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US 10,872,500 B2Granted
Slot machine implementing a symbol lock operation
AssigneeIgt
InventorsChris Peterson, Nick Hillstrom, Nathan Ajhar, Yu Chong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to computational devices and, in particular, toward a computational device, system, and method of operating a computational device. The method may include determining that a re-spin operation is available with a symbol lock feature and then implementing the re-spin for symbols in an array of symbols that are unlocked or otherwise not identified as being locked.
Claims18
A method of operating a computational device, the method comprising:
- initiating a first reel spin in which a random number generator is used to determine a position of a first reel and a second reel after spinning the first reel and the second reel;
- after the first reel spin, displaying a first set of symbols with the first reel and a second set of symbols with the second reel;
- after the first reel spin, determining, with a processor of the computational device, that a re-spin is available;
- determining, with the processor, that a symbol lock function will be implemented during the re-spin;
- in response to determining that the symbol lock function will be implemented,
- preventing the second reel from being selected for the symbol lock function based, at least in part, on a determination that the second set of symbols comprises a bonus symbol;
- and
- selecting, with the processor, the first reel to remain locked during the re-spin;
- initiating the re-spin in which the random number generator is used to spin the second reel but not the first reel;
- and
- after the re-spin,
- displaying the first set of symbols with the first reel and a third set of symbols with the second reel, wherein the third set of symbols is different from the second set of symbols;
- and
- evaluating, with the processor, the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols relative to a pay line to determine whether the re-spin results in a predetermined game outcome.
11 more elements
A computational device, comprising:
- a user interface;
- a processor coupled with the user interface;
- and
- a computer-readable storage medium, coupled with the processor, comprising instructions that are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to:
- initiate a first reel spin in which a random number generator is used to determine a position of symbols within an array of symbol areas, wherein the array of symbol areas comprises a first row of symbol areas and a second row of symbol areas;
- present, via the user interface, the array of symbol areas with symbols positioned according to the first reel spin;
- after the first reel spin, evaluate the position of symbols within the array of symbol areas to determine that a re-spin is available;
- determine that a symbol lock function will be implemented during the re-spin;
- based on the determination that the symbol lock function will be implemented,
- prevent the second row of symbol areas from being locked during the re-spin based, at least in part, on a determination that the second row of symbol areas comprises a bonus symbol;
- and
- identify the first row of symbol areas as a row of symbol areas that will remain locked during the re-spin;
- initiate the re-spin in which the random number generator is used to populate the second row of symbol areas with new symbols but maintain symbols in the first row of symbol areas according to the first reel spin;
- and
- after the re-spin, evaluate symbols in the array of symbol areas relative to a pay line to determine whether the re-spin results in a predetermined game outcome.
12 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a computer-readable storage medium, coupled with the processor, comprising instructions that are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to:
- initiate a first reel spin in which a random number generator is used to determine a position of symbols within an array of symbol areas;
- present the array of symbol areas with symbols positioned according to the first reel spin;
- after the first reel spin, evaluate the position of symbols within the arrayof symbol areas to determine that a re-spin is available;
- determine that a symbol lock function will be implemented during the re-spin;
- based on the determination that the symbol lock function will be implemented during the re-spin,
- prevent a first plurality of adjacent symbol areas from being locked during the re-spin based, at least in part, on a determination that the first plurality of adjacent symbol areas comprises a bonus symbol;
- and
- identify a second plurality of adjacent symbol areas as a set of symbol areas that will remain locked during the re-spin;
- initiate the re-spin in which the random number generator is used to populate symbol areas other than the set of symbol areas with new symbols;
- and
- after the re-spin, evaluate symbols in the arrayof symbol areas relative to a first pay line to determine whether the re-spin results in a predetermined game outcome.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.