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US 12,725,489 B2Granted
Gaming system and method with symbol cluster feature
AssigneeLNW Gaming, Inc.
InventorsEmma Charles, Lloyd Sefton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a gaming system, gaming machine, and method that utilize a presentation assembly configured to present a plurality of reels and an array. The plurality of reels bear a plurality of symbols including clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols. The reels are spun and stopped to land symbols from the plurality of symbols in the array. In response to the landed symbols including a triggering combination of clusters of value-bearing symbols, each cluster is disbanded by animating distribution of the value-bearing symbols in each cluster to different positions in the array. The presentation assembly presents an award based at least in part on the distributed value-bearing symbols.
Claims18
A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising the operations of:
- generating, by game-logic circuitry of the gaming machine via execution of an authentication program stored in one or more memory devices of the game-logic circuitry, a live authentication code based on contents of at least one of the one or more memory devices;
- comparing, by the game-logic circuitry, the live authentication code to a trusted authentication code stored in the one or more memory devices;
- permitting execution of random-number-generator programming and game-outcome logic based on the comparing;
- and
- in response to permitting execution of the random-number-generator programming and the game-outcome logic;
- presenting, by a presentation assembly, a plurality of reels and an array having a plurality of positions, the plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols including clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols, each cluster of the clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols, when landed, occupying a single respective position of the array with the multiple value-bearing symbols of the cluster appearing within the single respective position, and each value-bearing symbol bearing a respective credit value;
- spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to land symbols from the plurality of symbols in respective positions of the array;
- and
- in response to the landed symbols including a triggering combination of clusters of value-bearing symbols;
- disbanding each cluster by animating distribution of the value-bearing symbols in each cluster from the single respective position previously occupied by the cluster to different positions of the array such that, after the disbanding, each value-bearing symbol of the cluster occupies its own respective position of the array and is no longer clustered with other value-bearing symbols of the cluster;
- and
- presenting, on the presentation assembly, an award based at least in part on credit values borne by the distributed value-bearing symbols.
9 more elements
A gaming system comprising:
- a gaming machine including a presentation assembly configured to present a plurality of reels and an array having a plurality of positions, the plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols including clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols, each cluster of the clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols, when landed, occupying a single respective position of the array with the multiple value-bearing symbols of the cluster appearing within the single respective position, and each value-bearing symbol bearing a respective credit value;
- and
- game-logic circuitry comprising one or more processors and one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing (i) an authentication program, (ii) a trusted authentication code, and (iii) instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the game-logic circuitry to:
- generate, via execution of the authentication program, a live authentication code based on contents of at least one of the one or more memory devices;
- compare the live authentication code to the trusted authentication code;
- permit execution of random-number-generator programming and game-outcome logic based on the comparing;
- and
- in response to permitting execution of the random-number-generator programming and the game-outcome logic;
- spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to land symbols from the plurality of symbols in respective positions of the array;
- and
- in response to the landed symbols including a triggering combination of clusters of value-bearing symbols;
- disbanding each cluster by animating distribution of the value-bearing symbols in each cluster from the single respective position previously occupied by the cluster to different positions in of the array such that, after the disbanding, each value-bearing symbol of the cluster occupies its own respective position of the array and is no longer clustered with other value-bearing symbols of the cluster;
- and
- presenting, on the presentation assembly, an award based at least in part on credit values borne by the distributed value-bearing symbols.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.