming machine executes is a slot machine game, and wherein the unit game refers to a game with one unit during which the player bets a credit, so that a reel is rotated and then stopped.   
   
   
       10 . A gaming machine according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the game controller outputs sound data corresponding to the amount of credits provided to the player when a portion of the total amount of credits is provided to the player.   
   
   
       11 . A method of playing a game, comprising processing for:
 (a) determining whether to store a predetermined amount of credits in a credit retaining memory installed either inside or outside the game controller in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide an award to the player is performed, and, in a case of determining to store the amount of credits, storing the amount of credits which is the amount of credits thus determined cumulatively added to the amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory;   (b) in a case of determining to store the amount of credits in the credit retaining memory, displaying the amount of credits thus determined on the display device;   (c) determining whether or not to provide a portion of a total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide the award to the player is performed; and   (d) in a case of determining to provide a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player, providing a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player and subtracting the amount of credits thus provided to the player from the amount of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory.   
   
   
       12 . A method of playing a game, comprising processing for:
 (e) determining whether to store a predetermined amount of credits in a credit retaining memory installed either inside or outside the game controller in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide an award to the player is performed, and, in a case of determining to store the amount of credits, storing the amount of credits which is the amount of credits thus determined cumulatively added to the amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory;   (f) determining whether or not to provide a portion of a total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player in a unit game where processing for determining whether to provide the award to the player is performed;   (g) in a case of determining to provide a portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player, providing the portion of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory to the player and subtracting the amount of credits thus provided to the player from the amount of the total amount of credits stored in the credit retaining memory; and   (h) determining to provide the portion of the total amount of credits to the player over a plurality of numbers of games after a unit game in the unit game or until a subsequent unit game is started.