Gaming apparatus and method of gaming including interactive gaming symbols for producing different outcomes

• US 20030069063A1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Dempsey, Martin, Bilyeu, Danny W., Fasbender, Dustin L., Lang, Brent L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,371,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A gaming method and apparatus including at least one interactive gaming symbol. The interactive gaming symbol may operate either at random, or upon the initiation and direction of a player to perceptibly interact with and transform a gaming symbol into a randomly selected new symbol or an indication of an award. A newly transformed symbol may alter the outcome of the game depending on its position with respect to one or more paylines and depending on the newly resultant combination of symbols associated with such paylines. A gaming device incorporating the use of an interactive gaming symbol may also include an interactive controller to control the orientation, movement and actions of the interactive gaming symbol.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a game comprising:

providing a player with an opportunity to place a wager;

displaying a randomly generated combination of symbols;

displaying at least one interactive symbol;

randomly selecting at least one symbol of the combination of symbols; and

perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols through perceived interaction with the at least one interactive symbol.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising enabling the interactive symbol to interact with the at least one symbol upon satisfaction of a predetermined criteria.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the perceived transformation of the at least one symbol includes displaying a different symbol.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising displaying the randomly generated combination of symbols on at least one payline and altering a payout associated with the at least one payline upon the display of the different symbol.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising providing the payout associated with the at least one payline.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the altering a payout includes providing an increased payout.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the altering a payout includes providing a decreased payout.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising perceptibly moving the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols and the at least one interactive symbol relative to each other prior to perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols.

9. A method of conducting a game comprising:

providing a player with an opportunity to wager;

displaying a randomly generated combination of symbols;

displaying at least one interactive symbol;

providing the player with an opportunity to stimulate perceived interaction between the at least one interactive symbol and at least one symbol of the combination of symbols;

perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols through perceived interaction with the at least one interactive symbol.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the providing the player with an opportunity to stimulate perceived interaction includes allowing the player to select at least one symbol of the combination of symbols for the perceived transformation.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the providing the player with an opportunity to stimulate perceived interaction includes allowing the player to control movement and orientation of the at least one interactive gaming symbol.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the providing the player with an opportunity to stimulate perceived interaction includes:

perceptibly chasing the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols with the at least one interactive symbol;

perceptibly catching the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols with the at least one interactive symbol.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols includes perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol caught by the at least one interactive symbol into a different symbol.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols includes perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol caught by the at least one interactive symbol into an award symbol.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the providing the player with an opportunity to stimulate perceived interaction includes:

allowing the player to select the at least one symbol from the combination of symbols;

perceptibly moving and orienting the at least one interactive symbol relative to the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols; and

perceptibly initiating the perceived interaction between the at least one interactive symbol and the at least one selected symbol from the combination of symbols.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols includes perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol caught by the at least one interactive symbol into a different symbol.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols includes perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol caught by the at least one interactive symbol into a n award indicator.

18. The method according to claim 9, further comprising displaying the at least one interactive symbol and a plurality of the combination of symbols in an array, and displaying the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols in a non-arrayed position.

19. The method according to claim 9, further comprising displaying at least the combination of symbols in an array, and displaying the at least one interactive symbol in a non-arrayed position.

20. The method according to claim 9, wherein perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol includes displaying a different symbol.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising displaying the randomly generated combination of symbols on at least one payline and altering a payout associated with the at least one payline upon the display of the different symbol.

22. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of additional symbols subsequent to perceptibly transforming the at least one symbol of the combination of symbols;

providing the player with an opportunity to choose at least one of the plurality of additional symbols; and

perceptibly transforming the at least one chosen additional symbol into an indicia of an additional award through perceived interaction of the at least one chosen additional symbol with the at least one interactive symbol.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising providing the player with an opportunity to wager the additional award by choosing at least one other symbol of the plurality of additional symbols and perceptibly transforming the at least one other chosen symbol into another indicia of another additional award through perceived interaction of the at least one other chosen additional symbol with the at least one other interactive symbol.

24. A method of conducting a game comprising:

providing a player with an opportunity to place a wager;

randomly selecting at least one combination of symbols, the combination of symbols being a randomly selected subset of a plurality of symbols which includes at least one interactive symbol;

displaying the combination of symbols in an array;

perceptibly replacing each symbol of the combination of symbols, less the interactive symbol, with new symbols upon display of the at least one interactive symbol in the array; and

perceptibly transforming at least one of the new symbols into a different symbol through perceived interaction with the at least one interactive symbol.

25. A gaming device comprising:

a display for exhibiting a combination of symbols selected from a plurality of symbols including at least one interactive symbol; and

a random number generator for randomly selecting a combination of symbols from the plurality of symbols and selecting the at least one interactive symbol for randomly selecting and interacting with at least one other symbol of the combination of symbols for perceptibly transforming the at least one other symbol into a different symbol.

26. A gaming device comprising:

a display for exhibiting a combination of symbols selected from a plurality of symbols including at least one interactive symbol;

a random number generator for randomly selecting the combination of symbols;

an input device for a player configured such that, upon selection of the at least one interactive symbol by the random number generator, actuation of the input device may select at least one symbol of the combination of symbols causing the at least one interactive symbol to perceptibly interact with and transform the at least one selected symbol into a different symbol.

27. A gaming device comprising:

a display configured to exhibit an array of symbols selected from a plurality of symbols including at least one interactive symbol;

a random number generator for randomly selecting the array of symbols from the plurality of symbols; and

a device associated with the display for providing a perception to a viewer of the display that the at least one interactive symbol, upon selection by the random number generator, chases at least one other symbol from the array of symbols, catches the at least one other symbol and transforms the at least one other symbol.

28. A gaming device comprising:

a display for exhibiting an array of symbols selected from the plurality of symbols including at least one interactive symbol; and

a random number generator for randomly selecting the array of symbols from the plurality of symbols; and

a device associated with the display for providing a perception to a viewer of the display such that upon selection by the random number generator, the at least one interactive symbol causes all other symbols in the array to be replaced with new symbols and subsequently interacts with at least one new symbol for transforming the at least one new symbol into a different symbol.