GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE, AND GAMING METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING SYMBOLS BETWEEN LINKED REELS IN MULTIPLE REEL SETS

• US 20090124325A1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wadleigh, William R., Ching, Erick T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,741 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

The gaming device disclosed herein includes a plurality of matrices of symbol positions. At least a first reel in a first reel set or matrix is associated with or linked to at least a first reel in a second reel set or matrix and at least a second reel in the first reel set not associated with or linked to any reel in any second reel set. In a play of the game, symbols are independently generated for each reel set and the symbols displayed for each reel set are independently evaluated to provide any awards for any winning symbol combinations. After the evaluation, the gaming device removes zero, one, or more symbols from reels in the reel sets. If any empty symbol positions are formed on the first reel in the second reel set, the gaming device shifts or transfers one or more symbols from the first reel of the first reel set to the linked first reel of the second reel set to occupy the one or more empty symbol positions. The gaming device generates symbols to fill the empty symbol positions in the reel sets and the symbols displayed for each reel set are independently evaluated to provide any awards for any winning symbol combinations.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) display a plurality of reel sets, each of the reel sets including a plurality of reels;

(b) for each reel set, generate and display a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on the reels in the reel set, wherein the generation for each reel set is independent from the generation of any other of said reel sets; and

(c) transfer at least one symbol from at least one symbol position on at least one reel in at least a first of the reel sets to at least one empty symbol position on at least one reel in at least a second of the reel sets.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one reel in the first of the reel sets is linked to at least one reel in a second of the reel sets.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable the player to choose a plurality of said reels from said plurality of reel sets to link.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to analyze a plurality of winning symbol combinations including symbols displayed on the reels in at least one but less than all of the reel sets.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to remove at least one of the symbols which form at least one of any displayed winning symbol combinations.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to:

(a) for each reel in the first reel set linked to one of the reels in the second reel set, transfer at least one of any of the remaining symbols from the reel in the first reel set to one of any empty symbol positions of the removed symbols on the linked reel in the second reel set;

(b) for each reel, transfer at least one of any of the remaining displayed symbols to one of any empty symbol positions on said reel; and

(c) for any symbol position that does not display one of said symbols, generate and display a symbol in the symbol position previously occupied by any repositioned or removed symbol.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to:

(a) for each reel in the first reel set linked to one of the reels in the second reel set;

(i) remove at least one symbol from the reel in the second reel set;

(ii) transfer at least one symbol from the reel in the first reel set to the reel in the second reel set; and

(iii) transfer at least one of any remaining symbols from the reel in the first reel set to at least one of any empty symbol positions on said reel in the first reel set; and

(b) for any symbol position that does not display one of said symbols, generate and display a symbol in the symbol position previously occupied by any repositioned or removed symbol.

8. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein less than all the reels in the first reel set are each linked to at least one reel in the second reel set.

9. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) display a plurality of reel sets, each of the reel sets including a plurality of reels wherein at least one of said reels in a first reel set is linked to at least one of said reels in a second reel set;

(b) generate and display a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on the reels in the first reel set;

(c) generate and display a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on the reels in the second reel set, wherein the generation for each reel set is independent from the generation of any other of said reel sets; and

(d) for each of the plurality of reel sets;

(i) determine if the displayed symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations;

(ii) provide the player the award associated with the winning symbol combination;

(iii) for at least one of any of said winning symbol combinations formed by the displayed symbols;

A. remove each of the symbols which form the winning symbol combination;

B. for each reel in the first reel set linked to one of the reels in the second reel set, transfer at least one of any of the remaining symbols from the reel in the first reel set to one of any empty symbol positions of the removed symbols on the linked reel in the second reel set; and

C. for each reel, transfer at least one of any of the remaining displayed symbols to one of any empty symbol positions on said reel;

(iv) for any symbol position that does not display one of said symbols, generate and display a symbol in the symbol position previously occupied by any repositioned or removed symbol; and

(v) if the displayed symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations, provide the player any awards associated with the winning symbol combinations.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to repeat (iii) to (v) at least once.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein at least one but less than all the reels in the first reel set are linked with at least a second reel in at least a second reel set.

12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable the player to choose a plurality of linked reels to link from said plurality of reel sets.

13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to randomly determine a plurality of sets of linked reels from said plurality of reels in said plurality of reel sets.

14. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to remove at least one but less than all symbols in any winning symbol combination.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to generate and display symbols in the positions on the reels in the first reel set and the second reel set upon one wager placed.

16. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) display a plurality of reel sets, each of the reel sets including a plurality of reels wherein at least one of the reels in a first reel set is linked to at least one of the reels in a second reel set;

(b) generate and display a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on the reels in the first reel set;

(c) generate and display a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on the reels in the second reel set, wherein the generation for each reel set is independent from the generation of any other of said reel sets; and

(d) for each of said plurality of reel sets;

(i) determine if the displayed symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations;

(ii) provide the player the award associated with the winning symbol combination;

(iii) for each reel in the first reel set linked to a reel in a second reel set;

A. remove at least one symbol from the reel in the second reel set;

B. transfer at least one symbol from the reel in the first reel set to the reel in the second reel set; and

C. transfer at least one of any remaining symbols from the reel in the first reel set to at least one of any empty symbol positions on said reel in the first reel set; and

(iv) for any symbol position that does not display one of said symbols, generate and display a symbol in the symbol position previously occupied by any repositioned or removed symbol; and

(v) if the displayed symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations, provide the player any awards associated with the winning symbol combinations.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to repeat (iii) to (v) at least once.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein at least one but less than all the reels in the first reel set are linked with at least a second reel in at least a second reel set.

19. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable the player to choose a plurality of linked reels to link from said plurality of reel sets.

20. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to randomly determine a plurality of sets of linked reels from said plurality of reels in said plurality of reel sets.

21. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to remove at least one but less than all symbols in any winning symbol combination.

22. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to generate the symbols in the positions on the reels in the first reel set and the second reel set upon one wager placed.

23. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, for each reel in each reel set not linked to any other reel in any other reel set, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

(a) remove at least one symbol from the reel;

(b) transfer each remaining symbol on the reel at least one symbol position in a given direction; and

(c) generate and display at least one symbol in the at least one empty symbol position.

24. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to generate the symbols in the positions on the reels in the first reel set and the second reel set upon one wager placed.

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

(a) displaying a plurality of reel sets, each of the reel sets including a plurality of reels;

(b) for each reel set, generating and displaying a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on the reels in the reel set, wherein the generation for each reel set is independent from the generation of any other of said reel sets; and

(c) transferring at least one symbol from at least one symbol position on at least one reel in at least a first of the reel sets to at least one empty symbol position on at least one reel in at least a second of the reel sets.

26. The method of claim 25, linking at least one reel in the first of the reel sets to at least one reel in a second of the reel sets.

27. The method of claim 26, enabling the player to choose a plurality of said reels from said plurality of reel sets to link.

28. The method of claim 25, analyzing a plurality of winning symbol combinations including symbols displayed on the reels in at least one but less than all of the reel sets.

29. The method of claim 25, removing at least one of the symbols, which form at least one of any displayed winning symbol combinations.

30. The method of claim 29, including:

(a) for each reel in the first reel set linked to one of the reels in the second reel set, transferring at least one of any of the remaining symbols from the reel in the first reel set to one of any empty symbol positions of the removed symbols on the linked reel in the second reel set;

(b) for each reel, transferring at least one of any of the remaining displayed symbols to one of any empty symbol positions on said reel; and

(c) for any symbol position that does not display one of said symbols, generating and displaying a symbol in the symbol position previously occupied by any repositioned or removed symbol.

31. The method of claim 25, including:

(a) for each reel in the first reel set linked to one of the reels in the second reel set;

(i) removing at least one symbol from the reel in the second reel set;

(ii) transferring at least one symbol from the reel in the first reel set to the reel in the second reel set;

(iii) transferring at least one of any remaining symbols from the reel in the first reel set to at least one of any empty symbol positions on said reel in the first reel set; and

(b) for any symbol position that does not display one of said symbols, generating and displaying a symbol in the symbol position previously occupied by any repositioned or removed symbol.

32. The method of claim 26, linking less than all the reels in the first reel set to at least one reel in the second reel set.

33. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a plurality of reel sets, each of the reel sets including a plurality of reels wherein at least one of said reels in a first reel set is linked to at least one of said reels in a second reel set;

(b) generating and displaying a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on the reels in the first reel set;

(c) generating and displaying a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on the reels in the second reel set, wherein the generation for each reel set is independent from the generation of any other of said reel sets; and

(d) for each of the plurality of reel sets;

(i) determining if the displayed symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations;

(ii) providing the player the award associated with the winning symbol combination;

(iii) for at least one of any of said winning symbol combinations formed by the displayed symbols;

A. removing each of the symbols which form the winning symbol combination;

B. for each reel in the first reel set linked to one of the reels in the second reel set, transferring at least one of any of the remaining symbols from the reel in the first reel set to one of any empty symbol positions of the removed symbols on the linked reel in the second reel set; and

C. for each reel, transferring at least one of any of the remaining displayed symbols to one of any empty symbol positions on said reel;

(iv) for any symbol position that does not display one of said symbols, generating and displaying a symbol in the symbol position previously occupied by any repositioned or removed symbol; and

(v) if the displayed symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations, providing the player any awards associated with the winning symbol combinations.

34. The method of claim 33, repeating (iii) to (v) at least once.

35. The method of claim 33, which includes generating the symbols in the positions on the reels in the first reel set and the second reel set upon one wager placed.

36. The method of claim 33, which is provided through a data network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the data network is an internet.