Slot machine game having a plurality of ways for a user to obtain payouts based on selection of one or more symbols (power pays)
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a gaming machine having a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, the game including a plurality of symbols, said method comprising:
- (a) enabling a player to wager on at least one of the symbols from the plurality of symbols;
(b) randomly rearranging a plurality of the symbols;
(c) displaying a plurality of the rearranged symbols in the symbol matrix;
(d) upon an appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, repositioning at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and
(e) issuing at least one award if two or more symbols wagered upon appear adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of playing a slot machine game in which a player wagers upon one or more symbols and then collect awards for combinations of two or more symbols wagered upon appearing in adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix. The slot machine game may also provide a symbol repositioning feature in which one or more symbols are moved from their original positions to other positions in the symbol matrix.
211 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of operating a gaming machine having a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, the game including a plurality of symbols, said method comprising:
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(a) enabling a player to wager on at least one of the symbols from the plurality of symbols;
(b) randomly rearranging a plurality of the symbols;
(c) displaying a plurality of the rearranged symbols in the symbol matrix;
(d) upon an appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, repositioning at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and
(e) issuing at least one award if two or more symbols wagered upon appear adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a gaming machine having a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, said game including a plurality of symbols, said method comprising:
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(a) enabling a player to place a wager upon symbols in the plurality of symbols in a predetermined order;
(b) randomly rearranging a plurality of the symbols;
(c) displaying a plurality of the rearranged symbols;
(d) upon the appearance of a predetermined symbol in a designated column of the symbol matrix, repositioning one symbol in the symbol matrix such that;
(1) the repositioned symbol is located in another position in the symbol matrix resulting in a highest award value if any such award is possible, by;
i. calculating an award value of repositioning said symbol in each of the positions in the symbol matrix; and
ii. repositioning said symbol to the position in the symbol matrix with the highest calculated award value;
(2) the repositioned symbol covers another symbol to conceal the covered symbol;
(3) the symbol repositioning is indicated;
(e) issuing at least one award based upon the appearance of two or more same symbols wagered upon appearing;
(1) with said symbols adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix;
(2) with said symbols adjacent to each other in horizontal or diagonal directions;
(3) with at least one of said symbols appearing in another designated column of the symbol matrix; and
(4) with at most one of said symbols appearing in each column of the symbol matrix. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a gaming machine having a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, the game including a plurality of symbols, said method comprising:
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(a) enabling a player to place a wager;
(b) randomly rearranging a plurality of the symbols;
(c) displaying a plurality of the rearranged symbols;
(d) upon the appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, repositioning of at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and
(e) awarding the player for predetermined symbol combinations in the symbol matrix.
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17. A gaming machine operated under the control of the processor, said gaming machine comprising:
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a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns;
a plurality of symbols in the game; and
a display device, wherein the processor is operable with the display device to;
(a) enable a player to wager on at least one of the symbols from the plurality of symbols;
(b) randomly rearrange a plurality of the symbols;
(c) display a plurality of the rearranged symbols in the symbol matrix;
(d) upon the appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and
(e) issue at least one award if two or more symbols wagered upon appear adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A gaming machine operated under the control of a processor, said gaming machine comprising:
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a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, said game including a plurality of symbols, wherein said symbols include a plurality of predetermined symbols; and
a display device, wherein said processor is operable with the display device to;
(a) enable a player to place a wager upon symbols in the plurality of symbols in a predetermined order;
(b) randomly rearrange the symbols;
(c) display a plurality of the rearranged symbols;
(d) upon the appearance of a predetermined symbol in the a designated column of the symbol matrix, reposition one symbol in the symbol matrix such that;
(1) the repositioned symbol is located in another position in the symbol matrix resulting in a highest award value under if any such award is possible by;
i. calculating an award value of repositioning said symbol in each of the positions in the symbol matrix; and
ii. repositioning said symbol to the position in the symbol matrix with the highest calculated award value;
(2) the repositioned symbol covers another symbol to conceal the covered symbol;
(3) the symbol repositioning is indicated;
(e) issue awards based upon the appearance of two or more same symbols wagered upon appearing;
(1) with said symbols adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix;
(2) with said symbols adjacent to each other in horizontal or diagonal directions;
(3) with at least one of said symbols appearing in the another designated column of the symbol matrix; and
(4) with at most one of said symbols appearing in each column of the symbol matrix. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A gaming machine operated under the control of a processor, said gaming machine comprising:
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a game controlled by the processor;
a symbol matrix in said game, wherein said symbol matrix is formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, said game including a plurality of symbols;
wherein the processor is operable with the display device to;
(a) enable a player to place a wager;
(b) randomly rearrange a plurality of the symbols;
(c) display a plurality of the rearranged symbols;
(d) upon the appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, reposition of at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and
(e) award the player for predetermined symbol combinations.
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Specification