ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE AND GAMING METHOD

• US 20150310699A1
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd. (Novomatic AG)
• Original Assignee: Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd. (Novomatic AG)
• Inventors: Meyer, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,147,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

An electronic gaming machine includes a display for displaying a game and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of said game symbols on said display. The game includes game symbols arranged into a first array of symbol positions. The electronic game controller causes the display of a second array for displaying at least one special symbol in a symbol position that visually appears greater in size than said symbol positions of said first array, the at least one special symbol resulting in the award of one of more game enhancing elements. The at least one special symbol is randomly selected by said electronic game controller and is different to said game symbols displayed in said first array. A gaming method is also provided.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a housing having a display for displaying a game and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of said game symbols in said game on said display, wherein said game comprises game symbols arranged into a first array of symbol positions displaying randomly selected game symbols, and where predetermined winning combinations of said randomly selected game symbols in said game award prizes to a player; and

an input means for receiving commands from said player to operate said electronic gaming machine and initiate play of said game on said display, said input means being in electronic communication with said electronic game controller;

wherein said electronic game controller in response to a command from said player via said input means commences play of said game by randomly selecting game symbols and transmitting a signal to said display to display said randomly selected game symbols in said symbol positions on said array;

wherein said electronic game controller transmits a signal to said display to display a second array for displaying at least one special symbol in a symbol position that visually appears greater in size than said symbol positions of said first array, said at least one special symbol resulting in the award of one of more game enhancing elements upon the player;

wherein said at least one special symbol is randomly selected by said electronic game controller; and

wherein said at least one special symbol is different to said game symbols displayed in said first array.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said at least one special symbol modifies the result of a play of said game.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the type of special symbols displayed in said second array vary according to the amount of a bet wagered by said player to play said game on said first array.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said electronic game controller selects said at least one special symbol from a set of special symbols, said special symbol set comprising different types of special symbols and multiple special symbols of the same type, and wherein said types and number of said special symbols vary according to the amount of a bet wagered by said player to play said game on said first array.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said at least one special symbol comprises at least one or more of a symbol that awards a predetermined number of free plays of said game, a win multiplier symbol that multiplies the amount of any win from one of said predetermined winning combinations, a wild symbol that causes the display of substitute symbols in randomly selected symbol positions, a bonus symbol that awards a bonus prize, a wild multiplier symbol that causes the display of substitute symbols on said first array and multiplies the amount of any win from one of said predetermined winning combinations, a bonus wild symbols that causes the display of substitute symbols on said first array and awards a bonus prize, a symbol that causes the award of additional free plays of said game, a symbol that causes one or more of said symbol positions to be held static and display substitute symbols, a symbol that causes the same game symbol to be stacked in a group of symbol positions, a symbol that causes the display of new game symbols, a symbol that causes a game symbol to reveal other game symbols, a symbol that results in the award of a jackpot or progressive jackpot prize, and a replacement symbol that causes game symbols to be replaced by other game symbols in the first array.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 5, wherein said at least special symbol comprises a win multiplier symbol that multiplies the amount of any win from one of said predetermined combinations displayed on said first array by an integer.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 6, wherein said integer comprises a number selected from 2 to 10.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 5, wherein said at least special symbol comprises a bonus or jackpot symbol that is associated with the award of a bonus prize, jackpot prize or a progressive jackpot prize.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 5, wherein said at least special symbol comprises a replacement symbol that results in changing one or more of said game symbols displayed on said first array into other game symbols.

10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said symbol positions of said first array are arranged into rows and columns.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said second array is located above said first array on said display.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the probability of said at least one special symbol appearing on said second array is related to the amount of a bet wagered by said player to play said game on said first array.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 12, wherein said probability of said at least one special symbol appearing on said second array is proportional to said bet amount.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said game comprises a base game and a feature game, and said electronic game controller causes the display of said second array in said feature game.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said symbol position of said second array does not define a pay line with any of said symbol positions on said first array.

16. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a housing having a display for displaying a game and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of said game symbols in said game on said display, wherein said game comprises game symbols displayed in one or more symbol positions arranged into a plurality of reels, where predetermined winning combinations of game symbols in said game award prizes to a player; and

an input means for receiving commands from said player to operate said electronic gaming machine and initiate play of said game on said display, said input means being in electronic communication with said electronic game controller;

wherein said electronic game controller in response to a command from said player via said input means commences play of said game by randomly selecting game symbols and transmitting a signal to said display to display said randomly selected game symbols in said symbol positions on said reels;

wherein said electronic game controller randomly determines whether to display at least one special symbol in said game;

wherein the appearance of said at least one special symbol in at least one reel of said plurality of reels in a play of said game causes said electronic game controller to transmit a signal to said display to display an indicator associated with said at least one reel for one or more subsequent plays of said game;

said electronic game controller randomly determines whether a trigger event is to occur in said one or more subsequent plays; and

whereupon the occurrence of said trigger event, said electronic game controller transmits a signal to said display to replace at least one game symbol in said at least one reel associated with said indicator with another special symbol.

17. The electronic gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said at least one game symbol is not a scatter symbol.

18. The electronic gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said at least one game symbol comprises all the game symbols in each symbol position of said at least one reel.

19. The electronic gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said another special symbol comprises a substitute symbol.

20. The electronic gaming machine of claim 19, wherein said substitute symbol also multiplies by an integer any award given by said electronic gaming machine for a winning combination of game symbols that includes said substitute symbol.

21. The electronic gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said electronic game controller causes said display to show a bonus reel separate to said reels, said trigger event comprising the appearance of said at least one special symbol in said bonus reel.

22. The electronic gaming machine of claim 21, wherein said bonus reel comprises a symbol position that visually appears greater in size than said symbol positions of said reels.

23. The electronic gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said trigger event comprises the appearance of three scatter symbols.

24. The electronic gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said trigger event comprises the award of additional plays of said game.