# US 2013/0157742 A1 · Wagering games with reel array interacting with simulated objects moving relative to the reel array > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157742 A1 - Document ID: US20130157742A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/715,179 - Filed: 2012-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: WMS Gaming Inc. - Inventors: Larry J. Pacey; Joel R. Jaffe; Dion K. Aoki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157742A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3211: {Display means} - G07F 17/3267: {Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games} - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for executing a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system for conducting a wagering game is disclosed which includes a memory device that stores instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the gaming system to: display a symbol array at a first position of a three-dimensional (3D) space; display a 3D object at a second position of the 3D space, the 3D object having two or more surfaces each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space and each having a respective symbol modifier; display the 3D object and/or symbol array moving towards each other; display, in the symbol array, symbols indicative of a wagering-game outcome; and, in response to the 3D object engaging the array, modify each of the symbol-array symbols by the symbol modifier of the 3D object which engages that symbol. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming system for playing a wagering game, the gaming system comprising: at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to: receive, responsive to an input via the at least one input device, a wager to play the wagering game; display, via the at least one display device, a symbol array located at a first position of a three-dimensional (3D) space; display, via the at least one display device, a 3D object located at a second position of the 3D space, the 3D object having two or more defined surfaces each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space and each having associated therewith a respective symbol modifier; display, via the at least one display device, the 3D object moving from the second position towards the symbol array at the first position; display, in the symbol array, a plurality of symbols indicative of a randomly determined outcome of the wagering game; and in response to the moving 3D object engaging the symbol array, modify each of the symbols in the symbol array by the symbol modifier of the defined surface of the 3D object that engages the symbol. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the memory device stores additional instructions which cause the gaming system to display the 3D object moving past the symbol array at the first position such that the 3D object does not engage the symbol array and the symbol modifiers do not modify any of the symbols in the symbol array. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the 3D object, when moving from the second position towards the first position, changes orientation such that each of the defined surfaces of the 3D object lies along a new respective plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the symbol modifier of the defined surface of the 3D object that engages each of the symbols of the symbol array depends, at least in part, on the orientation of the 3D object in the 3D space when the 3D object engages the symbol array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the orientation of the 3D object in the 3D space when the 3D object engages the symbol array depends, at least in part, on a value of the wager input. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the two or more defined surfaces includes a first surface with a first number of symbol modifiers and a second surface with a second number of symbol modifiers distinct from the first number of symbol modifiers, and wherein the number of symbols in the symbol array modified in response to the moving 3D object engaging the symbol array depends on which of the first and second surfaces engages the symbols. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the second position is located behind the first position in the 3D space such that the symbol array at least partially visually obstructs the 3D object as the 3D object moves from the second position towards the first position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the memory device stores additional instructions which cause the gaming system to: display a second 3D object, which is distinct in shape from the 3D object, located at a third position of the 3D space, the second 3D object having two or more defined surfaces each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space and each having associated therewith a respective symbol modifier; display the second 3D object moving from the third position towards the symbol array at the first position; display, in the symbol array, a second plurality of symbols indicative of a second randomly determined outcome of the wagering game; and in response to the second 3D object engaging the symbol array, modify each of the respective symbols in the symbol array by the symbol modifier of the defined surface of the second 3D object that engages the symbol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the symbol array includes a number of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns, and wherein the modifying the symbols in the symbol array is responsive to one or more of the defined surfaces of the 3D object aligning with one or more of the symbol positions when the 3D object engages the symbol array. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the symbol array comprises a plurality of symbol-bearing reels, wherein the displaying of the plurality of symbols indicative of the outcome of the wagering game includes spinning and stopping the symbol-bearing reels, and wherein the modifying each of the symbols in the symbol array is prior to stopping the symbol-bearing reels to reveal the symbols indicative of the outcome of the wagering game. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the 3D object causes each of the symbol-bearing reels with which the 3D object engages to stop spinning. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the two or more defined surfaces includes a first, a second and a third defined surface each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space and each bearing a distinct plurality of symbol modifiers. ### Claim 13 A gaming system comprising: one or more display devices; one or more processors; one or more memory devices storing instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to: receive an indication of a wager to play a wagering game; display, in an array located at a first position of a three-dimensional (3D) space of the one or more display devices, symbols associated with outcomes of the wagering game; display, via the one or more display devices, a 3D object located at a second position of the 3D space, the 3D object having a plurality of faces each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space, each of the faces bearing a respective symbol modifier; display, via the one or more display devices, the 3D object moving towards the symbol array or the symbol array moving towards the 3D object, or both; determine if the 3D object engages the symbol array; in response to the 3D object engaging the symbol array, modify each of the symbols in the symbol array by the symbol modifier of the defined surface of the 3D object that engages the symbol; and display, in the symbol array, a plurality of symbols indicative of an outcome of the wagering game, the wagering-game outcome being randomly determined from a plurality of wagering-game outcomes. ### Claim 14 A computer-implemented method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system with at least one input device, at least one display device, and at least one processor, the computer-implemented method comprising: displaying, via the at least one display device, symbols associated with outcomes of the wagering game arranged in an array located at a first position of a three-dimensional (3D) space; displaying, via the at least one display device, a 3D object located at a second position of the 3D space, the 3D object having two or more defined surfaces each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space, each of the defined surfaces of the 3D object having associated therewith a respective symbol modifier; displaying, via the at least one display device, the 3D object moving in the 3D space from the second position towards the symbol array at the first position; displaying, in the symbol array, a plurality of symbols indicative of a randomly determined outcome of the wagering game; and in response to the moving 3D object engaging the symbol array, modifying each of the symbols in the symbol array by the symbol modifier of the defined surface of the 3D object that engages the symbol. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising displaying the 3D object moving past the symbol array such that the 3D object does not engage the symbol array and the symbol modifiers do not modify any of the symbols in the symbol array ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising displaying the 3D object changing orientation when moving from the second position towards the first position such that each of the defined surfaces of the 3D object lies along a new respective plane ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the symbol modifier of the defined surface that engages the symbol of the symbol array depends, at least in part, on the orientation of the 3D object in the 3D space when the 3D object engages the symbol array. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the two or more defined surfaces includes a first surface with a first number of symbol modifiers and a second surface with a second number of symbol modifiers distinct from the first number of symbol modifiers, and wherein the number of symbols in the symbol array modified in response to the moving 3D object engaging the symbol array depends on which of the first and second surfaces engages the symbols. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising displaying the 3D object moving towards the first position from behind the symbol array such that the symbol array at least partially visually obstructs the 3D object as the 3D object moves from the second position towards the first position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising: displaying, via the display device, a second 3D object, which is distinct in shape from the 3D object, located at a third position of the 3D space, the second 3D object having two or more defined surfaces each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space and each having associated therewith a respective symbol modifier; displaying, via the display device, the second 3D object moving from the third position towards the symbol array at the first position; displaying, in the symbol array, a second plurality of symbols indicative of a second randomly determined outcome of the wagering game; and in response to the second 3D object engaging the symbol array, modifying each of the symbols in the symbol array by the symbol modifier of the defined surface of the second 3D object that engages the symbol. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the symbol array includes a number of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns, and wherein the modifying the symbols in the symbol array is responsive to one or more of the defined surfaces of the 3D object aligning with one or more of the symbol positions when the 3D object engages the symbol array. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the symbol array comprises a plurality of symbol-bearing reels, wherein the displaying of the plurality of symbols indicative of the outcome of the wagering game includes spinning and stopping the symbol-bearing reels, and wherein the modifying each of the symbols in the symbol array is prior to stopping the symbol-bearing reels to reveal the symbols indicative of the outcome of the wagering game ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the 3D object is a polyhedron, and the two or more defined surfaces includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth defined surface each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space and each bearing a distinct symbol modifier. ### Claim 24 A computer program product comprising one or more non-transient computer-readable media having an instruction set borne thereby, the instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by one or more controllers, the acts of: receiving an indication of a wager; directing a display device to: display symbols associated with outcomes of the wagering game arranged in an array located at a first position of a three-dimensional (3D) space; display a 3D object located at a second position of the 3D space, the 3D object having two or more defined surfaces each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space, each of the defined surfaces of the 3D object having associated therewith a respective symbol modifier; display the 3D object moving towards the symbol array, the symbol array moving towards the 3D object, or both, in the 3D space; display, in the symbol array, a plurality of symbols indicative of a randomly determined outcome of the wagering game; and display the 3D object engaging the symbol array; and modifying each of the symbols in the symbol array by the symbol modifier of the defined surface of the 3D object that engages the symbol. ### Claim 25 A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, the method comprising: receiving, responsive to an input via at least one input device, a wager to play the wagering game; displaying, via at least one display device, an array of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns; displaying, via the at least one display device, a three-dimensional (3D) object having a plurality of defined surfaces, each of the defined surfaces bearing a symbol enhancer; causing the 3D object to visually move in a 3D space from a position distal from the array of symbol positions towards the array of symbol positions such that the displayed array of symbol positions at least partially visually obstructs or obscures the moving 3D object; causing the 3D object to visually engage with the array; in response to one or more of the defined surfaces of the moving 3D object being in a predetermined alignment with the array of symbol positions during the engagement such that the one or more of the defined surface areas corresponds with one or more corresponding symbol positions of the array of symbol positions, adding the symbol enhancer of the one or more of the defined surface areas of the moving 3D object to the corresponding symbol positions of the array of symbol positions.