Gaming system and method providing a game having a player-adjustable volatility
First Claim
1. 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 storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;
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;
cause the at least one display device to display a plurality of symbol display areas, wherein;
each of the symbol display areas is associated with one of a plurality of different independent symbol generators,each symbol display area is associated with one of a plurality of different individual volatilities determined based at least in part on the symbol generator displayed at that symbol display area, andat least two of the symbol display areas are associated with different individual volatilities such that if a first of the symbol display areas is associated with a first of the independent symbol generators, that first of the symbol display areas is associated with a first of the individual volatilities and if a second, different one of the symbol display areas is associated with the first of the independent symbol generators, that second, different one of the symbol display areas is associated with a second, different one of the individual volatilities;
receive a placement of an individual wager on one or more of the symbol generators in association with a play of a game, wherein the credit balance is decreasable based on the individual wagers placed and the play of the game has an overall volatility based on the individual volatilities associated with the symbol display areas at which the one or more individually wagered on symbol generators are displayed;
responsive to each of the symbol generators being individually wagered on, for each of the individually wagered on symbol generators;
randomly determine one or more symbols,cause the at least one display device to display the randomly determined one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator,determine, based on the displayed one or more symbols associated with that symbol generator and independent of the symbols displayed in association with any other individually wagered on symbol generators, any award for that symbol generator, andcause the at least one display device to display any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined awards;
responsive to at least one but less than all of the symbol generators being individually wagered on, for each of the individually wagered on symbol generators;
randomly determine one or more symbols,cause the at least one display device to display the randomly determined one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator,determine, based on the displayed one or more symbols associated with that symbol generator and independent of the symbols displayed in association with any other individually wagered on symbol generators, any award for that symbol generator, andcause the at least one display device to display any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined awards; and
initiate a payout associated with the credit balance following receipt of an actuation of a cashout button.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game providing an award if a shape of a symbol displayed at a symbol display area corresponds to a shape of that symbol display area. Other embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game having a player-adjustable volatility. In certain embodiments, the game is the above-described game, while in other embodiments, the game is a different game. Generally, in certain such embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to tailor the overall volatility of a play of the game to the player'"'"'s preference by selecting a desired combination of symbol display areas to employ for a play of the game.
309 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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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 storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to; 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; cause the at least one display device to display a plurality of symbol display areas, wherein; each of the symbol display areas is associated with one of a plurality of different independent symbol generators, each symbol display area is associated with one of a plurality of different individual volatilities determined based at least in part on the symbol generator displayed at that symbol display area, and at least two of the symbol display areas are associated with different individual volatilities such that if a first of the symbol display areas is associated with a first of the independent symbol generators, that first of the symbol display areas is associated with a first of the individual volatilities and if a second, different one of the symbol display areas is associated with the first of the independent symbol generators, that second, different one of the symbol display areas is associated with a second, different one of the individual volatilities; receive a placement of an individual wager on one or more of the symbol generators in association with a play of a game, wherein the credit balance is decreasable based on the individual wagers placed and the play of the game has an overall volatility based on the individual volatilities associated with the symbol display areas at which the one or more individually wagered on symbol generators are displayed; responsive to each of the symbol generators being individually wagered on, for each of the individually wagered on symbol generators; randomly determine one or more symbols, cause the at least one display device to display the randomly determined one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator, determine, based on the displayed one or more symbols associated with that symbol generator and independent of the symbols displayed in association with any other individually wagered on symbol generators, any award for that symbol generator, and cause the at least one display device to display any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined awards; responsive to at least one but less than all of the symbol generators being individually wagered on, for each of the individually wagered on symbol generators; randomly determine one or more symbols, cause the at least one display device to display the randomly determined one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator, determine, based on the displayed one or more symbols associated with that symbol generator and independent of the symbols displayed in association with any other individually wagered on symbol generators, any award for that symbol generator, and cause the at least one display device to display any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined awards; and initiate a payout associated with the credit balance following receipt of an actuation of a cashout button. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
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receiving, by an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value; establishing, by at least one processor, a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item; displaying, by at least one display device, a plurality of symbol display areas, wherein; each of the symbol display areas is associated with one of a plurality of different independent symbol generators, each symbol display area is associated with one of a plurality of different individual volatilities determined based at least in part on the symbol generator displayed at that symbol display area, and at least two of the symbol display areas being associated with different individual volatilities such that if a first of the symbol display areas is associated with a first of the independent symbol generators, that first of the symbol display areas is associated with a first of the individual volatilities and if a second, different one of the symbol display areas is associated with the first of the independent symbol generators, that second, different one of the symbol display areas is associated with a second, different one of the individual volatilities; receiving a placement of an individual wager on one or more of the symbol generators in association with a play of a game, wherein the credit balance is decreasable based on the individual wagers placed and the play of the game has an overall volatility based on the individual volatilities associated with the symbol display areas at which the one or more individually wagered on symbol generators are displayed; responsive to each of the symbol generators being individually wagered on, for each of the individually wagered on symbol generators; randomly determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by the at least one display device, one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator; determining, by the at least one processor, whether to provide an award for that symbol generator based on the displayed one or more symbols associated with that symbol generator and independent of the symbols displayed in association with any other individually wagered on symbol generators; and displaying, by the at least one display device, any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined award; responsive to at least one but less than all of the symbol generators being individually wagered on, for each of the individually wagered on symbol generators; randomly determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by the at least one display device, one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator; determining, by the at least one processor, whether to provide an award for that symbol generator based on the displayed one or more symbols associated with that symbol generator and independent of the symbols displayed in association with any other individually wagered on symbol generators; and displaying, by the at least one display device, any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined award; receiving an actuation of a cashout button; and initiating, by the at least one processor, a payout associated with the credit balance in response to the received actuation of the cashout button. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A gaming system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; cause a display device to display a plurality of symbol display areas, wherein; each of the symbol display areas is associated with one of a plurality of different independent symbol generators, each symbol display area is associated with one of a plurality of different individual volatilities determined based at least in part on the symbol generator displayed at that symbol display area, and at least two of the symbol display areas are associated with different individual volatilities such that if a first of the symbol display areas is associated with a first of the independent symbol generators, that first of the symbol display areas is associated with a first of the individual volatilities and if a second, different one of the symbol display areas is associated with the first of the independent symbol generators, that second, different one of the symbol display areas is associated with a second, different one of the individual volatilities; for a play of a game following a selection by a player of each of the symbol generators by placing an individual wager on each of the symbol generators, for each of the selected symbol generators; randomly determine one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator, wherein the play of the game has an overall volatility based on the individual volatilities associated with the symbol display areas at which the selected symbol generators are displayed; cause the display device to display the randomly determined one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator; determine, based on the displayed one or more symbols associated with that symbol generator and independent of the symbols displayed on any other selected symbol generators, any award for that symbol generator; and cause the display device to display any determined award; and for a play of the game following a selection by the player of at least one but less than all of the symbol generators by placing an individual wager on at least one but less than all of the symbol generators, for each of the selected symbol generators; randomly determine one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator, wherein the play of the game has an overall volatility based on the individual volatilities associated with the symbol display areas at which the selected symbol generators are displayed; cause the display device to display the randomly determined one or more symbols in association with that symbol generator; determine, based on the displayed one or more symbols associated with that symbol generator and independent of the symbols displayed on any other selected symbol generators, any award for that symbol generator; and cause the display device to display any determined award. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification