Gaming machine

Abstract

In a gaming machine including a symbol region where reels having symbols are arranged in predetermined arrangement, so that the symbols are displayed in an arranged manner in longitudinal and transverse directions, there are provided a reel control unit that independently controls movement and stop of each of the reels, such that the symbols appearing in the symbol region change and a winning determination unit that determines whether the symbols appearing on a valid line set to span the reels form a predetermined winning pattern, when each of the reels is stopped, layers are set in the symbol region, and in the gaming machine, at least one reel is disposed in each layer, a symbol group is provided in at least one specific reel arranged in a specific layer of the layers in such a manner that symbols capable of forming at least portion of the winning pattern are arranged in the symbol group, at least one of the symbols capable of forming at least portion of the winning pattern overlaps the other reel in the other layer different from the specific layer, and that the symbol group move integrally with the specific reel, the symbols that are disposed in the symbol group in the specific reel can be viewed from a player, and when the symbol group is stopped on the valid line, the winning determination unit make the symbols disposed in the symbol group be included in a determination target and determines whether the winning pattern is formed.

1 . A gaming machine including a symbol region in which plural reels having plural symbols are arranged in predetermined arrangement, so that the symbols are displayed in an arranged manner in longitudinal and transverse directions, comprising:
 a reel control unit that independently controls movement and stop of each of the reels, such that the symbols appearing in the symbol region change; and   a winning determination unit that determines whether the plural symbols appearing on a valid line set to span the plural reels form a predetermined winning pattern, when each of the reels is stopped, wherein   plural layers are set in the symbol region,   at least one reel is disposed in each layer,   a symbol group is provided in at least one specific reel arranged in a specific layer of the plural layers in such a manner that plural symbols capable of forming at least a portion of the winning pattern are arranged in the symbol group, at least one of the plural symbols capable of forming at least a portion of the winning pattern overlaps the other reel in the other layer different from the specific layer, and that the symbol group moves integrally with the specific reel,   the symbols that are disposed in the symbol group in the specific reel can be viewed from a player, and   when the symbol group is stopped on the valid line, the winning determination unit make the symbols disposed in the symbol group be included in a determination target and determines whether the winning pattern is formed.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a relationship between the specific layer and the other layer is configured in such a manner that the symbol group in the specific reel is overlapped on the other reel when viewed from a side of the player, thereby allowing the symbols disposed in the symbol group to be visible from the player. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plural reels is a virtual reel to be displayed as an image on a screen of a display, and images of the reels in the plural layers are synthesized according to an upper and lower relationship between the layers to be displayed on the screen, thereby allowing the symbols disposed in the symbol group to be visible from the player. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the plural reels include plural first reels, in which the plural symbols are continuously arranged in a predetermined direction, respectively and which are arranged parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction over an entire region of the symbol region and a second reel disposed in the specific layer so as to overlap at least two of the first reels,   the reel control unit moves the first reels along the predetermined direction,   at least one of the first reels is disposed in the other layer to serve as the other reel, and   the second reel is provided with the symbol group and a transparent region enabling the symbols in the first reel to be visible, thereby the second reel serving as the specific reel.   
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the second reel has a size in which the second reel overlaps all of the first reels to be disposed in the symbol region. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the reel control unit moves the second reel along the predetermined direction. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the reel control unit controls the movement and stop of the plural reels such that the first reels stop and then the second reel stops. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the plural symbols capable of forming at least portion of the winning pattern are also arranged in the predetermined direction. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the plural symbols are continuously arranged in a predetermined direction in each of the plural reels,   the plural reels are arranged separately into the plural layers such that the plural reels are arranged parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction over an entire region of the symbol region,   the reel control unit moves the plural reels along the predetermined direction, and   the symbol group is provided in at least one reel disposed in the specific layer, so that such reel serves as the specific reel.   
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the plural symbols capable of forming at least portion of the winning pattern are also arranged in the predetermined direction. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the symbol group is provided with the plural symbols in such a manner that the winning pattern can be formed by only the plural symbols disposed in the symbol group. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein universal symbols that can be used as any one of other symbols in a determination as to whether the winning pattern is formed in the winning determination unit are disposed in the symbol group. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein plural symbols of the same kind are disposed in the symbol group as the plural symbols capable of forming at least portion of the winning pattern.