Wagering Game With Symbol-Strings Dictation Winning Outcomes

• US 20090082087A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Hornik, Jeremy M., Pacey, Larry J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,993,196 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming machine and method for conducting a wagering game includes at least one string of symbols for indicating an outcome of the wagering game wherein additional symbols are introduced into the string of symbols to produce winning combinations of symbols. Upon achieving a winning combination, the winning combination is removed from the string of symbols and the remaining symbols move together to form another string of symbols. The process is repeated and subsequent strings of symbols are evaluated for additional winning combinations.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a display for displaying a wagering game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player, said plurality of symbols including a first string of symbols; and

a symbol-input device for directing the placement of at least one additional symbol into said first string of symbols, said directing of said at least one additional symbol creating a winning portion of said first string of symbols to indicate a first winning outcome having an associated award.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said winning portion of said first string of symbols that indicates said first winning outcome is removed from said first string of symbols such that the remaining symbols move together to form a second string of symbols.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein, upon forming said second string of symbols, another winning portion of said second string of symbols indicates a second winning outcome.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein said another winning portion of said second string of symbols is removed from said second string of symbols such that the remaining symbols move together to form a third string of symbols.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said winning portion of said first string of symbols includes three or more identical symbols.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said directing of said at least one additional symbol from said symbol-input device is controlled by said player.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said directing of said at least one additional symbol from said symbol-input device is controlled by a controller.

8. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

receiving a wager input from a player;

displaying a string of symbols from a plurality of symbols;

directing the placement of at least a first symbol into said string of symbols;

achieving a first winning outcome associated with said at least first symbol being placed into said string of symbols; and

awarding a player an award based on said first winning outcome.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising directing the placement of a second symbol into said string of symbols and achieving a second winning outcome associated with said second symbol being placed into said string of symbols.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising awarding an award based on said second winning outcome.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising eliminating said symbols associated with said first winning outcome prior to directing the placement of said second symbol and rejoining said string of symbols after said eliminating.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising moving said string of symbols during said directing of said at least first symbol.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said directing the placement of said at least first symbol includes directing the placement of introducing additional symbols until said first winning outcome is achieved.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said first winning outcome includes a set of identical symbols, a set of related symbols or a set of symbols that fulfills a winning condition.

15. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 8.

16. A gaming machine for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game, said plurality of symbols including a string of symbols; and

a controller coupled to said display and operative to

control an input device for directing the placement of at least one additional symbol into said string of symbols to produce a modified string of symbols,

evaluate said modified string of symbols to determine whether a winning combination of symbols has been achieved,

provide an award for said winning combination of symbols achieved,

eliminate said winning combination of symbols from said modified string of symbols, and

after said elimination, evaluate subsequent strings of symbols for possible winning combinations.

17. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said controller is operative to direct the placement of additional symbols into said subsequent strings of symbols.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein said controller is operative to terminate said wagering game in response to said additional symbols producing no winning combinations.

19. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said display displays strings of symbols in the form of spirals, lines or grids.

20. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the input device allows a player to have at least partial control over the placement of additional symbols into said string of symbols.

21. The gaming machine of claim 20, wherein said player views said additional symbols prior to said placement and selects at least one of said additional symbols.

22. The gaming machine of claim 20, wherein said player in unable to view said additional symbols prior to said placement.