# US 2014/0194184 A1 · Gaming, System, Method and Device Including a Symbol Changing or Augmenting Feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194184 A1 - Document ID: US20140194184A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/205,746 - Filed: 2014-03-12 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-12 - Assignees: Bally Gaming, Inc. - Applicants: Bally Gaming, Inc. - Inventors: Keith Lange; Alexander Villagran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194184A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3262: {Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played} - G07F 17/3213: {Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members} - G07F 17/3225: {Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users} - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - 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 17/3288: {Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking} - 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 systems, devices and methods are set forth which provide for the selection and application of modifiers to game outcomes. The modifiers confer different functionalities to base game symbols or an augmenting functionality to alter or provide an outcome. Different sets of modifiers may be accessed randomly or under different conditions and event ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming device of the type having a video display to display video reels defining a game matrix, a data structure storing data corresponding to a plurality of virtual base reel strips of base game symbols arranged is a series of X symbols for selection and display as said video reels at said display to define a winning or losing base game outcome, apparatus for a player to make a wager and initiate play of a game, the device comprising: a memory storing data corresponding to virtual modifier reel strips including indicators arranged in a series, said indicators of said modifier reels including modifiers and blanks, said modifiers indicating a modification to a base game outcome; a controller configured to randomly select for each video reel a segment in the series of said virtual base reel symbols to display at said display to define said base game outcome and to randomly select for each modifier reel strip a segment in the series of said indicators for said modifier reels to display at said display in an overlay position over said displayed base game symbols, if said selected and displayed segment includes a modifier to modify the base game outcome according to the modifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1 comprising said memory storing data of modifiers indicating modification of a base game selected from the group consisting of (a) turning a base game symbol underlying said modifier to a Wild symbol, (b) providing a multiplier of any base game symbol award including the base game symbol underlying the modifier and (c) a nudge to the selected segment in the series of said base reel strip underlying the modifier to display to change the base game symbols displayed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1 comprising said controller configured to display said base game symbols and said indicators for said modifier reels substantially simultaneously. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1 comprising said controller configured to display said base game symbols before the display of said symbols for said modifier reels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1 comprising said controller configured to display said base game symbols after the display of said symbols for said modifier reels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1 comprising said controller configured to randomly select for each modifier reel strip a segment in the series of said indicators for said modifier reels, to a randomly select said segment in said series of base game virtual base reel symbols, tie said selected segments and to control said display to display the indicators associated with said selected segment of the modifier reel strip overlaid atop said base games symbols associated with the tied modifier reel indicators with the selected position overlaid atop said base game symbols associated with selected position in said series of base game virtual base reel symbols. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1 comprising said memory storing data corresponding to virtual modifier reel strips including indicators arranged in a series of Y indicators where Y>X. ### Claim 8 A gaming device of the type having a video display to display video reels defining a game matrix, a data structure storing data corresponding to a plurality of virtual base reel strips of base game symbols arranged is a series of X symbols for selection and display as said video reels at said display to define a winning or losing base game outcome, apparatus for a player to make a wager and initiate play of a game, the device comprising: a memory storing data corresponding to virtual modifier reel strips including indicators arranged in a series of Y indicators, said indicators of said modifier reels including modifiers and blanks, said modifiers indicating a modification to a base game outcome, for at least one modifier reel Y>X; a controller configured to randomly select for each video reel a segment in the series of said virtual base reel symbols to display at said display to define said base game outcome and to randomly select for each modifier reel strip a segment in the series of said indicators for display in an overlay position over said displayed base game symbol segments, if said selected and displayed indicators includes a modifier to modify the base game outcome according to the modifier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The gaming device of claim 8 comprising said memory storing data of modifiers indicating modification of a base game selected from the group consisting of (a) turning a base game symbol underlying said modifier to a Wild symbol, (b) providing a multiplier of any base game symbol award including the base game symbol underlying the modifier and (c) a nudge to the selected segment in the series of said base reel strip underlying the modifier to display to change the base game symbols displayed.