Patent Grant
11562631
The field of disclosure relates generally to casino gaming, and more particularly to systems and methods for providing short term persistence within electronic games.
Electronic gaming machines (“EGMs”) or gaming devices provide a variety of wagering games such as slot games, video poker games, video blackjack games, roulette games, video bingo games, keno games and other types of games that are frequently offered at casinos and other locations. Play on EGMs typically involves a player establishing a credit balance by inputting money, or another form of monetary credit, and placing a monetary wager (from the credit balance) on one or more outcomes of an instance (or single play) of a primary or base game. In some cases, a player may qualify for a special mode of the base game, a secondary game, or a bonus round of the base game by attaining a certain winning combination or triggering event in, or related to, the base game, or after the player is randomly awarded the special mode, secondary game, or bonus round. In the special mode, secondary game, or bonus round, the player is given an opportunity to win extra game credits, game tokens or other forms of payout. In the case of “game credits” that are awarded during play, the game credits are typically added to a credit meter total on the EGM and can be provided to the player upon completion of a gaming session or when the player wants to “cash out.”
“Slot” type games are often displayed to the player in the form of various symbols arrayed in a row-by-column grid or matrix. Specific matching combinations of symbols along predetermined paths (or paylines) through the matrix indicate the outcome of the game. The display typically highlights winning combinations/outcomes for identification by the player. Matching combinations and their corresponding awards are usually shown in a “pay-table” which is available to the player for reference. Often, the player may vary his/her wager to include differing numbers of paylines and/or the amount bet on each line. By varying the wager, the player may sometimes alter the frequency or number of winning combinations, frequency or number of secondary games, and/or the amount awarded.
Typical games use a random number generator (RNG) to randomly determine the outcome of each game. The game is designed to return a certain percentage of the amount wagered back to the player over the course of many plays or instances of the game, which is generally referred to as return to player (RTP). The RTP and randomness of the RNG ensure the fairness of the games and are highly regulated. Upon initiation of play, the RNG randomly determines a game outcome and symbols are then selected which correspond to that outcome. Notably, some games may include an element of skill on the part of the player and are therefore not entirely random.
In one aspect, a method for providing a persistent feature in an electronic game is provided. The method includes providing the electronic game that simulates spinning of a plurality of reels. The electronic game defines a play area that includes portions of each reel of the plurality of reels after each spin. The method also includes generating a first spin result that includes a first feature symbol on a first reel of the plurality of spinning reels and a second feature symbol on a second reel adjacent to the first reel. The method further includes triggering a value feature based on the occurrence of at least one feature symbol appearing on the first reel and at least one feature symbol appearing on the second reel in first spin result. The value feature causes the electronic game to award value feature symbols that appear on another reel of the plurality of reels other than the first reel and the second reel. The method also includes, upon initiation of a second spin, displaying an animation of moving one or more of the first feature symbol and the second feature symbol one or more positions of the reel upon which the feature symbol occurs. The method further includes overlaying the one or more moved feature symbols during the second spin of the plurality of reels. The method also includes triggering the value feature for the second spin when at least one feature symbol appears on both the first reel and on the second reel.
In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions is provided. When executed by an electronic gaming device, the instructions cause the electronic gaming device to provide an electronic game that simulates spinning of a plurality of reels. The electronic game defines a play area that includes portions of each reel of the plurality of reels after each spin. The instructions also cause the electronic gaming device to generate a first spin result that includes a first feature symbol on a first reel of the plurality of spinning reels and a second feature symbol on a second reel adjacent to the first reel. The instructions also cause the electronic gaming device to trigger a value feature based on the occurrence of at least one feature symbol appearing on the first reel and at least one feature symbol appearing on the second reel in first spin result. The value feature causes the electronic game to award value feature symbols that appear on another reel of the plurality of reels other than the first reel and the second reel. The instructions also cause the electronic gaming device to, upon initiation of a second spin, display an animation of moving one or more of the first feature symbol and the second feature symbol one or more positions of the reel upon which the feature symbol occurs. The instructions also cause the electronic gaming device to overlay the one or more moved feature symbols during the second spin of the plurality of reels. The instructions also cause the electronic gaming device to trigger the value feature for the second spin when at least one feature symbol appears on both the first reel and on the second reel.
In yet another aspect, an electronic gaming device providing an electronic game is provided. The electronic gaming device includes a display device, a memory including a plurality of reel strips that include common symbols and feature symbols, and a processor configured to execute instructions. When executed, the instructions cause the processor to provide an electronic game that simulates spinning of a plurality of reels. The electronic game defines a play area that includes portions of each reel of the plurality of reels after each spin. The instructions also cause the processor to generate a first spin result that includes a first feature symbol on a first reel of the plurality of spinning reels and a second feature symbol on a second reel adjacent to the first reel. The instructions also cause the processor to trigger a value feature based on the occurrence of at least one feature symbol appearing on the first reel and at least one feature symbol appearing on the second reel in first spin result. The value feature causes the electronic game to award value feature symbols that appear on another reel of the plurality of reels other than the first reel and the second reel. The instructions also cause the processor to upon initiation of a second spin, display an animation of moving one or more of the first feature symbol and the second feature symbol one or more positions of the reel upon which the feature symbol occurs. The instructions also cause the processor to overlay the one or more moved feature symbols during the second spin of the plurality of reels. The instructions also cause the processor to trigger the value feature for the second spin when at least one feature symbol appears on both the first reel and on the second reel.
An example embodiment of the subject matter disclosed will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Conventional slot-style games provide a randomness in a spin outcome and in award evaluation for that spin. For example, a game may utilize a random number generator to produce a spin outcome for the reels and that spin outcome is evaluated in conjunction with a pay table to determine an award amount to provide to the player. A particular round of a game, or game instance, typically concludes after a single spin and award evaluation, with no persistent features carrying over from one round to the next. Such conclusivity of each spin includes a simple display and resolution. However, providing games with features having short term persistence requires additional processing steps between game instances that may involve both feature tracking between instances and display features to provide a clear indication to players how the persistent features are carrying over from instance to instance.
A gaming system and methods are described that provide games with short term persistent features. The gaming system provides feature symbols which may trigger a persistent feature that carries across game instances. In an example embodiment, the gaming system provides a five reel game that includes “wild” feature symbols scattered throughout reels one and two and “value” feature symbols scattered throughout reels three, four, and five (e.g., a “cash on reels” symbol showing a numeric value of a potential award). The value feature symbols display award amounts in conjunction with the feature symbol are initially inactive but can be activated during a given game instance. When a spin result includes one or more feature symbols on both reels one and two, the value feature symbols on reels in a feature play area (e.g., reels three, four, and five) are activated. During award evaluation, the wild feature symbols may combine with the value feature symbols in the feature play area to generate wins (e.g., in payline evaluation, ways evaluation, or the like). Any value feature symbols that appear in one or more wins provide the value award amounts for those wins (e.g., in lieu of, or in addition to, a base symbol win evaluation). In some embodiments, the gaming system may provide reel expansion of the feature play area when the value feature is activated, possibly growing the reel height of reels three, four, and five by one or more additional rows in height, thereby exposing a larger feature play area and thus potentially more value feature symbols to include in the award evaluation.
Further, in the example embodiment, the gaming system provides persistence and associated display indicators based on the feature symbols appearance on reels one and two. When any feature symbol appears on reels one or two during a game instance, award evaluation is performed as described above. During a next spin, the gaming system retains the feature symbols on reels one and two from the prior spin, shifting those feature symbols up (or down) one row on their associated reel. If a feature symbol shifts above (or below) the first row (or last row), that persistent feature symbol is removed. These persisted feature symbols overlay the reel symbol that might normally appear during the next spin result. Since the feature symbols on reels one and two are used to activate the value feature symbols in the feature play area, the short term persistence of those feature symbols on reels one and two can improve award outcomes during subsequent spins.
The gaming system also provides a visual display animation for the persistent feature. When a feature symbol persists between two instances, the gaming system illustrates the persistent feature by showing an animation of the persistent feature symbol(s) shifting up (or down) on reels one and two during the next spin. For example, when a new spin is initiated, the gaming system may initiate spinning of the reels and show the persistent feature symbols overlaying their respective reels and symbol positions as the persistent feature symbol(s) are moved up (or down) one row. Once movement of the persistent feature symbols is complete, the gaming system concludes the spin and displays the spin result with the persistent feature symbols overlaying their respective symbol positions. In some embodiments, the gaming system may provide additional animation to the feature symbols when the value feature symbols are activated, thereby allowing the player to visually witness the conditions of the value feature activation. Accordingly, such display animation makes clear to the player how the persistent feature is operating from one spin to the next and how the feature symbols affect the underlying award evaluation being performed by the gaming system.
Communication between the gaming devices 104A-104X and the server computers 102, and among the gaming devices 104A-104X, may be direct or indirect using one or more communication protocols. As an example, gaming devices 104A-104X and the server computers 102 can communicate over one or more communication networks, such as over the Internet through a website maintained by a computer on a remote server or over an online data network including commercial online service providers, Internet service providers, private networks (e.g., local area networks and enterprise networks), and the like (e.g., wide area networks). The communication networks could allow gaming devices 104A-104X to communicate with one another and/or the server computers 102 using a variety of communication-based technologies, such as radio frequency (RF) (e.g., wireless fidelity (WiFi®) and Bluetooth®), cable TV, satellite links and the like.
In some implementation, server computers 102 may not be necessary and/or preferred. For example, in one or more implementations, a stand-alone gaming device such as gaming device 104A, gaming device 104B or any of the other gaming devices 104C-104X can implement one or more aspects of the present disclosure. However, it is typical to find multiple EGMs connected to networks implemented with one or more of the different server computers 102 described herein.
The server computers 102 may include a central determination gaming system server 106, a ticket-in-ticket-out (TITO) system server 108, a player tracking system server 110, a progressive system server 112, and/or a casino management system server 114. Gaming devices 104A-104X may include features to enable operation of any or all servers for use by the player and/or operator (e.g., the casino, resort, gaming establishment, tavern, pub, etc.). For example, game outcomes may be generated on a central determination gaming system server 106 and then transmitted over the network to any of a group of remote terminals or remote gaming devices 104A-104X that utilize the game outcomes and display the results to the players.
Gaming device 104A is often of a cabinet construction which may be aligned in rows or banks of similar devices for placement and operation on a casino floor. The gaming device 104A often includes a main door which provides access to the interior of the cabinet. Gaming device 104A typically includes a button area or button deck 120 accessible by a player that is configured with input switches or buttons 122, an access channel for a bill validator 124, and/or an access channel for a ticket-out printer 126.
In
In many configurations, the gaming device 104A may have a main display 128 (e.g., video display monitor) mounted to, or above, the gaming display area 118. The main display 128 can be a high-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma, light emitting diode (LED), or organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel which may be flat or curved as shown, a cathode ray tube, or other conventional electronically controlled video monitor.
In some implementations, the bill validator 124 may also function as a “ticket-in” reader that allows the player to use a casino issued credit ticket to load credits onto the gaming device 104A (e.g., in a cashless ticket (“TITO”) system). In such cashless implementations, the gaming device 104A may also include a “ticket-out” printer 126 for outputting a credit ticket when a “cash out” button is pressed. Cashless TITO systems are used to generate and track unique bar-codes or other indicators printed on tickets to allow players to avoid the use of bills and coins by loading credits using a ticket reader and cashing out credits using a ticket-out printer 126 on the gaming device 104A. The gaming device 104A can have hardware meters for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring the player credit balance. In addition, there can be additional meters that record the total amount of money wagered on the gaming device, total amount of money deposited, total amount of money withdrawn, total amount of winnings on gaming device 104A.
In some implementations, a player tracking card reader 144, a transceiver for wireless communication with a mobile device (e.g., a player's smartphone), a keypad 146, and/or an illuminated display 148 for reading, receiving, entering, and/or displaying player tracking information is provided in gaming device 104A. In such implementations, a game controller within the gaming device 104A can communicate with the player tracking system server 110 to send and receive player tracking information.
Gaming device 104A may also include a bonus topper wheel 134. When bonus play is triggered (e.g., by a player achieving a particular outcome or set of outcomes in the primary game), bonus topper wheel 134 is operative to spin and stop with indicator arrow 136 indicating the outcome of the bonus game. Bonus topper wheel 134 is typically used to play a bonus game, but it could also be incorporated into play of the base or primary game.
A candle 138 may be mounted on the top of gaming device 104A and may be activated by a player (e.g., using a switch or one of buttons 122) to indicate to operations staff that gaming device 104A has experienced a malfunction or the player requires service. The candle 138 is also often used to indicate a jackpot has been won and to alert staff that a hand payout of an award may be needed.
There may also be one or more information panels 152 which may be a back-lit, silkscreened glass panel with lettering to indicate general game information including, for example, a game denomination (e.g., $0.25 or $1), pay lines, pay tables, and/or various game related graphics. In some implementations, the information panel(s) 152 may be implemented as an additional video display.
Gaming devices 104A have traditionally also included a handle 132 typically mounted to the side of main cabinet 116 which may be used to initiate game play.
Many or all the above described components can be controlled by circuitry (e.g., a game controller) housed inside the main cabinet 116 of the gaming device 104A, the details of which are shown in
An alternative example gaming device 104B illustrated in
Example gaming device 104B includes a main cabinet 116 including a main door which opens to provide access to the interior of the gaming device 104B. The main or service door is typically used by service personnel to refill the ticket-out printer 126 and collect bills and tickets inserted into the bill validator 124. The main or service door may also be accessed to reset the machine, verify and/or upgrade the software, and for general maintenance operations.
Another example gaming device 104C shown is the Helix™ model gaming device manufactured by Aristocrat® Technologies, Inc. Gaming device 104C includes a main display 128A that is in a landscape orientation. Although not illustrated by the front view provided, the main display 128A may have a curvature radius from top to bottom, or alternatively from side to side. In some implementations, main display 128A is a flat panel display. Main display 128A is typically used for primary game play while secondary display 128B is typically used for bonus game play, to show game features or attraction activities while the game is not in play or any other information or media desired by the game designer or operator. In some implementations, example gaming device 104C may also include speakers 142 to output various audio such as game sound, background music, etc.
Many different types of games, including mechanical slot games, video slot games, video poker, video black jack, video pachinko, keno, bingo, and lottery, may be provided with or implemented within the depicted gaming devices 104A-104C and other similar gaming devices. Each gaming device may also be operable to provide many different games. Games may be differentiated according to themes, sounds, graphics, type of game (e.g., slot game vs. card game vs. game with aspects of skill), denomination, number of paylines, maximum jackpot, progressive or non-progressive, bonus games, and may be deployed for operation in Class 2 or Class 3, etc.
The games available for play on the gaming device 200 are controlled by a game controller 202 that includes one or more processors 204. Processor 204 represents a general-purpose processor, a specialized processor intended to perform certain functional tasks, or a combination thereof. As an example, processor 204 can be a central processing unit (CPU) that has one or more multi-core processing units and memory mediums (e.g., cache memory) that function as buffers and/or temporary storage for data. Alternatively, processor 204 can be a specialized processor, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), graphics processing unit (GPU), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processor (DSP), or another type of hardware accelerator. In another example, processor 204 is a system on chip (SoC) that combines and integrates one or more general-purpose processors and/or one or more specialized processors. Although
Memory 208 can store one or more game programs 206 that provide program instructions and/or data for carrying out various implementations (e.g., game mechanics) described herein. Stated another way, game program 206 represents an executable program stored in any portion or component of memory 208. In one or more implementations, game program 206 is embodied in the form of source code that includes human-readable statements written in a programming language or machine code that contains numerical instructions recognizable by a suitable execution system, such as a processor 204 in a game controller or other system. Examples of executable programs include: (1) a compiled program that can be translated into machine code in a format that can be loaded into a random access portion of memory 208 and run by processor 204; (2) source code that may be expressed in proper format such as object code that is capable of being loaded into a random access portion of memory 208 and executed by processor 204; and (3) source code that may be interpreted by another executable program to generate instructions in a random access portion of memory 208 to be executed by processor 204.
Alternatively, game programs 206 can be set up to generate one or more game instances based on instructions and/or data that gaming device 200 exchanges with one or more remote gaming devices, such as a central determination gaming system server 106 (not shown in
Gaming devices, such as gaming device 200, are highly regulated to ensure fairness and, in many cases, gaming device 200 is operable to award monetary awards (e.g., typically dispensed in the form of a redeemable voucher). Therefore, to satisfy security and regulatory requirements in a gaming environment, hardware and software architectures are implemented in gaming devices 200 that differ significantly from those of general-purpose computers. Adapting general purpose computers to function as gaming devices 200 is not simple or straightforward because of: (1) the regulatory requirements for gaming devices 200, (2) the harsh environment in which gaming devices 200 operate, (3) security requirements, (4) fault tolerance requirements, and (5) the requirement for additional special purpose componentry enabling functionality of an EGM. These differences require substantial engineering effort with respect to game design implementation, game mechanics, hardware components, and software.
One regulatory requirement for games running on gaming device 200 generally involves complying with a certain level of randomness. Typically, gaming jurisdictions mandate that gaming devices 200 satisfy a minimum level of randomness without specifying how a gaming device 200 should achieve this level of randomness. To comply,
In
Another regulatory requirement for running games on gaming device 200 includes ensuring a certain level of RTP. Similar to the randomness requirement discussed above, numerous gaming jurisdictions also mandate that gaming device 200 provides a minimum level of RTP (e.g., RTP of at least 75%). A game can use one or more lookup tables (also called weighted tables) as part of a technical solution that satisfies regulatory requirements for randomness and RTP. In particular, a lookup table can integrate game features (e.g., trigger events for special modes or bonus games; newly introduced game elements such as extra reels, new symbols, or new cards; stop positions for dynamic game elements such as spinning reels, spinning wheels, or shifting reels; or card selections from a deck) with random numbers generated by one or more RNGs, so as to achieve a given level of volatility for a target level of RTP. (In general, volatility refers to the frequency or probability of an event such as a special mode, payout, etc. For example, for a target level of RTP, a higher-volatility game may have a lower payout most of the time with an occasional bonus having a very high payout, while a lower-volatility game has a steadier payout with more frequent bonuses of smaller amounts.) Configuring a lookup table can involve engineering decisions with respect to how RNG outcomes are mapped to game outcomes for a given game feature, while still satisfying regulatory requirements for RTP. Configuring a lookup table can also involve engineering decisions about whether different game features are combined in a given entry of the lookup table or split between different entries (for the respective game features), while still satisfying regulatory requirements for RTP and allowing for varying levels of game volatility.
When a player wishes to play the gaming device 200, he/she can insert cash or a ticket voucher through a coin acceptor (not shown) or bill validator 234 to establish a credit balance on the gaming device. The credit balance is used by the player to place wagers on instances of the game and to receive credit awards based on the outcome of winning instances. The credit balance is decreased by the amount of each wager and increased upon a win. The player can add additional credits to the balance at any time. The player may also optionally insert a loyalty club card into the card reader 230. During the game, the player views with one or more UIs, the game outcome on one or more of the primary game display 240 and secondary game display 242. Other game and prize information may also be displayed.
For each game instance, a player may make selections, which may affect play of the game. For example, the player may vary the total amount wagered by selecting the amount bet per line and the number of lines played. In many games, the player is asked to initiate or select options during course of game play (such as spinning a wheel to begin a bonus round or select various items during a feature game). The player may make these selections using the player-input buttons 236, the primary game display 240 which may be a touch screen, or using some other device which enables a player to input information into the gaming device 200.
During certain game events, the gaming device 200 may display visual and auditory effects that can be perceived by the player. These effects add to the excitement of a game, which makes a player more likely to enjoy the playing experience. Auditory effects include various sounds that are projected by the speakers 220. Visual effects include flashing lights, strobing lights or other patterns displayed from lights on the gaming device 200 or from lights behind the information panel 152 (
When the player is done, he/she cashes out the credit balance (typically by pressing a cash out button to receive a ticket from the ticket printer 222). The ticket may be “cashed-in” for money or inserted into another machine to establish a credit balance for play.
Additionally, or alternatively, gaming devices 104A-104X and 200 can include or be coupled to one or more wireless transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers (not shown in
Although
According to some examples, the mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured for stand-alone determination of game outcomes. However, in some alternative implementations the mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured to receive game outcomes from another device, such as the central determination gaming system server 106, one of the EGMs 104, etc.
Some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured to accept monetary credits from a credit or debit card, via a wireless interface (e.g., via a wireless payment app), via tickets, via a patron casino account, etc. However, some mobile gaming devices 256 may not be configured to accept monetary credits via a credit or debit card. Some mobile gaming devices 256 may include a ticket reader and/or a ticket printer whereas some mobile gaming devices 256 may not, depending on the particular implementation.
In some implementations, the casino 251 may include one or more kiosks 260 that are configured to facilitate monetary transactions involving the mobile gaming devices 256, which may include cash out and/or cash in transactions. The kiosks 260 may be configured for wired and/or wireless communication with the mobile gaming devices 256. The kiosks 260 may be configured to accept monetary credits from casino patrons 262 and/or to dispense monetary credits to casino patrons 262 via cash, a credit or debit card, via a wireless interface (e.g., via a wireless payment app), via tickets, etc. According to some examples, the kiosks 260 may be configured to accept monetary credits from a casino patron and to provide a corresponding amount of monetary credits to a mobile gaming device 256 for wagering purposes, e.g., via a wireless link such as a near-field communications link. In some such examples, when a casino patron 262 is ready to cash out, the casino patron 262 may select a cash out option provided by a mobile gaming device 256, which may include a real button or a virtual button (e.g., a button provided via a graphical user interface) in some instances. In some such examples, the mobile gaming device 256 may send a “cash out” signal to a kiosk 260 via a wireless link in response to receiving a “cash out” indication from a casino patron. The kiosk 260 may provide monetary credits to the casino patron 262 corresponding to the “cash out” signal, which may be in the form of cash, a credit ticket, a credit transmitted to a financial account corresponding to the casino patron, etc.
In some implementations, a cash-in process and/or a cash-out process may be facilitated by the TITO system server 108. For example, the TITO system server 108 may control, or at least authorize, ticket-in and ticket-out transactions that involve a mobile gaming device 256 and/or a kiosk 260.
Some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured for receiving and/or transmitting player loyalty information. For example, some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured for wireless communication with the player tracking system server 110. Some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured for receiving and/or transmitting player loyalty information via wireless communication with a patron's player loyalty card, a patron's smartphone, etc.
According to some implementations, a mobile gaming device 256 may be configured to provide safeguards that prevent the mobile gaming device 256 from being used by an unauthorized person. For example, some mobile gaming devices 256 may include one or more biometric sensors and may be configured to receive input via the biometric sensor(s) to verify the identity of an authorized patron. Some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured to function only within a predetermined or configurable area, such as a casino gaming area.
In this example, a gaming data center 276 includes various devices that are configured to provide online wagering games via the networks 417. The gaming data center 276 is capable of communication with the networks 417 via the gateway 272. In this example, switches 278 and routers 280 are configured to provide network connectivity for devices of the gaming data center 276, including storage devices 282a, servers 284a and one or more workstations 570a. The servers 284a may, for example, be configured to provide access to a library of games for online game play. In some examples, code for executing at least some of the games may initially be stored on one or more of the storage devices 282a. The code may be subsequently loaded onto a server 284a after selection by a player via an EUD and communication of that selection from the EUD via the networks 417. The server 284a onto which code for the selected game has been loaded may provide the game according to selections made by a player and indicated via the player's EUD. In other examples, code for executing at least some of the games may initially be stored on one or more of the servers 284a. Although only one gaming data center 276 is shown in
In this example, a financial institution data center 270 is also configured for communication via the networks 417. Here, the financial institution data center 270 includes servers 284b, storage devices 282b, and one or more workstations 286b. According to this example, the financial institution data center 270 is configured to maintain financial accounts, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, loan accounts, etc. In some implementations one or more of the authorized users 274a-274c may maintain at least one financial account with the financial institution that is serviced via the financial institution data center 270.
According to some implementations, the gaming data center 276 may be configured to provide online wagering games in which money may be won or lost. According to some such implementations, one or more of the servers 284a may be configured to monitor player credit balances, which may be expressed in game credits, in currency units, or in any other appropriate manner. In some implementations, the server(s) 284a may be configured to obtain financial credits from and/or provide financial credits to one or more financial institutions, according to a player's “cash in” selections, wagering game results and a player's “cash out” instructions. According to some such implementations, the server(s) 284a may be configured to electronically credit or debit the account of a player that is maintained by a financial institution, e.g., an account that is maintained via the financial institution data center 270. The server(s) 284a may, in some examples, be configured to maintain an audit record of such transactions.
In some alternative implementations, the gaming data center 276 may be configured to provide online wagering games for which credits may not be exchanged for cash or the equivalent. In some such examples, players may purchase game credits for online game play, but may not “cash out” for monetary credit after a gaming session. Moreover, although the financial institution data center 270 and the gaming data center 276 include their own servers and storage devices in this example, in some examples the financial institution data center 270 and/or the gaming data center 276 may use offsite “cloud-based” servers and/or storage devices. In some alternative examples, the financial institution data center 270 and/or the gaming data center 276 may rely entirely on cloud-based servers.
One or more types of devices in the gaming data center 276 (or elsewhere) may be capable of executing middleware, e.g., for data management and/or device communication. Authentication information, player tracking information, etc., including but not limited to information obtained by EUDs 264 and/or other information regarding authorized users of EUDs 264 (including but not limited to the authorized users 274a-274c), may be stored on storage devices 282 and/or servers 284. Other game-related information and/or software, such as information and/or software relating to leaderboards, players currently playing a game, game themes, game-related promotions, game competitions, etc., also may be stored on storage devices 282 and/or servers 284. In some implementations, some such game-related software may be available as “apps” and may be downloadable (e.g., from the gaming data center 276) by authorized users.
In some examples, authorized users and/or entities (such as representatives of gaming regulatory authorities) may obtain gaming-related information via the gaming data center 276. One or more other devices (such EUDs 264 or devices of the gaming data center 276) may act as intermediaries for such data feeds. Such devices may, for example, be capable of applying data filtering algorithms, executing data summary and/or analysis software, etc. In some implementations, data filtering, summary and/or analysis software may be available as “apps” and downloadable by authorized users.
The UI system 302 includes one or more UIs that a player can interact with. The UI system 302 could include one or more game play UIs 304, one or more bonus game play UIs 308, and one or more multiplayer UIs 312, where each UI type includes one or more mechanical UIs and/or graphical UIs (GUIs). In other words, game play UI 304, bonus game play UI 308, and the multiplayer UI 312 may utilize a variety of UI elements, such as mechanical UI elements (e.g., physical “spin” button or mechanical reels) and/or GUI elements (e.g., virtual reels shown on a video display or a virtual button deck) to receive player inputs and/or present game play to a player. Using
The game play UI 304 represents a UI that a player typically interfaces with for a base game. During a game instance of a base game, the game play UI elements 306A-306N (e.g., GUI elements depicting one or more virtual reels) are shown and/or made available to a user. In a subsequent game instance, the UI system 302 could transition out of the base game to one or more bonus games. The bonus game play UI 308 represents a UI that utilizes bonus game play UI elements 310A-310N for a player to interact with and/or view during a bonus game. In one or more implementations, at least some of the game play UI element 306A-306N are similar to the bonus game play UI elements 310A-310N. In other implementations, the game play UI element 306A-306N can differ from the bonus game play UI elements 310A-310N.
Based on the player inputs, the UI system 302 could generate RNG calls to a game processing backend system 314. As an example, the UI system 302 could use one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) to generate the RNG calls. To process the RNG calls, the RNG engine 316 could utilize gaming RNG 318 and/or non-gaming RNGs 319A-319N. Gaming RNG 318 could corresponds to RNG 212 or hardware RNG 244 shown in
The RNG conversion engine 320 processes each RNG outcome from RNG engine 316 and converts the RNG outcome to a UI outcome that is feedback to the UI system 302. With reference to
After generating the UI outcome, the game processing backend system 314 sends the UI outcome to the UI system 302. Examples of UI outcomes are symbols to display on a video reel or reel stops for a mechanical reel. In one example, if the UI outcome is for a base game, the UI system 302 updates one or more game play UI elements 306A-306N, such as symbols, for the game play UI 304. In another example, if the UI outcome is for a bonus game, the UI system could update one or more bonus game play UI elements 310A-310N (e.g., symbols) for the bonus game play UI 308. In response to updating the appropriate UI, the player may subsequently provide additional player inputs to initiate a subsequent game instance that progresses through the game processing pipeline.
In the example embodiment, the electronic game is a reel-based game that uses five reels to present a play area 404 having three rows 410A, 410B, 410C (collectively, “rows 410”) and five columns (or “reels”) 412A, 412B, 412C, 412D, 412E (collectively, “columns 412” or “reels 412”). The columns/reels may be referred to herein based on their ordinal number from left to right (e.g., the first reel 412A, the second reel 412B, the third reel 412C, and so forth), and rows may be referred to herein based on their ordinal number from top to bottom (e.g., the first row 410A, the second row 410B, the third row 410C, and so forth).
The example game provides a feature symbol at various locations on the reels 412. In the following examples, the feature symbol includes an image of a bear holding a symbol frame. On the first and second reels 412A, 412B, the feature symbols are “wild” symbols and have the term “WILD” displayed within the symbol frame. On the third, fourth, and fifth reels 412C, 412D, 412E, the feature symbols include a numeric credit award value displayed within the symbol frame, and these feature symbols may also act as “value” symbols (e.g., “cash on reels” symbols, or “what you see is what you get (WYSIWIG) symbols”). These third, fourth, and fifth reels 412C-412E are also referred to herein as a feature play area 414. During base game play, the value feature symbols appearing in the feature play area 414 are inactive unless a value feature has been activated as described herein. In other words, when the value feature is inactive, the value feature symbols are treated as common symbols (e.g., for purposes of payline evaluations, Reel Power® evaluations, or the like), and when they are activated, the value feature symbols provide an award based on award value included with the symbol frame (e.g., in real or virtual credits). Further, in some embodiments, the value feature symbols may appear in a first state when the value feature is inactive (e.g., subdued or muted colors relative to other symbols, greyed out, statically displayed, or the like, during or after a spin in which the value feature was not triggered). The value feature symbols may be converted to appear in a second state when the value feature has been activated (e.g., brighter colors equivalent or greater than other symbols, animated symbols, or the like, during or after a spin in which the value feature is triggered).
A first spin result 400 is depicted in
In the example shown here, feature symbols (e.g., “WILDS”) appear at the third row 410C of the first column 412A and the second row 410B of the second column 412B after a base game spin (e.g., based on RNG output by the game processing backend system 314 shown in
In some embodiments, the game spins and resolves the first two reels 412A, 412B while the remaining reels 412C, 412D, and 412E continue to spin. In situations where the results on the first two reels 412A, 412B trigger the value feature, the game may provide an expansion of the feature play area 414 (e.g., randomly based on RNG result, based on a trigger defined in a pay table, or the like). When expansion is triggered, the game grows the feature play area 414 (e.g., reels 412C, 412D, and 412E) by one or more rows above (or below) the feature play area 414 as shown. Such expansion thereby exposes additional symbol positions on each of the reel 412C, 412D, and 412E, thereby providing a greater chance of exposing more value feature symbols and a greater chance of achieving winning combinations involving those feature symbols. The game may expand the reels 412C, 412D, and 412E by one, two, three, four, or five rows. In some embodiments, the number of expansion rows is determined based on an RNG result and a weighted table. In some embodiments, the number of expansion rows is determined based on the pay table. The game may provide a visualization to the reel expansion to highlight that the reels are expanding during a particular spin. For example, the reels 412C, 412D, and 412E may grow by one or more rows as the reels 412C, 412D, and 412E are spinning and resolve the spin after expansion is complete. In some embodiments, the reels 412C, 412D, and 412E contract in size after award is complete. In other embodiments, the reel expansion may persist for as long as the value feature persists. In some embodiments, the reel expansion may contract by one row per spin until the original size of the feature play area 414 is reached. In the example shown in
The example electronic game additionally provides an enhancement to the value feature described above. In the example embodiment, after evaluation of the value feature for a given spin, the value feature includes short-term persistence for the next spin(s). More specifically, after the value feature has been activated (e.g., as in the first spin result 400), on the next spin, any feature symbols that had previously appeared on the first and second reels 412A, 412B are moved up one position and are retained and overlaid onto the next spin outcome, falling off the top (or bottom) when they reach the edge of their associated reel 412.
After the spin result 420 shown in
In some embodiments, when one of the feature symbols has reached the first row 410A but the feature symbol(s) in the other column have not yet reached the first row 410A, the feature symbol in the first row 410A may linger without falling off until the feature symbol in the other column catches up. For example, presuming the spin result 420 shown in
In some situations, additional feature symbols may naturally appear in the first and second columns 412A, 412B while the persistence enhancement is active. For example, if the spin result of the underlying reel 412A, 412B causes another feature symbol to appear in another position on either of those reels 412A, 412B, that feature symbol will additionally be treated under the movement and feature activation methods described here. In other words, there may be multiple feature symbols persisting and moving on either or both of the reels 412A, 412B, and as long as at least one feature symbol appears on both the first reel 412A and the second reel 412B after movement of the previous feature symbols, then the value feature will continue to be activated during the next spin.
In some embodiments, the game may provide a reel growth enhancement when the value feature is active. For example, whenever the value feature is activated, the game may provide a chance at also growing the third, fourth, and fifth reels 412C, 412D, 412E (and thus the size of the feature play area 414 which, in a base configuration, is 3×3). In the spin result 400 shown in
In some embodiments, the reel expansion enhancement may persist in conjunction with the persistence of the feature symbols and the value feature. For example, the game may provide the feature play area 414 in a base configuration, such as the 3×3 feature play area 414 shown in
In some embodiments, the game may provide a partial respin feature with persistence during a single game instance. For example, and still referring to the initial spin result shown in
During bonus game play, in the example embodiment, the electronic game initially provides the 3×5 play area 404 as shown in
In some embodiments, during bonus game play, the fifth reel 412E always includes at least one value feature symbol, where in other embodiments, the fifth reel 412E includes only value feature symbols and optionally bonus game symbols. In some embodiments, the occurrence of two or more bonus game symbols during bonus game play triggers an award of additional free spins.
In some embodiments, the bonus game provides variability in what persistent features are provided during bonus game play. For example, in one embodiment, at the beginning of bonus game play, the game provides a wheel with a wheel spin to determine which bonus game feature to provide during bonus game play. Each slice of the wheel includes a bonus award that can be applied before or during the free spins of bonus game play. Example features may include a locked wild feature symbol on the first reel 412A or the second reel 412B or both (e.g., wild feature symbol(s) that persist in its position during all free spins), fixed reel expansion (e.g., a persistent expansion of the feature play area 414 by one or more rows), automatic reel expansion trigger (e.g., triggering the expansion feature during every spin), additional free games, or any of the progressive jackpots (e.g., minor, major, grand, or the like).
In the example embodiment, the electronic game is a reel-based game that uses five reels to present a play area 604 having three rows 610A, 610B, 610C (collectively, “rows 610”) and five columns (or “reels”) 612A, 612B, 612C, 612D, 612E (collectively, “columns 612” or “reels 612”). The columns/reels may be referred to herein based on their ordinal number from left to right (e.g., the first reel 612A, the second reel 612B, the third reel 612C, and so forth), and rows may be referred to herein based on their ordinal number from top to bottom (e.g., the first row 610A, the second row 610B, the third row 610C, and so forth).
This example game provides two feature columns 614A, 614B associated with an expanding wilds feature of the game (e.g., the second column 612B and the fourth column 612D, collectively “feature columns 614”). Each of the two feature columns 614 further includes a primary position 606A, 606B (e.g., the positions in the second row 610B of feature columns 614A, 614B), where the other positions within the two feature columns 614A, 614B are referred to herein as “secondary positions” (not separately numbered in these figures). The reel strips associated with the two feature columns 614 are preconfigured to include one or more occurrences of a feature symbol (e.g., a lightning bolt in this example embodiment) scattered throughout the reel strip, and the occurrence of that feature symbol within the feature columns triggers various expanding wild features described herein.
A first view 600 of an example spin result of the game is depicted in
In this example, the game performs a payline evaluation of the spin result and computes a 1,000 credit base award for the payline evaluation. Further, the game also awarded the “10×” multiplier 622, which the game applies to the base award to generate a 10,000 credit payout 624. Upon conclusion of this game instance, the game provides the 10,000 credit award to the player and continues with another spin.
In some situations, multiple feature symbols may appear simultaneously within the feature columns 614 after a spin. In some embodiments, when a feature symbol appears in both primary positions 606A and 606B, the game may overlay the play area 604 with a 3×5 oversized symbol and may similarly convert all of the spaces to wilds and may provide a second reward or multiple second rewards for the major symbol expansion. In some embodiments, when a feature symbol appears in a secondary position of both of the feature columns 614, each feature column 614 may be replaced with the 1×3 wild symbol. In some embodiments, when a feature symbol appears in one of the primary positions 606 of one of the feature columns 614 and another feature symbol appears in one of the secondary positions of the other feature column 614, the game may apply the major symbol expansion based on the primary position occurrence as well as the minor symbol expansion based on the secondary position occurrence.
At operation 830, in the example embodiment, the electronic game resolves the spinning of the first and second reels 412A, 412B while the other reels 412C, 412D, 412E of the feature play area 414. Based on the spin outcomes of the first and second reels 412A, 412B, the electronic game determines whether or not to activate the value feature for the current spin at test 832. In the example embodiment, the electronic game activates the value feature when at least one feature symbol appears on the first reel 412A and at least one feature symbol appears on the second reel 412B. If test 832 is successful, the electronic game activates the value feature at operation 840 (e.g., converting the value symbols on the other reels 412C, 412D, 412E from inactive symbols to active symbols). In some embodiments, the electronic game may test 842 whether to expand reels during the current spin, and may expand the reels at operation 844.
In the example embodiment, the electronic game then resolves the remaining reels 412C, 412D, 412E at operation 850. In some embodiments, the electronic game may test 852 whether or not to activate a partial respin of the remaining reels 412C, 412D, 412E. If a partial respin is activated, the electronic game may provide an award evaluation of common symbols at operation 860 (e.g., a common award evaluation excluding the value award values). At operation 862, the electronic game performs a partial respin of the other reels 412C, 412D, 412E with persistent value feature symbols. During the partial respin, all value symbols already appearing on the other reels 412C, 412D, 412E are maintained and overlayed in their existing positions as the other reels 412C, 412D, 412E are respun. At operation 870, the electronic game performs a final award outcome evaluation, awarding both common awards (e.g., paylines, ways wins) and value awards (e.g., adding any value award values that appear in winning combinations into the final award amount). In some embodiments, the method 800 may include a determination whether to trigger a bonus game after operation 870. The bonus game may provide a number of free spins along with any or all of the game features described herein.
A computer, controller, or server, such as those described herein, includes at least one processor or processing unit and a system memory. The computer, controller, or server typically has at least some form of computer readable non-transitory media. As used herein, the terms “processor” and “computer” and related terms, e.g., “processing device”, “computing device”, and “controller” are not limited to just those integrated circuits referred to in the art as a computer, but broadly refers to a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits “configured to” carry out programmable instructions, and these terms are used interchangeably herein. In the embodiments described herein, memory may include, but is not limited to, a computer-readable medium or computer storage media, volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Such memory includes a random access memory (RAM), computer storage media, communication media, and a computer-readable non-volatile medium, such as flash memory. Alternatively, a floppy disk, a compact disc—read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), and/or a digital versatile disc (DVD) may also be used. Also, in the embodiments described herein, additional input channels may be, but are not limited to, computer peripherals associated with an operator interface such as a mouse and a keyboard. Alternatively, other computer peripherals may also be used that may include, for example, but not be limited to, a scanner. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, additional output channels may include, but not be limited to, an operator interface monitor.
As indicated above, the process may be embodied in computer software. The computer software could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a tangible, non-transitory, computer readable storage medium, such as on any nonvolatile memory device (e.g. an EEPROM). Further, different parts of the computer software can be executed by different devices, such as, for example, in a client-server relationship. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that computer software provides a series of instructions executable by the processor.
While the invention has been described with respect to the figures, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Any variation and derivation from the above description and figures are included in the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/020,730, filed 6 May 2020, entitled “ELECTRONIC GAMING SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH SHORT TERM PERSISTENCE,” the entire contents and disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200250936 | Bryant | Aug 2020 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210350678 A1 | Nov 2021 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63020730 | May 2020 | US |
