Gaming device having concentric reels including an outer reel with display areas having different sizes and positions

A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising:

• a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one reel set includes:
• an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• at least one outer reel defining at least a first viewable area and a second viewable area, the first viewable area and the second viewable area being different sizes, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the first viewable area and a different number of the symbols on the inner reel are viewable through the second viewable area;
• at least one input device;
• and
• at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the at least one input device and
• the plurality of reel sets to:
• (a) receive a wager on a number of active symbol positions which will each display one of said symbols, wherein said number of wagered on symbol positions is greater than one;
• (b) cause each of the inner reels to display at least one of the symbols;
• (c) cause each of the outer reels to indicate one of said first or second viewable areas, wherein the number of symbols viewable through the indicated viewable areas at active symbol positions is based on the number of wagered on symbol positions;
• (d) determine if any of said symbols viewable through the indicated viewable areas at active symbol positions of a requisite number of adjacent reel sets form one of a plurality of winning symbol combinations, wherein each formed winning symbol combination includes one symbol viewable through the indicated viewable area for a plurality of the reel sets;
• and
• (e) provide to a player any awards based on any determined winning symbol combinations.

A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising:

• a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one of the reel sets includes:
• an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• at least one outer reel defining at least a first viewable area and a second viewable area, the first viewable area and the second viewable area being different sizes, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the first viewable area and a different number of the symbols on the inner reel are viewable through the second viewable area;
• at least one input device;
• and
• at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the at least one input device and
• the plurality of reel sets to:
• (a) receive a wager of one of a plurality of different wager amounts, each different wager amount being associated with a plurality of different numbers of active symbol positions greater than one which will each display one of said symbols;
• (b) determine a number of active symbol positions which will each display one of said symbols, wherein said determined number of symbol positions is one of said numbers based on the received wager;
• (c) cause each of the inner reels to display at least one of the symbols;
• (d) cause each of the outer reels to indicate one of said first or second viewable areas, wherein the number of symbols viewable through the indicated viewable areas is at least equal to the determined number of symbol positions;
• (e) identify each of the symbols at active symbol positions which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for a first of said reel sets and a second of said reel sets;
• (f) determine if any of said symbols for the first reel set are related to any of said symbols for the second reel set, wherein each occurrence of related symbols forms a string of related symbols;
• (g) for each string of related symbols:
• (i) determine if any symbols are viewable through the indicated viewable areas at active symbol positions for an adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols,
• (ii) if one of said symbols which is viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set is related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, add said viewable related symbol to said string of related symbol,
• (iii) if any other of said symbols which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, form an additional string of related symbols for each of the other related symbols, and
• (iv) if none of said symbols which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, designate said string of related symbols as complete;
• (h) repeat (g) until either there each of the strings of related symbols are complete or there are no additional reel sets adjacent to the last reel set which includes one of the related symbols;
• and
• (i) provide to a player any award based on any strings of related symbols which correspond with any winning combinations of symbols.

A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising:

• a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one of the reel sets includes:
• an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• at least one outer reel defining at least a first viewable area and a second viewable area, the first viewable area and the second viewable area being different sizes, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the first viewable area and a different number of the symbols on the inner reel are viewable through the second viewable area;
• at least one input device;
• and
• at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the at least one input device and the plurality of reel sets to:
• (a) receive one of a plurality of different wager amounts,
• (b) generate at least one of said symbols of at least one of the inner reels,
• (c) utilize at least one of the different sized windows of at least one of the outer reels to control a quantity of said generated symbols which are viewable, said quantity of viewable symbols which are generated on at least one of the inner reels being based on one of the received wager amounts, and
• (d) provide an award to a player, wherein the award is based on any strings of related symbols which are formed from any of the viewable symbols which are generated at active symbol positions.

A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising:

• a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one of the reel sets includes:
• an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• at least one outer reel defining at least one viewable area, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the viewable area and the outer reel includes a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of the symbols is a modifier symbol;
• at least one input device;
• and
• at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the at least one input device and
• the plurality of reel sets to:
• (a) receive a wager of a number of symbol positions and outer reels to activate, wherein the number of symbol positions is greater than one;
• (b) cause each of the inner reels to generate at least one of the symbols;
• (c) display a number of generated symbols to the player, wherein the number of displayed symbols is based on the number of symbol positions wagered on;
• (d) determine if the wager corresponds with an activation of any of the outer reels;
• (e) if the wager corresponds with the activation of any of the outer reels, cause at least one of the outer reels to indicate at least one of the modifier symbols;
• (f) identify each of the symbols displayed at active symbol positions for a first of said reel sets and a second of said reel sets;
• (g) determine if any of said symbols displayed for the first reel set are related to any of said symbols displayed for the second reel set, wherein each occurrence of related symbols forms a string of related symbols;
• (h) for each string of related symbols:
• (i) determine if any symbols displayed at active symbol positions for an adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols,
• (ii) if one of said symbols is related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, add said displayed related symbol to said string of related symbols,
• (iii) if any other of said symbols are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, form an additional string of related symbols for each of the other related symbols, and
• (iv) if none of said symbols are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, designate said string of related symbols as complete;
• (i) repeat (h) until either there each of the strings of related symbols are complete or there are no additional reel sets adjacent to the last reel set which includes one of the related symbols;
• (j) determine any award based on any strings of related symbols which correspond with any winning combinations of symbols;
• (k) modify said determined award by any modifier symbols indicated on any activated outer reels;
• and
• (l) provide any modified award to a player.

A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising:

• a plurality of reel sets, wherein each reel sets includes a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• at least one input device;
• and
• at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the at least one input device and
• the plurality of reel sets to:
• (a) receive a wager of one of a plurality of different wager amounts, each different wager amount is associated with a number of active symbol positions greater than one which will each display one of said symbols and at least one said wager amounts is associated with a plurality of different numbers of active symbol positions;
• (b) determine a number of active symbol positions which will each display one of said symbols, wherein said determined number of symbol positions is one of said numbers of active symbol positions associated with the received wager;
• (c) generate a symbol at each of the determined number of active symbol positions;
• and
• (d) provide an award to a player, wherein the award is based on any strings of related symbols which are formed from any of the symbols generated at active symbol positions.

A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

• (a) displaying a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one reel set includes:
• (i) an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• (ii) at least one outer reel defining at least a first viewable area and a second viewable area, the first viewable area and the second viewable area being different sizes, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the first viewable area and a different number of the symbols on the inner reel are viewable through the second viewable area
• (b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager on a number of active symbol positions, wherein said number of wagered on symbol positions is greater than one;
• (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the plurality of reel sets to cause each of the inner reels to display at least one of the symbols;
• (d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the plurality of reel sets to cause each of the outer reels to indicate one of said first or second viewable areas, wherein the number of symbols viewable through the indicated viewable areas is based on the number of wagered on active symbol positions;
• (e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to identify each of the symbols at active symbol positions which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for a first of said reel sets and a second of said reel sets;
• (f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of said viewable symbols for the first reel set are related to any of said viewable symbols for the second reel set, wherein each occurrence of related symbols forms a string of related symbols;
• (g) for each string of related symbols:
• (i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any symbols at active symbol positions which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for an adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols,
• (ii) if one of said symbols which is viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set is related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to add said viewable related symbol to said string of related symbols,
• (iii) if any other of said symbols which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form an additional string of related symbols for each of the other related symbols, and
• (iv) if none of said symbols which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to designate said string of related symbols as complete;
• (h) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to repeat (g) until either each of the strings of related symbols are complete or there are no additional reel sets adjacent to the last reel set which includes one of the related symbols;
• and
• (i) providing to a player any awards based on any strings of related symbols which correspond with any winning combinations of symbols.

A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

• (a) displaying a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one reel set includes:
• (i) an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• (ii) at least one outer reel defining at least a first viewable area and a second viewable area, the first viewable area and the second viewable area being different sizes, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the first viewable area and a different number of the symbols on the inner reel are viewable through the second viewable area;
• and
• (b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager on a number of active symbol positions which will each display one of said symbols, wherein said number of wagered on symbol positions is greater than one;
• (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the plurality of reel sets to cause each of the inner reels to display at least one of the symbols;
• (d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the plurality of reel sets to cause each of the outer reels to indicate one of said first or second viewable areas, wherein the number of symbols viewable through the indicated viewable areas at active symbol positions is based on the number of wagered on symbol positions;
• (e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of said symbols viewable through the indicated viewable areas at active symbol positions of a requisite number of adjacent reel sets form one of any winning symbol combinations, wherein each formed winning symbol combination includes one symbol viewable through the indicated viewable area for a plurality of the reel sets;
• and
• (f) providing to a player any awards based on any determined winning symbol combinations.

A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

• (a) displaying a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one of the reel sets includes:
• (i) an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• (ii) at least one outer reel defining at least a first viewable area and a second viewable area, the first viewable area and the second viewable area being different sizes, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the first viewable area and a different number of the symbols on the inner reel are viewable through the second viewable area;
• (b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager of one of a plurality of different wager amounts, wherein each different wager amount is associated with a plurality of different numbers of active symbol positions greater than one which will each display one of said symbols;
• (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of active symbol positions which will each display one of said symbols, wherein said determined number of symbol positions is one of said numbers based on the received wager;
• (d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the plurality of reel sets to cause each of the inner reels to display at least one of the symbols;
• (e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the plurality of reel sets to cause each of the outer reels to indicate one of said first or second viewable areas, wherein the number of symbols viewable through the indicated viewable areas is at least equal to the determined number of symbol positions;
• (f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to identify each of the symbols at active symbol positions which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for a first of said reel sets and a second of said reel sets;
• (g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of said symbols for the first reel set are related to any of said symbols for the second reel set, wherein each occurrence of related symbols forms a string of related symbols;
• (h) for each string of related symbols:
• (i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any symbols are viewable through the indicated viewable areas at active symbol positions for an adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols,
• (ii) if one of said symbols which is viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set is related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to add said viewable related symbol to said string of related symbols,
• (iii) if any other of said symbols which are viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form an additional string of related symbols for each of the other related symbols, and
• (iv) if none of said symbols viewable through the indicated viewable areas for the adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to designate said string of related symbols as complete;
• (i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to repeat (h) until either there each of the strings of related symbols are complete or there are no additional reel sets adjacent to the last reel set which includes one of the related symbols;
• and
• (j) providing to a player any award based on any strings of related symbols which correspond with any winning combinations of symbols.

A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

• (a) displaying a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one of the reel sets includes:
• (i) an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• (ii) at least one outer reel defining at least a first viewable area and a second viewable area, the first viewable area and the second viewable area being different sizes, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the first viewable area and a different number of the symbols on the inner reel are viewable through the second viewable area;
• (b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive one of a plurality of different receivable wager amounts;
• (c) generating at least one of said symbols of at least one of the inner reels;
• (d) utilizing at least one of the different sized windows of at least one of the outer reels to control a quantity of said generated symbols which are viewable, said quantity of viewable symbols which are generated on at least one of the inner reels being based on one of the received wager amounts;
• and
• (e) providing an award to a player, wherein the award is based on any strings of related symbols which are formed from any of the viewable symbols which are generated at active symbol positions.

A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

• (a) displaying a plurality of reel sets, wherein at least one of the reel sets includes:
• (i) an inner reel including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• and
• (ii) at least one outer reel defining at least one viewable area, wherein the outer reel is positionable such that at least one of the symbols on the inner reel is viewable through the viewable area and the outer reel includes a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of the symbols is a modifier symbol;
• and
• (b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager of a number of symbol positions and outer reels to activate, wherein the number of symbol positions is greater than one;
• (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the plurality of reel sets to cause each of the inner reels to generate at least one of the symbols;
• (d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a number of generated symbols to the player, wherein the number of displayed symbols is based on the number of symbol positions wagered on;
• (e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if the wager corresponds with an activation of any of the outer reels;
• (f) if the wager corresponds with the activation of any of the outer reels, causing at least one of the outer reels to indicate at least one of the modifier symbols;
• (g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to identify each of the symbols displayed at active symbol positions for a first of said reel sets and a second of said reel sets;
• (h) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of said symbols displayed for the first reel set are related to any of said symbols displayed for the second reel set, wherein each occurrence of related symbols forms a string of related symbols;
• (i) for each string of related symbols:
• (i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any symbols displayed at active symbol positions for an adjacent reel set are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols,
• (ii) if one of said symbols is related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to add said displayed related symbol to said string of related symbols,
• (iii) if any other of said symbols are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form an additional string of related symbols for each of the other related symbols, and
• (iv) if none of said symbols are related to the symbols which form said string of related symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to designate said string of related symbols as complete;
• (j) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to repeat (i) until either there each of the strings of related symbols are complete or there are no additional reel sets adjacent to the last reel set which includes one of the related symbols;
• (k) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any award based on any strings of related symbols which correspond with any winning combinations of symbols;
• (l) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify said determined award by any modifier symbols indicated on any activated outer reels;
• and
• (m) providing any modified award to a player.

A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

• (a) displaying a plurality of reel sets, wherein each reel sets includes a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbols;
• (b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager of one of a plurality of different wager amounts, wherein each different wager amount is associated with a number of active symbol positions greater than one which will each display one of said symbols and at least one said wager amounts is associated with a plurality of different numbers of active symbol positions;
• (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of active symbol positions which will each display one of said symbols, wherein said determined number of symbol positions is one of said numbers associated with the received wager;
• (d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate a symbol at each of the determined number of active symbol positions;
• and
• (e) providing an award to a player, wherein the award is based on any strings of related symbols which are formed from any of the symbols generated at active symbol positions.