Method of playing a slot machine (“re-spin & re-pay”)
OwnerDaniel M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer +1inventors
InventorsDaniel M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer, Howard M. Marks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A slot machine issues awards for winning combinations formed by an initial spin of all symbol positions in the symbol matrix and subsequent re-spins of all “unlocked” symbol positions until all symbol positions have been “locked.” In a preferred embodiment, an initial spin uses all slot reels and pays for all winning combinations displayed; a pre-determined symbol “locks” all of the symbol positions on that slot reel; “unlocked” reels re-spin and re-pay until all slot reels are “locked.” Other embodiments of the present invention are described within the application.
Claims20
A method of playing a game using a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting with a plurality of columns, with the plurality of rows and columns defining a plurality of symbol positions, comprising:
- a) optionally placing a wager to play the game;
- b) randomly generating symbols for each symbol position in the symbol matrix;
- c) displaying the symbols generated for each symbol position in the symbol matrix;
- d) issuing awards for winning symbol combinations displayed in the symbol matrix;
- e) setting the status of each symbol position as either “locked” or “unlocked”;
- f) if any symbol positions are unlocked, repeating the following steps until all symbol positions are locked:
- 1) randomly generating symbols for each unlocked symbol position;
- 2) displaying the symbols generated for each unlocked symbol position;
- and
- 3) issuing awards for winning symbol combinations displayed in the symbol matrix.
A method of playing a game using a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting with a plurality of columns, with the plurality of rows and columns defining a plurality of symbol positions, comprising at least one of the sequential, non-sequential and sequence independent steps of:
- a) randomly generating symbols for each symbol position in the symbol matrix;
- b) displaying the symbols generated for each symbol position in the symbol matrix;
- c) issuing awards for predetermined winning symbol combinations displayed in the symbol matrix;
- d) setting the status of each symbol position as either “locked” or “unlocked” responsive to predetermined criteria;
- e) when at least one symbol position is unlocked, repeating, until all symbol positions are locked, the following at least one of sequential, non-sequential and sequence independent steps of:
- 1) randomly generating symbols for each unlocked symbol position;
- 2) displaying the symbols generated for each unlocked symbol position which replaces a previously displayed symbol;
- and
- 3) issuing at least one award for winning symbol combinations displayed in the symbol matrix.
A game machine for playing a game and having a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting with a plurality of columns, with the plurality of rows and columns defining a plurality of symbol positions, comprising:
- Means for randomly generating symbols for each symbol position in the symbol matrix;
- Means for displaying the symbols generated for each symbol position in the symbol matrix;
- Means for issuing awards for predetermined winning symbol combinations displayed in the symbol matrix;
- Means for setting the status of each symbol position as either “locked” or “unlocked” responsive to predetermined criteria, and when at least one symbol position is unlocked, means for repeating, until all symbol positions are locked, the functions of:
- 1) randomly generating symbols for each unlocked symbol position;
- 2) displaying the symbols generated for each unlocked symbol position which replaces a previously displayed symbol;
- and
- 3) issuing at least one award for winning symbol combinations displayed in the symbol matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.