Patent Application
20060046830
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device having concentric reels having at least one nudge symbol.
Contemporary gaming devices such as slot machines often include a primary game and one or more bonus rounds or bonus games. The primary games typically include the generation of one or more symbols using one or more symbol generators. The traditional symbol generators are a set of reels, where each reel has a plurality of symbols. If the player achieves a predetermined combination of symbols on the reels, the player wins a value. In addition, if the player achieves a bonus triggering event, the gaming device advances the player to a bonus game where the player can accumulate additional values. The traditional bonus triggering event occurs when the player achieves a predetermined symbol on one of the reels or a predetermined combination of symbols on a plurality of reels. If the combination of symbols indicated on the reels is not a predetermined symbol or symbol combination, the gaming device does not provide an award to the player.
Conventional gaming devices employ different symbols to form different winning symbol combinations in a game. Conventional gaming devices also employ different symbols which perform a function in a game. One such symbol is a nudge symbol. A nudge symbol is typically included on one or more reels of the gaming device. When a nudge symbol on a reel is indicated by a payline, the nudge symbol causes the reel (on which the nudge symbol is indicated) to move or rotate in the direction of movement indicated by the nudge symbol. For example, if the indicated nudge symbol indicates an upward or counterclockwise direction of movement, the reel moves or rotates in the upward or counterclockwise direction. Typically, a nudge symbol causes a reel to move or rotate one symbol position. The nudge symbol may also cause the reel to move or rotate for one or more symbol positions. The nudge symbol therefore causes a reel to move or rotate in a particular direction to indicate a different symbol on the reel and change the symbol combination indicated by the reels. After the movement of the reel caused by the nudge symbol, the indicated symbols are evaluated for any winning combinations.
As described above, when a nudge symbol is indicated on a reel or reels, the gaming device causes the reels to move in the direction of movement associated with the indicated nudge symbol. In other known gaming devices that employ one or more nudge symbols, the gaming devices enable the player to initiate or activate the reel to move the outer reel in the direction of movement associated with the indicated nudge symbol. For example, the gaming device may include a selector or button which causes the reel to move in the direction of movement associated with an indicated nudge symbol on the reel after the player presses or otherwise activates the selector or button.
Concentric reels are also known. A concentric reel includes an inner reel and an outer reel which are aligned on substantially the same rotational axis. The outer reel includes a plurality of symbols and at least one window. The inner reel includes a plurality of symbols. In a play of the game, the gaming device activates the concentric reels which causes the inner reel and the outer reel to move or rotate. When the inner and outer reel stop, one of the symbols of the outer reel or the window is indicated by a payline associated with the concentric reel. If the window is present on the payline, the window indicates the symbol on the inner reel on the payline. The indicated symbol on the inner reel is part of the evaluated symbol combination with the other symbols of the other reels indicated by the payline. The gaming device provides an award for any winning symbol combination associated with these symbols indicated by the payline.
Players are attracted to gaming devices which provide new game schemes including different ways of obtaining winning symbol combinations or different types of triggering events. Therefore, to increase player enjoyment and excitement, it is desirable to provide players with new game schemes for gaming devices which include new and different ways of indicating symbol combinations and triggering events.
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device having concentric reels having at least one viewable area or window and at least one nudge symbol where the nudge symbol causes one of the reels to move to change a symbol combination in a game when the nudge symbol is viewable through the viewable area or window.
In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of reel sets where at least one of the reel sets includes concentric reels or concentrically arranged reels. The concentric reels include an inner reel which includes at least one nudge symbol and preferably a plurality of nudge symbols and an outer reel which includes a plurality of conventional symbols and defines a viewable area or window. The nudge symbols on the inner reels each identify a direction of movement for the associated outer reel. It should be appreciated that one, a plurality or all of the reels sets may include an inner reel and an outer reel and one, a plurality or all of said reel sets may employ one, or a plurality of nudge symbols.
In a play of the game, the gaming device activates the reel sets to indicate symbol combinations on the outer reels of the reel sets. On at least one of the reel sets, the gaming device causes the inner reel to display a nudge symbol and causes the outer reel to indicate one of the symbols or the viewable area. If the viewable area is indicated and a nudge symbol on the inner reel is indicated through the viewable area, the gaming device moves the outer reel to indicate one of the symbols on that outer reel based on the direction of movement associated with that nudge symbol viewable through the viewable area. For example, if the nudge symbol is an upwardly pointing arrow, the gaming device moves or rotates the outer reel upward one or more symbol positions or stops. If the nudge symbol is an downwardly pointing arrow, the gaming device moves the outer reel downward one or more symbol positions or stops. After the outer reel moves and indicates one of the symbols, the gaming device provides an outcome to the player based on the symbols indicated on the reel sets such as along a payline associated with the reel sets or in accordance with any scatter pays.
As described above, the present invention increases a player's excitement and enjoyment of a game because the player has a better opportunity to obtain an outcome in the game and particularly, the opportunity to obtain a winning symbol combination in a game where the player did not initially receive a winning symbol combination in the game.
In another embodiment, a plurality of paylines are associated with the reel sets in a conventional manner. The gaming device provides an outcome such as an award to the player based on the symbols on the paylines associated with the reel sets assuming the payer wagered on such paylines.
In a further embodiment, the inner reel includes one or a plurality of nudge symbols and at least one or a plurality of conventional symbols. The symbol can be part of the indicated symbol combination when the viewable area is indicated and one of the symbols, other than one of the nudge symbols, is viewable through the viewable area.
In one embodiment, the gaming device or player activates the reel sets in a play of the game to indicate symbols on the reel sets. When a nudge symbol is viewable through an indicated viewable area or window, the gaming device causes the outer reel to automatically move or rotate in the direction of movement associated with the indicated nudge symbol. The gaming device then evaluates the symbol combination indicated on that payline after the outer reel moves based on the nudge symbol. In another embodiment, the gaming device or player activates the reel sets to indicate symbols on the reel sets. When one or more nudge symbols are visible through a viewable area or window as indicated on a payline, the gaming device evaluates the symbol combination indicated by that payline before causing the outer reel to move or rotate in the direction of movement associated with the indicated nudge symbol. The gaming device may wait a designated period of time and then cause the outer reel to move or rotate in the direction of movement associated with the nudge symbol or enable the player to activate or cause the outer reel to move or rotate. The gaming device then performs another evaluation after the outer reel moves or rotates to a designated symbol position to determine if the symbols indicated by the payline form a winning symbol combination. It should be appreciated that the gaming device may evaluate the symbols indicated by the reel sets any suitable number of times in a play of the game.
In one embodiment, one or more of the nudge symbols on the inner reel indicate a direction of movement for the outer reel which moves the outer reel one symbol position. In another embodiment, at least one of the nudge symbols indicates a direction of movement for the outer reel which moves the outer reel a plurality of symbol positions or stops. For example, the nudge symbol may cause the outer reel to move upward two symbol positions or cause the outer reel to move downward three symbol positions. It should be appreciated that one or more of the nudge symbols may indicate a direction of movement for the outer reel which moves the outer reel in any suitable direction. It should also be appreciated that the nudge symbol may indicate a direction of movement of the outer reel and any suitable number of symbol positions which the outer reel will move. In one embodiment, the number of symbol positions associated with the direction of movement indicated by the nudge symbol is pre-determined. In one alternative embodiment, the number of symbol positions associated with the direction of movement indicated by the nudge symbol is randomly determined.
In a further embodiment, one or more of the nudge symbols on the inner reel indicate a direction of movement for the outer reel which causes the outer reel to move and indicate a symbol on the outer reel that can provide a winning symbol combination or provides a symbol combination which is closer to a winning symbol combination on the reel sets (i.e., more symbols of the winning combination). In this embodiment, the gaming device is determining the best symbol position to move the outer reel to indicate a winning symbol combination or a symbol combination which is closer to a winning symbol combination.
In another embodiment, the inner reel includes a plurality of symbol positions where two nudge symbols are displayed at one of the symbol positions. In this embodiment, the gaming device includes a selector which enables a player to pick one of the nudge symbols when the two nudge symbols are viewable through the viewable area or window of the outer reel. The player can therefore pick the direction of movement of the outer reel to determine the movement direction of the outer reel which determines the outcome provided to the player. In a further embodiment, two or more nudge symbols are displayed at a plurality of the symbol positions. In an alternative embodiment, the gaming device picks the nudge symbol of the plurality of nudge symbols viewable through the viewable area which results in the best symbol combination for the player such as a winning symbol combination.
In a further embodiment, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move or rotate to the closest win or closest winning symbol combination on the reels. For example, if two bar symbols and a nudge symbol are indicated in a play of the game, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move or rotate to indicate the closest symbol to the indicated viewable area or window which will provide a winning symbol combination in that play of the game. For instance, of the outer reel includes a bar symbol which is one symbol position away from the viewable area or window and a double bar symbol which is four symbol positions away from the viewable area window, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move to indicate the bar symbol which is closest to the indicated viewable area window in that play of the game. Therefore, if the bar symbol is closer than the double bar symbol (i.e., less symbol positions away from the indicated viewable area or window), then the gaming device will indicate the bar symbol by moving the outer reel to indicate the bar symbol.
In a further embodiment, when a nudge symbol is visible through an indicated viewable area, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move to indicate a designated symbol or predetermined symbol on the reel. For example, if a cherry symbol is the designated symbol, the gaming device causes the reel to move to indicate the cherry symbol when the nudge symbol is viewable through the indicated viewable area on the reel.
In another embodiment, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move to indicate a wild symbol on the outer reel. The wild symbol is combined with other symbols indicated by the reels to determine if the player obtained a winning symbol combination in a play of a game. It should be appreciated that the nudge symbol may cause the gaming device to move the outer reel to indicate a designated symbol, a randomly determined symbol, a wild symbol, or any other suitable symbol on the outer reel.
In another embodiment, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move to indicate a featured win or designated winning symbol combination on the reels when the nudge symbol is viewable through an indicated viewable area. A featured win or designated symbol combination may be any suitable symbol combination including the symbols on the outer reel. Additionally, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move to indicate a randomly determined winning symbol combination or win on the reels. For example, the gaming device randomly determines a winning symbol combination to provide to the player and causes the outer reel to move to indicate that winning symbol combination when the nudge symbol is viewable through the indicated viewable area.
It should be appreciated that the inner reel and outer reel may be any suitable display, such as a video display, a mechanical reel, a rotatable display or rotatable belt, or any other suitable video or mechanical display.
It should be appreciated that the nudge symbols may indicate any suitable direction and may be employed with any suitable symbol display besides a reel which moves in one or more directions. It should also be appreciated that the present invention may be employed in a primary or base game, a secondary or bonus game or in any suitable game.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gaming device having at least one reel set including a concentrically arranged inner reel and outer reel, wherein the inner reel has at least one nudge symbol which causes the outer reel to move to change a symbol combination in a game.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the Figures.
Referring now to the drawings, two alternative embodiments of the gaming device of the present invention are illustrated in
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment where the reels are in a video format, part or all of the program code and/or operating data described above can be stored in a detachable or removable memory device, including, but not limited to, a suitable cartridge, disk or CD ROM. A player can use such a removable memory device in a desktop, a laptop personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other computerized platform. The processor and memory device may be collectively referred to herein as a “computer” or “controller.”
In one embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gaming device randomly generates awards and/or other game outcomes based on probability data. That is, each award or other game outcome is associated with a probability and the gaming device generates the award or other game outcome to be provided to the player based on the associated probabilities. In this embodiment, since the gaming device generates outcomes randomly or based upon a probability calculation, there is no certainty that the gaming device will ever provide the player with any specific award or other game outcome.
In another embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gaming device employs a predetermined or finite set or pool of awards or other game outcomes. In this embodiment, as each award or other game outcome is provided to the player, the gaming device removes the provided award or other game outcome from the predetermined set or pool. Once removed from the set or pool, the specific provided award or other game outcome cannot be provided to the player again. This type of gaming device provides players with all of the available awards or other game outcomes over the course of the play cycle and guarantees the amount of actual wins and losses.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
The display devices may include, without limitation, a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) a display based on light emitting diodes (LED) or any other suitable electronic device or display mechanism. In one embodiment, as described in more detail below, the display device includes a touch-screen with an associated touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of any suitable configuration, such as a square, rectangle, elongated rectangle.
The display devices of the gaming device are configured to display at least one and preferably a plurality of game or other suitable images, symbols and indicia such as any visual representation or exhibition of the movement of objects such as mechanical, virtual or video reels and wheels, dynamic lighting, video images, images of people, characters, places, things and faces of cards, tournament advertisements and the like.
In one alternative embodiment, the symbols, images and indicia displayed on or of the display device may be in mechanical form. That is, the display device may include any electromechanical device, such as one or more mechanical objects, such as one or more rotatable wheels, reels or dice, configured to display at least one and preferably a plurality of game or other suitable images, symbols or indicia.
As illustrated in
As seen in
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, one input device is a cash out button 38. The player may push the cash out button and cash out to receive a cash payment or other suitable form of payment corresponding to the number of remaining credits. In one embodiment, when the player cashes out, the player receives the coins or tokens in a coin payout tray 40. In one embodiment, when the player cashes out, the player may receive other payout mechanisms such as tickets or credit slips redeemable by a cashier or funding to the player's electronically recordable identification card.
In one embodiment, as mentioned above and seen in
The gaming device may further include a plurality of communication ports for enabling communication of the processor with external peripherals, such as external video sources, expansion buses, game or other displays, an SCSI port or a key pad.
In one embodiment, as seen in
In one embodiment, the gaming machine may include a player or other sensor, such as a camera in communication with the processor (and possibly controlled by the processor) that is selectively positioned to acquire an image of a player actively using the gaming device and/or the surrounding area of the gaming device. In one embodiment, the camera may be configured to selectively acquire still or moving (e.g., video) images and may be configured to acquire the images in either an analog, digital or other suitable format. The display devices may be configured to display the image acquired by the camera as well as display the visible manifestation of the game in split screen or picture-in-picture fashion. For example, the camera may acquire an image of the player and that image can be incorporated into the primary and/or secondary game as a game image, symbol or indicia.
Gaming device 10 can incorporate any suitable wagering primary or base game. The gaming machine or device of the present invention may include some or all of the features of conventional gaming machines or devices. The primary or base game may comprise any suitable reel-type game, card game, number game or other game of chance susceptible to representation in an electronic or electromechanical form which produces a random outcome based on probability data upon activation from a wager. That is, different primary wagering games, such as video poker games, video blackjack games, video Keno, video bingo or any other suitable primary or base game may be implemented into the present invention.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, a base or primary game may be a keno game wherein the gaming device displays a plurality of selectable indicia or numbers on at least one of the display devices. In this embodiment, the player selects at least one and preferable a plurality of the selectable indicia or numbers via an input device or via the touch screen. The gaming device then displays a series of drawn numbers to determine an amount of matches, if any, between the player's selected numbers and the gaming device's drawn numbers. The player is provided an award based on the amount of matches, if any, based on the amount of determined matches.
In one embodiment, in addition to winning credits in a base or primary game, the gaming device may also give players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus or secondary game or bonus or secondary round. The bonus or secondary game enables the player to obtain a prize or payout in addition to the prize or payout, if any, obtained from the base or primary game. In general, a bonus or secondary game produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than the base or primary game because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the base or primary game and is accompanied with more attractive or unusual features than the base or primary game.
In one embodiment, the bonus or secondary game may be any type of suitable game, either similar to or completely different from the base or primary game. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a program which will automatically begin a bonus round when the player has achieved a triggering event or qualifying condition in the base or primary game. In one embodiment, the triggering event or qualifying condition may be a selected outcome in the primary game or a particular arrangement of one or more indicia on a display device in the primary game, such as the number seven appearing on three adjacent reels along a payline in the primary slot game embodiment seen in
In one embodiment, once a player has qualified for a bonus game, the player may subsequently enhance his/her bonus game participation through continued play on the base or primary game. Thus, for each bonus qualifying event, such as a bonus symbol, that the player obtains, a given number of bonus game wagering points or credits may be accumulated in a “bonus meter” programmed to accrue the bonus wagering credits or entries toward eventual participation in a bonus game. The occurrence of multiple such bonus qualifying events in the primary game may result in an arithmetic or geometric increase in the number of bonus wagering credits awarded. In one embodiment, extra bonus wagering credits may be redeemed during the bonus game to extend play of the bonus game.
In one embodiment, no separate entry fee or buy in for a bonus game need be employed. That is, a player may not purchase an entry into a bonus game; he must win or earn entry through play of the primary game and, thus, play of the primary game is encouraged. In another embodiment, qualification of the bonus or secondary game could be accomplished through a simple “buy in” by the player if, for example, the player has been unsuccessful at qualifying through other specified activities.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the game outcome provided to the player is determined by a central server or controller and provided to the player at the gaming device of the present invention. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of such gaming devices are in communication with the central server or controller. Upon a player initiating game play at one of the gaming devices, the initiated gaming device communicates a game outcome request to the central server or controller.
In one embodiment, the central server or controller receives the game outcome request and randomly generates a game outcome for the primary game based on probability data. In another embodiment, the central server or controller randomly generates a game outcome for the secondary game based on probability data. In another embodiment, the central server or controller randomly generates a game outcome for both the primary game and the secondary game based on probability data. In this embodiment, the central server or controller is capable of storing and utilizing program code or other data similar to the processor and memory device of the gaming device.
In an alternative embodiment, the central server or controller maintains one or more predetermined pools or sets of predetermined game outcomes. In this embodiment, the central server or controller receives the game outcome request and independently selects a predetermined game outcome from a set or pool of game outcomes. The central server or controller flags or marks the selected game outcome as used. Once a game outcome is flagged as used, it is prevented from further selection from the set or pool and cannot be selected by the central controller or server upon another wager. The provided game outcome can include a primary game outcome, a secondary game outcome, primary and secondary game outcomes, or a series of game outcomes such a free games.
The central server or controller communicates the generated or selected game outcome to the initiated gaming device. The gaming device receives the generated or selected game outcome and provides the game outcome to the player. In an alternative embodiment, how the generated or selected game outcome is to be presented or displayed to the player, such as a reel symbol combination of a slot machine or a hand of cards dealt in a card game, is also determined by the central server or controller and communicated to the initiated gaming device to be presented or displayed to the player. Central production or control can assist a gaming establishment or other entity in maintaining appropriate records, controlling gaming, reducing and preventing cheating or electronic or other errors, reducing or eliminating win-loss volatility and the like.
In another embodiment, one or more of the gaming devices of the present invention are in communication with a central server or controller for monitoring purposes only. That is, each individual gaming device randomly generates the game outcomes to be provided to the player and the central server or controller monitors the activities and events occurring on the plurality of gaming devices. In one embodiment, the gaming network includes a real-time or on-line accounting and gaming information system operably coupled to the central server or controller. The accounting and gaming information system of this embodiment includes a player database for storing player profiles, a player tracking module for tracking players and a credit system for providing automated casino transactions.
A plurality of the gaming devices of the present invention are capable of being connected together through a data network. In one embodiment, the data network is a local area network (LAN), in which one or more of the gaming devices are substantially proximate to each other and an on-site central server or controller as in, for example, a gaming establishment or a portion of a gaming establishment. In another embodiment, the data network is a wide area network (WAN) in which one or more of the gaming devices are in communication with at least one off-site central server or controller. In this embodiment, the plurality of gaming devices may be located in a different part of the gaming establishment or within a different gaming establishment than the off-site central server or controller. Thus, the WAN may include an off-site central server or controller and an off-site gaming device located within gaming establishments in the same geographic area, such as a city or state. The WAN gaming system of the present invention may be substantially identical to the LAN gaming system described above, although the number of gaming devices in each system may vary relative to each other.
In another embodiment, the data network is an internet or intranet. In this embodiment, the operation of the gaming device can be viewed at the gaming device with at least one internet browser. In this embodiment, operation of the gaming device and accumulation of credits may be accomplished with only a connection to the central server or controller (the internet/intranet server) through a conventional phone or other data transmission line, digital signal line (DSL), T-1 line, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, or other suitable connection. In this embodiment, players may access an Internet game page from any location where an internet connection and computer, or other internet facilitator are available. The expansion in the number of computers and number and speed of internet connections in recent years increases opportunities for players to play from an ever-increasing number of remote sites. It should be appreciated that enhanced bandwidth of digital wireless communications may render such technology suitable for some or all communications according to the present invention, particularly if such communications are encrypted. Higher data transmission speeds may be useful for enhancing the sophistication and response of the display and interaction with the player.
In another embodiment, a plurality of gaming devices at one or more gaming sites may be networked to a central server in a progressive configuration, as known in the art, wherein a portion of each wager to initiate a base or primary game may be allocated to bonus or secondary event awards. In one embodiment, a host site computer is coupled to a plurality of the central servers at a variety of mutually remote gaming sites for providing a multi-site linked progressive automated gaming system. In one embodiment, a host site computer may serve gaming devices distributed throughout a number of properties at different geographical locations including, for example, different locations within a city or different cities within a state.
In one embodiment, the host site computer is maintained for the overall operation and control of the system. In this embodiment, a host site computer oversees the entire progressive gaming system and is the master for computing all progressive jackpots. All participating gaming sites report to, and receive information from, the host site computer. Each central server computer is responsible for all data communication between the gaming device hardware and software and the host site computer.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the symbol display or outer reel includes a plurality of conventional symbols such as a cherry symbol 106a, a bell symbol 106b, a seven symbol 106c, a money bag symbol or money symbol 106d, and an orange symbol 106e, and at least one viewable area or window 104. The viewable area 104 enables a player to view one or more of the symbols of the inner reel 100 through the outer reel 102. The viewable area or window 104 is cut out or otherwise suitably defined by the outer reel 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the window 104 extends completely through the thickness or width of the outer reel 102, where the window 104 is open or uncovered. In another embodiment, a see-through material, such as glass or a clear plastic, is positioned in an opening in the outer reel and attached to the outer reel 102 to form the window 104 and enable a player to see through the window 104. It should be appreciated that any suitable material may be used to form the window 104. It should also be appreciated that the window 104 may be any suitable size or shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer reel 102 includes one viewable area or window 104. In another embodiment, the outer reel 102 includes a plurality of the viewable areas or windows 104.
In a play of a game, the processor causes the outer reel 102 to move based on the direction associated with an indicated nudge symbol on the inner reel to indicate one of the symbols of the outer reel. In one embodiment, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move one symbol position. A symbol position is the location or position of a symbol or blank space (i.e., blank symbol) on the inner and outer reels. In another embodiment described in more detail below, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move a plurality of symbol positions. The movement of the outer reel 102 causes a different symbol combination to be indicated by the reels sets. The gaming device provides a losing outcome or a winning outcome (which results in an award) to a player based on the indicated symbol combination. It should be appreciated that one of the reel sets, a plurality of the reel sets or all of the reel sets may include an inner reel and an outer reel according to the above embodiment.
As described above, the combination of the viewable area of the outer reel and the nudge symbol of the inner reel provides excitement and enjoyment for players because an initial non-winning symbol combination can become a winning symbol combination in a game. The gaming device therefore provides more opportunities for players to obtain awards in a game.
In one example of the above embodiment illustrated in
In this example, the nudge symbols 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d and 108e indicate or display either upward or downward directions of movement for the outer reel 102. The nudge symbols 108 are in the form of upward pointing arrows and a plurality of downward pointing arrows to indicate the direction of movement for the outer reel 102. It should be appreciated that the inner reel may include any suitable number of upward or downward-pointing arrows. It should also be appreciated that the nudge symbols may be any suitable images, characters or other symbols that indicate a direction of movement of the outer reel. In this example, the upward or upwardly pointing arrows such as nudge symbols 108a or 108d cause the outer reel 102 to move upward when the viewable area is indicated and one of the upwardly pointing arrows is visible or viewable through the viewable area or window 104. The downward or downwardly pointing arrows or nudge symbols such as nudge symbols 108b, 108c and 108e cause the outer reel 102 to move downward when the viewable area is indicated and one of the downwardly pointing arrows is viewable through the indicated viewable area or window 104.
Referring now to
Referring to
In this example, the reel sets 54a, 54b and 54c stop spinning and indicate symbols on paylines 52a, 52b and 52c. Specifically, payline 52a indicates a seven symbol 106f, a viewable area or window 104, and another seven symbol 106h. The indicated viewable area or window 104 enables the player to view or see one of the nudge symbols on the inner reel. In this example, the nudge symbol 108b viewable or visible through the viewable area indicated on payline 52a is a downwardly pointing arrow. As described above, the nudge symbol or downwardly pointing arrow 108b causes the outer reel of reel set 54b to move downward one symbol position. It should also be appreciated that the nudge symbol may cause the outer reel to move any suitable number of symbols positions as further described below.
Referring to
In another embodiment, the gaming device evaluate the symbols indicated on payline 52A before moving the outer reel in the direction of movement associated with the indicated nudge symbol. For example, in
In one embodiment, each nudge symbol indicates a direction of movement for the outer reel which moves the outer reel one symbol position. Therefore, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move one symbol position in the indicated direction. In another embodiment, the inner reel includes at least one nudge symbol which causes the outer reel to move a designated number of symbol positions. Therefore, when the viewable area on the outer reels is indicated and the nudge symbol (including the designated number of symbol positions) is visible or viewable through the viewable area, the gaming device causes the outer reel to move the designated number of symbol positions in the direction of movement associated with the nudge symbol. For example, the nudge symbol may cause the outer reel to move upward three symbol positions. It should be appreciated that the designated number of symbol positions may be one or a plurality of symbol positions. In a further embodiment, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move a random number of symbol positions. It should be appreciated that the number of symbol positions associated with the nudge symbol may be randomly determined, predetermined or determined in any suitable manner. It should also be appreciated that the number of movements or symbol position moves may be determined separately from the determination of the nudge symbol.
In another embodiment, at least one of the nudge symbols includes a direction of movement which causes the outer reel to move any direction which will provide a winning symbol combination or move the outer reel or reels closer to a winning symbol combination in a play of a game. For example, if a nudge symbol is visible through an indicated viewable area, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move any direction which would provide a winning symbol combination in the play of the game. In another embodiment, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move to indicate the best winning symbol combination in a play of the game. For example, the nudge symbol causes the outer reel to move to indicate the winning symbol combination which provides the largest award to the player. In a further embodiment, the gaming device moves an outer reel to the best or optimum symbol position of the outer reel when the viewable area is indicated and a nudge symbol is visible through the viewable area on that outer reel. The gaming device therefore provides the player with the best or optimum symbol combination on the reel sets when the nudge symbol is viewable through the viewable area and the viewable area is indicated on that reel set. For example, three reel sets are activated in a game. Two of the reel sets each indicate a bar symbol. The third reel set indicates a viewable area where a nudge symbol is viewable through that viewable area. The gaming device causes the outer reel of the third reel set to move to a symbol position including a bar symbol to provide a winning symbol combination including three bar symbols in that player of the game. It should be appreciated that the nudge symbol may include a direction of movement which causes the outer reel to move to indicate a winning symbol combination, a better winning symbol combination, a losing symbol combination or any suitable symbol combination on the reel sets.
Referring now to
Additionally, the inner reel 200 includes at least one downwardly pointing arrow 208b which is positioned on the left side or the right side of the inner reel 200. The inner reel 200 also includes at least one nudge symbol in the shape of an upwardly pointing arrow 208c which may be positioned on the left side or the right side of the inner reel 200. It should be appreciated that the inner reel 200 may include one or a plurality of pairs of nudge symbols 208a, left nudge symbols 208b and/or right nudge symbols 208c. It should be appreciated that the each nudge symbol in the pairs of nudge symbols 208a, the left nudge symbols 208b and/or the right nudge symbols 208c may be any suitable size or shape.
In this embodiment, the symbol positions between the symbols 206 may include a blank symbol or blank space 203 or a viewable area or window such as the left window 204a or the right window 204b. If the left window 204a or the right window 204b is indicated on the reel sets, the left window 204a or the right window 204b display or indicate one of the nudge symbols on inner reel 200, such as one of the nudge symbols in the pair of the nudge symbols 208a, the left nudge symbol 208b or the right nudge symbol 208c. The nudge symbol which is indicated by or viewable through the left or right windows therefore depends on the position of the windows on the outer reel.
The viewable area or window 204a may also display or indicate a blank symbol or empty space 207, depending on the position of the window 204 and the position of the nudge symbols on the inner reel 200. Therefore, the viewable areas or windows 204a or 204b may indicate a blank symbol 207, a nudge symbol in the shape of a downwardly pointing arrow, such as the downwardly pointing arrow in the pair of nudge symbols 208a or the downwardly pointing arrow 208b. One of the viewable areas may also indicate an upwardly pointing arrow such as the upwardly pointing arrow in the pair of nudge symbols 208a or the upwardly pointing arrow 208c. Any subsequent movement or rotation of the outer reel 202 after the initial activation of the reel sets is therefore dependent on the positioning of the windows 204a and 204b and also on the positioning of the nudge symbols on inner reel 200. The different positions of the viewable areas further increases the excitement and enjoyment of the game by the player.
Referring to
In a play of the game, the gaming device or player activates or spins the reel sets 54a, 54b and 54c to indicate symbols and/or windows such as windows 204c, 204d and 204e on the reel sets. After the reel sets stop, none of the paylines 52a, 52b and 52c indicate winning symbol combinations (i.e., symbol combinations including three or more of the same symbols). Payline 52a, however, indicates a right window 204d, a cherry symbol 206b and a left window 204c. The right window 204d displays a nudge symbol in the form of an upwardly pointing arrow 208e. The window 204c displays a nudge symbol in the form of a downwardly pointing arrow 208d. Therefore, the upwardly pointing arrow or nudge symbol 208e causes reel set 54a (i.e., the outer reel of reel set 54a) to move upward one symbol position. Similarly, the downwardly pointing arrow 208d causes reel set 54c to move downward one symbol position.
Referring to
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the left arrow input or selector 312 causes the gaming device to activate the left positioned nudge symbol or arrow such as nudge symbol 308a in the game. The right input or selector 314 enables the player to activate the right arrow or right nudge symbol such as nudge symbol 308b in the play of the game. If the plurality of windows 304 on the reel sets all indicate pairs of nudge symbols such as nudge symbols 308a and 308b, the gaming device automatically activates or employs the same nudge symbol in each pair such as the right nudge symbol when the player presses the corresponding input or selector 312 or 314. In another embodiment, the gaming device highlights or otherwise indicates each of the windows 304 separately and enables a player to activate one of the nudge symbols in each of the pairs of nudge symbols displayed by the windows in the play of the game. In this example, only window 304a indicates or displays a pair of nudge symbols 308a and 308b.
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Referring to
As shown in
In one embodiment, the gaming device enables the player to pick and activate one of the nudge symbols displayed by the window 304 when a plurality of nudge symbols are displayed or indicated by the window. In another embodiment the gaming device randomly picks one of the nudge symbols and the plurality of nudge symbols displayed by the window 304 to activate that nudge symbol in that play of the game. It should be appreciated that the gaming device may enable the player to pick, or the gaming device may randomly pick the nudge symbols displayed by the windows.
Referring now to
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Referring now to
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
