US 9,430,913 B2 · Gaming system and method providing a slot game and enabling accumulation of graphical image symbols

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a slot game and enabling accumulation of graphical image symbols. Generally, in various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to accumulate graphical image symbols during play of the slot game and, when a complete set of the graphical image symbols is accumulated such that a graphical image associated with that complete set is displayed, provides a feature to the player. The gaming system of the present disclosure thus encourages players to continue play of the slot game to attempt to accumulate a complete set of the graphical image symbols such that the gaming system provides the feature.

A gaming system comprising:

a housing;
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing and including an acceptor;
at least one display device supported by the housing;
at least one processor;
and
at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices and the at least one display device to:
(a) establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item following receipt of the physical item by the acceptor, the physical item being one of a ticket and currency;
(b) display a first set of a plurality of first symbol display areas;
(c) separately display a second different set of a plurality of second symbol display areas;
(d) for each play of a game:
(i) randomly determine and display a plurality of symbols of a set of a plurality of different symbols at the first symbol display areas of the first set, wherein:
(A) the set of the plurality of different symbols includes a plurality of different graphical image symbols and a plurality of different game symbols,
(B) each of the graphical image symbols is associated with a portion of at least one of a plurality of different graphical images, and
(C) each of the graphical image symbols is associated with one of the second symbol display areas of the second set;
(iii) determine and display any awards associated with any game symbols displayed at the first symbol display areas of the first set, the credit balance increasable by any determined awards;
and
(iv) for each of any graphical image symbols displayed at the first symbol display areas of the first set, if a graphical image symbol is not displayed at the second symbol display area of the second set with which said displayed graphical image symbol is associated, accumulate said displayed graphical image symbol and display said accumulated graphical image symbol at the second symbol display area of the second set with which said accumulated graphical image symbol is associated;
(e) when a first complete set of a plurality of the graphical image symbols is accumulated such that a first one of the graphical images is displayed, provide a first one of a plurality of different features;
(f) when a second different complete set of a plurality of the graphical image symbols is accumulated such that a second different one of the graphical images is displayed, provide a second different one of the features, wherein:
(i) the first complete set of the graphical image symbols includes at least one graphical image symbol not included in the second complete set of the graphical image symbols,
(ii) the second complete set of the graphical image symbols includes at least one graphical image symbol not included in the first complete set of the graphical image symbols, and
(iii) the first complete set of the graphical image symbols and the second complete set of the graphical image symbols each include at least one same one of the graphical image symbols;
and
(g) initiate a payout associated with the credit balance following receipt of an actuation of a cashout button.

21 more elements

Gaming system and method providing a slot game and enabling accumulation of graphical image symbols

Life of this patent

Gaming system and method providing a slot game and enabling accumulation of graphical image symbols

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23