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US 6,517,432 B1Granted
Gaming machine with moving symbols on symbol array
AssigneeWMS Gaming Inc.
InventorJoel R. Jaffe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gaming machine comprises a visual display and a bonus feature of a wagering game. The visual display shows an array of symbols in visual association with at least one pay line. The array includes a special symbol and a stop-game symbol. The game feature includes a plurality of rounds. During each round, the special symbol and the stop-game symbol randomly move to and stop at new respective positions on the array. The game feature awards a payout if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning game outcome. The game feature ends when the special symbol and the stop-game symbol land on the same position.
Claims38
A slot machine comprising:
- a visual display showing an array of symbols;
- a basic game controlled by a processor in response to a wager amount, wherein in the basic game the array provides rotatable reels that are rotated and stopped to place the symbols of each reel in visual association with at least one pay line, the basic game awarding a basic game payout if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning basic game outcome, the basic game having a start-bonus outcome;
- and
- a bonus game activated by the processor in response to the start-bonus outcome, the bonus game including a plurality of bonus rounds, the array including a special symbol and a stop-bonus symbol during the bonus game, wherein during each of the bonus rounds the special symbol and the stop-bonus symbol move to and stop at new respective positions on the array, the bonus game awarding a bonus round payout during the bonus round if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning bonus game outcome, the bonus game ending in response to the new respective positions of the special symbol and the stop-bonus symbol on the array during one of the bonus rounds being the same position.
1 more element
A gaming machine comprising:
- a visual display showing an array of symbols in visual association with at least one pay line, the array including a special symbol and a stop-game symbol;
- and
- a game of chance including a plurality of game rounds, wherein during each of the game rounds the special symbol and the stop-game symbol move to and stop at new respective positions on the array, the game of chance awarding a payout during the round if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning game outcome, the game of chance ending in response to the new respective positions of the special symbol and the stop-bonus symbol on the array during one of the game rounds being the same position.
A gaming machine comprising:
- a visual display showing an array of symbols in visual association with at least one pay line, the array including first and second wild symbols;
- and
- a game of chance including a plurality of game rounds, wherein during certain ones of the game rounds the first and second wild symbols move to and stop at new respective positions on the array, the game of chance awarding a payout during the round if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning game outcome, the game of chance evaluating the first and second wild symbols as wilds in determining whether or not to award the payout.
A method of operating a slot machine under control of a processor comprising:
- a) providing a basic game including a plurality of rotatable reels shown on a visual display, the plurality of reels forming an array of symbols;
- b) in response to a wager amount, rotating and stopping the reels to place the symbols of each reel in visual association with at least one pay line;
- c) awarding a basic game payout if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning basic game outcome;
- d) providing a bonus game in response to a start-bonus outcome in the basic game, the array including a special symbol and a stop-bonus symbol during the bonus game;
- e) moving the special symbol and the stop-bonus symbol to new respective positions on the array;
- f) awarding a bonus payout if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning bonus game outcome;
- and
- g) repeating steps (e) and (f) until the new respective positions on the array are the same position.
5 more elements
A method of operating a gaming machine under control of a processor comprising:
- a) providing a game of chance including an array of symbols shown on a visual display in visual association with at least one pay line, the array including a special symbol and a stop-game symbol;
- b) moving the special symbol and the stop-bonus symbol to new respective positions on the array;
- c) awarding a payout if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning game outcome;
- and
- d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until the new respective positions on the array are the same position.
2 more elements
A method of operating a gaming machine under control of a processor comprising:
- a) providing a game of chance including an array of symbols shown on a visual display in visual association with at least one pay line, the array including first and second wild symbols;
- b) moving the first and second wild symbols to new respective positions on the array;
- c) awarding a payout if the symbols along the pay line correspond to a winning game outcome, the first and second wild symbols being evaluated as wilds in determining whether or not to award the payout;
- and
- d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a predetermined event occurs in the game of chance.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.