Gaming device having interacting symbols

• US 6,981,635 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hughs-Baird, Andrea C., Kremer, Jason D., Swift, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/686,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 902/23, 273/138.1, 273/142.R, 273/143.R, 463/11, 463/16, 463/20, 463/6
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gaming device and method which includes interacting symbols. Wherein the game exhibits the interaction between the two symbols using a display device and awards the player with a credit or bonus value.

Claims

1. A gaming device having a game, said gaming device comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of reels having a plurality of interacting reel symbols positioned on a plurality of locations on the reels;

an image of a first one of the interacting reel symbols while on a first one of the locations interacting with a second one of the interacting reel symbols while on a second one of the locations, the image extending from the first location to the second location, the image including a variation of the first interacting reel symbol and a variation of the second interacting reel symbol;

means controlled by the controller for enabling the player to select one of the interacting reel symbols; and

a display device controlled by the controller and adapted to display;

(a) the reels during the game; and

(b) the image after a player selects one of the interacting reel symbols.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes an award provided to the player which is associated with at least one of the interacting reel symbols.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes an award associated with each interacting reel symbol, wherein said award associated with the selected interacting reel symbol selected by the player is provided to the player.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the reels include a plurality of sets of interacting reel symbols, wherein each interacting reel symbol in each set interacts with at least one other interacting reel symbol in said set.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the reels first interacting reel symbol is located on one of the reels which is non-adjacent to the reel upon which the second interacting reel symbol is located.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least three interacting reel symbols, wherein upon a generation of said three interacting reel symbols on the reels, at least two of said interacting reel symbols are player selectable.

7. A method for operating a gaming device having a gaming scheme with a plurality of symbols including at least two player selectable interacting symbols on a plurality of reels, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) randomly generating and displaying a plurality of said symbols on different locations on the reels;

(b) enabling a player to select one of the interacting symbols if at least two interacting symbols are randomly generated and displayed on the locations on the reels;

(c) displaying an image of said selected interacting symbol while on one of the locations interacting with the other interacting symbol while on another one of the locations, the image extending from the location of the selected interacting symbol to the location of said other interacting symbol; and

(d) providing an award to the player which is associated with the selected interacting symbol.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the awards associated with each of the interacting symbols are randomly selected from a plurality of awards.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of enabling the player to select one of the interacting symbols includes enabling the player to select one of the interacting symbols when at least two of the interacting symbols are displayed on a payline associated with the reels.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of enabling the player to select one of the interacting symbols includes enabling the player to select two of the interacting symbols when the interacting symbols are displayed on a payline and the award is based on the interacting symbols selected by the player.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of enabling the player to select one of the interacting symbols includes enabling the player to select at least one interacting symbol when two interacting symbols are generated on adjacent reels.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of enabling the player to select one of the interacting symbols includes enabling the player to select at least one interacting symbol when two interacting symbols are generated on non-adjacent reels.

13. The method of claim 7, which includes prompting the player to select one of the interacting symbols.

14. The method of claim 7, which includes audibly prompting the player to select one of the interacting symbols.

15. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a game including a plurality of reels displayed by the display device;

a plurality of reel symbols positioned adjacent to one another on different locations on the reels, at least one of the reel symbols selectable by a player;

an image of a first one of the reel symbols interacting with a second one of the reel symbols, the image extending from a first one of the locations to a second one of the locations, the image including at least a portion of the first reel symbol positioned on the first location and at least a portion of the second reel symbol positioned on the second location; and

a processor which controls the display device, said processor operable to;

(a) cause the display device to display the reels during the game;

(b) enable the player to select one of the reel symbols; and

(c) cause the display device to display the image after the player selects said reel symbol.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the award provided to the player includes an award associated with the first reel symbol or the second reel symbol.

17. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the first reel symbol and the second reel symbol are positioned on adjacent reels.

18. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the first reel symbol and the second reel symbol are positioned on non-adjacent reels.

19. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the image includes a third reel symbol interacting with the first reel symbol and the second reel symbol after said reel symbols are randomly generated on a payline on the reels and after the player selects one of the reel symbols.

20. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a plurality of reels displayed by the display device;

a plurality of reel symbols positioned on a plurality of locations on the reels, at least one of the reel symbols selectable by a player;

an image of a first one of the reel symbols while on a first one of the locations interacting with a second one of the reel symbols while on a second one of the locations wherein one of the interacting reel symbols is selectable, the image extending from the first location, across a designated reel, to the second location, the image constructed of the first reel symbol, a designated image on the designated reel and the second reel symbol; and

a processor which controls the display device, said processor operable to cause the display device to display;

(a) the reels during the game; and

(b) the image after the player selects one of the reel symbols.

21. The gaming device claim 20, which includes a payline associated with the reels, wherein said processor is operable to cause the display device to display the first reel symbol and the second reel symbol interacting with each other on said payline after said interacting reel are randomly generated.

22. The gaming device claim 20, wherein the first reel symbol and the second reel symbol are both player selectable.

23. The gaming device claim 22, which includes an award provided to the player, said award associated with one of the reel symbols selected by the player.

24. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a game including a plurality of reels displayed by the display device;

a plurality of symbols having locations on said reels, said symbols including a plurality of non-interacting symbols and at least two interacting symbols, at least one of the interacting symbols selectable;

a payline associated with the reels;

an image of one of the interacting symbols on one of the locations interacting with another one of the interacting symbols on another one of the locations, the image including a variation of at least one of the interacting symbols;

at least one input device operable to enable a player to select one of the reel symbols; and

a processor which controls the display device, said processor operable to;

(a) cause the display device to display the reels during the game;

(b) cause the display device to display the single image after the player selects one of the reel symbols; and

(c) provide an award to the player associated with at least one of the interacting reel symbols.

25. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein a plurality of the interacting symbols are player selectable, and the processor is operable to enable the player to select at least one of the interacting symbols when said interacting symbols occur on the payline associated with the reels.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the award provided to the player is an award associated with the interacting symbol selected by the player.

27. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein the display device includes a touch screen.

28. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a game including a plurality of reels displayed by the display device;

a plurality of symbols on said reels, said symbols including a plurality of non-interacting symbols and a plurality of interacting symbols;

an award from a plurality of awards associated with each different pair of interacting symbols generated on different locations on the reels;

an image of a first one of the interacting symbols while on a first one of said locations interacting with a second one of the interacting symbols while on a second one of said locations, the image including a variation of said first interacting symbol, the image extending from the first location to the second location; and

a processor which controls the display device, said processor operable to;

(a) cause the display device to display the reels during the game;

(b) cause the display device to display the image of said first interacting symbol interacting with said second interacting symbol; and

(c) provide the award associated with said first and second interacting symbols to the player.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the award provided to the player is a randomly generated award associated with one of the interacting symbols which is selected by the player.

30. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a game including a plurality of reels displayed by the display device;

a plurality of symbols on locations on said reels, said symbols including a plurality of non-interacting symbols and a plurality of player selectable interacting symbols on non-adjacent reels;

an image of a first one of the player selectable interacting symbols while on a first one of the locations interacting with a second one of the player selectable interacting symbols while on a second one of the locations, the image including a variation of at least one of said player selectable interacting symbols, the image extending from the first location, across one of the reels, to the second location;

a payline associated with the reels; and

a processor which controls the display device, said processor operable to enable a player to select one of the selectable interacting symbols when said interacting symbols are randomly generated on non-adjacent reels, cause the display device to display said selected interacting symbol interacting with another of said interacting symbols, and provide an award to the player associated with said selected interacting symbol.

31. A method for operating a gaming device having a plurality of symbols on a plurality of reels, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) randomly determining and displaying a plurality of the symbols on locations on the reels;

(b) enabling a player to select one of the symbols on a first one of the locations;

(c) forming an image of the selected symbol interacting with a different one of the symbols by;

(i) graphically changing the selected symbol while the selected symbol is positioned on the first location; and

(ii) graphically changing the different symbol while said different symbol is on a different one of the locations; and

(d) providing an award to a player associated with the selected symbol or said different symbol.

32. The method of claim 31, which includes enabling the player to select one of the randomly generated interacting symbols.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the award is based on the interacting symbol selected by the player.

34. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, the gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager by a player, said game including a plurality of reels

a plurality of symbols at positions on the reels, said symbols including a first symbol at a first position on one of the reels and a second symbol at a second position on one of the reels;

an image of the first symbol while at the first position interacting with the second symbol while at the second position, the image including at least a variation of one of the first symbol and the second symbol, the image extending from the first position to the second position;

a game outcome associated with at least one of the symbols; and

a display device which, following at least one event in the game, is operable to display the reels, the symbols and the image.

35. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the variation includes a removal of a portion of the first symbol or the second symbol.

36. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the variation includes an addition of a portion of the first symbol or the second symbol.

37. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the image includes a designated symbol positioned between the first symbol and the second symbol, wherein the display device is operable to display:

(a) the reels and the symbols following a first event; and

(b) the image including the designated symbol following a second event.

38. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a slot game including a plurality of reels displayed by the display device;

a plurality of symbols on said reels, said symbols including a plurality of non-interacting symbols and a plurality of interacting symbols, wherein at least one set of the interacting symbols are at positions on different reels;

an award associated with said set of interacting symbols; and

a processor operable with the display device;

(a) to display the reels and symbols on the reels during the game;

(b) upon a generation and display of the set of interacting symbols on different reels during the game, display a first image from a first one of said interacting symbols at a first one of the positions on a first one of the reels interacting with at least a second image from a second one of said interacting symbols at a second one of the positions on a second one of said reels; and

(c) after said display, provide the player the award associated with said set of interacting symbols.

39. The gaming device of claim 38, wherein the first image includes a variation of the first interacting symbol.

40. The gaming device of claim 38, wherein the second image includes a variation of the second interacting symbol.

41. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a slot game including a plurality of reels displayed by the display device;

a plurality of symbols on said reels, said symbols including a plurality of non-interacting symbols and a plurality of interacting symbols, wherein at least one set of the interacting symbols are on different reels;

an award associated with the set of interacting symbols; and

a processor operable with the display device;

(a) to display the reels and symbols on the reels during the game;

(b) upon a generation and display of the set of interacting symbols on different reels during the game, display a first image from a first one of said interacting symbols on a first one of the reels interacting with at least a second image from a second one of said interacting symbols on a second one of said reels, the first image extending from the first interacting symbol to the second interacting symbol; and

(c) after said display, provide the player the award associated with said set of interacting symbols.

42. The gaming device of claim 41, wherein the first interacting symbol has a location on the first reel.

43. The gaming device of claim 42, wherein the first image has a portion which extends from the location of the first interacting symbol to the second image.

44. The gaming device of claim 41, wherein the first image includes a variation of the first interacting symbol.

45. The gaming device of claim 41, wherein the second image includes a variation of the second interacting symbol.