Systems and methods for consolidating symbols in electronic gaming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12340662-B2
Application number	US-202217956339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2022
Priority date	Sep 29, 2022
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

An electronic gaming device including a display device, a memory device storing instructions, and a processor in communication with the display device and the memory device is described. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause display of a plurality of symbols, present an output amount, determine that the plurality of symbols includes a plurality of consolidating symbols, cause display of the plurality of consolidating symbols consolidating into a consolidated symbol, fill any vacant symbol positions with new symbols, determine a second output amount, and present the second output amount. The instructions also cause the processor to cause display of a third plurality of symbols, the third plurality of symbols and the consolidated symbol defining a fourth plurality of symbols, determine a third output amount based upon the fourth plurality of symbols, and present the third output amount.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic gaming device comprising:
a display device;
a memory device storing instructions; and
a processor in communication with the display device and the memory device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
cause display of a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions on the display device, wherein the plurality of symbols correspond to an output amount for a play of an electronic game;
present the output amount for the play of the electronic game;
determine that the plurality of symbols includes a plurality of consolidating symbols;
cause display of the plurality of consolidating symbols consolidating into a consolidated symbol at a symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions previously occupied by a consolidating symbol, wherein the consolidated symbol is associated with a number of future plays of the electronic game;
cause display of a counter icon in association with the consolidated symbol, wherein the display of the counter icon includes display of a number of spins associated with the number of future plays;
cause the consolidated symbol to persist at the symbol position across the number of future plays;
fill any vacant symbol positions of the plurality of symbol positions with new symbols, wherein the new symbols, the consolidated symbol, and any remaining symbols of the plurality of symbols comprise a second plurality of symbols;
determine a second output amount for the play of the electronic game based upon the second plurality of symbols;
present the second output amount for the play of the electronic game;
for each symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions other than the symbol position including the consolidated symbol, cause display of a third plurality of symbols for one of the number of future plays, the third plurality of symbols and the consolidated symbol comprising a fourth plurality of symbols;
determine a third output amount based upon the fourth plurality of symbols;
present the third output amount for the one of the number of future plays; and
cause the counter icon to decrement the number of spins in response to each future play of the number of future plays.

2. The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine that the plurality of symbols includes a plurality of consolidating symbols by determining that the plurality of symbols includes a plurality of Wild symbols, wherein the plurality of Wild symbols comprises the plurality of consolidating symbols.

3. The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a respective output amount each time a consolidated symbol is consolidated into the consolidated symbol, wherein the plurality of consolidating symbols are consolidated into the consolidated symbol one-by-one.

4. The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to consolidate the plurality of consolidating symbols into the consolidated symbol one-by-one in an order such that each successive respective output amount is greater than each previous respective output amount.

5. The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to only consolidate consolidating symbols that are adjacent another consolidating symbol in the plurality of symbols.

6. The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to cease display of the consolidated symbol when the number of spins associated with the number of future plays of the electronic game reaches zero.

7. The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to display an animation in association with the plurality of consolidating symbols consolidating into the consolidated symbol to communicate to a player of the electronic game that consolidation is occurring.

8. The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
cause display of a multiplier associated with the consolidated symbol; and
apply the multiplier to each output amount presented by the electronic gaming device while the consolidated symbol is displayed.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to:
cause display of a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions on a display device, wherein the plurality of symbols correspond to an output amount for a play of an electronic game;
transmit the output amount for the play of the electronic game;
determine that the plurality of symbols includes a plurality of consolidating symbols;
cause display of the plurality of consolidating symbols consolidating into a consolidated symbol at a symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions previously occupied by a consolidating symbol, wherein the consolidated symbol is associated with a number of future plays of the electronic game;
cause display of a counter icon in association with the consolidated symbol, wherein the display of the counter icon includes display of a number of spins associated with the number of future plays;
cause the consolidated symbol to persist at the symbol position across the number of future plays;
cause any vacant symbol positions of the plurality of symbol positions to be filled with new symbols, wherein the new symbols, the consolidated symbol, and any remaining symbols of the plurality of symbols comprise a second plurality of symbols;
determine a second output amount for the play of the electronic game based upon the second plurality of symbols;
transmit the second output amount for the play of the electronic game;
for each symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions other than the symbol position including the consolidated symbol, cause display of a third plurality of symbols for one of the number of future plays, the third plurality of symbols and the consolidated symbol comprising a fourth plurality of symbols;
determine a third output amount based upon the fourth plurality of symbols;
transmit the third output amount for the one of the number of future plays; and
cause the counter icon to decrement the number of spins in response to each future play of the number of future plays.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine that the plurality of symbols includes a plurality of consolidating symbols by determining that the plurality of symbols includes a plurality of Wild symbols, wherein the plurality of Wild symbols comprises the plurality of consolidating symbols.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a respective output amount each time a consolidated symbol is consolidated into the consolidated symbol, wherein the plurality of consolidating symbols are consolidated into the consolidated symbol one-by-one.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to consolidate the plurality of consolidating symbols into the consolidated symbol one-by-one in an order such that each successive respective output amount is greater than each previous respective output amount.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to only consolidate consolidating symbols that are adjacent another

Assignees

• Aristocrat Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Marsh David
• Roelofs Karl

Classifications

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title

• G07F17/3213

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title

• G07F17/3267 Primary

  Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games · CPC title