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US 2023/0401934 A1Published application
Method, Apparatus, And Program Product For Triggering And Controlling Gaming Machine Operation In Reel-Type Games With An Expanding Array
AssigneeEveri Games, Inc.
InventorScott Slomiany
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method includes controlling a display system of a gaming machine to display a symbol array including an active array area and an expansion array area. Designated symbols are visible in the expansion array area. Responsive to designated conditions, the active array area is expanded to include portions of the expansion array area.
Claims19
A method of controlling a reel-type gaming machine, the method including:
- controlling a display system of the gaming machine to display a game symbol array for a play at the gaming machine including an active array area in which symbols are shown and evaluated, and an expansion array area in which symbols are not shown or are shown in an inactive state;
- during the play at the gaming machine, populating at least some game symbol locations in the active array area and at least some game symbols in the expansion array area with a respective game symbol selected from a first game symbol set which includes a first expansion symbol;
- responsive to an expansion condition in which a selected expansion symbol appears in the expansion area adjacent to a boundary between the active array area and the expansion array area, controlling the display system of the gaming machine to enlarge the active array area by moving the boundary only sufficiently to include the selected expansion symbol;
- responsive to moving the boundary, showing and evaluating symbols in a new active array area created by moving the boundary;
- and
- after moving the boundary, controlling the gaming machine to award any prize defined for a winning game symbol group contained in the enlarged active array area.
3 more elements
A gaming machine, the gaming machine including:
- (a) a display system;
- (b) a player input system;
- (c) at least one processor;
- and
- (d) at least one memory device storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to:
- cause the display system to display a game symbol array for a play at the gaming machine including an active array area in which symbols are shown and evaluated, and an expansion array area in which symbols are not shown or are shown in an inactive state;
- during the play at the gaming machine, populate at least some game symbol locations in the active array area and at least some game symbols in the expansion array area with a respective game symbol selected from a first game symbol set which includes a first expansion symbol;
- responsive to an expansion condition in which a selected expansion symbol appears in the expansion area adjacent to a boundary between the active array area and the expansion array area, control the display system of the gaming machine to enlarge the active array area by moving the boundary only sufficiently to include the selected expansion symbol;
- responsive to moving the boundary, cause the display system to show and evaluate symbols in a new active array area created by moving the boundary;
- and
- after moving the boundary, award any prize defined for a winning game symbol group contained in the enlarged active array area.
8 more elements
A program product comprising one or more tangible, non-transitory computer readable data storage devices storing program code for a reel-type gaming machine, the program code including:
- first program code executable by at least one processor to cause a display system of the gaming machine to cause the display system to display a game symbol array for a play at the gaming machine including an active array area in which symbols are shown and evaluated, and an expansion array area in which symbols are not shown or are shown in an inactive state;
- and during the play at the gaming machine, populate at least some game symbol locations in the active array area and at least some game symbols in the expansion array area with a respective game symbol selected from a first game symbol set which includes a first expansion symbol;
- array expansion program code executable by at least one processor to cause the display system of the gaming machine to cause the display system to, responsive to an expansion condition in which a selected expansion symbol appears in the expansion area adjacent to a boundary between the active array area and the expansion array area, controlling the display system of the gaming machine to enlarge the active array area by moving the boundary only sufficiently to include the selected expansion symbol;
- second program code executable by at least one processor to cause a display system of the gaming machine to cause the display system to, responsive to moving the boundary, cause the display system to show and evaluate symbols in a new active array area created by moving the boundary;
- and
- prize assignment program code executable by at least one processor to cause a display system of the gaming machine to cause the gaming machine to, after the boundary is moved, award any prize defined for a winning game symbol group contained in the enlarged active array area.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.