U.S. patent application number 17/184891 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-25 for gaming machine and method with persistence feature.
The applicant listed for this patent is SG Gaming, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kenneth Shawn SOONG.
Application Number | 20210366236 17/184891 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005431707 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210366236 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SOONG; Kenneth Shawn |
November 25, 2021 |
GAMING MACHINE AND METHOD WITH PERSISTENCE FEATURE
Abstract
A gaming system comprises a gaming machine and game-logic
circuitry. The gaming machine includes an electronic display device
configured to display an array of symbol positions. The game-logic
circuitry is configured to perform the operations of: spinning and
stopping symbol-bearing reels to land one or more first
value-bearing symbols borne by the reels in the array; animating
the array to tag the symbol positions in which the first
value-bearing symbols land; again spinning and stopping the
symbol-bearing reels to land a second value-bearing symbol borne by
the reels in one of the tagged symbol positions; awarding an award
based on the value borne by the second value-bearing symbol; and
animating the array to untag the one of the tagged symbol positions
and any other ones of the tagged symbol positions that are in a
cluster with the one of the tagged symbol positions.
Inventors: |
SOONG; Kenneth Shawn;
(Henderson, NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SG Gaming, Inc. |
Las Vegas |
NV |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005431707 |
Appl. No.: |
17/184891 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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63027417 |
May 20, 2020 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3211 20130101;
G06Q 50/34 20130101; G07F 17/3267 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20060101
G07F017/32; G06Q 50/34 20060101 G06Q050/34 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising
the operations of: displaying an array of symbol positions on an
electronic display device; spinning and stopping symbol-bearing
reels to land one or more first value-bearing symbols borne by the
reels in the array; animating the array to tag the symbol positions
in which the first value-bearing symbols land; again spinning and
stopping the symbol-bearing reels to land a second value-bearing
symbol borne by the reels in one of the tagged symbol positions;
awarding an award based on the value borne by the second
value-bearing symbol; and animating the array to untag the one of
the tagged symbol positions and any other ones of the tagged symbol
positions that are in a cluster with the one of the tagged symbol
positions.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of again spinning
and stopping the symbol-bearing reels includes landing a third
value-bearing symbol in a symbol position other than one of the
tagged symbol positions, and further including the operation of
animating the array to tag the symbol position in which the third
value-bearing symbol lands.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of again spinning
and stopping the symbol-bearing reels includes landing a third
value-bearing symbol in another one of the tagged symbol positions
that is in the cluster with the one of the tagged symbol positions,
wherein the award is also based on the value borne by the third
value-bearing symbol.
4. The method of claim 3, further including the operation of
animating the array to display a value borne by the second
value-bearing symbol in the one of the tagged symbol positions, to
display a value borne by the third value-bearing symbol in the
another one of the tagged symbol positions, and to display a value
derived from the second and third value-bearing symbols in any
other ones of the tagged symbol positions in the cluster.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the award is also based on the
value borne by the third value-bearing symbol and the value derived
from the second and third value-bearing symbols.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of animating the
array to tag the symbol positions in which the first value-bearing
symbols land includes applying a border, color change, background
change, watermark, or other distinguishing characteristic to the
symbol positions.
7. The method of claim 1, further including the operation of
animating the array to display the value borne by the second
value-bearing symbol in the tagged symbol positions in the
cluster.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the award includes the value
borne by the second value-bearing symbol, multiplied by the number
of tagged symbol positions in the cluster.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the tagged symbol positions in
the cluster are adjacent to each other such that each tagged symbol
position in the cluster is adjacent to at least one other tagged
symbol position in the cluster.
10. A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising
the operations of: displaying an array of symbol positions on an
electronic display device; spinning and stopping symbol-bearing
reels to land a first plurality of symbols borne by the reels in
the array; in response to the landed first plurality of symbols
including one or more first value-bearing symbols, animating the
array to tag the symbol positions in which the first value-bearing
symbols land; again spinning and stopping the symbol-bearing reels
to land a second plurality of symbols borne by the reels in the
array; and in response to the landed second plurality of symbols
including a second value-bearing symbol that lands in one of the
tagged symbol positions, awarding an award based on the value borne
by the second value-bearing symbol and animating the array to untag
the one of the tagged symbol positions and any other ones of the
tagged symbol positions that are in a cluster with the one of the
tagged symbol positions.
11. A gaming system comprising: a gaming machine including an
electronic display device configured to display an array of symbol
positions; and game-logic circuitry configured to perform the
operations of: spinning and stopping symbol-bearing reels to land
one or more first value-bearing symbols borne by the reels in the
array; animating the array to tag the symbol positions in which the
first value-bearing symbols land; again spinning and stopping the
symbol-bearing reels to land a second value-bearing symbol borne by
the reels in one of the tagged symbol positions; awarding an award
based on the value borne by the second value-bearing symbol; and
animating the array to untag the one of the tagged symbol positions
and any other ones of the tagged symbol positions that are in a
cluster with the one of the tagged symbol positions.
12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the operation of again
spinning and stopping the symbol-bearing reels includes landing a
third value-bearing symbol in a symbol position other than one of
the tagged symbol positions, and further including the operation of
animating the array to tag the symbol position in which the third
value-bearing symbol lands.
13. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the operation of again
spinning and stopping the symbol-bearing reels includes landing a
third value-bearing symbol in another one of the tagged symbol
positions that is in the cluster with the one of the tagged symbol
positions, wherein the award is also based on the value borne by
the third value-bearing symbol.
14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the game-logic circuitry
is further configured to perform the operation of animating the
array to display a value borne by the second value-bearing symbol
in the one of the tagged symbol positions, to display a value borne
by the third value-bearing symbol in the another one of the tagged
symbol positions, and to display a value derived from the second
and third value-bearing symbols in any other ones of the tagged
symbol positions in the cluster.
15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the award is also based
on the value borne by the third value-bearing symbol and the value
derived from the second and third value-bearing symbols.
16. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the operation of
animating the array to tag the symbol positions in which the first
value-bearing symbols land includes applying a border, color
change, background change, watermark, or other distinguishing
characteristic to the symbol positions.
17. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the game-logic circuitry
is further configured to perform the operation of animating the
array to display the value borne by the second value-bearing symbol
in the tagged symbol positions in the cluster.
18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the award includes the
value borne by the second value-bearing symbol, multiplied by the
number of tagged symbol positions in the cluster.
19. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the tagged symbol
positions in the cluster are adjacent to each other such that each
tagged symbol position in the cluster is adjacent to at least one
other tagged symbol position in the cluster.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 63/027,417, filed May 20, 2020, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
COPYRIGHT
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever. Copyright 2020, SG Gaming, Inc.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a technological improvement
to gaming systems, apparatus, and methods and, more particularly,
to new and improved animations in connection with a symbol array
persistence feature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The gaming industry depends upon player participation.
Players are generally "hopeful" players who either think they are
lucky or at least think they can get lucky--for a relatively small
investment to play a game, they can get a disproportionately large
return. To create this feeling of luck, a gaming apparatus relies
upon an internal or external random element generator to generate
one or more random elements such as random numbers. The gaming
apparatus determines a game outcome based, at least in part, on the
one or more random elements.
[0005] A significant technical challenge is to improve the
operation of gaming apparatus and games played thereon, including
the manner in which they leverage the underlying random element
generator, by making them yield a negative return on investment in
the long run (via a high quantity and/or frequency of
player/apparatus interactions) and yet random and volatile enough
to make players feel they can get lucky and win in the short run.
Striking the right balance between yield versus randomness and
volatility to create a feeling of luck involves addressing many
technical problems, some of which can be at odds with one another.
This luck factor is what appeals to core players and encourages
prolonged and frequent player participation. As the industry
matures, the creativity and ingenuity required to improve such
operation of gaming apparatus and games grows accordingly.
[0006] Another significant technical challenge is to provide a new
and improved level of game play that uses new and improved gaming
apparatus animations. Improved animations represent improvements to
the underlying technology or technical field of gaming apparatus
and, at the same time, have the effect of encouraging prolonged and
frequent player participation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided a gaming system and a method of operating a gaming
system. The gaming system comprises a gaming machine and game-logic
circuitry. The gaming machine includes an electronic display device
configured to display an array of symbol positions. The game-logic
circuitry is configured to perform the operations of: spinning and
stopping symbol-bearing reels to land one or more first
value-bearing symbols borne by the reels in the array; animating
the array to tag the symbol positions in which the first
value-bearing symbols land; again spinning and stopping the
symbol-bearing reels to land a second value-bearing symbol borne by
the reels in one of the tagged symbol positions; awarding an award
based on the value borne by the second value-bearing symbol; and
animating the array to untag the one of the tagged symbol positions
and any other ones of the tagged symbol positions that are in a
cluster with the one of the tagged symbol positions.
[0008] Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed
description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to
the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a free-standing gaming
machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a gaming system according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an image of an exemplary basic-game screen of a
wagering game displayed on a gaming machine, according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for an algorithm that corresponds to
instructions executed by a controller in accord with at least some
aspects of the disclosed concepts.
[0013] FIGS. 5A-5B, 6A-6B, 7A-7C, and 8A-8C are representations of
a series of game cycles of a wagering game displayed on a gaming
machine, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way
of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein.
It should be understood, however, that the invention is not
intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather,
the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the
embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed
description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa
(unless specifically disclaimed); the words "and" and "or" shall be
both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word "all" means "any and
all"; the word "any" means "any and all"; and the word "including"
means "including without limitation."
[0016] For purposes of the present detailed description, the terms
"wagering game," "casino wagering game," "gambling," "slot game,"
"casino game," and the like include games in which a player places
at risk a sum of money or other representation of value, whether or
not redeemable for cash, on an event with an uncertain outcome,
including without limitation those having some element of skill. In
some embodiments, the wagering game involves wagers of real money,
as found with typical land-based or online casino games. In other
embodiments, the wagering game additionally, or alternatively,
involves wagers of non-cash values, such as virtual currency, and
therefore may be considered a social or casual game, such as would
be typically available on a social networking web site, other web
sites, across computer networks, or applications on mobile devices
(e.g., phones, tablets, etc.). When provided in a social or casual
game format, the wagering game may closely resemble a traditional
casino game, or it may take another form that more closely
resembles other types of social/casual games.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a gaming machine 10
similar to those operated in gaming establishments, such as
casinos. With regard to the present invention, the gaming machine
10 may be any type of gaming terminal or machine and may have
varying structures and methods of operation. For example, in some
aspects, the gaming machine 10 is an electromechanical gaming
terminal configured to play mechanical slots, whereas in other
aspects, the gaming machine is an electronic gaming terminal
configured to play a video casino game, such as slots, keno, poker,
blackjack, roulette, craps, etc. The gaming machine 10 may take any
suitable form, such as floor-standing models as shown, handheld
mobile units, bartop models, workstation-type console models, etc.
Further, the gaming machine 10 may be primarily dedicated for use
in playing wagering games, or may include non-dedicated devices,
such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, personal
computers, etc. Exemplary types of gaming machines are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,517,433, 8,057,303, and 8,226,459, which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
[0018] The gaming machine 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a
gaming cabinet 12 that securely houses various input devices,
output devices, input/output devices, internal
electronic/electromechanical components, and wiring. The cabinet 12
includes exterior walls, interior walls and shelves for mounting
the internal components and managing the wiring, and one or more
front doors that are locked and require a physical or electronic
key to gain access to the interior compartment of the cabinet 12
behind the locked door. The cabinet 12 forms an alcove 14
configured to store one or more beverages or personal items of a
player. A notification mechanism 16, such as a candle or tower
light, is mounted to the top of the cabinet 12. It flashes to alert
an attendant that change is needed, a hand pay is requested, or
there is a potential problem with the gaming machine 10.
[0019] The input devices, output devices, and input/output devices
are disposed on, and securely coupled to, the cabinet 12. By way of
example, the output devices include a primary display 18, a
secondary display 20, and one or more audio speakers 22. The
primary display 18 or the secondary display 20 may be a
mechanical-reel display device, a video display device, or a
combination thereof in which a transmissive video display is
disposed in front of the mechanical-reel display to portray a video
image superimposed upon the mechanical-reel display. The displays
variously display information associated with wagering games,
non-wagering games, community games, progressives, advertisements,
services, premium entertainment, text messaging, emails, alerts,
announcements, broadcast information, subscription information,
etc. appropriate to the particular mode(s) of operation of the
gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 includes a touch screen(s)
24 mounted over the primary or secondary displays, buttons 26 on a
button panel, a bill/ticket acceptor 28, a card reader/writer 30, a
ticket dispenser 32, and player-accessible ports (e.g., audio
output jack for headphones, video headset jack, USB port, wireless
transmitter/receiver, etc.). It should be understood that numerous
other peripheral devices and other elements exist and are readily
utilizable in any number of combinations to create various forms of
a gaming machine in accord with the present concepts.
[0020] The player input devices, such as the touch screen 24,
buttons 26, a mouse, a joystick, a gesture-sensing device, a
voice-recognition device, and a virtual-input device, accept player
inputs and transform the player inputs to electronic data signals
indicative of the player inputs, which correspond to an enabled
feature for such inputs at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a
"Max Bet" button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place
a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The inputs, once
transformed into electronic data signals, are output to game-logic
circuitry for processing. The electronic data signals are selected
from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an
electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an
optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.
[0021] The gaming machine 10 includes one or more value
input/payment devices and value output/payout devices. In order to
deposit cash or credits onto the gaming machine 10, the value input
devices are configured to detect a physical item associated with a
monetary value that establishes a credit balance on a credit meter
such as the "credits" meter 84 (see FIG. 3). The physical item may,
for example, be currency bills, coins, tickets, vouchers, coupons,
cards, and/or computer-readable storage mediums. The deposited cash
or credits are used to fund wagers placed on the wagering game
played via the gaming machine 10. Examples of value input devices
include, but are not limited to, a coin acceptor, the bill/ticket
acceptor 28, the card reader/writer 30, a wireless communication
interface for reading cash or credit data from a nearby mobile
device, and a network interface for withdrawing cash or credits
from a remote account via an electronic funds transfer. In response
to a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance
on the "credits" meter 84 (see FIG. 3), the value output devices
are used to dispense cash or credits from the gaming machine 10.
The credits may be exchanged for cash at, for example, a cashier or
redemption station. Examples of value output devices include, but
are not limited to, a coin hopper for dispensing coins or tokens, a
bill dispenser, the card reader/writer 30, the ticket dispenser 32
for printing tickets redeemable for cash or credits, a wireless
communication interface for transmitting cash or credit data to a
nearby mobile device, and a network interface for depositing cash
or credits to a remote account via an electronic funds
transfer.
[0022] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a block diagram of the
gaming-machine architecture. The gaming machine 10 includes
game-logic circuitry 40 securely housed within a locked box inside
the gaming cabinet 12 (see FIG. 1). The game-logic circuitry 40
includes a central processing unit (CPU) 42 connected to a main
memory 44 that comprises one or more memory devices. The CPU 42
includes any suitable processor(s), such as those made by Intel and
AMID. By way of example, the CPU 42 includes a plurality of
microprocessors including a master processor, a slave processor,
and a secondary or parallel processor. Game-logic circuitry 40, as
used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, or
firmware disposed in or outside of the gaming machine 10 that is
configured to communicate with or control the transfer of data
between the gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer,
processor, device, service, or network. The game-logic circuitry
40, and more specifically the CPU 42, comprises one or more
controllers or processors and such one or more controllers or
processors need not be disposed proximal to one another and may be
located in different devices or in different locations. The
game-logic circuitry 40, and more specifically the main memory 44,
comprises one or more memory devices which need not be disposed
proximal to one another and may be located in different devices or
in different locations. The game-logic circuitry 40 is operable to
execute all of the various gaming methods and other processes
disclosed herein. The main memory 44 includes a wagering-game unit
46. In one embodiment, the wagering-game unit 46 causes wagering
games to be presented, such as video poker, video black jack, video
slots, video lottery, etc., in whole or part.
[0023] The game-logic circuitry 40 is also connected to an
input/output (I/O) bus 48, which can include any suitable bus
technologies, such as an AGTL+ frontside bus and a PCI backside
bus. The I/O bus 48 is connected to various input devices 50,
output devices 52, and input/output devices 54 such as those
discussed above in connection with FIG. 1. The I/O bus 48 is also
connected to a storage unit 56 and an external-system interface 58,
which is connected to external system(s) 60 (e.g., wagering-game
networks).
[0024] The external system 60 includes, in various aspects, a
gaming network, other gaming machines or terminals, a gaming
server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety
of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In
yet other aspects, the external system 60 comprises a player's
portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic
wallet, etc.) and the external-system interface 58 is configured to
facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the
portable electronic device and the gaming machine 10, such as by a
near-field communication path operating via magnetic-field
induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g.,
Bluetooth, etc.).
[0025] The gaming machine 10 optionally communicates with the
external system 60 such that the gaming machine 10 operates as a
thin, thick, or intermediate client. The game-logic circuitry
40--whether located within ("thick client"), external to ("thin
client"), or distributed both within and external to ("intermediate
client") the gaming machine 10--is utilized to provide a wagering
game on the gaming machine 10. In general, the main memory 44
stores programming for a random number generator (RNG),
game-outcome logic, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.)--all
of which obtained regulatory approval from a gaming control board
or commission and are verified by a trusted authentication program
in the main memory 44 prior to game execution. The authentication
program generates a live authentication code (e.g., digital
signature or hash) from the memory contents and compare it to a
trusted code stored in the main memory 44. If the codes match,
authentication is deemed a success and the game is permitted to
execute. If, however, the codes do not match, authentication is
deemed a failure that must be corrected prior to game execution.
Without this predictable and repeatable authentication, the gaming
machine 10, external system 60, or both are not allowed to perform
or execute the RNG programming or game-outcome logic in a
regulatory-approved manner and are therefore unacceptable for
commercial use. In other words, through the use of the
authentication program, the game-logic circuitry facilitates
operation of the game in a way that a person making calculations or
computations could not.
[0026] When a wagering-game instance is executed, the CPU 42
(comprising one or more processors or controllers) executes the RNG
programming to generate one or more pseudo-random numbers. The
pseudo-random numbers are divided into different ranges, and each
range is associated with a respective game outcome. Accordingly,
the pseudo-random numbers are utilized by the CPU 42 when executing
the game-outcome logic to determine a resultant outcome for that
instance of the wagering game. The resultant outcome is then
presented to a player of the gaming machine 10 by accessing the
associated game assets, required for the resultant outcome, from
the main memory 44. The CPU 42 causes the game assets to be
presented to the player as outputs from the gaming machine 10
(e.g., audio and video presentations). Instead of a pseudo-RNG, the
game outcome may be derived from random numbers generated by a
physical RNG that measures some physical phenomenon that is
expected to be random and then compensates for possible biases in
the measurement process. Whether the RNG is a pseudo-RNG or
physical RNG, the RNG uses a seeding process that relies upon an
unpredictable factor (e.g., human interaction of turning a key) and
cycles continuously in the background between games and during game
play at a speed that cannot be timed by the player. Accordingly,
the RNG cannot be carried out manually by a human and is integral
to operating the game.
[0027] The gaming machine 10 may be used to play central
determination games, such as electronic pull-tab and bingo games.
In an electronic pull-tab game, the RNG is used to randomize the
distribution of outcomes in a pool and/or to select which outcome
is drawn from the pool of outcomes when the player requests to play
the game. In an electronic bingo game, the RNG is used to randomly
draw numbers that players match against numbers printed on their
electronic bingo card.
[0028] The gaming machine 10 may include additional peripheral
devices or more than one of each component shown in FIG. 2. Any
component of the gaming-machine architecture includes hardware,
firmware, or tangible machine-readable storage media including
instructions for performing the operations described herein.
Machine-readable storage media includes any mechanism that stores
information and provides the information in a form readable by a
machine (e.g., gaming terminal, computer, etc.). For example,
machine-readable storage media includes read only memory (ROM),
random access memory (RAM), magnetic-disk storage media, optical
storage media, flash memory, etc.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an image of a
basic-game screen 80 adapted to be displayed on the primary display
18 or the secondary display 20. The basic-game screen 80 portrays a
plurality of simulated symbol-bearing reels 82. Alternatively or
additionally, the basic-game screen 80 portrays a plurality of
mechanical reels or other video or mechanical presentation
consistent with the game format and theme. The basic-game screen 80
also advantageously displays one or more game-session credit meters
84 and various touch screen buttons 86 adapted to be actuated by a
player. A player can operate or interact with the wagering game
using these touch screen buttons or other input devices such as the
buttons 26 shown in FIG. 1. The game-logic circuitry 40 operates to
execute a wagering-game program causing the primary display 18 or
the secondary display 20 to display the wagering game.
[0030] In response to receiving an input indicative of a wager
drawn on or deducted from the credit balance on the "credits" meter
84, the reels 82 are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the
reels in visual association with paylines such as paylines 88. The
wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the
stopped reels and provides immediate awards and bonus games in
accordance with a pay table. The pay table may, for example,
include "line pays" or "scatter pays." Line pays occur when a
predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated
payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right,
right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Scatter pays
occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear
anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position or
paylines. Similarly, the wagering game may trigger bonus games
based on one or more bonus triggering symbols appearing along an
activated payline (i.e., "line trigger") or anywhere in the
displayed array (i.e., "scatter trigger"). The wagering game may
also provide mystery awards and features independent of the symbols
appearing in the displayed array.
[0031] In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game
on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the
wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a
wager and a wagering-game outcome is provided or displayed in
response to the wager being received or detected. The wagering-game
outcome, for that particular wagering-game instance, is then
revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the
wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the
wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming machine
10 depicted in FIG. 1, following receipt of an input from the
player to initiate a wagering-game instance. The gaming machine 10
then communicates the wagering-game outcome to the player via one
or more output devices (e.g., primary display 18 or secondary
display 20) through the display of information such as, but not
limited to, text, graphics, static images, moving images, etc., or
any combination thereof. In accord with the method of conducting
the wagering game, the game-logic circuitry 40 transforms a
physical player input, such as a player's pressing of a "Spin
Reels" touch key or button, into an electronic data signal
indicative of an instruction relating to the wagering game (e.g.,
an electronic data signal bearing data on a wager amount).
[0032] In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the
game-logic circuitry 40 is configured to process the electronic
data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals
corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions
associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with
stored instructions relating to such further actions executed by
the controller. As one example, the CPU 42 causes the recording of
a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media
(e.g., storage unit 56), the CPU 42, in accord with associated
stored instructions, causes the changing of a state of the storage
media from a first state to a second state. This change in state
is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a
magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing
a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical
disc storage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors
in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM,
etc.). The noted second state of the data storage media comprises
storage in the storage media of data representing the electronic
data signal from the CPU 42 (e.g., the wager in the present
example). As another example, the CPU 42 further, in accord with
the execution of the stored instructions relating to the wagering
game, causes the primary display 18, other display device, or other
output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.)
to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein
the second state of the primary display comprises a visual
representation of the physical player input (e.g., an
acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical
player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game
sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination
thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present
concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned
executing of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game
is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g.,
determined by the RNG) that is used by the game-logic circuitry 40
to determine the outcome of the wagering-game instance. In at least
some aspects, the game-logic circuitry 40 is configured to
determine an outcome of the wagering-game instance at least
partially in response to the random parameter.
[0033] In one embodiment, the gaming machine 10 and, additionally
or alternatively, the external system 60 (e.g., a gaming server),
means gaming equipment that meets the hardware and software
requirements for fairness, security, and predictability as
established by at least one state's gaming control board or
commission. Prior to commercial deployment, the gaming machine 10,
the external system 60, or both and the casino wagering game played
thereon may need to satisfy minimum technical standards and require
regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission
(e.g., the Nevada Gaming Commission, Alderney Gambling Control
Commission, National Indian Gaming Commission, etc.) charged with
regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined
geographical area, such as a state. By way of non-limiting example,
a gaming machine in Nevada means a device as set forth in NRS
463.0155, 463.0191, and all other relevant provisions of the Nevada
Gaming Control Act, and the gaming machine cannot be deployed for
play in Nevada unless it meets the minimum standards set forth in,
for example, Technical Standards 1 and 2 and Regulations 5 and 14
issued pursuant to the Nevada Gaming Control Act. Additionally, the
gaming machine and the casino wagering game must be approved by the
commission pursuant to various provisions in Regulation 14.
Comparable statutes, regulations, and technical standards exist in
other gaming jurisdictions. As can be seen from the description
herein, the gaming machine 10 may be implemented with hardware and
software architectures, circuitry, and other special features that
differentiate it from general-purpose computers (e.g., desktop PCs,
laptops, and tablets).
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a flowchart
representing one data processing method 100 corresponding to at
least some instructions stored and executed by the game-logic
circuitry 40 in FIG. 2 to perform operations embodying the present
invention.
[0035] At step 102, the game-logic circuitry initiates a wagering
game. At step 104, the game-logic circuitry directs a display of
the gaming machine to display an array of symbol positions. At step
106, a player enters play parameters such as a wager amount to be
drawn from a credit balance (deducted from a credit meter) and
number of lines or ways along which winning symbol combinations
must appear. To initiate a spin of the reels, the player may press
a "Spin Reels" or "Max Bet" key on a button panel or touch screen.
At step 108, in response to the player initiating the reel spin,
the game-logic circuitry generates a random game outcome. At step
110, the game-logic circuitry spins and stops the reels to land a
plurality of symbols in the displayed array according to the
selected game outcome. At step 112, the game-logic circuitry
provides awards for any winning symbol combinations (e.g., line
pays and scatter pays) in the array.
[0036] At step 114, the game-logic circuitry determines whether or
not the landed plurality of symbols include value-bearing
symbols.
[0037] If the landed plurality of symbols does not include
value-bearing symbols at step 114, the game-logic circuitry
concludes the current game cycle at step 116.
[0038] If, however, the landed plurality of symbols include
value-bearing symbols at step 114, flow proceeds to step 118. For
any value-bearing symbols that landed in existing tagged symbol
positions in the array (i.e., a symbol position that was tagged in
a prior game cycle), the game-logic circuitry directs the display
to display the value borne by the value-bearing symbol in the
tagged symbol position and any other tagged symbol positions in the
same cluster as the tagged position. A cluster is a set of tagged
symbol positions that are adjacent to each other such that each
tagged symbol position in the cluster is horizontally, vertically,
or diagonally adjacent to at least one other tagged symbol position
in the cluster. If a plurality of value-bearing symbols landed in
the same cluster, the game-logic circuitry directs the display to
display the first value borne by a first value-bearing symbol of
the plurality in its tagged symbol position, to display the second
value borne by a second value-bearing symbol of the plurality in
its tagged symbol position, and so on, and then to display a value
derived from the first, second, etc. values in any other tagged
symbol positions in the cluster that were not populated by the
landed value-bearing symbols. The derived value applied to these
unpopulated, tagged symbol positions may, for example, be the sum
of the first, second, etc. values. At steps 120 and 122, the
game-logic circuitry awards the displayed values and animates the
array to remove or clear or untag the tagged positions in the
cluster.
[0039] After clearing the tags from the awarded symbol positions,
flow proceed to step 124. At step 124, for each value-bearing
symbols that did not land in an existing tagged position in the
array (i.e., a symbol position that was tagged in a prior game
cycle), the game-logic circuitry animates the array to visually tag
(i.e., leave behind tags) the symbol position in which that
value-bearing symbol landed. The game-logic circuitry may, for
example, tag a symbol position by applying a border, color change,
background change, watermark, or other distinguishing
characteristic to that position to distinguish it from untagged
positions.
[0040] The game logic circuitry then concludes the current game
cycle at step 116.
[0041] FIGS. 5A-5B through 8A-8C illustrate an example of base game
play under control of the game-logic circuitry. Each set of figures
represents a respective base game cycle. Specifically, FIGS. 5A-5B
represents a first game cycle; FIGS. 6A-6B represents a second game
cycle succeeding the first cycle; FIGS. 7A-7C represents a third
game cycle succeeding the second cycle; and FIGS. 8A-8C represents
a fourth game cycle succeeding the third cycle. In each game cycle,
a plurality of symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land a
plurality of symbols in a symbol array 200. The illustrated array
200 has fifteen symbol positions arranged in three rows and five
columns 202, 204, 206, 208, and 210. Each column is associated with
a respective reel such that each stopped reel presents three
symbols. Alternatively, each symbol position may be associated with
a respective independent reel such that each stopped reel presents
a single symbol. The array may have more or less rows and/or
columns. The number of symbol positions in each column may vary
from each other. For example, the first, third, and fifth columns
202, 206, and 210 may have three symbol positions vertically
aligned with each other, while the second and fourth columns 204
and 208 have four symbol positions that are vertically aligned with
each other but vertically offset from the other columns by one-half
symbol position.
[0042] Referring to the first game cycle of FIGS. 5A-5B, the reels
are spun and stopped to land a plurality of symbols in the array
200. As shown in FIG. 5A, the landed plurality of symbols include
two value-bearing symbols V1 and V2. Each value-bearing symbol may
be represented by a coin or chip bearing a respective credit value
such as 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 credits. Different value-bearing
symbols, e.g., V1 and V2, may bear the same or different credit
values. As shown in FIG. 5B, because the value-bearing symbols V1
and V2 did not land in previously tagged symbol positions, the
array 200 is animated to apply visual tags 212 and 214 (in the form
of thicker borders) to the symbol positions in which the symbols V1
and V2 landed. These tags 212 and 214 persist to the second game
cycle in FIGS. 6A-6B.
[0043] Referring to the second game cycle of FIGS. 6A-6B, the reels
are spun and stopped to land another plurality of symbols in the
array 200. As shown in FIG. 6A, the landed plurality of symbols
include three value-bearing symbols V3, V4, and V5. As shown in
FIG. 6B, because the value-bearing symbols V3, V4, and V5 did not
land in previously tagged symbol positions, the array 200 is
animated to apply visual tags 216, 218, and 220 to the symbol
positions in which the symbols V3, V4, and V5 landed. The tags 212,
216, and 218 form a first cluster 212/216/218 of tagged positions
that are adjacent to each other, while the tags 214 and 220 form a
second cluster 214/220 of tagged positions that are adjacent to
each other. The tags 212, 214, 216, 218, and 220 persist to the
third game cycle in FIGS. 7A-7C.
[0044] Referring to the third game cycle of FIGS. 7A-7C, the reels
are spun and stopped to land another plurality of symbols in the
array 200. As shown in FIG. 7A, the landed plurality of symbols
include three value-bearing symbols V6, V7, and V8. As shown in
FIG. 7B, because the value-bearing symbols V6 and V7 landed in
respective previously tagged positions 216 and 212 in the same
cluster 212/216/218, the value borne by symbol V6 is displayed in
its symbol position 216, the value borne by symbol V7 is displayed
in its symbol position 212, and a value derived from values of V6
and V7 is displayed in the third symbol position 218 in the cluster
212/216/218. The derived value may, for example, be the sum of V6
and V7 (as shown in FIG. 7B), the multiplication of V6 and V7, the
average of V6 and V7, the lower value of V6 and V7, the higher
value of V6 and V7, a random value, etc. The displayed values are
awarded to the player. As shown in FIG. 7C, the array is then
animated to remove or clear the tags 212, 216, and 218 in the
cluster 212/216/218. Because the value-bearing symbol V8 did not
land in a previously tagged symbol position, the array 200 is
animated to apply (leave behind) a visual tag 222 to the symbol
position in which the symbol V8 landed. The cluster 214/220 has now
been expanded to include the tag 222. The tags 214, 220, and 222 in
the expanded cluster 214/220/222 persist to the fourth game cycle
in FIGS. 8A-8C.
[0045] Referring to the fourth game cycle of FIGS. 8A-8C, the reels
are spun and stopped to land another plurality of symbols in the
array 200. As shown in FIG. 8A, the landed plurality of symbols
include three value-bearing symbols V9, V10, and V11. As shown in
FIG. 8B, because a single value-bearing symbol V11 landed in a
previously tagged position 214 in the cluster 214/220/222, the
value borne by symbol V11 is displayed in all three symbol
positions in the cluster 214/220/220. Alternatively, a random value
may be displayed in the tagged positions 220 and 222 not occupied
by symbol V11. The displayed values are awarded to the player. The
array is then animated to remove or clear the tags 214, 220, and
222 in the cluster 214/220/222. As shown in FIG. 8C, because the
value-bearing symbols V9 and V10 did not land in previously tagged
symbol positions, the array 200 is animated to apply (leave behind)
visual tags 224 and 226 to the symbol positions in which the
symbols V9 and V10 landed. The tags 224 and 226 persist to the next
game cycle (not shown).
[0046] In each game cycle, prior to or after providing any awards
for landed value-bearing symbols, the player is awarded for any
winning symbol combinations (e.g., line pays and scatter pays) that
may appear in the array 200 (e.g., in FIGS. 5A, 6A, 7A, and 8A).
And each game cycle may trigger bonus features as described herein.
Although not illustrated in the figures, if a value-bearing symbol
lands in a previously tagged symbol position that is not part of a
cluster of multiple tagged symbol positions, the player is awarded
the value borne by that value-bearing symbol, and the tag is
removed or cleared from that symbol position.
[0047] In one embodiment, the tags "time out" and clear after a
predetermined number of game cycles or other triggering event
(e.g., cash out, bonus game trigger, etc.), even if the tagged
symbol positions have not yielded an award by virtue of a
value-bearing symbol landing in the same cluster. The tags may
carry over from the basic game into a free game bonus triggered
during play of the basic game. The free game bonus may operate like
the basic game (but without requiring a wager in each game cycle),
and any tags remaining at the conclusion of the free game bonus may
carry back from the free game bonus into the basic game. In
addition to being left behind by value-bearing symbols, tags may be
randomly added to untagged symbol positions in the array.
[0048] Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is
contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed
invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover,
the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and
subcombinations of the preceding elements and aspects.
* * * * *