Electronic amusement device and method for operating a game offering reels having puzzle pieces

• US 6,579,178 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US09/578,261
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143.R, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 463/20, 463/21, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• 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 device and method for controlling operating same is disclosed. The gaming device initiates a paid play, and determines an outcome of the play. The outcome is visually displayed using at least two graphical displays. A first graphical display three reel strips each of which contains a puzzle piece symbol at each reel stop position. The outcome of the slot play is a win for the player if all three puzzle pieces that appear on a payline fit together. A second graphical display displays an animated interlocking process of the three puzzle pieces which may succeed or fail depending on the configuration of the puzzle pieces. A payout corresponding to the outcome is determined by the device, and is awarded to the player.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating a paid play on a slot machine;

determining an outcome of the paid play,

wherein the outcome comprises at least a first shape and a second shape,

wherein the first shape defines a second perimeter at least one portion of which is not a line, and

wherein the second shape defines a second perimeter at least one portion of which is not a line, and

wherein the first and the second shape are potentially capable of being interlocked together to form a third shape by fitting together the portion of the first perimeter that is not a line into the portion of the second perimeter that is not a line;

displaying the first shape and the second shape along a payline of the slot machine such that the first shape and the second shape are initially not contiguous;

displaying an animation of the first shape and the second shape, thereby displaying whether the first shape and the second shape are capable of interlocking together to form the third shape;

determining whether the outcome corresponds to a payout amount by determining whether the first shape and the second shape are capable of interlocking together to form the third shape; and

causing the payout amount to be provided to a player if the outcome does correspond to the payout amount.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, if the outcome corresponds to the payout amount, the third shape.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the animation comprises:

rotating, about an axis, at least one of the first shape and the second shape during the animation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the animation comprises:

altering a position of the first shape relative to the second shape.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the outcome corresponds to a payout amount is performed before the step of displaying an animation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the shapes are displayed on an electronic display area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first shape and the second shape is, before the step of displaying an animation, displayed along a payline of the slot machine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the first shape and the second shape is, during the step of displaying an animation, displayed in an area that is not an area where the shapes were displayed before the step of displaying the animation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the third shape comprises a continuous shape.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 1.

11. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

the method of claim 1.

12. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

displaying, before the step of displaying the animation, a representation of at least two reels spinning, wherein the first shape is illustrated on a first reel of the representation and the second shape is illustrated on a second reel of the representation.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein

the step of displaying a first symbol on a first reel of the slot machine and a second symbol on a second reel of the slot machine comprises displaying a first symbol on a first reel of the slot machine and a second symbol on a second reel of the slot machine, wherein the first reel and the second reel are displayed in a first display area of the slot machine;

and wherein

the step of displaying an interlocking process comprises displaying an interlocking process in a second display area of the slot machine.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first display area and the second display area each comprise an area of an electronic video display.

16. The method of claim 12 , herein the first contour and the second contour are configured such that it is not apparent to the player whether the first contour fits into the second contour before the animation is displayed.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first symbol and the second symbol are each initially displayed along a payline of the slot machine.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 12.

19. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

the method of claim 12.

13. A method comprising:

initiating a paid play at a slot machine;

displaying a first symbol on a first reel of the slot machine and a second symbol on a second reel of the slot machine, wherein the first symbol has a first contour that is not a line and the second symbol has a second contour that is not a line;

determining whether the first contour fits into the second contour;

displaying the first symbol and the second symbol along a payline of the slot machine such that the first symbol and the symbol shape are initially not contiguous;

displaying an animated interlocking process wherein an attempt to fit the first contour into the second contour is displayed;

displaying the first symbol interlocked with the second symbol if the first contour fits into the second contour; and

determining whether a payout is due to a player based on whether the first contour fits into the second contour.

20. A method comprising:

determining an outcome to display on a video display area of a slot machine, thereby determining a first shape representing a first piece of a puzzle, a second shape representing a second piece of a puzzle, and a third shape representing a third piece of a puzzle;

displaying the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape on the display area;

displaying an animation of the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape on the display area, wherein the animation illustrates an attempt to fit the three pieces of the puzzle together;

determining whether the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape fit together; and

outputting a payout if the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape fit together.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein

the display area is an electronic display area, and

wherein each of the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape is initially displayed as a symbol on a representation of a slot machine reel in the display area.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of displaying an animation comprises:

displaying each of the shapes moving towards one another and being rotated relative to one another.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape are displayed, before the step of displaying an animation, along a payline of the slot machine.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 20.

26. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

the method of claim 20.

21. A method comprising:

determining an outcome to display on a video display area of a slot machine, thereby determining a first shape representing a first piece of a puzzle, a second shape representing a second piece of a puzzle, and a third shape representing a third piece of a puzzle,

wherein the first shape defines a first perimeter at least one portion of which is not a line,

wherein the second shape defines a second perimeter at least one portion of which is not a line, and

wherein the third shape defines a third perimeter at least one portion of which is not a line;

displaying the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape along the display area such that the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape are initially not contiguous;

displaying an animation of the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape on the display area,

wherein the animation illustrates an attempt to fit the at least one portion of the first perimeter that is not a line into the at least one portion of the second perimeter that is not a line and an attempt to fit the at least one portion of the third perimeter that is not a line into at least one of the at least one portion of the first perimeter that is not a line and the at least one portion of the second perimeter that is not a line;

determining whether the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape fit together; and

outputting a payout if the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape fit together.