U.S. patent application number 10/243541 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-18 for gaming device having a scatter pay symbol.
Invention is credited to Hughs-Baird, Andrea C..
Application Number | 20040053677 10/243541 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29250273 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040053677 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hughs-Baird, Andrea C. |
March 18, 2004 |
Gaming device having a scatter pay symbol
Abstract
A gaming device including a plurality of reels having a
plurality of symbols. The gaming device provides an award to a
player when a triggering event occurs in a game. In one embodiment,
the triggering event includes the occurrence of one or more
predetermined symbols on the reels If at least one of the
predetermined symbols occurs on the reels, the gaming device
provides an award to the player for a winning symbol combination
occurring in any position on the reels. In one embodiment, the
gaming device provides an award for a winning symbol combination
including the scatter pay symbols. In another embodiment, the
gaming device provides the largest award to the player when
multiple symbols combinations occur on the reels. Therefore, the
scatter pay symbols enable a player to obtain larger awards and
more awards in the game.
Inventors: |
Hughs-Baird, Andrea C.;
(Reno, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BELL, BOYD & LLOYD LLC
P. O. BOX 1135
CHICAGO
IL
60690-1135
US
|
Family ID: |
29250273 |
Appl. No.: |
10/243541 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3211 20130101;
G07F 17/3244 20130101; G07F 17/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/020 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. A gaming device comprising: a game; a plurality of reels
included in the game, said reels including a plurality of symbols;
a triggering event in the game including at least one predetermined
symbol on the reels; an award associated with one or more
designated symbols occurring in any position on the reels in the
game; and a processor which controls the reels in the game and
provides the award to the player when both the triggering event
occurs in the game and said designated symbols occur in any
position on the reels in the game.
2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the triggering event
includes a plurality of predetermined symbols occurring on the
reels.
3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one
payline associated with the reels.
4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein the triggering event
includes said predetermined symbol occurring on the payline.
5. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a display device,
wherein the reels are displayed by the display device.
6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the display device
includes a video monitor.
7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the award is associated
with a plurality of designated symbols occurring in any position on
the reels.
8. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of
awards, each of the awards based on at least two designated symbols
occurring in any position on the reels, wherein the processor
provides a largest of the awards to the player associated with the
symbols occurring on the reels.
9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined symbol
is a scatter pay symbol.
10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the award is at least one
of the awards selected from the group consisting of: values, free
spins of the reels, free games and multipliers.
11. A gaming device comprising: a game; a plurality of reels having
a plurality of symbols in the game; a payline associated with the
reels in the game; a triggering event including at least one
predetermined symbol occurring on the payline in the game; an award
associated with one or more designated symbols occurring in any
position on the reels in the game; and a processor which controls
the reels in the game and provides the award to the player when
both the triggering event occurs in the game and the designated
symbols occur in any position on the reels in the game.
12. The gaming device of claim 11, which includes a plurality of
paylines associated with the reels.
13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the triggering event
includes at least one predetermined symbol occurring on any one of
said paylines.
14. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the triggering event
includes a plurality of predetermined symbols occurring on one of
said paylines.
15. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the award is associated
with a plurality of designated symbols occurring in any position on
the reels in the game.
16. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined symbol
is a scatter pay symbol.
17. A gaming device comprising: a game; a plurality of reels
included in the game, said reels including a plurality of symbols,
said symbols including a scatter pay symbol; a triggering event
including the scatter pay symbol occurring on the reels in the
game; an award associated with one or more designated symbols
occurring in any position on the reels in the game; and a processor
which controls the reels in the game and provides the award to the
player when both the triggering event occurs in the game and the
designated symbols occur in any position on the reels in the
game.
18. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes a payline
associated with the reels in the game.
19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the triggering event
includes the scatter pay symbol occurring on the payline in the
game.
20. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the symbols include a
plurality of scatter pay symbols.
21. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the triggering event
includes the plurality of scatter pay symbols occurring on the
reels in the game.
22. A gaming device comprising: a game; a plurality of reels having
a plurality of symbols in the game; a payline associated with the
reels in the game; a triggering event including at least one
predetermined symbol occurring on the payline in the game; an award
associated with one or more designated symbols occurring in any
position on the reels; and a processor which controls the reels in
the game and provides the award to the player when both the
triggering event occurs in the game and the designated symbol or
symbols occur in any position on the reels in a subsequent
game.
23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the subsequent game is
one of a limited number of subsequent games.
24. A gaming device comprising: a game; a plurality of reels
included in the game, said reels including a plurality of symbols,
said symbols including a scatter pay symbol; a triggering event
including the scatter pay symbol occurring on the reels in the
game; an award associated with one or more designated symbols
occurring in any position on the reels; and a processor which
controls the reels in the game and provides the award to the player
when both the triggering event occurs in the game and the designed
symbol or symbols occur in any position on the reels in the game or
a subsequent games.
25. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein the subsequent game is
one of a limited number of subsequent game.
26. A method for operating a gaming device comprising the steps of:
(a) randomly generating a plurality of symbols on a plurality of
reels in a game; (b) determining if a triggering event occurs on
the reels in the game; (c) determining if one or more designated
symbols occur in any position on the reels in the game when the
triggering event occurs in the game; and (d) providing an award to
a player when the triggering event occurs in the game and the
designated symbols occur in any position on the reels in the
game.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of determining if the
triggering event occurs on the reels includes determining if at
least one predetermined symbol occurs on the reels in the game.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of determining if the
triggering event occurs on the reels includes determining if a
plurality of predetermined symbols occur on the reels in the
game.
29. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of determining if the
triggering event occurs on the reels includes determining if at
least one predetermined symbol occurs on a payline associated with
the reels in the game.
30. The method of claim 26, which includes the step of displaying
the plurality of reels on a display device in the game.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein the steps (a) to (d) are
provided to the player through a data network.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the data network is an
internet.
33. A method for operating a gaming device comprising the steps of:
(a) randomly generating a plurality of symbols on a plurality of
reels in a game; (b) determining if a predetermined symbol occurs
on the reels in the game; (c) determining if a designated
combination of symbols occurs in any position on the reels when the
predetermined symbol occurs on the reels in the game; and (d)
providing an award to a player when the predetermined symbol occurs
on the reels in the game and the designated combination of symbols
occurs on the reels in the game.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of determining if the
predetermined symbol occurs on the reels includes determining if
the predetermined symbol occurs on a payline associated with the
reels.
35. The method of claim 33, wherein the steps (a) to (d) are
provided to the player through a data network.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the data network is an
internet.
37. A method for operating a gaming device comprising the steps of:
(a) randomly generating a plurality of symbols on a plurality of
reels in a game, wherein the symbols include at least one scatter
pay symbol; (b) determining if a triggering event occurs in the
game, wherein the triggering event includes at least one scatter
pay symbol occurring on the reels in the game; (c) determining if
one or more designated symbols occur in any position on the reels
when the triggering event occurs in the game; and (d) providing an
award to a player when the triggering event occurs in the game and
the designated symbols occur in any position on the reels in the
game.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of determining if the
triggering event occurs in the game includes determining if at
least one scatter pay symbol occurs on a payline associated with
the reels in the game.
39. The method of claim 37, wherein the steps (a) to (d) are
provided to the player through a data network.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein the data network is an
internet.
41. A method for operating a gaming device comprising the steps of:
(a) randomly generating a plurality of symbols on a plurality of
reels in a game; (b) determining if a triggering event occurs on
the reels in the game; (c) determining if one or more designated
symbols occur in any position on the reels when the triggering
event occurs in a subsequent game; and (d) providing an award to a
player when the triggering event occurs in the game and the
designated symbols occur in any position on the reels in the
subsequent game.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein the steps (a) to (d) are
provided to the player through a data network.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the data network is an
internet.
Description
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
or may contain material which is subject to copyright protection.
The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction
by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in
exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office
patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights
whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Gaming device manufacturers strive to make gaming devices
that provide as much enjoyment and excitement as possible.
Providing a game in which a player has an opportunity to win
potentially large awards or credits is one way to enhance player
enjoyment and excitement.
[0003] Currently, gaming machines or devices provide games such as
slot games wherein a player has one or more opportunities to obtain
a winning symbol combination on mechanical or video reels. The
winning symbol combination may be along the same payline or on
different paylines (known as a scatter pay). By providing gaming
devices with more winning symbol combinations, players' have more
opportunities to receive an award.
[0004] One known gaming device is described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,190,254. The gaming device in this patent is a slot machine that
has a plurality of rotatable reels with symbols. A player spins the
reels and receives an award by obtaining predetermined winning
symbol combinations on the reels. This gaming device also has a
"special" symbol. The special symbol acts like a wildcard symbol
such that when the special symbol occurs on the reels, it combines
with an existing symbol combination to provide the most desirable
winning symbol combination to the player in that spin. The special
symbol may represent any symbol in the game and provide the most
favorable winning symbol combination associated with those symbols.
Therefore, the special symbol increases the likelihood that a
player will obtain an award.
[0005] Another gaming device is described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,056,642, which discloses a slot machine including several reels
which pays an award when a symbol combination having three 7's
occurs on a payline. If the three 7's occur on a central payline or
"win line," the player receives a jackpot prize. Furthermore, the
winning combination of 7's is normally against a clear background.
However, the background color can change and affect the award. The
background color can be the same color for each symbol or each
symbol can be against a different background color. The symbol
combinations combined with the color combinations provide several
award opportunities for players.
[0006] Gaming devices that increase the opportunities to obtain
awards and increase the size of the awards are desirable. Players
are attracted to games that provide several larger awards.
Therefore, to increase player enjoyment and excitement, it is
desirable to provide new games for gaming devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a gaming device and in
particular a primary game of a gaming device that enables players
to obtain larger awards and more awards in a game.
[0008] In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of
reels having a plurality of symbols in a game. The gaming device
also includes a triggering event including at least one
predetermined symbol such as a scatter pay symbol in the game. The
gaming device activates or spins the reels and determines whether
one or more scatter pay symbols occur on the reels (i.e., if the
triggering event occurs on the reels). In one embodiment, if the
triggering event occurs, the gaming device provides an award for
any designated winning symbol combination including two or more
symbols occurring in any of the positions on the reels (i.e., a
scatter pay combination) in the game. In another embodiment, a
scatter pay may occur when one or more designated symbols occurs in
any position or designated positions on the reels.
[0009] In one embodiment, the triggering event occurs when the
scatter pay symbols appear on a payline associated with the reels
in the game. In another embodiment the triggering event occurs when
the scatter pay symbol or symbols appear in any position on the
reels in the game. Accordingly, the triggering event causes the
game in which the triggering event occurred to pay for scatter
wins. The scatter pay symbol enables a player to obtain more awards
and larger awards in a game.
[0010] In another embodiment, the gaming device provides an award
for a winning symbol combination including the scatter pay symbols
in the game. In one aspect of this embodiment, the player obtains
the largest award associated with the winning symbol combinations
occurring in any position on the reels when one or more scatter pay
symbols occurs on the reels in the game. In another aspect of this
embodiment, the gaming device provides an award for any winning
symbol combinations occurring on the reels and also the award
associated with the winning symbol combination including the
scatter pay symbols that occurs on the reels, if any. Thus, the
player can obtain multiple awards in a game.
[0011] It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to
provide a gaming device that provides several award opportunities
to a player in a game.
[0012] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a
gaming device that enables a player to obtain more awards in a
game.
[0013] As a further advantage of the present invention to provide a
gaming device that includes several winning symbol
combinations.
[0014] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will
be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like
numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and
processes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the
gaming device of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of another embodiment of
the gaming device of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the electronic
configuration of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of one of the display
device of FIGS. 1A and 1B, which illustrates one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of one embodiment of an award
table employed in the present invention.
[0020] FIGS. 5A and 5B are enlarged front elevation views of an
example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 illustrating two spins by
a player in the game.
[0021] FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of another embodiment
of the present invention where three scatter pay symbols occur on
the reels.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Gaming Device and Electronics
[0022] Referring now to the drawings, two embodiments of the gaming
device of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B
as gaming device 10a and gaming device 10b, respectively. Gaming
device 10a and/or gaming device 10b are generally referred to
herein as gaming device 10. Gaming device 10 is preferably a slot
machine having the controls, displays and features of a
conventional slot machine. It is constructed so that a player can
operate it while standing or sitting, and gaming device 10 is
preferably mounted on a console. However, it should be appreciated
that gaming device 10 can be constructed as a pub-style table-top
game (not shown) which a player can operate preferably while
sitting. Furthermore, gaming device 10 can be constructed with
varying cabinet and display designs, as illustrated by the designs
shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Gaming device 10 can also be implemented
as a program code stored in a detachable cartridge for operating a
hand-held video game device. Also, gaming device 10 can be
implemented as a program code stored on a disk or other memory
device which a player can use in a desktop or laptop personal
computer or other computerized platform.
[0023] Gaming device 10 can incorporate any primary game such as
slot, black jack, poker or keno, any of the bonus triggering events
and any of the bonus round games. The symbols and indicia used on
and in gaming device 10 may be in mechanical, electrical,
electronic or video form.
[0024] As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, gaming device 10 includes
a coin slot 12 and bill acceptor 14 where the player inserts money,
coins or tokens. The player can place coins in the coin slot 12 or
paper money or ticket vouchers in the bill acceptor 14. Other
devices could be used for accepting payment such as readers or
validators for credit cards or debit cards. When a player inserts
money in gaming device 10, a number of credits corresponding to the
amount deposited is shown in a credit display 16. After depositing
the appropriate amount of money, a player can begin the game by
pulling arm 18 or pushing play button 20. Play button 20 can be any
play activator used by the player which starts any game or sequence
of events in the gaming device.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, gaming device 10 also includes
a bet display 22 and a bet one button 24. The player places a bet
by pushing the bet one button 24. The player can increase the bet
by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button 24.
When the player pushes the bet one button 24, the number of credits
shown in the credit display 16 decreases by one, and the number of
credits shown in the bet display 22 increases by one.
[0026] A player may cash out and thereby receive a number of coins
corresponding to the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash
out button 26. When the player cashes out, the player receives the
coins in a coin payout tray 28. The gaming device 10 may employ
other payout mechanisms such as credit slips redeemable by a
cashier or electronically recordable cards which keep track of the
player's credits.
[0027] Gaming device 10 also includes one or more display devices.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 1A includes a central display device
30, and the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1B includes a
central display device 30 as well as an upper display device 32.
Gaming device 10 displays a plurality of reels 34 such as three to
five reels 34 in mechanical or video form at one or more of the
display devices. A display device can be any viewing surface such
as glass, a video monitor or screen, a liquid crystal display or
any other display mechanism. If the reels 34 are in video form, the
display device for the video reels 34 is preferably a video
monitor.
[0028] Each reel 34 displays a plurality of indicia such as bells,
hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars or other images which
preferably correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device
10. Furthermore, gaming device 10 preferably includes speakers 36
for making sounds or playing music.
[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the general electronic
configuration of gaming device 10 preferably includes: a processor
38; a memory device 40 for storing program code or other data; a
central display device 30; an upper display device 32; a sound card
42; a plurality of speakers 36; and one or more input devices 44.
The processor 38 is preferably a microprocessor or
microcontroller-based platform which is capable of displaying
images, symbols and other indicia such as images of people,
characters, places, things and faces of cards. The memory device 40
can include random access memory (RAM) 46 for storing event data or
other data generated or used during a particular game. The memory
device 40 can also include read only memory (ROM) 48 for storing
program code which controls the gaming device 10 so that it plays a
particular game in accordance with applicable game rules and pay
tables.
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the player preferably uses the
input devices 44, such as pull arm 18, play button 20, the bet one
button 24 and the cash out button 26 to input signals into gaming
device 10. In certain instances it is preferable to use a touch
screen 50 and an associated touch screen controller 52 instead of a
conventional video monitor display device. Touch screen 50 and
touch screen controller 52 are connected to a video controller 54
and processor 38. A player can make decisions and input signals
into the gaming device 10 by touching touch screen 50 at the
appropriate places. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the processor
38 can be connected to coin slot 12 or bill acceptor 14. The
processor 38 can be programmed to require a player to deposit a
certain amount of money in order to start the game.
[0031] It should be appreciated that although a processor 38 and
memory device 40 are preferable implementations of the present
invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one
or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's) or other
hard-wired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively or
alternatively referred to herein as a "processor"). Furthermore,
although the processor 38 and memory device 40 preferably reside on
each gaming device 10 unit, it is possible to provide some or all
of their functions at a central location such as a network server
for communication to a playing station such as over a local area
network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection,
microwave link, and the like. The processor 38 and memory device 40
is generally referred to herein as the "computer" or
"controller."
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, to operate the gaming
device 10 in one embodiment the player must insert the appropriate
amount of money or tokens at coin slot 12 or bill acceptor 14 and
then pull the arm 18 or push the play button 20. The reels 34 will
then begin to spin. Eventually, the reels 34 will come to a stop.
As long as the player has credits remaining, the player can spin
the reels 34 again. Depending upon where the reels 34 stop, the
player may or may not win additional credits.
[0033] In addition to winning credits in this manner, gaming device
10 also gives players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus
round. This type of gaming device 10 will include a program which
will automatically begin a bonus round when the player has achieved
a qualifying condition in the game. This qualifying condition can
be a particular arrangement of indicia on a display device. The
gaming device 10 preferably uses a video-based central display
device 30 to enable the player to play the bonus round. Preferably,
the qualifying condition is a predetermined combination of indicia
appearing on one or more of a plurality of the reels 34. As
illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,
the qualifying condition could be the number seven appearing on
three adjacent reels 34 along a payline 56. It should be
appreciated that the present invention can include one or more
paylines, such as payline 56, wherein the paylines can be
horizontal, diagonal or any combination thereof. In one embodiment,
the present invention is employed in a bonus or secondary game
triggered in a primary or base game.
Scatter Pay Symbol
[0034] Referring to FIG. 3, the gaming device 10 includes a
plurality of reels 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d and 34e in a game, which
include a plurality of symbols 100 designated with the letters A,
B, C, D and E. The reels also include at least one scatter pay
symbol 102. Additionally, a plurality of paylines 56a, 56b and 56c
are associated with the reels in a conventional manner. It should
be appreciated that any suitable number of paylines 56 may be
associated with the reels in the game. It should also be
appreciated that any suitable number of reels may be used in a
game. In this embodiment, the symbols 100 are letters A, B, C, D, E
and F, however, the reels 34 may include any suitable symbol or
symbols.
[0035] In one embodiment, the reels 34a to 34e include one or more
scatter pay symbols 102. In the game, if one or more of the scatter
pay symbols 102 occur on the reels 34a to 34e (i.e., triggering
event), the gaming device provides an award or awards for any
predetermined winning or designated symbol or symbol combinations
that occur on a single payline or on several paylines (i.e.,
scatter pay combination) associated with the reels. Thus, the
occurrence of the scatter pay symbol 102 causes the scatter pay and
enables a player to obtain an additional award or awards, and
potentially a larger award in the game. The awards may include
values, prizes, free spins, free games, bonus games, multipliers or
any other suitable award.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, an example of an award table which is
employed in an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.
The award table 200 includes several predetermined winning symbol
combinations 202 and awards 204 associated with those combinations
in a game. In the award table 200, any combination of three
identical symbols on a single payline provides an award to the
player in the game. In this table, three A's on a single payline
provides an award of one hundred. Similarly, three B's, three C's,
three D's, three E's and three F's provide awards of seventy,
fifty, forty, thirty and twenty respectively. Additionally, the
gaming device provides an award if three of the scatter pay symbols
102 occur on a single payline associated with the reels in the
game. In this example, three scatter pay symbols on a payline
provides an award of ten to the player. It should be appreciated
that any predetermined combinations of symbols may be designated as
winning symbol combinations and any suitable awards may be
associated with those combinations.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, an example of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is illustrated where the gaming device
provides the player with three spins of the reels 34a to 34e in the
game. In FIG. 5A, the player uses their first spin in the game to
activate the reels 34. The gaming device spins the reels and
provides any awards to the player for winning symbol combinations
that occur on a single payline 56a, 56b or 56c. In this example,
the winning combinations are designated in the award table
illustrated in FIG. 4. According to the award table, the player
must obtain three identical symbols on a single payline or three
identical symbols on several paylines, if one or more scatter
symbols 102 occur on the reels, to obtain an award in the game
After the first spin, the player did not obtain a winning symbol
combination on any one of the paylines 56a, 56b or 56c as shown in
FIG. 5A. Additionally, no scatter pay symbols 102 occurred on the
reels 34. Therefore, the gaming device does not provide an award to
the player. If one or more scatter pay symbols 102 occur on the
reels 34, the gaming device provides an award to the player for any
predetermined combination shown in the award table of FIG. 4, which
occurs in any position on the reels (i.e., a scatter pay
combination) of symbols. However, since a scatter pay symbol did
not occur on the reels, the gaming device does not provide any
awards for this type of combination to the player.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 5B, the player uses a second spin in the
game to spin or activate the reels 34. The gaming device spins or
activates the reels and the reels stop and indicate the symbols
shown in FIG. 5B. Again, three identical symbols or a winning
symbol combination did not occur on a single payline 56a, 56b or
56c. However, two scatter pay symbols 102a and 102b are indicated
on paylines 56a and 56c, respectively. Although the player did not
obtain three identical symbols on a single payline, the player may
obtain an award for a scattered combination of symbols across two
or more paylines because at least one of the scatter pay symbols
102 occurred on the reels. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, three A
symbols 104a, 104b and 104c are indicated on paylines 56a and 56b.
Additionally, four B symbols are indicated on paylines 56a, 56b and
56c. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides the largest
award associated with the winning symbol combinations indicated on
the reels. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides the
awards associated with all of the winning symbol combinations
indicated on the reels. It should be appreciated that the gaming
device may provide an award for any of the winning combinations of
symbols indicated on the reels as desired by the game implementor.
It should also be appreciated that the gaming device may provide
one or more awards associated with one or more winning symbol
combinations on the reels. In this example, the gaming device
provides the largest award associated with the winning combinations
of symbols on the reels. Therefore, the gaming device provides the
player with an award of one hundred for the winning symbol
combination including three A symbols (i.e., the combination
associated with the largest award) as shown in the award table 200
in FIG. 4. The player does not have any spins remaining in the game
and therefore the game ends and the player receives the total award
accumulated in the game.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated where the gaming device provides an award
to the player associated with a combination of symbols including
the scatter pay symbols 102. In FIG. 6, the player obtained three
scatter pay symbols 102c, 102d and 102e on the reels in a game. Any
one of the scatter pay symbols triggers the scatter pay combination
in the game. As shown in FIG. 4, an award is associated with three
identical symbols such as the three scatter pay symbols 102c, 102d
and 102e. In FIG. 6, no other combinations occur on the reels so
the player receives the award associated with the three scatter pay
symbols. In one aspect of this embodiment, the gaming device
provides the largest award associated with the indicated winning
symbol combinations on the reels in the game. In another aspect of
this embodiment, the gaming device provides the largest award
associated with the winning symbol combinations indicated on the
reels and the award associated with the winning combination of
scatter pay symbols indicated on the reels in the game. Therefore,
the player obtains multiple awards in the game. It should be
appreciated that the gaming device may provide any number of awards
to the player based on the winning symbol combinations indicated on
the reels. In a further embodiment, the gaming device does not
provide any awards for the scatter pay symbols 102 occurring on the
reels.
[0040] It should be appreciated that in one embodiment of the
present invention the triggering event can occur in one game and
apply to one or more subsequent games such that scatter pays are
made in one or more subsequent games or one or more of a limited
number of subsequent games.
[0041] While the present invention is described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention is not
limited to the disclosed embodiments, and is intended to cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within
the spirit and scope of the claims. Modifications and variations in
the present invention may be made without departing from the novel
aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and this
application is limited only by the scope of the claims.
* * * * *