# US 2014/0194183 A1 · Enhancements to game components in gaming systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194183 A1 - Document ID: US20140194183A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/029,364 - Filed: 2013-09-17 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-18 - Assignees: Spielo International Canada ULC - Applicants: Spielo International Canada ULC - Inventors: Franz Pierer; Bethany Joy Trainor; Edward Bowron; Khaled Adams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194183A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G07F 17/3211: {Display means} - 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 A computer-implemented method for enhancing game components in a gaming system, the method comprising: displaying at least one of a row and a column of the game components along a plane on a display device in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto; selecting at least one of the game components for enhancement; expanding selected ones of the game components outside of the plane and associating at least one additional symbol to expanded selected ones of the game components; and integrating the at least one additional symbol into the given game. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for enhancing game components in a gaming system, the method comprising: displaying at least one of a row and a column of the game components along a plane on a display device in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto; selecting at least one of the game components for three dimensional enhancement; expanding selected ones of the game components outside of the plane and associating at least one additional symbol to expanded selected ones of the game components; and integrating the at least one additional symbol into the given game. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein expanding selected ones of the game components comprises stacking the at least one additional symbol with the original symbol along an axis coming out of the display device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein stacking the at least one additional symbol with the original symbol comprises at least one of: stacking the at least one additional symbol behind the original symbol, and stacking the at least one additional symbol on top of the original symbol. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein expanding selected ones of the game components comprises exploding the selected ones of the game components into multiple symbols outside of the plane arranged in a predetermined configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein expanding selected ones of the game components comprises providing a cube with the original symbol on a first surface of the cube and the at least one additional symbol on a second surface of the cube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting at least one of the game components for enhancement comprises selecting a plurality of game components, and expanding selected ones comprises generating a multi-faceted gaming surface in three-dimensions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising running multiple instances of the given game in parallel on different surfaces of the multi-faceted gaming surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein associating the at least one additional symbol with a secondary prize via a secondary game comprises allowing the at least one additional symbol to be displaced on the display device via a user interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein stacking the at least one additional symbol with the original symbol comprises stacking different ones of the game components to varying depths. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein expanding selected ones of the game components comprises providing the at least one additional symbol at least one of parallel, perpendicular, and at an angle with the original symbol. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The computer-implement method of claim 1, wherein the given game is a base game, and where the method further comprises: determining that a trigger event occurs to launch a bonus game; providing a plurality of bonus game selections; receiving a selected bonus game from the plurality of bonus game selections; and launching the selected bonus game. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer-implement method of claim 11, wherein the bonus game includes three dimensional enhancements by stacking at least one additional symbol on an original symbol of the bonus game, wherein the original symbol is not used for a payout in a current round of the bonus game, wherein the stacked at least one additional symbol impacts payout of additional rounds of the bonus game. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The computer-implement method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: determining that a prize event occurs; providing a plurality of prize game selections using a three dimensional enhancement; determining a selected prize from the plurality of prize selections after the remaining prizes from the plurality of prize selections are eliminated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying, using a gaming device, a succession of main games, each main game comprising displaying random selections of symbols in a matrix of symbol positions, wherein there are certain winning combinations of symbols across a plurality of symbol positions; displaying a secondary game concurrently with the succession of main games, where the secondary game carries over from one main game to the next main game, wherein the secondary game comprises: providing a visual indicator at a symbol position when a symbol at that symbol position is involved in a winning combination of symbols at the end of a main game; carrying over all visual indicators from one main game to the next main game; and determining when all symbol positions in the matrix have had a symbol involved in a winning combination, as indicated by each symbol position displaying a visual indicator, and, if so, initiating a bonus game; wherein the expanded selected ones of the game components and the at least one additional symbol are part of at least one of the main game, the secondary game, and the bonus game to display a variant game with a three dimensional enhancement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the visual indicator is configured to modify an image from a symbol position by at least one of: adding an image to a symbol position when a symbol at that symbol position is involved in a winning combination of symbols at the end of the main game, subtracting an image from a symbol position when a symbol at that symbol position is involved in a winning combination of symbols at the end of the main game, and changing an image at a symbol position when a symbol at that symbol position is involved in a winning combination of symbols at the end of the main game, and displaying the visual indicator as a tile that appears behind a symbol, where the tile is extinguished when a symbol at that symbol position is involved in a winning combination of symbols at the end of the main game. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein there are multiple layers of visual indicators and the bonus game is initiated when all visual indicators in all the layers indicate that all symbol positions in the matrix have had a symbol involved in a winning combination. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a player may make a plurality of different bets prior to each main game, the secondary game further comprising: associating different bet amounts with different visual indicators; using only the visual indicators at the symbol positions during a main game associated with the particular bet amount for that main game; saving in a memory a status of the visual indicators associated with a previous bet amount when the player changes the bet amount for a new main game; and playing the secondary game with the set of visual indicators associated with the bet amount for the new main game. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting on a random basis a first set of chance elements, that determine a first gaming outcome; retrieving one or more rules for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the first set of chance elements, the video gaming output including a first set of gaming elements organized in a first array; displaying the first set of gaming elements; selecting on a random basis a second set of chance elements that determine a second gaming outcome; retrieving one or more rules for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the second set of chance elements as a second set of gaming elements that produce winning enhancements, the second set of gaming elements being organized in a second array; and displaying winning enhancements in way that simulates the second set of gaming elements interacting physically with the first set of gaming elements, wherein the winning enhancements are displayed as part of the three dimensional enhancements involving the expanded selected ones of the game components and the at least one additional symbol. ### Claim 19 A gaming device for enhancing game components in a gaming system comprising: a display screen with three dimensional capabilities; and at least one processor coupled to at least one memory storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: display, on the display screen, at least one of a row and a column of the game components along a plane on a display device in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto; select at least one of the game components for three dimensional enhancement; expand selected ones of the game components outside of the plane and associating at least one additional symbol to expanded selected ones of the game components; and integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game. ### Claim 20 A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform a method for enhancing game components in a gaming system, the method comprising: displaying at least one of a row and a column of the game components along a plane on a display device in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto; selecting at least one of the game components for three dimensional enhancement; expanding selected ones of the game components outside of the plane and associating at least one additional symbol to expanded selected ones of the game components; and integrating the at least one additional symbol into the given game.