US 7,744,457 B2Granted

Gaming machine displaying special symbols that shift positions

AssigneeAtronic International GmbH

InventorMichael Gauselmann

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Abstract

In a virtual spinning reels type video slot machine, one or more of the possible symbols are special symbols. Examples of special symbols are wild cards and multipliers. If the special symbol cannot be utilized in the current game to grant an award to the player, the special symbol is carried over into the next game. When the player spins the reels for the next game, the special symbol(s) moves (e.g., randomly) to any position in the array as the reels appear to spin. When the reels stop, the special symbol(s) carried over from the previous game is applied to the current game to grant an award to the player. In another embodiment, special symbols are not extinguished after they are used, but may continue for any selected number of games.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A gaming method wherein an array of symbols is displayed and an award is granted based on the displayed array of symbols, the method comprising:

displaying on a first display screen of a gaming machine, in a first game, a first array of randomly selected symbols on a first set of virtual reels, the first array including at least one special symbol in a first position in the first array;
granting any award to the player for the first game based upon combinations of symbols across the first set of virtual reels displayed in the first game including combinations of symbols that include the at least one special symbol as part of a combination of symbols;
concurrently displaying on a second display screen of the gaming machine, in a second game, a second array of randomly selected symbols on a second set of virtual reels, the second array of symbols being randomly selected independently of the first array of symbols;
shifting a position of the at least one special symbol in the first array to a second position in the second array on the second display screen, wherein the shifted special symbol is combinable with the randomly selected symbols in the second array to form winning combinations of symbols;
and
granting any award to the player for the second game based upon combinations of the symbols across the second set of virtual reels displayed in the second game including combinations of symbols that include the at least one special symbol as part of a combination of symbols.

3 more elements

A gaming device comprising:

a first display screen for displaying a first game, the first game displaying a first array of symbols on a first set of virtual reels, certain combinations of symbols across at least one pay line determining an award to a player;
a second display screen for displaying a second game, the second game displaying a second array of symbols on a second set of virtual reels, certain combinations of symbols determining an award to a player;
and
at least one processor for carrying out the following method:
displaying on the first display screen, in the first game, the first array of randomly selected symbols on the first set of virtual reels, the first array including at least one special symbol in a first position in the first array;
granting any award to the player for the first game based upon combinations of symbols across the first set of virtual reels displayed in the first game including combinations of symbols that include the at least one special symbol as part of a combination of symbols;
concurrently displaying on the second display screen, in the second game, the second array of randomly selected symbols on the second set of virtual reels, the second array of symbols being randomly selected independently of the first array of symbols;
shifting a position of the at least one special symbol in the first array from the first position to a second position in the second array on the second display screen, wherein the at least one shifted special symbol is combinable with the randomly selected symbols in the second array to form winning combinations of symbols;
and
granting any award to the player for the second game based upon combinations of the symbols across the second set of virtual reels displayed in the second game including combinations of symbols that include the at least one special symbol as part of a combination of symbols.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.