Three dimensional enhancements to game components in gaming systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9824524-B2
Application number	US-201414291662-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2014
Priority date	May 30, 2014
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

An electronic gaming machine, an electronic gaming system, and a computer-implemented method are disclosed. The electronic gaming machine comprises: at least one processor; at least one persistent data store; at least one receiver to receive game data for storage in the at least one persistent data store; and a display device configured with a user interface to display a portion of the game data as a first matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto, and at least a second matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components in accordance with the set of game rules for the given game, each game components having an original symbol associated thereto.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic gaming machine for providing three dimensional enhancements to game components comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one persistent data store;
at least one receiver to receive game data for storage in the at least one persistent data store;
a plurality of input devices including:
a) an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value;
b) a validator configured to identify the physical item and to cause the monetary value associated with the physical item to be added to a credit balance in the electronic gaming machine; and
c) a cashout button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance; and
a display device configured with a user interface to display a portion of the game data as a first matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components of the first matrix having an original symbol associated thereto, and at least a second matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components in accordance with the set of game rules for the given game, each one of the game components of the second matrix having an original symbol associated thereto;
wherein the first matrix is rendered as a first reel, and the second matrix is rendered as a second reel embedded within the first reel, wherein the first reel is layered on top of the second reel in a 3D configuration and the game components of the second reel are initially hidden by the first reel;
wherein the processor is configured to:
initiate an instance of the given game in response to user input when the credit balance has at least a predetermined level;
identify at least one game component of the first matrix as a trigger game component;
detect activation of the trigger game component, wherein the trigger game component is a transparent game component that reveals at least one of the game components of the second matrix and wherein activation of the trigger game component occurs when the transparent game component stops in a pay line of the display device;
trigger an action event associated with the second matrix, wherein the action event comprises a spin of the second reel;
integrate the at least one revealed game component of the second matrix into the given game;
determine a winning outcome using the first matrix and the second matrix; and in response to determining the winning outcome, apply an award associated with the winning outcome to the credit balance.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one game component of the second matrix lights up on the user interface when integrated into the given game.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the display device is further configured to display a portion of the game data as a third matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components in accordance with the set of game rules for the given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto; and
the processor is further configured to:
identify at least one game component of the second matrix as a second trigger game component;
detect activation of the second trigger game component;
trigger an action event associated with the third matrix;
integrate at least one game component of the third matrix into the given game; and
determine a winning outcome using the first matrix, the second matrix, and the third matrix;
and wherein the second matrix is layered on top of the third matrix.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the third matrix is a third reel embedded within the second reel.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the at least one game component of the third matrix triggers a progressive jackpot or a bonus game prize used for the winning outcome.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the first reel and the second reel are arranged asymmetrically such that the first reel and the second reel each has a different center of gravity on the user display.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein one or more game components are caused by the display device to light up when a winning, a payline or a trigger is activated or triggered.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein at least one wild card is transferred from one game component to another game component within the same matrix, or from a game component in a matrix to a different game component in another matrix.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein all the game components in a matrix constitute a single symbol that is an expanding wild card.

10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one game component of the second matrix is associated with a prize value used for the winning outcome.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one game component of the second matrix triggers a progressive jackpot prize used for the winning outcome.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one game component of the second matrix triggers a secondary prize used for the winning outcome.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one game component of the second matrix is associated with at least one additional symbol used for the winning outcome by forming a winning outcome with a symbol of the at least one gaming component of the first matrix.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the display device is configured with the user interface to display at least one stack of game components, wherein the at least one stack of game components comprises the trigger game component from the first matrix and the at least one game component from the second matrix.

15. An electronic gaming system for providing three dimensional enhancements to game components comprising:
a server comprising a transmitter for transmitting electronic data signals representing game data; and
an electronic device comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one persistent data store;
at least one receiver to receive the electronic data signals representing game data for storage in the at least one persistent data store;
a plurality of input devices including:
a) an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value;
b) a validator configured to identify the physical item and to cause the monetary value associated with the physical item to be added to a credit balance in the electronic device; and
c) a cashout button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance;

a display device configured with a user interface to display a portion of the game data as a first matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components of the first matrix having an original symbol associated thereto, and at least a second matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components in accordance with the set of game rules for the given game, each one of the game components of the second matrix having an original symbol associated thereto;
wherein the first matrix is rendered as a first reel, and the second matrix is rendered as a second reel embedded within the first reel, wherein the first reel is layered on top of the second reel in a 3D configuration and the game components of the second reel are initially hidden by the first reel;
wherein the processor is configured to:
initiate an instance of the given game in r

Assignees

• Igt Canada Solutions Ulc

Inventors

• Comeau Brian
• Trainor Bethany
• Leger Francois Romeo

Classifications

• G07F17/3213 Primary

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

• G07F17/34

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