Gaming machine with runs of symbols

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9199162-B2
Application number	US-201314051985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2013
Priority date	Feb 14, 2005
Publication date	Dec 1, 2015
Grant date	Dec 1, 2015

Abstract

A gaming machine comprising a processor to execute a game displaying a matrix of symbol containing elements having a plurality of rows and a plurality columns; at least one column comprising a portion of a simulated rotatable reel of a plurality of said symbol containing elements; said simulated rotatable reel comprising sections of symbol containing elements displaying a plurality of symbols; said simulated rotatable reel including at least one section in which a consecutive run of two or more of said elements is populated by a first identical symbol so that, said first identical symbol being used for a first play of said game, a second identical symbol being randomly selected, the first identical symbol being replaced by the second identical symbol in said consecutive run of two or more of said elements, said second identical symbol being used for a second play of said game.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gaming machine, comprising:
a memory device configured to store data representing a target reel, the target reel having a number of symbol positions, the target reel having a run of consecutive symbol positions, each symbol position being initially populated with a symbol from a set of symbols prior to initiation of a first instance of a game;
a display device configured to display a matrix having a plurality of display elements arranged in a column, the number of display elements in the column being less than the predetermined number of symbol positions in the target reel, and the display device being further configured to display a portion of the target reel such that the symbols associated with at least one of the symbol positions of the target reel is displayed in the matrix when the target reel is in a stop position; and
a game controller configured to randomly select an identical symbol from the set of symbols, to initiate an instance of the game, and to establish an outcome of the game, wherein the identical symbol is inserted into each of the symbol positions of the run of consecutive symbol positions on the target reel.

2. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 1 , the game controller being configured to detect a trigger event and to responsively replace the symbols in the run of consecutive symbol positions with the randomly selected identical symbol in response to detecting the trigger event.

3. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein each symbol in the set of symbols has a probability, the game controller configured to randomly select the identical symbol as a function of the associated probabilities.

4. A gaming machine, as set 3 , wherein the probability associated with at least one of the symbols in the set of symbols is different than the probability associated with at least one other of the symbols in the set of symbols.

5. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the identical symbol is randomly selected from a subset of the set of symbols.

6. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 5 , wherein each symbol in the subset of symbols has a probability, the game controller configured to randomly select the identical symbol as a function of the associated probabilities.

7. A gaming machine, as set 6 , wherein the probability associated with at least one of the symbols in the subset of symbols is different than the probability associated with at least one other of the symbols in the subset of symbols.

8. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the game controller replaces the symbols in the run of consecutive symbols with the identical symbol while the reel is spinning.

9. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the game controller replaces the symbols in the run of consecutive symbols with the identical symbol while the reel is spinning in a pre-spin.

10. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the memory device is configured to store data representing a second reel, the second reel having a number of symbol positions, the second reel having a run of consecutive symbol positions, each symbol position in the run of consecutive symbol positions of the second reel being initially populated with a second identical symbol.

11. A gaming machine, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the game controller is configured to randomly select one of the symbol positions of the second reel and to responsively replace the symbols in the run of consecutive symbol positions of the target reel with a randomly selected identical symbol if the randomly selected one of the symbol positions of the second reel is within the run of consecutive symbol positions of the second reel.

12. A method of playing a game on a gaming machine, including the steps of:
storing, on a memory device, data representing a target reel, the target reel having a number of symbol positions, the target reel having a run of consecutive symbol positions, each symbol position being initially populated with a symbol from a set of symbols prior to initiation of a first instance of a game;
displaying, on a display device, a matrix having a plurality of display elements arranged in a column, the number of display elements in the column being less than the predetermined number of symbol positions in the target reel, and the display device being further configured to display a portion of the target reel such that the symbols associated with at least one of the symbol positions of the target reel is displayed in the matrix when the target reel is in a stop position;
randomly selecting, via a game controller, an identical symbol from the set of symbols; and,
initiating an instance of the game and establishing an outcome of the game, wherein the identical symbol is inserted into each of the symbol positions of the run of consecutive symbol positions on the target reel.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 12 , including the step of detecting a trigger event and responsively replacing the symbols in the run of consecutive symbol positions with the randomly selected identical symbol in response to detecting the trigger event.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein each symbol in the set of symbols has a probability, wherein the identical symbol is selected as a function of the associated probabilities.

15. A method, as set 14 , wherein the probability associated with at least one of the symbols in the set of symbols is different than the probability associated with at least one other of the symbols in the set of symbols.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the symbols in the run of consecutive symbols are replaced with the identical symbol while the reel is spinning.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the symbols in the run of consecutive symbols are replaced with the identical symbol while the reel is spinning in a pre-spin.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the identical symbol is randomly selected from a subset of the set of symbols.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , wherein each symbol in the subset of symbols has a probability, wherein the identical symbol is selected as a function of the associated probabilities.

20. A method, as set 19 , wherein the probability associated with at least one of the symbols in the subset of symbols is different than the probability associated with at least one other of the symbols in the subset of symbols.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 12 , including the step of storing, in the memory device, data representing a second reel, the second reel having a number of symbol positions, the second reel having a run of consecutive symbol positions, each symbol position in the run of consecutive symbol positions of the second reel being initially populated with a second identical symbol.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 21 , including the step of randomly selecting one of the symbol positions of the second reel and responsively replacing the symbols in the run of consecutive symbol positions of the target reel with a randomly selected identical symbol if the randomly selected one of the symbol positions of the second reel is within the run of consecutive symbol positions of the second reel.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium recording a program for controlling a computer to function as a:
a memory device configured to store data representing a target reel, the target reel having a number of symbol positions, the target reel having a

Assignees

• Konami Gaming Inc

Inventors

• Yoshimi Osamu

Classifications

• G07F17/3213 Primary

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

• G07F17/3267

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

• A63F9/24 Primary

  Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G07F17/34

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

• G07F17/3288

  Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking · CPC title