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Transcription

1 US Al (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2009/ A1 Abe (43) Pub. Date: Oct. 1, 2009 (54) GAMING MACHINE WITH FEATURE Publication Classi?cation CONCEPT AND PLAYING METHOD THEREOF (51) Int. Cl. A63F 9/24 ( ) (75) Inventor: Fumiya Abe, Tokyo (JP) A63F 13/00 (200601) Correspondence Address: (52) US. Cl /20; 463/25; 463/30 NDQ&M WATCHSTONE LLP 1300 EYE STREET, NW, SUITE 1000 WEST (57) ABSTRACT TOWER WASHINGTON, DC (US) A gaming machine 1 of the present invention has a lower image display panel 16 Which arranges symbols 180 in a (73) Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Las matrix 156, and a mother board 40. The gaming machine 1 Vegas, NV (US) performs a base game and a plurality of feature games using the lower image display panels 16. The mother board 40: (21) APP1- NOJ 12/412,804 rearranges the symbols 180 in the matrix 156 in the base _ game; awards a base payout in accordance With a relation (22) Flled: Mar among the symbols 180 rearranged in the matrix 156; awards.. a feature ame Which corres onds to the number of s mbols Related U's' Apphcatlon Data 180 of SlgJN 181 rearrangeg in the matrix 156; perfoil'ms the (60) Provisional application No. 61/041,357,?led on Apr. feature game; and awards a bonus payout in accordance With 1, a result of the feature game. BASIC GAME RUNNING SCREEN (ROTATING AND STOPPING REELS) /I THREE SUNS FOUR SUNS FIVE SUNS (TRIGGER SYMBOLS) (TRIGGER SYMBOLS) (TRIGGER SYMBOLS) ARE STOPPED ARE STOPPED ARE STOPPED {$1071};?KTGO? Y?aioaie J?oJg ivk????la?h LA IRKI QJPPIP'L BLIJBI'SR GO TO GAME A GO TO GAME B GO TO GAME C START SHOOTING GAME START FOOTBALL GAME START BASEBALL GAME FIFTY COINS. ARE PAID OUT SEVENTY COINS 7 ARE PAID OUT I. ONE HUNDRED COINS. a ARE PAID OUT 1%

2 ,, W Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 1 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG.I BR Am SA 16/ IT M wmb G5 MAI ENIM W RD5 NTIJM WW5 M GIT N5J IN EE /V RRT L?HLLHv NP3 HHIIMM %G4 EHMW THREE SUNS FOUR SUNS FIVE SUNS (TRIGGER SYMBOLS) (TRIGGER SYMBOLS) (TRIGGER SYMBOLS) ARE STOPPED ARE STOPPED ARE STOPPED J GO TO GAME A GO TO GAME B GO TO GAME 0 START SHOOTING GAME START FOOTBALL GAME START BASEBALL GAME FIFTY COINS ARE PAID OUT 99

3 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 2 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 N.UE

4 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 3 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG.3 1(100) 12 W \ / ) / / I W v \ 18

5 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 4 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG. 4 / BOOT ROM V LAMP 55 \1 ROM MEMORY CARD V HOPPER 66 com SENSOR N I SPIN SWITCH CHANGE SWITCH mo-u -<oocu z- > A U / / > UPPER IMAGE D PLAYP NE GRAPHIC IS A L BOARD > LOWER IMAGE DISPLAY PANEL \ 16 I 258 CASHOUT SWITCH I 26SA 1-BET SWITCH SPEAKER /\/ A MAXIMUM BET SWITCH UJO'U :UOOU I? BILL VALIDATOR REVERTER ' r TICKET PRINTER N % COIN COUNTER A = CARD READER "\:-/ 36 81x cow CATHODE RAY TUBE KEY SWITCH $383 DATA DISPLAYER 45w] POWER UNIT

6 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 5 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG 5 BASE GAME WINNING COMBINATION LOTTERY TABLE 13O\- WINNING COMBINATION NUMERQQ'EE'Q/AALUE v><5 o~51 cc X 5 52~107 K X 5 Ios~2o7 AX 5 208~407 Q X 5 J X 5 4os~so7 e0s~1477 X ~1807 -:+2>< ~1907 -: :-><4 190s~2057 -: :~>< ~2257 LOSING 2258~5998

7 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 6 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG. 6 BASE GAME PAYOUT TABLE 131 \ WINNING COMBINATION PAYOUT (OF COINS) v x 5 5oOOINs <( X 5 s0ooins K >< 5 A X 5 O X 5 25COINS ZOCOENS IsooINs J X 5 E X 5 X 5 IoOOINs 5COINS ONE FEATURE GAME (GAME 0) GIvE FEATURE GAME '* X 4 (GAME B) ' a? X 3 GIVE FEATURE GAME (GAME A) LOSING OCOIN

8 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 7 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG. 7 FEATURE GAME PAYOUT TABLE 133 BONUS PAYOUT TO BE PAID \ KIND OF FEATURE GAME WHEN FEATURE GAME IS WON (PAYOUT OF COINS) GAME A SHOOTING GAME 5OCOINS GAME B FOOTBALL GAME 7OCOINS GAME C BASEBALL GAME 100COINS

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10 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 9 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG.9 GAME A (SHOOTiNG GAME) WIN SHOOTING GAME YOU ARE WIN! \16

11 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 10 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG.1O 92 GAME B (FOOTBALL GAME) // WIN FOOTBALL GAME / YOU ARE WIN!

12 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 11 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG.11 GAME C (BASEBALL GAME) 941 / x16 WIN BASEBALL GAME YOU ARE WIN!

13 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 12 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG. 1 2 Symbol Line A Symbol Line B Symbol Line C Symbol Line D Symbol Line E CODE NO, SYMBOL SYMBOL SYMBOL SYMBOL SYMBOL 00 SUN J J HEART 1 O 01 1O HEART MOON SUN J 02 SUN J SUN 1 0 SUN 03 A HEART J K HEART 04 SUN 1 O A HEART J SUN 1 O A Q 06 SUN A SUN J SUN 07 A MOON K G J 08 Q HEART A 1 O A 09 MOON J K SUN HEART 10 SUN HEART SUN HEART Q 1 1 HEART K 1 0 SUN 1 O 12 SUN MOON HEART 1O HEART 13 K O Q MOON SUN 14 Q HEART SUN J J 15 SUN J HEART K A 16 J HEART MOON MOON MOON 17 K K 10 HEART SUN 18 SUN 10 SUN 10 HEART 19 1 O MOON 10 SUN SUN 20 Q HEART SUN MOON 1O 21 MOON SUN Q A K

14 Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 13 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG. 13 BOOT PROCESS MOTHER BOARD GAMING BOARD ( POWER 0N ) ( POWER ON ) S2 S1 \\ r \\ COMPRESSED DATA IN BIOS ARE LOADED INTO RAM 43 CPU 51 AUTHENTICATES AUTHENTICATION PROGRAM USING PRELIMINARY AUTHENTICATION PROGRAM 33x RUN PROGRAM LOADED INTO RAM 43 S5 READ OUT AUTHENTICATION PROGRAM FROM RAM 55 AND + - ~ AUTSSSgE/QION STORE THE PROGRAM IN RAM 43 \ \ r AUTHENTICATE GAME PROGRAMS AND GAME SYSTEM PROGRAMS USING <~ ~ ~ THE AUTHENTICATION PROGRAM S6 \ I READ OUT AUTHENTICATED GAME PROGRAMS AND GAME SYSTEM. MEMORY CARD PROGRAMS FROM MEMORY CARD 53 AND - MEMORY CARD WRITE THE PROGRAMS IN RAM 43 S7 \ V READ OUT PAYOUT RATIO SETTING DATA FROM GAL 54 < ~ - GAL AND WRITE THE DATA IN RAM 43 S8 \ v READ OUT COUNTRY IDENTIFICATION COUNTRY INFORMATION FROM ROM 55 AND <- IDENTIFICATION WRITE IT IN RAM 43 INFORMATION V C'O INITIAL SETTING ROUTINIQ

15 ' Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 14 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG. 14 C INITIAL PROCESS ) A2 CHECK MEMORIES NORMAL? YES A4 CHECK SENSORS NORMAL? YES A5\ CHECK OPERATIONS OF DRIVING MECHANISMS A6 NORMAL? YES A7\ CHECK OPERATIONS OF ILLUMINATIONS A8 NORMAL? A9\ OUTPUT INITIAL SETTING SIGNAL YES AI 1 OUTQILgNiFEROR / 1 A10 DISPLAY " \' DEMO-SCREEN REPORT ERROR ~/\A12 l' I RETURN I

16 ' Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 15 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG. 15 (GAME RUNNING PROCESS) B1 A i IS ANY COIN BET? 7 B2 \ REDUCE CREDIT VALUE B3 IS SPIN BUTTON TURNED ON? - YES 54 \_ EXECUTE SYMBOL DETERMINING PROCESS V 55 \ SCROLL f 56 \- STOP SCROLL

17 ' Patent Application Publication Oct. 1, 2009 Sheet 16 0f 16 US 2009/ A1 FIG. 16 A 1 B7 IS w1nn1ng COMBINATION ACHIEVED? NO B8 YES ARE THREE SYMBOLS OF YES B9 SUN"D1SPLAYEO?, V / NO GO TO GAME A (SHOOTING GAME) B10 NO B12 ARE FOUR SYMBOLS OF SUN DISPLAYED? NO B14 YES PAY OUT FIFTY COINS f 511 l YES GO TO GAME B / 813 (BASEBALL GAME) NO L B16 B20 YES PAY OUT SEVENTY COINS f B15 L \ ARE FIVE SYMBOLS OF YES B17 SuN DISPLAYED? / NO GO TO GAME C (BASEBALL GAME) B18 PAYOUT PROCESS YES N o V ( RETURN ) PAY OUT ONE HUNDRED COINS f B19 #

18 US 2009/ A1 Oct. 1, 2009 GAMING MACHINE WITH FEATURE CONCEPT AND PLAYING METHOD THEREOF CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the bene?t of US. Provi sional Application No. 61/041,357,?led on Apr. 1, 2008 Which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a gaming machine and a playing method thereof. [0004] 2. Description of RelatedArt [0005] Conventionally, a gaming machine, Which uses a coin or the like as a game value for a slot machine, a roulette game machine, a card game machine or the like, is capable of starting a predetermined game upon player s insertion of a coin into the gaming machine. When the player Wins the game, a predetermined number of coins are paid out. Gener ally, in the above-mentioned gaming machine, pluralities of kinds of games are performed in order to avoid monotony. For example, When a predetermined condition is satis?ed in a?rst game Which is a base game, the?rst game is followed by a second game Which is a so-called feature game (bonus game, free game, or the like). Conventional gaming machines of this type are disclosed in speci?cations of US. Pat. Nos. 5,820, 459, 4,283,709, and 6,003,013, for example. In addition, United States Patent Application Publication No discloses a free game as a second game. Here, the number of free games is determined at random, or alter natively is set to a certain number. [0006] HoWever, in the above-described gaming machines Which perform a game including the?rst and second games, contents of the second game may be uniform and monoto nous. [0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine With entertainmentness unobtainable from the above-described prior art, and a playing method thereof. More speci?cally, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine Which can provide many kinds of second games and executes different second games depend ing on a result of a?rst game. This allows a player of the gaming machine to play the?rst game While expecting a plurality of kinds of second games. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a display Which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and a controller; Wherein the gaming machine performs a base game and a plurality of feature games using the display, and Wherein the controller is programmed to perform the steps of: (al) rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas in the base game; (a2) awarding a base payout in accordance With a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (a3) awarding a feature game Which corresponds to the number of predetermined symbols rearranged in the arrange ment areas; (a4) performing the feature game; and (a5) awarding a bonus payout in accordance With a result of the feature game. [0009] According to the above structure, it is possible to: award a feature game Which corresponds to the number of predetermined symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; perform the feature game; and award a bonus payout in accor dance With a result of the feature game. As a result, Which kind of feature game is awarded depends on the number of predetermined symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display. This may allow a player to enjoy the base game With expectation for a plurality of kinds of feature games until symbols are arranged in the arrangement areas on the display. [0010] In the above-mentioned gaming machine, the con troller awards a feature game Whose expected value of the bonus payout differs in correspondence With to the number of predetermined symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. [0011] According to the above structure, feature games having different expected values of the bonus payout can be given in correspondence With the number of predetermined symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. Therefore, for example, by setting a feature game having a higher expected value of the bonus payout as the number of predetermined symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display increases, a player may enjoy a feature game providing a higher payout in proportion to the number of predetermined symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display. [0012] The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a display Which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and a controller; Wherein the gaming machine performs a base game using the display and a plurality of feature games each corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols arranged in the arrangement areas, and Wherein the controller is programmed to perform the steps of: (bl) rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas in the base game; (b2) awarding a base payout in accordance With a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (b3) randomly changing a correspondence between the number of predetermined sym bols and a feature game; (b4) awarding a feature game Which corresponds to the number of predetermined symbols rear ranged in the arrangement areas; (b5) performing the feature game; and (b6) awarding a bonus payout in accordance With a result of the feature game. [0013] According to the above structure, it is possible to: randomly change correspondence between the number of predetermined symbols and the feature game; award a feature game corresponding to the number of predetermined symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; perform the feature game; and award a bonus payout in accordance With a result of the feature game. As a result, a kind of the feature game, Which is given based on the number of predetermined sym bols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display, changes every time a base game is executed. A player cannot know Which feature game Will be executed until the feature game is actually executed. Therefore, the player may enjoy the base game With expectation for a plurality of kinds of feature games. [0014] In the above-mentioned gaming machine, an expected value of the bonus payout Which is in accordance With the result of the feature game differs depending on a kind of the feature game. [0015] According to the above structure, it is possible that an expected value of the bonus payout Which is in accordance With the result of the feature game differs depending on a kind of the feature game. As a result, a kind of the feature game, Which is given based on the number of predetermined sym

19 US 2009/ A1 Oct. 1, 2009 bols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display, changes every time a base game is executed. A player cannot know Which feature game Will be executed until the feature game is actually executed. Therefore, the player may enjoy the high-payout feature game even When the number of pre determined symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display is small. [0016] The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a display Which arranges a plurality of scatter symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and a controller, Wherein the gaming machine performs a base game and a plurality of feature games using the display, and Wherein the controller is programmed to perform the steps of: (cl) rear ranging the plurality of scatter symbols in the arrangement areas in the base game; (c2) awarding a base payout in accor dance With a relation among the scatter symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (c3) awarding a feature game Which corresponds to the number of predetermined scatter symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (c4) performing the feature game; and (c5) awarding a bonus payout in accor dance With a result of the feature game. [0017] According to the above structure, it is possible to: award a feature game Which corresponds to the number of predetermined scatter symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; perform the feature game; and award a bonus payout in accordance With a result of the feature game. As a result, Which kind of feature game is awarded depends on the num ber of predetermined scatter symbols arranged in the arrange ment areas on the display. This may allow a player to enjoy the base game With expectation for a plurality of kinds of feature games until symbols are arranged in the arrangement areas on the display. [0018] In the above-mentioned gaming machine, the con troller awards a feature game Whose expected value of the bonus payout differs in correspondence With to the number of predetermined scatter symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. [0019] According to the above structure, feature games having different expected values of the bonus payout can be given in correspondence With the number of predetermined scatter symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas. There fore, for example, by setting a feature game having a higher expected value of the bonus payout as the number of prede termined scatter symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display increases, a player may enjoy a feature game providing a higher payout in proportion to the number of predetermined scatter symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display. [0020] The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a display Which arranges a plurality of scatter symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and a controller, Wherein the gaming machine performs a base game using the display and a plurality of feature games each corresponding to the number of predetermined scatter symbols arranged in the arrangement areas, and Wherein the controller is programmed to perform the steps of: (dl) rearranging the plurality of scatter symbols in the arrangement areas in the base game; (d2) awarding a base payout in accordance With a relation among the scatter symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (d3) randomly changing a correspondence between the number of predetermined scatter symbols and a feature game; (d4) awarding a feature game Which corresponds to the num ber of predetermined scatter symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; (d5) performing the feature game; and (d6) awarding a bonus payout in accordance With a result of the feature game. [0021] According to the above structure, it is possible to: randomly change correspondence between the number of predetermined scatter symbols and the feature game; award a feature game corresponding to the number of predetermined scatter symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; perform the feature game; and award a bonus payout in accordance With a result of the feature game. As a result, a kind of the feature game, Which is given based on the number of prede termined scatter symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display, changes every time a base game is executed. A player cannot know Which feature game Will be executed until the feature game is actually executed. Therefore, the player may enjoy the base game With expectation for a plurality of kinds of feature games. [0022] In the above-mentioned gaming machine, an expected value of the bonus payout Which is in accordance With the result of the feature game differs depending on a kind of the feature game. [0023] According to the above structure, it is possible that an expected value of the bonus payout Which is in accordance With the result of the feature game differs depending on a kind of the feature game. As a result, a kind of the feature game, Which is given based on the number of predetermined scatter symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display, changes every time a base game is executed. A player cannot know Which feature game Will be executed until the feature game is actually executed. Therefore, the player may enjoy the high-payout feature game even When the number of pre determined scatter symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display is small. [0024] The present invention provides a playing method of a gaming machine Which comprises a display for arranging a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas, and Which performs a base game and a plurality of feature games using the display, the method including the steps of: rearrang ing the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas in the base game; awarding a base payout in accordance With a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; awarding a feature game Which corresponds to the number of predetermined symbols rearranged in the arrange ment areas; performing the feature game; and awarding a bonus payout in accordance With a result of the feature game. [0025] According to the above-mentioned playing method, it is possible to: award a feature game Which corresponds to the number of predetermined symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; perform the feature game; and award a bonus payout in accordance With a result of the feature game. As a result, Which kind of feature game is awarded depends on the number of predetermined symbols arranged in the arrangement areas on the display. This may allow a player to enjoy the base game With expectation for a plurality of kinds of feature games until symbols are arranged in the arrange ment areas on the display. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0026] FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a playing method of a gaming machine; [0027] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the gaming machine; [0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing external appearance of a gaming machine;

20 US 2009/ A1 Oct. 1, 2009 [0029] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of the gaming machine; [0030] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a base game winning combination lottery table; [0031] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a base game payout table; [0032] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a feature game payout table; [0033] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a display screen during a base game; [0034] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a display screen of GAME A (shooting game); [0035] FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a display screen of GAME B (football game); [0036] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a display screen of GAME C (baseball game); [0037] FIG. 12 shows symbol columns and code numbers of respective symbols; [0038] FIG. 13 is a?owchart of a boot process which is executed in the gaming machine; [0039] FIG. 14 is a?owchart of an initial process which is executed in the gaming machine; [0040] FIG. 15 is a?owchart of a game running process which is executed in the gaming machine; and [0041] FIG. 16 is a?owchart of a game running process which is executed in the gaming machine. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0042] An embodiment of a gaming machine and a playing method thereof according to the present invention will be described. [0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a gam ing machine including: a display which arranges a plurality of symbols in a matrix of arrangement areas; and a controller. The gaming machine performs a base game and a plurality of feature games using the display. The present invention is embodied as a playing method of the gaming machine, including the steps of: rearranging the plurality of symbols in the arrangement areas in the base game; awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; awarding a feature game which corresponds to the number of predetermined symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; performing the feature game; and awarding a bonus payout in accordance with a result of the feature game. [0044] Here, arranging means making a state where sym bols 180 are visible to a player. For example, in FIG. 1, it means making a state where symbols 180 are displayed in display windows 151 to 155. Arranging symbols 180 again after dismissing symbols 180 is called rearranging. [0045] The feature game in this embodiment provides a game state which is more advantageous than in the base game. No particular limitation is put on the feature game, as long as it is more advantageous than the base game. For example, it may be a state where more game values are obtainable than in the base game, where game values can be obtained with a higher probability than in the base game, where game values are less consumed than in the base game, or the like. In this embodiment, a mini-game such as GAME A, GAME B, and GAME C which will be detailed later are mentioned as the feature game. [0046] A gaming machine 100 which performs the above game has a controller 101, a display 102, a game start unit 103, a base payout awarding unit 104, and a feature game payout awarding unit 105, as shown in FIG. 2. The display 102 is adapted to arrange symbols 180. [0047] The display 102 may have a mechanical structure adopting a reel device which rotates a reel to arrange symbols 180. Alternatively, the display 102 may have an electrical structure in which a video reel is displayed as an image to thereby arrange symbols 180. Further, a combination of the mechanical structure (reel) and the electric structure (video reel) may also be possible. Examples of the electrical struc ture include a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (cathode ray tube), a plasma display device, and the like. A speci?c structure of the display 102 will be detailed later. [0048] The controller 101 has a game running unit 106, a winning determining unit 107, a base game payout storage unit 108, a feature game determining unit 109, a feature game storage unit 110, a feature game running unit 111, a feature game win determining unit 112, and a feature game payout storage unit 113. [0049] [Process Stages of Controller 101] [0050] The controller 101 is adapted to perform: a?rst process of rearranging a plurality of symbols in arrangement areas in the base game; a second process of awarding a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; a third process of award ing a feature game which corresponds to the number of pre determined symbols rearranged in the arrangement areas; a fourth process of performing the feature game; and a?fth process of awarding a bonus payout in accordance with a result of the feature game. In other words, the controller 101 includes?ve process stages. [0051] [Operations of Controller 101] [0052] Operations of the controller 101 having the above described structure will be described. First, after a game value is inserted, triggered by a game start signal from the game start unit 103, the game running unit 106 starts to variably display the symbols 180 which have been arranged on the display 102. In short, the controller 101 performs the?rst process. [0053] Then, the winning determining unit 107 refers to a payout table stored in the base game payout storage unit 108, and causes the base payout awarding unit 104 to award a base payout in accordance with a relation among the symbols 180 rearranged on the display 102. In short, the controller 101 performs the second process. [0054] Then, the feature game determining unit 109 deter mines the number of symbols 180 of SUN 181 rearranged on the display 102. The feature game determining unit 109 refers to the feature game storage unit 110, to award a feature game ( GAME A, GAME B, or GAME C ) correspond ing to the number of symbols 180 of SUN 181. In short, the controller 101 performs the third process. [0055] Then, the feature game running unit 111 runs the feature game awarded in the third process. In short, the con troller 101 performs the fourth process. [0056] Then, the feature game win determining unit 112 refers to a payout table stored in the feature game payout storage unit 113, to cause the feature game payout awarding unit 105 to award a bonus payout in accordance with a result of the feature game. In short, the controller 101 performs the?fth process. [0057] Each block of the controller 101 may be formed by hardware or by software as needed.

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