# US 2018/0025576 A1 · Gaming machine with runs of symbols

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- Number: US 2018/0025576 A1
- Document ID: US20180025576A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/484,276
- Filed: 2017-04-11
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2005-02-14
- Assignees: Konami Gaming, Inc.
- Applicants: Konami Gaming, Inc.
- Inventors: Osamu Yoshimi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025576A1

## CPC

- G07F 17/3213: {Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members}
- A63F 9/24: Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
- 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})
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A gaming machine comprising a processor to execute a game displaying a matrix of symbol containing elements having a plurality of rows and a plurality columns; at least one column comprising a portion of a simulated rotatable reel of a plurality of said symbol containing elements; said simulated rotatable reel comprising sections of symbol containing elements displaying a plurality of symbols; said simulated rotatable reel including at least one section in which a consecutive run of two or more of said elements is populated by a first identical symbol so that, said first identical symbol being used for a first play of said game, a second identical symbol being randomly selected, the first identical symbol being replaced by the second identical symbol in said consecutive run of two or more of said elements, said second identical symbol being used for a second play of said game.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gaming machine, comprising:
a memory device configured to store data representing a plurality of symbols and a plurality of reels for use during a game, each reel of the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbol containing elements, each symbol containing element configured to display a symbol, the plurality of reels including a first reel and a second reel, each of the first reel and the second reel including a consecutive run of symbol containing elements configured to display an identical symbol;
a display device configured to display a game screen; and
a game controller including a microprocessor configured to:
initiate a play of the game;
generate the plurality of reels for use during the play of the game including selecting a first identical symbol and a second identical symbol;
display the plurality of reels on the game screen including the first reel having the selected first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements included in the first reel and the second reel having the selected second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements included in the second reel; and
spin and stop the plurality of reels to display an outcome of the play of the game.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first identical symbol is different than the second identical symbol.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first identical symbol is the same as the second identical symbol.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is configured to display the first reel adjacent to the second reel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is configured to:
initiate a second play of the game;
generate the plurality of reels for use during the second play of the game including selecting another first identical symbol and another second identical symbol;
display the plurality of reels on the game screen including the first reel having the selected another first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements included in the first reel and the second reel having the selected another second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements included in the second reel; and
spin and stop the plurality of reels to display an outcome of the second play of the game.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of reels includes a consecutive run of symbol containing elements configured to display an identical symbol, the game controller is configured to:
select the first identical symbol associated with a first subset of reels of the plurality of reels and the second identical symbol associated with a second subset of reels of the plurality of reels: and
display each reel of the first subset of reels including the selected first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements of each reel of the first subset of reels;
display each reel of the second subset of reels including the selected second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements of each reel of the second subset of reels; and
spin and stop the plurality of reels to display the play of the game.

### Claim 7

A gaming machine comprising:
a display device configured to display a game screen;
an input device including a button associated with a spin feature of a game; and
a microprocessor programmed to:
receive a signal from the input device indicating the spin feature being activated by a player;
generate a plurality of reels for use during the game in response to receiving the signal from the input device, each reel of the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbol containing elements for displaying symbols, the plurality of reels including a first reel including a first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and a second reel including a second consecutive run of symbol containing elements, wherein each of the first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and the second consecutive run of symbol containing elements includes at least three symbol containing elements;
randomly select a first identical symbol and a second identical symbol;
display the plurality of reels on the game screen including the first reel having the selected first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and the second reel having the selected second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the second consecutive run of symbol containing elements; and
spin and stop the plurality of reels to display the play of the game.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to generate the plurality of reels after the player has activated the spin feature.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to select a pattern of symbols for the plurality of reels, the pattern of symbols including the first identical symbol being displayed with the first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and the second identical symbol being displayed with the second consecutive run of symbol containing elements.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the game controller is configured to:
initiate a second play of the game;
generate the plurality of reels for use during the second play of the game including selecting another first identical symbol and another second identical symbol;
display the plurality of reels on the game screen including the first reel having the selected another first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and the second reel having the selected another second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the second consecutive run of symbol containing elements; and
spin and stop the reel to display an outcome of the second play of the game.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of reels includes a consecutive run of symbol containing elements configured to display an identical symbol, the game controller is configured to:
select the first identical symbol associated with a first subset of reels of the plurality of reels and the second identical symbol associated with a second subset of reels of the plurality of reels: and
display each reel of the first subset of reels including the selected first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements of each reel of the first subset of reels;
display each reel of the second subset of reels including the selected second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements of each reel of the second subset of reels; and
spin and stop the plurality of reels to display the play of the game.

### Claim 12

A gaming machine comprising:
a plurality of reels, each reel of the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbol containing elements for displaying symbols, the plurality of reels including a first reel including a first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and a second reel including a second consecutive run of symbol containing elements;
an input device including a button associated with a spin feature of a game; and
a microprocessor programmed to:
receive a signal from the input device indicating the spin feature being activated by the player;
randomly select a first identical symbol and a second identical symbol;
display the first reel having the selected first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and the second reel having the selected second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the second consecutive run of symbol containing elements included in the second reel; and
spin and stop the plurality of reels to display the play of the game.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the first identical symbol is different than the second identical symbol.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the first identical symbol is the same as the second identical symbol.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the game controller is configured to display the first reel adjacent to the second reel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to select a first identical symbol and a second identical symbol after the player has activated the spin feature.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to select a pattern of symbols for the plurality of reels, the pattern of symbols including the first identical symbol being displayed with the first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and the second identical symbol being displayed with the second consecutive run of symbol containing elements.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the game controller is configured to:
initiate a second play of the game;
generate the plurality of reels for use during the second play of the game including selecting another first identical symbol and another second identical symbol;
display the plurality of reels on the game screen including the first reel having the selected another first identical symbol being displayed in each symbol containing element of the first consecutive run of symbol containing elements and the second reel having the selected another second identical symbol being displayed in each symbol containing element of the second consecutive run of symbol containing elements; and
spin and stop the reel to display an outcome of the second play of the game.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of reels includes a consecutive run of symbol containing elements configured to display an identical symbol, the game controller is configured to:
select the first identical symbol associated with a first subset of reels of the plurality of reels and the second identical symbol associated with a second subset of reels of the plurality of reels: and
display the first subset of reels including the selected first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements of each reel of the first subset of reels;
display the second subset of reels including the selected second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements of each reel of the second subset of reels; and
spin and stop the plurality of reels to display the play of the game.

### Claim 20

A gaming machine comprising:
a display device for displaying a game;
an input device including a spin button and an acceptor device which accepts physical media associated with a monetary value to establish a credit balance; and
a game controller including a microprocessor configured to:
initiate a play of the game upon receiving a signal from the input device indicating a player activation of the spin button;
generate a plurality of reels for use during the game in response to receiving the signal from the input device, each reel of the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbol containing elements for displaying symbols and a consecutive run of symbol containing elements configured to display an identical symbol;
select a first identical symbol associated with a first subset of reels of the plurality of reels and a second identical symbol associated with a second subset of reels of the plurality of reels: and
display the first subset of reels including the selected first identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements of each reel of the first subset of reels;
display the second subset of reels including the selected second identical symbol in each symbol containing element of the consecutive run of symbol containing elements of each reel of the second subset of reels; and
spin and stop the plurality of reels to display the play of the game