Slot machine

Abstract

A slot machine includes a symbol display device, a symbol controller, a game start device, a first lottery device, a game controller, and a switch device. When the game start device receives a signal indicative of an instruction for starting a game from a player, the first lottery device executes a lottery so as to determine the symbols to be displayed in the symbol display device. The game controller executes the game. When the symbols are displayed statically, the switch device receives a signal indicative of a selection of symbols to be replaced with a wild symbol. When the second lottery device determines activation of the switch device, the game controller replaces the symbols with the wild symbol to determine an award.

1 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a symbol display device for displaying a plurality of symbols;    a symbol controller for controlling the symbol display device to display the symbols;    a game start device;    a first lottery device for executing a lottery so as to determine symbols to be displayed in the symbol display device when the game start device receives a signal indicative of an instruction for starting a game from a player;    a game controller for executing the game;    a switch device for receiving a signal indicative of a selection of symbols to be replaced with a wild symbol when the symbols are displayed statically; and    a second lottery device for executing a lottery so as to determine whether or not the switch device is activated,    wherein when the second lottery device determines the switch device to be activated, the game controller replaces the selected symbols with the wild symbol to determine an award.    
     
     
         2 . A slot machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second lottery device determines the activation of the switch device only when the switch device receives the signal within a predetermined time limit after the symbols are displayed statically.  
     
     
         3 . A slot machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the selected symbols to be replaced with the wild symbol are on one column of the symbol display device.  
     
     
         4 . A slot machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the selected symbols to be replaced with the wild symbol are on a plurality of columns of the symbol display device.  
     
     
         5 . A slot machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the symbol controller controls the symbols to be displayed statically in a predetermined sequence.  
     
     
         6 . A slot machine according to  claim 1  further comprising stop buttons, wherein the symbol controller controls the symbols to be displayed statically in accordance with a sequence of pushing actions applied to the stop buttons.  
     
     
         7 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a symbol display device for displaying a plurality of symbols;    a symbol controller for controlling the symbol display device to display the symbols;    a game start device;    a first lottery device for executing a lottery so as to determine symbols to be displayed in the symbol display device when the game start device receives a signal indicative of an instruction for starting a game from a player;    a third lottery device for executing a lottery so as to determine whether or not a game proceeds with a high probability mode that allows the player to have a chance to win a bonus award with a high probability;    a game controller for executing the game;    a display window;    an image display device disposed to cover the display window;    a device for activating a touch mode for the image display device; and    a symbol replacement device for displaying a wild symbol overlapping with a display area in the display window corresponding to one column of the symbol display device selected by the player via the image display activated in the touch mode,    wherein the game controller replaces the selected symbols with the wild symbol to determine an award.    
     
     
         8 . A slot machine according to  claim 7  further comprising a second lottery device for executing a lottery so as to determine whether or not the touch mode is activated.  
     
     
         9 . A slot machine according to  claim 8 , wherein when the second lottery device outputs an activation of the touch mode, the image display device displays an image of a character on the display area.  
     
     
         10 . A slot machine according to  claim 7 , wherein until the symbol display device displays the symbols statically, the image display device displays an image of rendered effects so as to inform the player of a chance to select the symbols to be replaced with the wild symbol via the image display device.  
     
     
         11 . A slot machine according to  claim 7 , wherein only when the device for activating a touch mode for the image display device receives the signal indicative of the selection within a predetermined time limit after the symbols are displayed statically, the symbol replacement device replaces the selected symbols with the wild symbol.  
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling a slot machine comprising: 
 (a) displaying a plurality of symbols;    (b) receiving a signal indicative of an instruction for a start for each game;    (c) executing a first lottery so as to determine symbols to be displayed when reception of the signal in step b is completed;    (d) executing the game;    (e) receiving a signal indicative of a selection of symbols to be replaced with a wild symbol when the symbols are displayed statically;    (f) executing a second lottery so as to determine whether or not to accept the signal received in step (e); and    (g) replacing the selected symbols with the wild symbol to determine an award, when the signal is accepted in step (f).