Gaming device having touch activated alternating or changing symbol

• US 20040198489A1
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jones, Aaron T., Kaminkow, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3265 Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding

Abstract

A gaming device that enables a player to choose or alter certain symbols displayed on the reels of the gaming device. The player can change or select the changeable symbol at any time as long as the reels are not in motion. The gaming device maintains the change until the player changes the symbol again. The gaming device preferably supplies a touch screen along with a video monitor in which the reels and associated stops are simulated. The touch screen enables the player to simply touch the symbol that the player wishes to change. Pressing a single symbol may change the selected symbol or others linked to the symbol. A stop on the reels having a selectable symbol can provide the player with any number of possible symbols from which to choose. The changeable symbols preferably have a direct effect upon whether the player obtains a gaming device award.

Claims

1. A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of reels in the game;

a plurality of symbols on the reels,

(a) said symbols including a first designated symbol at a designated position on said reels, said first designated symbol displayed as first indicia or as different second indicia at said designated position on the reels, and

(b) said symbols including a second designated symbol at a different designated position on said reels, said second designated symbol displayed as first indicia or as different second indicia at said designated position on the reels,

wherein each of said designated symbols has a function on the reels in the game for determining any winning outcomes;

an input device operable with the processor to enable the player to select which of the first indicia or the second indicia of the first designated symbol will be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, wherein;

(a) if the player inputs a selection of the first indicia of the first designated symbol on the reels to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes;

(i) the first indicia of said first designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said first designated symbol on the reels, and

(ii) the first indicia of the second designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said second designated symbol on the reels, and

(b) if the player inputs a selection of the second indicia of the first designated symbol on the reels to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes;

(i) the second indicia of said first designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said first designated symbol on the reels, and

(ii) the second indicia of the second designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said second designated symbol on the reels; and

at least one winning outcome adapted to be provided to the player based on the symbols generated on said reels and said functions of said symbols regardless of which of said indicia is displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a touch screen.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbols are on the same reel.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbols are on different reels.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbols are the same symbol.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the first indicia of the first designated symbol is the same as the first indicia of the second designated symbol.

7. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the first indicia of the first designated symbol is the same as the first indicia of the second designated symbol, and the second indicia of the first designated symbol is the same as the second indicia of the second designated symbol.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first indicia of the first designated symbol is different than the first indicia of the second designated symbol.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbol are different symbols.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the first indicia of the first designated symbol is different than the first indicia of the second designated symbol.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbol are the same symbol, the first indicia of the first designated symbol is the same as the first indicia of the second designated symbol, and the second indicia of the first designated symbol is different than the second indicia of the second designated symbol.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the functions of the first designated symbol and the second designated symbol on the reels in the game are the same for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

13. A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of reels in the game;

a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including a plurality of designated symbols each at different designated positions on said reels, each of said designated symbols displayed on the reels as first indicia or as different second indicia at the designated position of said designated symbol on the reels, and each of said designated symbols having a function on the reels in the game for determining any winning outcomes;

an input device operable with the processor to enable the player to select which of the first indicia or the second indicia of one of the plurality of designated symbols will be displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol on said reels, wherein if the player inputs a selection the first indicia or the second indicia of the said designated symbol to be displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes

(a) the selected first indicia or the selected second indicia of said designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position on the reels, and

(b) the corresponding first indicia or second indicia for at least one other designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said other designated symbol on the reels; and

at least one winning outcome adapted to be provided to the player based on the symbols generated on said reels regardless of which of said indicia is displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the input device includes a touch screen.

15. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least two of said designated symbols are on the same reel.

16. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are on different reels.

17. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are the same symbol.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the first indicia of one of said same designated symbols is the same as the first indicia of another of said same designated symbols.

19. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the first indicia of each of said same designated symbols are the same and the second indicia of each of said same designated symbols are the same.

20. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the first indicia of at least two of same designated symbols are different.

21. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are different symbols.

22. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the first indicia of at least two of the designated symbols are different.

23. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are the same symbol, the first indicia of the designated symbol are the same, and the second indicia of at least two of the designated symbols are different.

24. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the functions of a plurality of the designated symbols are the same in the game for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

25. A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of reels in the game;

a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including a plurality of designated symbols at different designated positions on said reels, each of said designated symbols displayed on the reels as one of a plurality of different indicia at the designated position of said designated symbol on the reels, and each of said designated symbols having a function on the reels in the game for determining any winning outcomes;

an input device operable with the processor to enable the player to select which of the plurality of different indicia of one of the plurality of designated symbols will be displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol on said reels, wherein if the player inputs a selection of one of the plurality of indicia of said designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes (a) the selected indicia of said designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position on the reels, and (b) the corresponding indicia for at least one other designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said other designated symbol on the reels; and

at least one winning outcome adapted to be provided to the player based on the symbols generated on said reels and regardless of which of said indicia is displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the input device includes a touch screen.

27. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the designated symbols are on the same reel.

28. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are on different reels.

29. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are the same symbol.

30. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein all of the designated symbols are the same symbol.

31. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the plurality of different indicia for each of the designated symbols are the same.

32. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the functions of at least two of the designated symbols are the same in the game for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

33. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the functions of all of the designated symbols are the same in the game for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

34. A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of reels in the game;

a plurality of symbols on the reels,

(a) said symbols including same first and second designated symbols at different designated positions on said reels, each of said first and second designated symbols displayed on the reels as first indicia or as different second indicia at the designated position of said designated symbol on the reels, and

(b) said symbols including same third and fourth designated symbols at different designated positions on said reels, each of said third and fourth designated symbols displayed on the reels as third indicia or as different fourth indicia at the designated position of said designated symbol on the reels,

wherein each of said designated symbols has a function on the reels in the game for determining any winning outcomes;

at least one input device operable with the processor to enable the player to select which of the first indicia or the second indicia of the first designated symbol will be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, wherein;

(a) if the player inputs a selection of the first indicia of said first designated symbol on the reels to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes;

(i) the first indicia of said first designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said first designated symbol on the reels,

(ii) the first indicia of said second designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said second designated symbol on the reels,

(iii) the third indicia of the third designated symbols to be displayed at the designated position of the third designated symbol on the reels, and

(iv) the third indicia of said fourth designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said fourth designated symbol on the reels, and

(b) if the player inputs a selection of the second indicia of said first designated symbol on the reels to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes;

(i) the second indicia of said first designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said first designated symbol on the reels,

(ii) the second indicia of the second designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said second designated symbol on the reels,

(iii) the fourth indicia of said third designated symbol to be displayed at the designated position of said third designated symbol on the reels, and

(iv) the fourth indicia of said fourth designated symbols to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said fourth designated symbol on the reels; and

at least one winning outcome adapted to be provided to the player based on the symbols generated on said reels regardless of which of said indicia is displayed at the designated position of each said designated symbol.

35. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the input device includes a touch screen.

36. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the first and second designated symbols are on the same reel.

37. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the third and fourth designated symbols are on the same reel.

38. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein at least one of the first and second designated symbols and at least one of the third and fourth designated symbols are on different reels.

39. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the functions of the first and second designated symbols and the third and fourth designated symbols are different in the game for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

40. A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of reels in the game;

a plurality of symbols on the reels,

(a) said symbols including a first designated symbol at a designated position on said reels, said first designated symbol displayed as first indicia or as different second indicia at said designated position on the reels, and

(b) said symbols including a second designated symbol at a different designated position on said reels, said second designated symbol displayed as first indicia or as different second indicia at said designated position on the reels,

wherein each of said designated symbols has a function on the reels in the game for determining any winning outcomes;

means for causing a selection of the display of first indicia or the second indicia for the first designated symbol at the first designated position on said reels, wherein;

(a) if the selection is of the first indicia of the first designated symbol on the reels to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes;

(i) the first indicia of said first designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said first designated symbol on the reels, and

(ii) the first indicia of the second designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said second designated symbol on the reels, and

(b) if the selection is of the second indicia of the first designated symbol on the reels to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes;

(i) the second indicia of said first designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said first designated symbol on the reels, and

(ii) the second indicia of the second designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said second designated symbol on the reels; and

at least one winning outcome adapted to be provided to the player based on the symbols generated on said reels and said functions of said symbols regardless of which of said indicia is displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the selection causing means causes a random selection.

42. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbols are on the same reel.

43. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbols are on different reels.

44. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbols are the same symbol.

45. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the first indicia of the first designated symbol is the same as the first indicia of the second designated symbol.

46. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the first indicia of the first designated symbol is the same as the first indicia of the second designated symbol, and the second indicia of the first designated symbol is the same as the second indicia of the second designated symbol.

47. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the first indicia of the first designated symbol is different than the first indicia of the second designated symbol.

48. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbol are different symbols.

49. The gaming device of claim 48, wherein the first indicia of the first designated symbol is different than the first indicia of the second designated symbol.

50. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbol are the same symbol, the first indicia of the first designated symbol is the same as the first indicia of the second designated symbol, and the second indicia of the first designated symbol is different than the second indicia of the second designated symbol.

51. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the functions of the first designated symbol and the second designated symbol on the reels in the game are the same for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

52. A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of reels in the game;

a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including a plurality of designated symbols each at different designated positions on said reels, each of said designated symbols displayed on the reels as first indicia or as different second indicia at the designated position of said designated symbol on the reels, and each of said designated symbols having a function on the reels in the game for determining any winning outcomes;

means for causing a selection of the first indicia or the second indicia of one of the plurality of designated symbols to be displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol on said reels, wherein if the selection is of the first indicia or the second indicia of the said designated symbol to be displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes

(a) the selected first indicia or the selected second indicia of said designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position on the reels, and

(b) the corresponding first indicia or second indicia for at least one other designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said other designated symbol on the reels; and

at least one winning outcome adapted to be provided to the player based on the symbols generated on said reels regardless of which of said indicia is displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol.

53. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein the selection causing means causes a random selection.

54. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein at least two of said designated symbols are on the same reel.

55. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are on different reels.

56. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are the same symbol.

57. The gaming device of claim 56, wherein the first indicia of one of said same designated symbols is the same as the first indicia of another of said same designated symbols.

58. The gaming device of claim 56, wherein the first indicia of each of said same designated symbols are the same and the second indicia of each of said same designated symbols are the same.

59. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein the first indicia of at least two of same designated symbols are different.

60. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are different symbols.

61. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein the first indicia of at least two of the designated symbols are different.

62. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are the same symbol, the first indicia of the designated symbol are the same, and the second indicia of at least two of the designated symbols are different.

63. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein the functions of a plurality of the designated symbols are the same in the game for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

64. A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of reels in the game;

a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including a plurality of designated symbols at different designated positions on said reels, each of said designated symbols displayed on the reels as one of a plurality of different indicia at the designated position of said designated symbol on the reels, and each of said designated symbols having a function on the reels in the game for determining any winning outcomes;

means for causing a selection of one of the plurality of different indicia of one of the plurality of designated symbols to be displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol on said reels, wherein after the selection of one of the plurality of indicia of said designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes (a) the selected indicia of said designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position on the reels, and (b) the corresponding indicia for at least one other designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said other designated symbol on the reels; and

at least one winning outcome adapted to be provided to the player based on the symbols generated on said reels and regardless of which of said indicia is displayed at the designated position of said designated symbol.

65. The gaming device of claim 64, wherein the selection causing means causes a random selection.

66. The gaming device of claim 64, wherein the designated symbols are on the same reel.

67. The gaming device of claim 64, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are on different reels.

68. The gaming device of claim 64, wherein at least two of the designated symbols are the same symbol.

69. The gaming device of claim 64, wherein all of the designated symbols are the same symbol.

70. The gaming device of claim 69, wherein the plurality of different indicia for each of the designated symbols are the same.

71. The gaming device of claim 64, wherein the functions of at least two of the designated symbols are the same in the game for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

72. The gaming device of claim 64, wherein the functions of all of the designated symbols are the same in the game for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.

73. A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of reels in the game;

a plurality of symbols on the reels,

(a) said symbols including same first and second designated symbols at different designated positions on said reels, each of said first and second designated symbols displayed on the reels as first indicia or as different second indicia at the designated position of said designated symbol on the reels, and

(b) said symbols including same third and fourth designated symbols at different designated positions on said reels, each of said third and fourth designated symbols displayed on the reels as third indicia or as different fourth indicia at the designated position of said designated symbol on the reels,

wherein each of said designated symbols has a function on the reels in the game for determining any winning outcomes;

means for causing a selection of the first indicia or the second indicia of the first designated symbol to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, wherein;

(a) if the selection is of the first indicia of said first designated symbol on the reels to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes;

(i) the first indicia of said first designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said first designated symbol on the reels,

(ii) the first indicia of said second designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said second designated symbol on the reels,

(iii) the third indicia of the third designated symbols to be displayed at the designated position of the third designated symbol on the reels, and

(iv) the third indicia of said fourth designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said fourth designated symbol on the reels, and

(b) if the selection is of the second indicia of said first designated symbol on the reels to be displayed at the designated position of said first designated symbol on said reels, the processor causes;

(i) the second indicia of said first designated symbol to be displayed at said designated position of said first designated symbol on the reels,

(ii) the second indicia of the second designated symbol to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said second designated symbol on the reels,

(iii) the fourth indicia of said third designated symbol to be displayed at the designated position of said third designated symbol on the reels, and

(iv) the fourth indicia of said fourth designated symbols to be displayed on the reels at said designated position of said fourth designated symbol on the reels; and

at least one winning outcome adapted to be provided to the player based on the symbols generated on said reels regardless of which of said indicia is displayed at the designated position of each said designated symbol.

74. The gaming device of claim 73, wherein the selection causing means causes a random selection.

75. The gaming device of claim 73, wherein the first and second designated symbols are on the same reel.

76. The gaming device of claim 73, wherein the third and fourth designated symbols are on the same reel.

77. The gaming device of claim 73, wherein at least one of the first and second designated symbols and at least one of the third and fourth designated symbols are on different reels.

78. The gaming device of claim 73, wherein the functions of the first and second designated symbols and the third and fourth designated symbols are different in the game for determining any winning outcomes based on the symbols generated on the reels.