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US 2026/0188079 A1Published application
Enhanced gaming system symbol functionality for limited duration mode
AssigneeIgt
InventorAdam Narducci
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Gaming systems and methods that add functionality to one or more symbols in association with an enhanced mode of operation available for a limited duration.
Claims20
A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:
- enabling, by a processor, an enhanced mode of operation in which a first symbol is associated with a default functionality and an additional functionality by associating by the processor and for at least a first play of a game, a feature with the first symbol, the first play of the game occurring during a limited duration associated with an enhanced symbol sequence,
- during the first play of the game, displaying, by a display device, the first symbol associated with the default functionality and the additional functionality, and
- when an opening of an access door of a housing of the electronic gaming machine is detected via a security monitoring circuit of the electronic gaming machine prior to a second play of the game:
- disabling, by the processor, any occurrence of an enhanced symbol disassociation event,
- storing data associated with a state of the electronic gaming machine, the stored data comprising at least the first symbol being associated with the default functionality and the additional functionality, and
- following at least a closing of the access door detected via the security monitoring circuit:
- loading, by the processor, the stored data to reconstitute the state of the electronic gaming machine,
- enabling, by the processor, an occurrence of the enhanced symbol disassociation event, and
- responsive to the occurrence of the enhanced symbol disassociation event:
- enabling, by the processor, a default mode of operation in which the first symbol is associated with the default functionality by disassociating, by the processor and for the second play of the game, the feature from the first symbol, the second play of the game occurring following a conclusion of the limited duration associated with the enhanced symbol sequence, and
- during the second play of the game, displaying, by the display device, the first symbol associated with the default functionality.
8 more elements
A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:
- for a first duration of time occurring responsive to an occurrence of an enhanced symbol sequence triggering event, operating, by a processor, in an enhanced mode in which plays of games comprise random determinations of symbols selected from a plurality of symbols comprising at least a first symbol associated with a default functionality and a first additional functionality for the first duration of time, wherein the first duration of time comprises a first limited duration of time,
- for a second duration of time occurring following a conclusion of the first duration of time, operating, by the processor, in a different, default mode in which plays of games comprise random determinations of symbols selected from the plurality of symbols comprising at least the first symbol associated with the default functionality and no symbols associated with any additional features for the second duration of time, and
- when an opening of an access door of a housing of the electronic gaming machine is detected via a security monitoring circuit of the electronic gaming machine during the second duration of time:
- disabling, by the processor, any occurrence of the enhanced symbol sequence triggering event,
- storing data associated with a state of the electronic gaming machine, the stored data comprising at least the first symbol being associated with the default functionality and no symbols being associated with any additional features, and
- following at least a closing of the access door detected via the security monitoring circuit:
- loading, by the processor, the stored data to reconstitute the state of the electronic gaming machine,
- enabling, by the processor, an occurrence of the enhanced symbol sequence triggering event, and
- for a third duration of time occurring responsive to another occurrence of the enhanced symbol sequence triggering event, operating, by the processor, in the enhanced mode in which plays of games comprise random determinations of symbols selected from the plurality of symbols comprising at least a second symbol associated with a default functionality and a second additional functionality for the third duration of time, wherein the third duration of time comprises a second limited duration of time.
6 more elements
A method of operating an electronic gaming machine for a play of a game occurring during an enhanced symbol sequence triggered responsive to an occurrence of an enhanced symbol sequence triggering event, the method comprising:
- displaying, by a display device, a plurality of symbols, wherein a first symbol of the plurality of symbols is:
- available to be displayed and associated with a displayed value during the enhanced symbol sequence,
- available to be displayed and not associated with any displayed value for any play of any game prior to the enhanced symbol sequence, and
- available to be displayed and not associated with any displayed value for any play of any game after the enhanced symbol sequence, and
- when an opening of an access door of a housing of the electronic gaming machine is detected via a security monitoring circuit of the electronic gaming machine:
- disabling, by a processor, any total award determination based, at least in part, on any displayed value associated with the first symbol,
- storing data associated with a state of the electronic gaming machine, the stored data comprising at least the displayed plurality of symbols, and
- following at least a closing of the access door detected via the security monitoring circuit:
- loading, by the processor, the stored data to reconstitute the state of the electronic gaming machine,
- enabling, by the processor, a total award determination based, at least in part, on any displayed value associated with the first symbol, and
- displaying, by the display device, a total award, wherein responsive to the plurality of symbols comprising a triggering symbol, the total award is based, at least in part, on the displayed value associated with the first symbol.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.