Game of chance method and apparatus

• US 6,547,242 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Arata, Farnham, Mike, Sameshima, Muneharu, Hiraga, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, DOLORES R
• Application Number:
  US09/690,957
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 273/142.R, 273/292, 273/143, 273/138.2, 463/20, 463/46
• US Class Current: 273/142.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for playing a game of chance. The game of chance includes a multi-reel slot game and one or more matrices. In one embodiment, one matrix per payline configuration is made available. When a special symbol appears on a reel it is activated on the corresponding matrix in a corresponding cell of the matrix. When the special symbols align in the matrix according to the payline in question, a winning outcome occurs. In another embodiment, a plurality of special symbols are available on said reels. One matrix per special symbol is provided. When special symbols appear on the reel selected paylines they are activated in like cell positions on the appropriate matrix. When the a matrix is filled a winning outcome occurs and the player may qualify for an eligibility game that may provide additional awards to a player.

Claims

1. A method for playing a game of chance comprising:

presenting a plurality or reels on a display, each reel configured to present game symbols defining an outcome, at least one symbol for each reel designated as a special symbol;

providing a plurality of pay lines on the display;

the player, for each game of play, enabling a number of a plurality of pay lines by making a wager;

based upon the number of play lines enabled, displaying a matrix of cells corresponding to stop positions on said reels, said matrix display persisting through subsequent game plays until reset;

spinning said reels and stopping said spinning reels to display an outcome of symbols of symbols for each enabled pay line;

determining for each enabled pay line whether said symbol combination is a winning symbol combination compared to predefined winning outcomes;

issuing an award based upon each winning symbol combination;

displaying each special symbol of said outcome in a corresponding cell position of said matrix and determining whether displaying the special symbol in the cell position is a winning special symbol combination compared to predefined winning combinations; and

issuing an award for special symbol winning combinations and resetting the cells of the matrix by removing the special symbols therefrom.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising providing on the matrix a number of pay lines corresponding to the number of pay lines enabled and determining whether displaying the special symbol in the cell position is a winning special symbol combination on a matrix pay line compared to predefined winning combinations.

3. An electronic apparatus for playing a game of chance comprising:

a display;

a computer processor;

a plurality or reels at the display, each reel configured to present an outcome matrix of game symbols, at least one symbol for each reel designated as a special symbol;

means for the player to, for each game play, enable pay lines at the display by making a wager;

said processor configured to (i) display a matrix of cells corresponding to said outcome matrix and (ii) display said matrix of cells persisting through subsequent game plays until reset;

said processor configured to control the display at said display spinning said reels and stopping said spinning reels to display an outcome of symbols for each enabled pay line, determine for each enabled pay line whether said symbol combination is a winning symbol combination compared to predefined winning outcomes and issue an award based upon each winning symbol combination; and

said processor configured to displaying each special symbol from said outcome in a corresponding cell position of said cell matrix, determine whether displaying the special symbol in the cell position is a winning special symbol combination compared to predefined winning combinations, issue an award for special symbol winning combinations and reset the cells of the matrix for the cells of the winning combination by removing the special symbols therefrom.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 comprising said processor configured to display said cell matrix including pay lines corresponding to the enabled pay lines, determine whether displaying the special symbol in the cell position is a winning special symbol combination on any enabled pay line compared to predefined winning pay line combinations, issue an award for special symbol winning pay line combinations and reset the cells of the matrix for the cells of the winning pay line combination by removing the special symbols therefrom.