Gaming machine with multi-dimensional symbols

• US 20040009803A1
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Bryant, Natalie, Bennett, Nicholas Luke
• Granted Patent: US 6,932,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display 14 The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The display 14 displays a plurality of movable carriers 18. Each of at least certain of the carriers 18 carries a representation of at least one polyhedral element. Each polyhedral element has a plurality of faces which are visible at any one time with an indicium being carried on each face. Indicia on faces of the polyhedral elements which are visible at a rest condition of the carriers are taken into consideration in the determination of whether or not a winning event has occurred.

Claims

1. A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterised in that the display means displays a plurality of movable carriers, each of at least certain of the carriers carrying a representation of at least one polyhedral element, each polyhedral element having a plurality of faces which are visible at any one time with an indicium being carried on each face and indicia on faces of the polyhedral elements which are visible at a rest condition of the carriers being taken into consideration in the determination of whether or not a winning event has occurred.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the display means is a video display unit and the carriers are video simulations of movable carriers with video simulations of the polyhedral elements thereon.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which each carrier has more than one polyhedral element.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3 in which the polyhedral elements are spaced from each other on each carrier such that only one polyhedral element is visible at a time when the carrier is at rest.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the game is a spinning reel game.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5 in which each carrier is in the form of a spinning reel carrying at least one of the polyhedral elements thereon.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which each element is fixed with respect to its associated carrier.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which at least certain of the elements are movable with respect to their associated carriers.

9. The gaming machine of claim 8 in which each of said at least certain of the elements is rotatable about at least two axes, an axis parallel to a direction of movement of its associated carrier and an axis transverse to the direction of movement of its associated carrier.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which each element is displayed in a three dimensional format so that at least three faces are visible.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the indicia carried on the faces of the elements are standard symbols related to the game.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the indicia carried on the faces of the elements are special symbols in respect of the game.

13. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which each polyhedral element is substantially cubic in shape.