Gaming machine and method with enhanced movement bonus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024119795-A1
Application number	US-202217962384-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 7, 2022
Priority date	Oct 7, 2022
Publication date	Apr 11, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a slot machine game with a movement game board bonus game. Responsive to a trigger pattern in a base game result, a prize board is displayed including a number of symbol locations containing symbols indicating prizes, and a current position indicator indicating a current location on the board. A number of selectable items are provided from which the player may select. Responsive to selections, one of a movement indicator with an associated movement direction, or a prize collector indicator are revealed. For a movement indicator, the current position indicator moves to an adjacent one of the symbols on the prize board in a direction shown by the movement indicator. For a prize collector indicator, the method includes awarding a prize associated with the prize level of the current position indicator.

First claim

1 . A method for controlling operation of a gaming machine, the method including:
responsive to a play input entered through a player input device of the gaming machine and under control of a processing system of the gaming machine, causing a display system of the gaming machine to display a base result representation comprising a matrix of symbols including multiple columns and rows; responsive to a trigger pattern formed in the base result representation, causing the display system to display in a first display area a prize board including a number of symbol locations containing respective symbols indicating respective prize levels and a current position indicator indicating a current location among the symbol locations, and display in a second display area a number of selectable items; allowing a player to make selections from the number of selectable items; responsive to a player selection of a one of the selectable items, revealing one of a movement indicator with an associated movement direction, or a prize collector indicator; responsive to revealing a movement indicator, causing the current position indicator to move to an adjacent one of the symbols on the prize board in a direction shown by the movement indicator; and responsive to revealing a prize collector indicator, awarding a prize associated with the prize level of the current position indicator.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to revealing a movement indicator, enlarging the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved.

3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising, responsive to revealing a movement indicator, increasing a visual brightness of the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved and a group of the symbols surrounding the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the symbols include a set of jackpot award symbols associated with a set of respective jackpot awards, and a set of numerical symbols associated with respective prize values.

5 . A gaming machine comprising:
a display system, an audio device, a player input device, and a processing system operatively coupled to the display system, the audio device, and the player input device and configured to execute instructions related to a game; and tangible, non-transitory electronically accessible memory coupled to the processing system and containing program code executable by the processing system for:
responsive to a play input entered through the player input device, causing the display system to display a base result representation comprising a matrix of symbols including multiple columns and rows;
responsive to a trigger pattern formed in the base result representation, causing the display system to display in a first display area a prize board including a number of symbol locations containing respective symbols indicating respective prize levels and a current position indicator indicating a current location among the symbol locations, and display in a second display area a number of selectable items;
allowing a player to make selections from the number of selectable items;
responsive to a player selection of a one of the selectable items, revealing one of a movement indicator with an associated movement direction, or a prize collector indicator;
responsive to revealing a movement indicator, causing the current position indicator to move to an adjacent one of the symbols on the prize board in a direction shown by the movement indicator; and
responsive to revealing a prize collector indicator, awarding a prize associated with the prize level of the current position indicator.

6 . The gaming machine of claim 5 wherein the program code is further executable for, responsive to revealing a movement indicator, enlarging the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved.

7 . The gaming machine of claim 6 wherein the program code is further executable for, responsive to revealing a movement indicator, increasing a visual brightness of the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved and a group of the symbols surrounding the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved.

8 . The gaming machine of claim 7 wherein the symbols include a set of jackpot award symbols associated with a set of respective jackpot awards, and a set of numerical symbols associated with respective prize values.

9 . Tangible, non-transitory computer readable media holding a program product for execution by a processing system of a gaming machine, the program product including machine instruction program code for:
responsive to a play input entered through a player input device of the gaming machine, causing a display system of the gaming machine to display a base result representation comprising a matrix of symbol including multiple columns and rows; responsive to a trigger pattern formed in the base result representation, causing the display system to display in a first display area a prize board including a number of symbol locations containing respective symbols indicating respective prize levels and a current position indicator indicating a current location among the symbol locations, and display in a second display area a number of selectable items; allowing a player to make selections from the number of selectable items; responsive to a player selection of a one of the selectable items, revealing one of a movement indicator with an associated movement direction, or a prize collector indicator; responsive to revealing a movement indicator, causing the current position indicator to move to an adjacent one of the symbols on the prize board in a direction shown by the movement indicator; and responsive to revealing a prize collector indicator, awarding a prize associated with the prize level of the current position indicator.

10 . The media holding a program product of claim 9 wherein the program code is further executable for, responsive to revealing a movement indicator, enlarging the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved.

11 . The media holding a program product of claim 10 wherein the program code is further executable for, responsive to revealing a movement indicator, increasing a visual brightness of the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved and a group of the symbols surrounding the adjacent symbol to which the current position indicator is moved.

12 . The media holding a program product of claim 9 wherein the symbols include a set of jackpot award symbols associated with a set of respective jackpot awards, and a set of numerical symbols associated with respective prize values.

Assignees

• Everi Games Inc

Inventors

• Mariscal Juan
• Audia Cydny Bloem
• Hale Darren
• Cioffari Cara
• Chan Jason
• Durre Andrew

Classifications

• G07F17/3258 Primary

  Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots · CPC title

• G07F17/3213

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

• G07F17/3262 Primary

  Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played · CPC title

• G07F17/34

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

• G07F17/3209

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title