Patent Application
20160314661
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materials which are subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present disclosure relates generally to electronic wagering game devices, casino gaming systems, gaming networks, and methods for conducting casino wagering games. More particularly, aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems, methods, and devices for conducting slot-type wagering games with symbol-bearing reels of distinct sizes.
Electronic gaming machines (EGM), such as slot machines, video poker machines, and the like, have become a cornerstone of the gaming industry. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines, and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are typically attracted to the most engaging, entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ technologically advanced gaming devices that can provide the most engaging, entertaining and exciting game features and enhancements because such devices attract frequent play and, hence, increase profitability to the operator. Thus, gaming manufacturers continuously endeavor to develop advanced gaming machines with improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play and player loyalty through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
A significant technical challenge is to improve the operation of gaming apparatuses and games played thereon, including the manner in which they leverage an underlying random element generator, by making them yield a negative return on investment in the long run (via a high quantity and/or frequency of player/apparatus interactions), and yet random and volatile enough to make players feel they can get lucky and win in the short run. Striking the right balance between yield versus randomness and volatility to create a feeling of luck involves addressing many technical problems, some of which can be at odds with one another. This “luck” factor is what appeals to core players and encourages prolonged and frequent player participation. As the industry matures, the creativity and ingenuity required to improve such operation of gaming apparatus and games grows accordingly.
Conventional slot-type wagering games include plural symbol-bearing reels, each of which has a plurality of distinct reel positions populated by a variety of different types of symbols. Traditionally, slot-type gaming machines display randomly determined outcomes that are represented to the player by select symbols on the symbol-bearing reels, and award players for game outcomes with winning symbols and combinations of symbols in accordance with a pay table. To enhance player entertainment and excitement, some slot-type gaming machines have employed “clumping” of symbols, where a “clump” can be typified as a group of identical symbols that appear adjacent one another on the same reel. For some implementations, a symbol clump consists of a single, elongated symbol—sometime referred to as a “picture symbol” or “picture clump”—that occupies multiple adjacent reel positions on the same reel. Another example is the “mega symbol” clump, which historically consists of a single, enlarged symbol that occupies both multiple adjacent reel positions on the same reel and multiple adjacent reel positions on at least two neighboring reels. By occupying multiple adjacent reel positions with one or more of the same symbols, a symbol clump typically increases the likelihood of achieving a winning outcome and, thus, winning a corresponding award.
In general, the number of symbol clumps on a given reel, if any, as well as the respective location and size of each symbol clump are customarily preset and unchangeable. Additionally, given the increased likelihood of a winning outcome, clumps are oftentimes permanently assigned to symbols corresponding to lower award values on the pay table. Like the fixed location and size of a particular clump, the overall number of mega symbols available in a given wagering game for populating the array positions as part of an outcome is customarily preset and unchangeable (i.e., the number of mega symbols remains the same from play to play). Because a conventional mega symbol is assigned to multiple neighboring reels, which can require that these reels be indexed to spin in unison, the overall number of mega symbols is limited to ensure there are reels that spin individually. Reel positions above and below most mega symbols are populated by standard-sized symbols (e.g., symbols occupying a single reel position) to control the game's volatility and expected value. Because symbol clumping offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known features, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming systems with new types of games to satisfy the demands of players and operators.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to electronic gaming devices, gaming systems and networks, methods of conducting wagering games, and game-logic circuitry with executable instructions for conducting wagering games with mega symbols. Disclosed, for example, is a casino wagering game with multiple standard-sized symbol-bearing reels (e.g., five individually spinnable reels) arranged in an array of symbol positions (e.g., a 12×5 matrix). Each “standard” reel operates to populate a single column of the array; cooperatively, these reels populate the entire array with symbols to indicate randomly determined outcomes of the wagering game. Paylines traversing, for example, left-to-right across the reels are used to evaluate these outcomes for winning symbol combinations, in at least some embodiments. During game play, at least one of the standard-sized reels (e.g., the three center reels of the five-reel example) are replaced with or transform into an expanded “king” carriage which carries plural mega-symbol-bearing “king” reels. This transformation may take place systematically or randomly, for example, on any given play of the wagering game. Each of the king-sized reels is rotatably mounted onto the king-sized carriage such that the king reels spin independently of one another while the expanded king carriage also spins. The mega symbols operate to populate numerous symbol positions of the array when part of a game outcome. By way of example, a mega symbol can populate up to 12 symbol positions across three adjacent rows and four neighboring columns of the array. One or more or all of the king-sized reels borne by the king carriage can be replaced by multiple individually spinnable “mini” reels, each of which operates to populate a subsection of a single column of the array (e.g., four of the twelve symbol positions in one column). All of the reels, both standard-sized and king-sized, contribute to and, thus, are evaluated as part of the final game outcome. Additional methods of evaluation, both traditional and non-traditional, may be employed when the king reels are triggered, including vertical evaluations, scatter evaluations, right-to-left pays, etc.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to electronic gaming machines (EGM), such as electro-mechanical casino slot machines, for conducting wagering games. For example, disclosed herein is an EGM that is primarily dedicated to conducting at least one regulated casino wagering game. The EGM includes a gaming cabinet for housing electronic components associated with a casino wagering game. An electronic display device is coupled to the gaming cabinet and configured to display the casino wagering game, which includes a plurality of first “standard-sized” symbol-bearing reels. Moreover, an electronic input device, which is also coupled to the gaming cabinet, is configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the casino wagering game, and then transform the physical input into an electronic data signal. Game-logic circuitry is disposed within the gaming cabinet. This game-logic circuitry includes a random element generator that generates one or more random elements associated with play of the casino wagering game.
The EGM's game-logic circuitry is configured to: receive from the electronic input device an electronic data signal indicating receipt of a physical input to initiate the casino wagering game; initiate the casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal generated by the electronic input device; determine an outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on one or more random elements generated by the random element generator; change at least one of the standard-sized reels into a multi-reel carriage that carries plural second “non-standard-sized” symbol-bearing reels, each of which is rotatably mounted onto the multi-reel carriage; direct the electronic display device to display the non-standard-sized reels spinning individually and contemporaneously with the spinning of the standard-sized reels and multi-reel carriage; direct the electronic display device to display the randomly determined outcome of the casino wagering game, the outcome including symbols borne by the standard-sized reels and non-standard-sized reels populating a plurality of distinct array positions arranged in an array on the display device; evaluate the symbols of the standard-sized reels and the non-standard-sized reels populating the array; and, transmit an award to the player if the outcome meets at least one predetermined award criterion.
Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to gaming systems for conducting wagering games. For example, disclosed is a gaming system that is primarily dedicated to conducting at least one regulated casino wagering game. The gaming system includes an electronic gaming machine (EGM) with a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, and an electronic input device. The gaming cabinet of the gaming machine is constructed to house components associated with the wagering game. The electronic display device and the electronic input device are operatively attached to the gaming cabinet. The electronic input device is configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal. The gaming system also includes game-logic circuitry and an electronic random element generator, which is configured to generate one or more random elements associated with play of the wagering game.
The gaming system's game-logic circuitry is configured to: receive from the electronic input device the electronic data signal indicating receipt of the physical input from the player to initiate the wagering game; initiate the wagering game in response to the electronic data signal generated by the electronic input device; determine an outcome of the wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements generated by the random element generator; change at least one standard-sized symbol-bearing reel of the waging game into a multi-reel carriage carrying a plurality of non-standard-sized symbol-bearing reels, each of the non-standard-sized reels being rotatably mounted onto the multi-reel carriage; direct the electronic display device to display the non-standard-sized reels spinning individually and contemporaneously with the spinning of the standard-sized reels and multi-reel carriage; direct the electronic display device to display the randomly determined outcome of the casino wagering game, the outcome including symbols borne by the standard-sized and non-standard-sized reels populating plural distinct array positions arranged in an array displayed on the display device; evaluate the symbols of the standard-sized reels and the non-standard-sized reels populating the array; and, transmit an award to the player in response to the outcome meeting a predetermined award criterion.
Additional aspects of this disclosure are directed to computer-implemented methods, programmable game-logic circuitry, and game content engines for conducting wagering games. In an example, disclosed herein is a method of operating a gaming system primarily dedicated to playing at least one regulated casino wagering game. The gaming system includes an electronic random element generator, game-logic circuitry, and an electronic gaming machine. The electronic gaming machine includes a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, and an electronic input device. The gaming cabinet is constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game.
The method includes: receiving, from the electronic input device of the electronic gaming machine, an electronic data signal indicating receipt of a physical input from a player as an indication of a wager to initiate the casino wagering game; generating, in response to the electronic data signal received from the electronic input device, one or more random elements with the electronic random element generator; determining, via the game-logic circuitry, an outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements; changing, in response to a triggering event during play of the casino wagering game, at least one of the standard-sized reels of the wagering game into a multi-reel carriage carrying a plurality of non-standard-sized symbol-bearing reels, each of the non-standard-sized reels being rotatably mounted onto the multi-reel carriage; displaying, via the electronic display device, the non-standard-sized reels spinning individually and contemporaneously with spinning of the standard-sized reels and the multi-reel carriage; displaying, via the electronic display device, the randomly determined outcome of the casino wagering game, the outcome including symbols borne by the standard-sized reels and the non-standard-sized reels populating a plurality of distinct array positions arranged in an array on the display device; and, evaluating, via the game-logic circuitry, the symbols of the standard-sized reels and the non-standard-sized reels populating the array to determine if the outcome of the casino wagering game meets at least one predetermined award criterion.
The above summary does not represent every embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure. Rather, the foregoing summary merely provides an exemplification of some of the novel aspects and features set forth herein. The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of representative embodiments and modes for carrying out the present invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
The present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, and some representative embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the inventive aspects are not limited to the particular forms illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
This disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. There are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, representative embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the disclosure to the embodiments illustrated. To that extent, elements and limitations that are disclosed, for example, in the Abstract, Summary, and Detailed Description sections, but not explicitly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, singly or collectively, by implication, inference or otherwise. For purposes of the present detailed description, unless specifically disclaimed or logically prohibited: the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and the words “including” or “comprising” or “having” means “including without limitation.” Moreover, words of approximation, such as “about,” “almost,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and the like, can be used herein in the sense of “at, near, or nearly at,” or “within 3-5% of,” or “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances,” or any logical combination thereof, for example.”
For purposes of the present detailed description, the terms “wagering game,” “casino wagering game,” “gambling,” “slot game,” “casino game,” and the like include games in which a player places at risk a sum of money or other representation of value, whether or not redeemable for cash, on an event with an uncertain outcome, including without limitation those having some element of skill. In some embodiments, the wagering game involves wagers of real money, as found with typical land-based or online casino games. In other embodiments, the wagering game additionally, or alternatively, involves wagers of non-cash values, such as virtual currency, and therefore may be considered a social or casual game, such as would be typically available on a social networking web site, other web sites, across computer networks, or applications on mobile devices (e.g., phones, tablets, etc.). When provided in a social or casual game format, the wagering game may closely resemble a traditional casino game, or it may take another form that more closely resembles other types of social/casual games.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like features throughout the several views, there is shown in
The gaming machine 10 illustrated in
The input devices, output devices, and input/output devices are disposed on, and securely coupled to, the cabinet 12. By way of example, the output devices include a primary display 18, a secondary display 20, and one or more audio speakers 22. The primary display 18 or the secondary display 20 may be a mechanical-reel display device, a video display device, or a combination thereof in which a transmissive video display is disposed in front of the mechanical-reel display to portray a video image superimposed upon the mechanical-reel display. The displays variously display information associated with wagering games, non-wagering games, community games, progressives, advertisements, services, premium entertainment, text messaging, emails, alerts, announcements, broadcast information, subscription information, etc. appropriate to the particular mode(s) of operation of the gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 includes a touch screen(s) 24 mounted over the primary or secondary displays, buttons 26 on a button panel, a bill/ticket acceptor 28, a card reader/writer 30, a ticket dispenser 32, and player-accessible ports (e.g., audio output jack for headphones, video headset jack, USB port, wireless transmitter/receiver, etc.). It should be understood that numerous other peripheral devices and other elements exist and are readily utilizable in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine in accord with the present concepts.
The player input devices, such as the touch screen 24, buttons 26, a mouse, a joystick, a gesture-sensing device, a voice-recognition device, and a virtual-input device, accept player inputs and transform the player inputs to electronic data signals indicative of the player inputs, which correspond to an enabled feature for such inputs at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a “Max Bet” button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The inputs, once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to game-logic circuitry for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.
The gaming machine 10 includes one or more value input/payment devices and value output/payout devices. The value input devices are used to deposit cash or credits onto the gaming machine 10. The cash or credits are used to fund wagers placed on the wagering game played via the gaming machine 10. Examples of value input devices include, but are not limited to, a coin acceptor, the bill/ticket acceptor 28, the card reader/writer 30, a wireless communication interface for reading cash or credit data from a nearby mobile device, and a network interface for withdrawing cash or credits from a remote account via an electronic funds transfer. The value output devices are used to dispense cash or credits from the gaming machine 10. The credits may be exchanged for cash at, for example, a cashier or redemption station. Examples of value output devices include, but are not limited to, a coin hopper for dispensing coins or tokens, a bill dispenser, the card reader/writer 30, the ticket dispenser 32 for printing tickets redeemable for cash or credits, a wireless communication interface for transmitting cash or credit data to a nearby mobile device, and a network interface for depositing cash or credits to a remote account via an electronic funds transfer.
Turning now to
The game-logic circuitry 40 is also connected to an input/output (I/O) bus 48, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+ frontside bus and a PCI backside bus. The I/O bus 48 is connected to various input devices 50, output devices 52, and input/output devices 54 such as those discussed above in connection with
The external system 60 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming machines or terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 60 comprises a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external-system interface 58 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the gaming machine 10, such as by a near-field communication path operating via magnetic-field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).
The gaming machine 10 optionally communicates with the external system 60 such that the gaming machine 10 operates as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. The game-logic circuitry 40—whether located within (“thick client”), external to (“thin client”), or distributed both within and external to (“intermediate client”) the gaming machine 10—is utilized to provide a wagering game on the gaming machine 10. In general, the main memory 44 stores programming for a random number generator (RNG), game-outcome logic, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.)—all of which obtained regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission and are verified by a trusted authentication program in the main memory 44 prior to game execution. The authentication program generates a live authentication code (e.g., digital signature or hash) from the memory contents and compare it to a trusted code stored in the main memory 44. If the codes match, authentication is deemed a success and the game is permitted to execute. If, however, the codes do not match, authentication is deemed a failure that must be corrected prior to game execution. Without this predictable and repeatable authentication, the gaming machine 10, external system 60, or both, are not allowed to perform or execute the RNG programming or game-outcome logic in a regulatory-approved manner and are therefore unacceptable for commercial use. In other words, through the use of the authentication program, the game-logic circuitry facilitates operation of the game in a way that a person making calculations or computations could not.
When a wagering-game instance is executed, the CPU 42 (comprising one or more processors or controllers) executes the RNG programming to generate one or more pseudo-random numbers. The pseudo-random numbers are divided into different ranges, and each range is associated with a respective game outcome. Accordingly, the pseudo-random numbers are utilized by the CPU 42 when executing the game-outcome logic to determine a resultant outcome for that instance of the wagering game. The resultant outcome is then presented to a player of the gaming machine 10 by accessing the associated game assets, required for the resultant outcome, from the main memory 44. The CPU 42 causes the game assets to be presented to the player as outputs from the gaming machine 10 (e.g., audio and video presentations). Instead of a pseudo-RNG, the game outcome may be derived from random numbers generated by a physical RNG that measures some physical phenomenon that is expected to be random and then compensates for possible biases in the measurement process. Whether the RNG is a pseudo-RNG or physical RNG, the RNG uses a seeding process that relies upon an unpredictable factor (e.g., human interaction of turning a key) and cycles continuously in the background between games and during game play at a speed that cannot be timed by the player, for example, at a minimum of 100 Hz (100 calls per second) as set forth in Nevada's New Gaming Device Submission Package. Accordingly, the RNG cannot be carried out manually by a human and is integral to operating the game.
The gaming machine 10 may be used to play central determination games, such as electronic pull-tab and bingo games. In an electronic pull-tab game, the RNG is used to randomize the distribution of outcomes in a pool and/or to select which outcome is drawn from the pool of outcomes when the player requests to play the game. In an electronic bingo game, the RNG is used to randomly draw numbers that players match against numbers printed on their electronic bingo card.
The gaming machine 10 may include additional peripheral devices or more than one of each component shown in
Referring now to
In response to receiving an input indicative of a wager, the reels 82 are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with paylines such as paylines 88. The wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped reels and provides immediate awards and bonus features in accordance with a pay table. The pay table may, for example, include “line pays” or “scatter pays.” Line pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Scatter pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position or paylines. Similarly, the wagering game may trigger bonus features based on one or more bonus triggering symbols appearing along an activated payline (i.e., “line trigger”) or anywhere in the displayed array (i.e., “scatter trigger”). The wagering game may also provide mystery awards and features independent of the symbols appearing in the displayed array.
In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager and a wagering-game outcome is provided or displayed in response to the wager being received or detected. The wagering-game outcome, for that particular wagering-game instance, is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming machine 10 depicted in
In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the game-logic circuitry 40 is configured to process the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with stored instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU 42 causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media (e.g., storage unit 56), the CPU 42, in accord with associated stored instructions, causes the changing of a state of the storage media from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM, etc.). The noted second state of the data storage media comprises storage in the storage media of data representing the electronic data signal from the CPU 42 (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the CPU 42 further, in accord with the execution of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary display 18, other display device, or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.) to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary display comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by the RNG) that is used by the game-logic circuitry 40 to determine the outcome of the wagering-game instance. In at least some aspects, the game-logic circuitry 40 is configured to determine an outcome of the wagering-game instance at least partially in response to the random parameter.
In one embodiment, the gaming machine 10 and, additionally or alternatively, the external system 60 (e.g., a gaming server), means gaming equipment that meets the hardware and software requirements for fairness, security, and predictability as established by at least one state's gaming control board or commission. Prior to commercial deployment, the gaming machine 10, the external system 60, or both and the casino wagering game played thereon may need to satisfy minimum technical standards and require regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission (e.g., the Nevada Gaming Commission, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, National Indian Gaming Commission, etc.) charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, such as a state. By way of non-limiting example, a gaming machine in Nevada means a device as set forth in NRS 463.0155, 463.0191, and all other relevant provisions of the Nevada Gaming Control Act, and the gaming machine cannot be deployed for play in Nevada unless it meets the minimum standards set forth in, for example, Technical Standards 1 and 2 and Regulations 5 and 14 issued pursuant to the Nevada Gaming Control Act. Additionally, the gaming machine and the casino wagering game must be approved by the commission pursuant to various provisions in Regulation 14. Comparable statutes, regulations, and technical standards exist in other gaming jurisdictions. As can be seen from the description herein, the gaming machine 10 may be implemented with hardware and software architectures, circuitry, and other special features that differentiate it from general-purpose computers (e.g., desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets).
Referring now to
Gaming machine 110 comprises a secured gaming cabinet 112 for housing a variety of operational componentry (e.g., game-logic circuitry 40, external systems interface 58, etc.). For output devices, the electronic gaming machine 110 includes a primary display area (or “first electronic display device”) 114, secondary display area (or “second electronic display device”) 116, and one or more audio speakers 118. Primary display area 114 and/or secondary display area 14 may be a mechanical-reel display, a video display, or a combination thereof in which, for example, a transmissive video display may be disposed in front of electro-mechanical-reels to portray a video image superimposed upon the reels. Recognizably, one or more of the foregoing display areas/devices can be combined into a single display area/device or separated into three or more display areas/devices. For input devices, the electronic gaming machine 110 may include a touch screen 120 mounted over the primary and/or secondary areas 114, 116, push buttons 122, bill validator 124, information reader/writer(s) 126, quick-play buttons 128 and player-accessible port(s) 130 (e.g., audio output jack for headphones, video headset jack, USB port, wireless transmitter/receiver, etc.). While these typical components found in the electronic gaming machine 110 are described above, it should be understood that numerous additional/alternative peripheral devices and other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming terminal.
Similar to embodiments presented above in
Select symbols on each of the reels 135-139 are arranged in an array 134, which in this embodiment is a rectangular 12×5 matrix—twelve rows by five columns—of distinct array positions displayed via the display device 114 (60 total array positions in
The casino wagering game 132 can include greater or fewer symbol-bearing reels (simulated, mechanical, or otherwise), each of which may include greater or fewer symbols than that shown in
Primary display 114 presents certain display features for providing information and options to a player. For example, the display 114 features may include a MENU/HELP button 180, a WIN meter 182, a CREDITS meter 184, and a BET meter 186. The MENU button 180 can be pressed and activated (e.g., through an overlying touch screen) by a player desiring to access other control menus, preferences, help screens, etc. For example, the player can change a theme of the wagering game 130 via the MENU button 180, or change the type of wagering game being played (e.g., to video poker, keno, etc.). The WIN meter 182 displays to the player the amount of the total win (if any) from the most recent play of the wagering game 130. The CREDITS meter 184 displays to the player the total amount of credits (if any) remaining and available to the player for play of the wagering game 130. The BET meter 186 displays to a player the current size of his/her wager (in credits). Fewer, additional or alternative display features may be included for presenting information/selectable options to a player. The primary display 114 can also include, for example, an optional change DENOM button 188 that can be activated to change the denomination of wagers (e.g., from $0.25 minimum wager to $1.00 minimum wager) which the player is inputting into the system 100. A row of player-selectable bet-per-payline CREDIT buttons 190 permits a player to quickly select from an assortment of preset bet per active payline wager values. Optionally, a REPEAT BET button 192 may be provided for automatically wagering the same number of credits wagered in the previously play of the wagering game and contemporaneously spinning the reels of the wagering game 132.
Some of the symbols in the wagering game 132 can be grouped into a corresponding clump of symbols. The term “clump” or “symbol clump” refers to one or more of a single type of symbol occupying two or more reel positions that are located immediately adjacent one another on a single reel. By way of example, and not limitation, a “standard” symbol clump can consist of multiple identical symbols grouped together to occupy multiple immediately adjacent reel positions on a single reel. One non-limiting example can be seen on the first reel 135 in
In contrast to the “standard-sized” symbols 145-149, each of which occupies a single reel position and operates to populate a single array position, and “clumped” symbols 152-156, each of which occupies multiple reel positions of a single reel and operates to populate multiple array positions of a single array column, a mega symbol (e.g., mega symbols 160-164 of
The wagering game 132 is shown in
Prior to, contemporaneous with, or after the reels have been varied, at least one of the standard-sized reels 135-139 is changed into a multi-reel carriage that carries a plurality of non-standard-sized symbol-bearing reels. In general, a “standard-sized” symbol-bearing reel (also referred to herein as “standard reel”) is dedicated to a single one of the columns of the array 132 and operates to populate every array position in that column. The first reel 135, for instance, spins and stops to populate the 12 distinct array positions in the first column of the array 134. Conversely, a “non-standard-sized” symbol-bearing reel operates to populate only a subset of the array positions in a single column of the array 132, is not limited to a single column of the array 132, or both. One example of a non-standard-sized reel is a miniature symbol-bearing reel (or “mini reel”).
A second example of a non-standard sized reel is a mega-symbol-bearing “king” reel.
In some embodiments, a single standard-sized reel transforms into or is replaced with a multi-reel carriage during play of the wagering game 134. Optionally, according to the representative example illustrated in
Comparable in construction to a Ferris wheel (also known as “observation wheels”), the multi-reel carriage 170 may comprise an annular or capped rim that is rotatably mounted via a central hub or roller bearing onto a wheel tower or other support structure. In a similar regard, each of the non-standard-sized reels, whether it be mega-symbol-bearing reels 171-174 or mini reels 175-177 or combinations thereof, may comprise its own rim structure that is rotatably mounted via a hub or roller bearing onto the multi-reel carriage 170. Non-standard-sized reels, in at least some configurations, are equidistantly spaced along the outer circumference of the rim. In so doing, these non-standard-sized reels can be driven, either at similar or differing rotational speeds, independently of each other and independently of the carriage. As indicated above, all of the reels presented by the primary display device 114, including the multi-reel carriage 170, can be video-simulated replications of a corresponding electro-mechanical counterpart. In some embodiments, the multi-reel carriage 170 occupies only a single column of the array 134 while, as shown, the expanded multi-reel carriage 170 occupies multiple neighboring ones of the columns of the array, namely the three central columns of the five column array 134. Optionally, one of the end reels—e.g., the first and/or fifth standard-sized reels 135, 139—can change into an expanded multi-reel carriage and thereby expand the size of the array 134 by one or more columns of distinct array positions.
Once the transformation is complete, the electronic display device 114 displays each of the non-standard-sized reels 171-174 spinning individually and contemporaneously with the spinning of the remaining standard-sized reels 135, 139 and the spinning of the multi-reel carriage 170, as illustrated in
An example of a randomly determined outcome of a MEGA ELVIS segment of the casino wagering game 134 is presented in
In at least some embodiments, the expanded multi-reel carriage 170 and the non-standard-sized reels 171-174 are indexed such that each and every mega symbol 160-164 of the mega-symbol-bearing reels 171-174, when part of a wagering-game outcome, can only land completely flush (i.e., in its entirety) in the array 134. As a non-limiting example, weighted probabilities assigned to the reel positions of each mega-symbol-bearing reel are configured such that a mega symbol, when part of one of the wagering-game outcomes, can only land in its entirety in the array. The embodiment illustrated in
With reference now to the flow chart of
The method 200 starts at block 201 by receiving an indication of a wager to initiate play of a wagering game, such as slot game 132 of
In response to a triggering event during play of the casino wagering game, block 207 of method 200 changes at least one standard-sized reel of the slot game (e.g., one or more or all of the standard-sized symbol-bearing reels 135-139 of
Continuing to block 211, the method 200 requires displaying the randomly determined outcome of the casino wagering game on one or more of the display devices, such as primary display device 114. According to the illustrated embodiment, the outcome includes symbols borne by the standard-sized reels and non-standard-sized reels populating the distinct array positions arranged in an array on the display device.
In some embodiments, the method 200 includes at least those steps enumerated above. It is also within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure to omit steps, include additional steps, and/or modify the order presented above. It should be further noted that the method 200 represents a single play of a wagering game. However, it is expected that the method 200 be applied in a systematic and repetitive manner.
Aspects of this disclosure can be implemented, in some embodiments, through a computer-executable program of instructions, such as program modules, generally referred to as software applications or application programs executed by a computer. The software can include, in non-limiting examples, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The software can form an interface to allow a computer to react according to a source of input. The software can also cooperate with other code segments to initiate a variety of tasks in response to data received in conjunction with the source of the received data. The software can be stored on any of a variety of memory media, such as CD-ROM, magnetic disk, bubble memory, and semiconductor memory (e.g., various types of RAM or ROM).
Moreover, aspects of the present disclosure can be practiced with a variety of computer-system and computer-network configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable-consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. In addition, aspects of the present disclosure can be practiced in distributed-computing environments where tasks are performed by remote-processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed-computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote computer-storage media including memory storage devices. Aspects of the present disclosure can therefore, be implemented in connection with various hardware, software or a combination thereof, in a computer system or other processing system.
Any of the methods described herein can include machine readable instructions for execution by: (a) a processor, (b) a controller, and/or (c) any other suitable processing device. Any algorithm, software, or method disclosed herein can be embodied in software stored on a tangible medium such as, for example, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or other memory devices, but persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the entire algorithm and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device other than a controller and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware in a well-known manner (e.g., it can be implemented by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable logic device (FPLD), discrete logic, etc.). Also, some or all of the machine readable instructions represented in any flowchart depicted herein can be implemented manually. Further, although specific algorithms are described with reference to flowcharts depicted herein, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many other methods of implementing the example machine readable instructions can alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks can be changed, and/or some of the blocks described can be changed, eliminated, or combined.
It should be noted that the algorithms illustrated and discussed herein as having various modules or blocks or steps that perform particular functions and interact with one another are provided purely for the sake of illustration and explanation. It should be understood that these modules are merely segregated based on their function for the sake of description and represent computer hardware and/or executable software code which can be stored on a computer-readable medium for execution on appropriate computing hardware. The various functions of the different modules and units can be combined or segregated as hardware and/or software stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium as above as modules in any manner, and can be used separately or in combination.
The present invention is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein; any and all modifications, changes, and variations apparent from the foregoing descriptions are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of the preceding elements and aspects.
