3D ENHANCED GAMING MACHINE WITH ROTATABLE 3D GAME SURFACE

• US 20160171815A1
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Igt Canada Solutions Ulc (GTECH SpA)
• Original Assignee: GTECH Canada ULC
• Inventors: DUPUIS, Reuben, Leblanc, Vicky
• Granted Patent: US 9,767,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3265 Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding

Abstract

There is disclosed an electronic gaming machine that includes an electronic datastore storing game data for a given game, an electronic display, and one or more processors in communication with the at least one electronic datastore and the electronic display. The processors include a three-dimensional graphics processor. The processors are configured to: generate, with at least the three-dimensional graphics processor, a three-dimensional game surface in accordance with a set of game rules using the game data, the three-dimensional game surface for displaying game symbols thereon; present a view of the three-dimensional game surface such that a plurality of game symbols are viewable on the electronic display; and in response to a game event defined by the game rules: rotate the view of the three-dimensional game surface such that at least one additional game symbol becomes viewable on the electronic display; and integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game in accordance with the game rules.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

an electronic datastore storing game data for a given game;

an electronic display; and

one or more processors in communication with the at least one electronic datastore and the electronic display, the one or more processors comprising a three-dimensional graphics processor;

the one or more processors configured to;

generate, with at least the three-dimensional graphics processor, a three-dimensional game surface in accordance with a set of game rules using the game data, the three-dimensional game surface for displaying game symbols thereon;

present a view of the three-dimensional game surface such that a plurality of game symbols are viewable on the electronic display; and

in response to a game event defined by the game rules;

rotate the view of the three-dimensional game surface such that at least one additional game symbol becomes viewable on the electronic display; and

integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game in accordance with the game rules.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to increase expected winnings of the given game as the view is rotated in a pre-defined direction.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to provide additional game symbols that are associated with higher payouts as the view is rotated in a pre-defined direction.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to provide additional wildcard symbols amongst the additional game symbols as the view is rotated in a pre-defined direction.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to select a direction to rotate the view based on the game event.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to select a rotation magnitude to rotate the view based on the game event.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game event comprises an activation of a symbol associated with rotation of the view.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game event comprises an end of a round of the given game.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an input interface configured to receive user input.

10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the input interface is a touchscreen interface integral with the electronic display.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the game event comprises a user request received by way of the input interface.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

in response to a user request received by way of the input interface;

provide a preview of at least one additional game symbol available for integrating into the given game by rotating the view of the three-dimensional game surface in a first direction such that the at least one additional game symbol becomes viewable on the electronic display, and rotating the view of the three-dimensional game surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction such that the at least one additional game symbol is no longer viewable on the electronic display.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to remove at least one of the plurality of game symbols from the given game when the view is rotated.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional game surface has a cylindrical shape.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein game symbols displayed on the three-dimensional game surface are arranged in a grid.

16. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein game symbols displayed on the three-dimensional game surface are arranged in a plurality of reel strips, and wherein rotating the view causes at least one additional reel strips to be viewable on the electronic display.

17. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the given game is a wagering game, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive wagers from a user.

22. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

removing at least one of the plurality of game symbols from the given game when the view is rotated.

18. A method for providing an electronic game, the method comprising:

generating, at at least one processor, a three-dimensional game surface in accordance with a set of game rules, the three-dimensional game surface for displaying game symbols thereon;

presenting a view of the three-dimensional game surface such that a plurality of game symbols are viewable on an electronic display; and

in response to a game event defined by the game rules;

rotating, at the at least one processor, the view of the three-dimensional game surface such that at least one additional game symbol becomes viewable on the electronic display; and

integrating, at the at least one processor, the at least one additional symbol into the given game in accordance with the game rules.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

selecting a direction to rotate the view based on the game event.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

selecting a rotation magnitude to rotate the view based on the game event.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

in response to a user request received by way of the input interface;

providing a preview of at least one additional game symbol available for integrating into the given game by rotating the view of the three-dimensional game surface in a first direction such that the at least one additional game symbol becomes viewable on the electronic display, and rotating the view of the three-dimensional game surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction such that the at least one additional game symbol is no longer viewable on the electronic display.

23. A computer system for providing an electronic game, the system comprising:

a gaming server having an electronic datastore storing game data for a given game;

a gaming device having an electronic display, the gaming device interconnected with the gaming server by way of a communication network;

at least one of the gaming server and the gaming device configured to;

generate a three-dimensional game surface in accordance with a set of game rules using the game data stored at the gaming server, the three-dimensional game surface for displaying game symbols thereon;

present a view of the three-dimensional game surface such that a plurality of game symbols are viewable on the electronic display of the gaming device; and

in response to a game event defined by the game rules;

rotate the view of the three-dimensional game surface such that at least one additional game symbol becomes viewable on the electronic display of the gaming device; and

integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game in accordance with the game rules.