Gaming device having a matching symbol game

• US 20060068883A1
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Randall, Dov L., Oles, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• 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 device including a matrix having a plurality of positions defining at least one row and at least one column. The matrix includes a plurality of independently operable symbol generators where each of the positions of the matrix includes at least one of the independently operable symbol generators. Each of the symbol generators include a plurality of symbols. The gaming device enables the player to purchase or activate one or more of the symbols based on a wager made by the player. After the player makes a wager the gaming device activates the designated symbols based on the wager made by the player. The gaming device then causes the symbol generators to each generate symbols in the game. The gaming device evaluates the purchased or activatable symbols generated by the symbol generators in the matrix and provides an award to the player for any winning symbol combinations including the purchased or activated symbols displayed by the symbol generators in the matrix.

Claims

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

a primary game controlled by the processor;

at least one input device;

a symbol display in the primary game;

a plurality of symbols associated with said symbol display in the primary game, wherein said symbols include at least one scatter symbol; and

a plurality of bonus games;

wherein the processor is operable with the symbol display and the input devices to;

(a) enable a player to wager on one or more of the symbols;

(b) generate a plurality of the symbols and cause the symbol display to display said plurality of symbols;

(c) determine if any winning combinations are generated, wherein said winning combinations include wagered on symbols;

(d) determine if any scatter symbols are generated;

(e) if a designated number of scatter symbols are generated, provide a number of the bonus games to the player based on the number of generated scatter symbols;

(f) provide any awards to the player based on any determined winning symbol combinations and any provided bonus games.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of bonus games provided to the player is equal to the total number of generated and displayed scatter symbols.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the generated symbols are displayed in a matrix.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the symbol display includes a plurality of symbol generators.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the symbol generators includes a reel.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the symbol display includes a plurality of independent reels.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the symbols include at least one wild symbol.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the winning symbol combinations requires a plurality of same wagered on symbols.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said symbols include a plurality of scatter symbols.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of bonus games provided to the player is based on the number of wagered on and generated scatter symbols.

11. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to wager on one or more of a plurality of symbols, wherein said symbols include at least one scatter symbol;

(b) generating and displaying a plurality of the symbols;

(c) determining if any winning combinations are generated, wherein said winning combinations include wagered on symbols;

(d) determining if any scatter symbols are generated;

(e) if a designated number of scatter symbols are generated, providing a number of bonus games to the player from a plurality of bonus games, wherein the number of bonus games is based on the number of generated scatter symbols; and

(f) providing any awards to the player based on any determined winning symbol combinations and any provided bonus games.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the number of bonus games provided to the player is equal to the total number of generated scatter symbols.

13. The method of claim 11, which includes displaying the generated symbols in a matrix.

14. The method of claim 11, which includes a plurality of symbol generators displaying the symbols.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the symbol generators includes a reel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a plurality of the symbol generators are a plurality of independent reels.

17. The method of claim 11, where the symbols include at least one wild symbol.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the winning symbol combinations requires a plurality of same wagered on symbols.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said symbols include a plurality of scatter symbols.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the number of bonus games provided to the player is based on the number of wagered on and generated scatter symbols.

21. The method of claim 11, which is provided through a data network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data network is the internet.

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

a game controlled by the processor;

at least one input device;

a plurality of different wagerable amounts in the game, said game initiated if a player makes a wager of one of said different wagerable amounts;

a matrix in the game, said matrix including a plurality of positions defined by a plurality of symbol generators;

a plurality of sets of the symbols in the game, a plurality of said symbol sets each including a plurality of different activatable symbols, one of the symbol sets associated with each of said different wagerable amounts, and each of said different wagerable amounts having one associated symbol set; and

a plurality of winning symbol combinations, each of said winning symbol combinations including a plurality of activatable symbols in adjacent positions in the matrix;

wherein the processor is operable with the symbol generators and at least one input device to;

(a) enable the player to wager one of the wagerable amounts;

(b) activate the symbols of the associated symbol set associated with said wagered wagerable amount;

(c) cause a plurality of the symbol generators to display a plurality of the symbols in the matrix;

(d) evaluate the generated symbols in the matrix for any of said winning symbol combinations which include said activated symbols; and

(e) provide an award to the player for any winning symbol combinations which include the activated symbols displayed in the matrix.

24. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the symbols include at least one wild symbol.

25. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the symbols include at least one scatter symbol.

26. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein at least one of the symbol generators includes a reel.

27. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the symbol generators include a plurality of independent reels.

28. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein at least one of the winning symbol combinations includes a plurality of same activated symbols.

29. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein a plurality of the symbol sets include a different number of symbols.

30. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the symbols of a first symbol set are activated if the player makes a wager of a first wagerable amount associated with said first symbol set, wherein the symbols of a second symbol set are activated if the player makes a wager of a second greater wagerable amount associated with said second symbol set, wherein said second symbol set includes a greater number of symbols than said first symbol set.

31. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein each of said winning symbol combinations must occur along a straight line.

32. A method of operating a gaming device, said gaming device including a game, a plurality of different wagerable amounts in the game, a plurality of sets of the symbols in the game, a plurality of said symbol sets each including a plurality of different activatable symbols, one of the symbol sets associated with each of said different wagerable amounts, and each of said different wagerable amounts having one associated symbol set, said method comprising:

(a) enabling the player to wager one of the plurality of wagerable amounts;

(b) activating the symbols of the associated symbol set associated with said wagered wagerable amount;

(c) displaying a plurality of the symbols in a matrix;

(d) evaluating the generated symbols in the matrix for any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations including a plurality of activatated symbols in adjacent positions in the matrix; and

(e) providing an award to the player for any winning symbol combinations which include the activated symbols displayed in the matrix.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the symbols include at least one wild symbol.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the symbols include at least one scatter symbol.

35. The method of claim 32, which includes a plurality of symbol generators.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein at least one of the symbol generators is an independent reel.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the winning symbol combinations includes a plurality of same activated symbols.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein a plurality of the symbol sets include a different number of symbols.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the symbols of a first symbol set are activated if the player makes a wager of a first wagerable amount associated with said first symbol set, wherein the symbols of a second symbol set are activated if the player makes a wager of a second greater wagerable amount associated with said second symbol set, wherein said second symbol set includes a greater number of symbols than said first symbol set.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein each of said winning symbol combinations must occur along a straight line.

41. The method of claim 32, which is provided through a data network.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the data network is the internet.