Gaming method for playing a slot game with two types of winning criteria, and gaming apparatus for performing the gaming method

Abstract

A gaming method for playing a slot game with two types of winning criteria is provided. The gaming method is adapted to be implemented by a gaming apparatus. The gaming apparatus is configured to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols. Each of the game symbols independently belongs to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types. A first winning criterion is that a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number. A second winning criterion is that all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type.

1 . A gaming method for playing a slot game, said gaming method being adapted to be implemented by a gaming apparatus that includes a display system, an input unit, and a control system coupled to the display system and the input unit, said gaming method comprising the steps of:
 a) configuring the control system to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input from the input unit for starting a slot game, and to enable the display system to display the game symbol combination thereon, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types;   b) configuring the control system to determine whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion,   the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number,   the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type;   c) configuring the control system to determine first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and   d) configuring the control system to grant an award according to the first and second award information.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in step a), the game symbol combination is generated according to a game symbol ordering rule, in which the game symbols in the game symbol combination are randomly selected from a pool of candidate game symbols belonging to different ones of the game symbol types, and are arranged in an array. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in step c), the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the game symbol type having the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging thereto greater than the predetermined number. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in step c), the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging to the same game symbol type. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in step c), the second award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the specified payout line that has all of the game symbols thereon belonging to the same game symbol type. 
     
     
         6 . A computer program product comprising a machine readable storage medium that comprises program instructions for configuring a computer to perform consecutive steps of a gaming method for playing a slot game, said gaming method comprising the steps of:
 a) configuring the computer to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input for starting a slot game, and to display the game symbol combination, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types;   b) configuring the computer to determine whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion,   the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number,   the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type;   c) configuring the computer to determine first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and   d) configuring the computer to grant an award according to the first and second award information.   
     
     
         7 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, in step a), the game symbol combination is generated according to a game symbol ordering rule, in which the game symbols in the game symbol combination are randomly selected from a pool of candidate game symbols belonging to different ones of the game symbol types, and are arranged in an array. 
     
     
         8 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, in step c), the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the game symbol type having the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging thereto greater than the predetermined number. 
     
     
         9 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, in step c), the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging to the same game symbol type. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, in step c), the second award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the specified payout line that has all of the game symbols thereon belonging to the same game symbol type. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 an input unit;   a display system; and   a control system coupled to said input unit and said display system;   wherein said control system is operable to execute a gaming method for playing a slot game, the gaming method including the steps of:
 a) randomly generating a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input received from said input unit, and enabling said display system to display the game symbol combination thereon, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types; 
 b) determining whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion, 
 the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number, 
 the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type; 
 c) determining first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and 
 d) granting an award according to the first and second award information. 
   
     
     
         12 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, in step a) of the gaming method, the game symbol combination is generated according to a game symbol ordering rule, in which the game symbols in the game symbol combination are randomly selected from a pool of candidate game symbols belonging to different ones of the game symbol types, and are arranged in an array. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, in step c) of the gaming method, the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the game symbol type having the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging thereto greater than the predetermined number. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, in step c) of the gaming method, the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging to the same game symbol type. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, in step c) of the gaming method, the second award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the specified payout line that has all of the game symbols thereon belonging to the same game symbol type. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said input unit includes a start button operable to trigger said control system to execute the gaming method. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising a payment mechanism, and a payment sensor coupled to said control system and operable to send a payment signal thereto when a player makes a payment through said payment mechanism, said control system accepting triggering by said start button to execute the gaming method only after receipt of the payment signal. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said display system includes a display controller coupled to said control system, and a display device coupled to and driven by said display controller. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said control system includes a game processor, and a storage medium coupled to said game processor and storing program instructions for configuring said game processor to execute the gaming method for playing the slot game. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said control system includes:
 a selecting module operable to randomly generate the game symbol combination;   a first analyzing module operable to determine whether the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and to determine the first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion;   a second analyzing module operable to determine whether the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion, and to determine the second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and   an award-determining module coupled to said first and second analyzing modules, and operable to determine the award to be granted based upon the first and second award information from said first and second analyzing modules.   
     
     
         21 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said first analyzing module includes:
 a counter coupled to said selecting module and operable to determine a total number of the game symbols belonging to each of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination generated by said selecting module;   a register storing the predetermined number;   a comparator coupled to said counter and said register, and operable to compare the predetermined number with the total number of the game symbols belonging to each of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination, said comparator generating a first notifying signal when the total number of the game symbols belonging to any one of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination is greater than the predetermined number; and   a first award determining unit coupled to said comparator for receiving the first notifying signal therefrom, storing a first lookup table containing a plurality of entries of the first award information, and outputting one of the entries of the first award information according to the first notifying signal.   
     
     
         22 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said second analyzing module includes:
 a selector coupled to said selecting module, and operable to determine the game symbol types of the game symbols on the specified payout line;   a comparator coupled to said selector for comparing the game symbol types determined by said selector, and configured to generate a second notifying signal when the game symbol types are identical to each other; and   a second award determining unit coupled to said comparator for receiving the second notifying signal therefrom, storing a second lookup table containing a plurality of entries of the second award information, and outputting one of the entries of the second award information according to the second notifying signal.   
     
     
         23 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said input unit includes a payout button coupled to said control system and operable to trigger said control system to grant the award.