US 2003/0190948 A1 · Gaming device with traveling reel symbols

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gaming device feature which involves one or more symbols which travel from one location to a randomly determined location on one or more reels. The travel can occur at any time during a primary game or bonus round, however it preferably occurs to accompany an outcome such as a value award. This travel feature provides players with engaging entertainment and increases player enjoyment.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims97

Dependent claims

A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager by a player, the game including a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of said reels, each of the symbols having a designated position on the reels, whereby when each of the reels moves, said symbols on said reels move;
at least one triggering event associated with at least one of the symbols;
an outcome associated with the triggering event;
a graphical representation including at least one of said symbols traveling on said reels toward at least one randomly positioned destination on one of said reels;
a display device which displays the reels, the symbols and the graphical representation;
and
a processor in communication with the display device which causes the display device to display said graphical representation after said triggering event occurs and provides the player with the outcome associated with said triggering event.

5 more elements

A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager by a player, the game including a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of said reels, each of the symbols having a designated position on the reels, whereby when each of the reels moves, said symbols on said reels move;
at least one triggering event associated with at least one of the symbols;
an outcome associated with the triggering event;
and
a display device which displays the reels, the symbols and which displays at least one of the symbols traveling on the reels toward at least one randomly positioned destination on one of the reels after the triggering event occurs, whereafter the outcome associated with the triggering event occurs.

3 more elements

A gaming device comprising:

a slot game operable upon a wager by a player, the slot game including a plurality of video reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of the video reels, each of said symbols having a designated position on the video reels, whereby when each of the video reels moves, said symbols on said video reels move;
at least one triggering event associated with at least one of the symbols;
an outcome associated with the triggering event;
a graphical representation including a plurality of said symbols traveling on said reels toward at least one randomly determined location on or adjacent to one of the video reels until a predetermined event occurs;
a display device which displays the video reels, the symbols and the graphical representation;
and
a processor in communication with the display device which causes the display device to display the graphical representation after the triggering event occurs and provides the player with the outcome associated with said triggering event.

5 more elements

A gaming device comprising:

a slot game operable upon a wager by a player, the slot game including a plurality of video reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of the video reels, each of said symbols having a designated position on the video reels, whereby when each of the video reels moves, said symbols on said video reels move;
at least one triggering event associated with at least one of the symbols;
an outcome associated with the triggering event;
and
a display device which displays the video reels, the symbols and which, after the triggering event occurs, displays a plurality of the symbols traveling on the reels toward at least one randomly determined location on or adjacent to one of the video reels until a predetermined event occurs, whereafter the outcome associated with said triggering event occurs.

3 more elements

A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:

a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of said reels, each of said symbols having a designated position on the reels, whereby when each of the reels moves, said symbols on said reels move;
at least one triggering event associated with at least one of the symbols;
an outcome associated with the triggering event;
a graphical representation including at least one of said symbols traveling from the designated position of said symbol to at least one randomly positioned destination on one of said reels;
a display device which displays the reels, the symbols and the graphical representation;
and
a processor in communication with the display device which, after the triggering event occurs, causes the display device to display the graphical representation and causes the outcome associated with the triggering event to occur.

5 more elements

A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:

a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of said reels, each of said symbols having a designated position on the reels, whereby when each of the reels moves, said symbols on said reels move;
at least one triggering event associated with at least one of the symbols;
an outcome associated with the triggering event;
and
a display device which displays the reels, the symbols and which, after the triggering event occurs, displays at least one of said symbols traveling from the designated position of said symbol to at least one randomly positioned destination on one of said reels, whereafter the outcome associated with said triggering event occurs.

3 more elements

A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager by a player, the game including a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of said reels, each of the symbols having a designated position on the reels, whereby when each of the reels move, said symbols on said reels move;
a graphical representation including a plurality of the symbols traveling toward a randomly determined location on or adjacent to one of the reels;
a display device which displays the reels, the symbols and the graphical representation;
at least one event associated with the game;
an outcome associated with the event;
and
a processor in communication with the display device which causes the display device to display the graphical representation after the event occurs and causes the outcome to occur.

5 more elements

A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager by a player, the game including a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of said reels, each of the symbols having a designated position on the reels, whereby when each of the reels move, said symbols on said reels move;
at least one event associated with the game;
an outcome associated with the event;
and
a display device which displays the reels, the symbols and which, after the event occurs, displays a plurality of the symbols traveling toward a randomly determined location on or adjacent to one of the reels, whereafter the outcome associated with said event occurs.

3 more elements

A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager by a player, the game including a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of said reels, each of the symbols having a designated position on the reels, whereby when each of the reels moves, said symbols move;
a graphical representation including one of the symbols moving away from at least one of the other symbols toward at least one randomly determined location on or adjacent to one of the reels;
a display device which displays the reels, the symbols and the graphical representation;
at least one event associated with the game;
an outcome associated with the event;
and
a processor in communication with the display device which causes the display device to display the graphical representation after the event occurs and causes the outcome to occur.

5 more elements

A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager by a player, the game including a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on each of said reels, each of the symbols having a designated position on the reels, whereby when each of the reels moves, said symbols move;
at least one event associated with the game;
an outcome associated with the event;
and
a display device which displays the reels, the symbols and which, after the event occurs, displays one of the symbols moving away from at least one of the other symbols toward at least one randomly determined location on or adjacent to one of the reels, whereafter the outcome associated with said event occurs;

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,032 words

Summary1,351 words

#A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

#The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device which displays traveling symbols on its reels.

#The games in many existing gaming machines, such as traditional slot machines, are based upon the concept of spinning reels. The player initiates the spin of the reels, and where the reels stop determines whether a player wins a value and, if so, how much value the player wins. These gaming machines typically have certain features designated for outcomes such as when a player wins a value, advances to a bonus round or when the game terminates. For example, these gaming machines often display the amount of credits earned, flash lights, make sounds or have other features designed to draw attention to the outcome and entertain the player. In an existing game when a predetermined event occurs, a wild card-type symbol replaces various reel symbols, one at a time. If any of those replacements result in a winning combination of symbols, the player wins a certain value. Patent Cooperation Treaty Patent No. WO 9732285 entitled, “Slot Machine Game with Roaming Wild Card,” published on Apr. 9, 1997 and assigned on its face to Aristocrat Leisure Ind Pty Ltd discloses a feature generally of this type. However, these existing features do not display symbols as they move or travel from one position to another on the reels.

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the electronic configuration of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description3,352 words

#Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 generally illustrates a gaming device 10 of one embodiment of the present invention, which is preferably a slot machine having the controls, displays and features of a conventional slot machine. Gaming device 10 is constructed so that a player can operate gaming device 10 while standing or sitting. However, it should be appreciated that gaming device 10 can be constructed as a pub-style table-top game (not shown) which a player can operate preferably while sitting. Gaming device 10 can also be implemented as a program code stored in a detachable cartridge for operating a hand-held video game device. Also, gaming device 10 can be implemented as a program code stored on a disk or other memory device which a player can use in a desktop or laptop personal computer or other computerized platform.

#Gaming device 10 can incorporate any game such as slot, poker or keno in addition to any triggering combination. The indicia used on and in gaming device 10 may be in mechanical, electrical or video form.

#As illustrated in FIG. 1, gaming device 10 includes a coin slot 12 and bill acceptor 14 where the player inserts money, coins or tokens. The player can place coins in the coin slot 12 or paper money in the bill acceptor 14. Other devices could be used for accepting payment such as readers or validators for credit cards or debit cards. When a player inserts money in gaming device 10, a number of credits corresponding to the amount deposited is shown in a credit display 16. After depositing the appropriate amount of money, a player can begin the game by pulling arm 18 or pushing play button 20. Play button 20 can be any play activator used by the player which starts any game or sequence of events in the gaming device.

Facts

Application

10/409,965Filed 9 Apr 2003

Priority

29 Jun 2000

Published

9 Oct 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

G07F 17/34
For games, toys, sports, or amusements: depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus

Family

Application09/606,928Continuation in part · filed 29 Jun 2000

Application09/689,197Continuation · filed 12 Oct 2000

Application09/689,197Continuation in part · filed 12 Oct 2000

Application10/409,965Continuation · filed 9 Apr 2003

US 6,561,900 B1Related patent

US 6,565,433 B1Related patent

US 2003/0190948 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Gaming device with traveling reel symbols

Life of this patent

Gaming device with traveling reel symbols

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims97

Description5,032 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,032 words