Matching symbol game associated with slot machine

• US 7,399,226 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mishra, Kunal
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rada, II; Alex F. R. P.
• Application Number:
  US10/243,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/18
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• 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

A gaming apparatus has the ability to provide multiple winning events in a single play of an event. The apparatus may have a housing with a microprocessor, a first gaming display that displays at least one symbol from a first set of symbols, wherein predetermined symbol displays provide a first award. There is also a second gaming display that coincidently displays at least one separate symbol selected from among symbols within the first set of symbols. The gaming apparatus awards a second prize when the at least one separate symbol matches at least one symbol from among the symbol or symbols displayed in the first gaming display. The display for the second set of symbols is preferably active while the first gaming display is actively presenting the first set of symbols.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus having the ability to provide multiple winning events in a single play of a multiple symbol display game, the apparatus comprising:

a housing with a microprocessor;

a first gaming display that displays at least three reels that displays at least three symbols selected from a first set of symbols, wherein at least one predetermined combination of the at least three symbols provides a first award;

a second gaming display that coincidently displays at least one separate symbol selected from at least a portion of the first set of symbols;

the second gaming display being activated at the same time the first gaming display is active and the at least three reels of the first gaming display stopping one at a time and the second gaming display stopping and displaying said at least one separate symbol after all reels of the first gaming display have stopped and are each displaying at least one symbol; and

the gaming apparatus awarding a second award separate from the first award when said at least one separate symbol matches at least one symbol from among the at least three symbols displayed by the reels of the first gaming display, whether said at least one separate symbol matches at least one symbol from among the at least three symbols displayed by the reels of the first gaming display not being determined at a player'"'"'s option, and a frequency rate of the at least one separate symbol selected according to the second award.

2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein blank spaces may be shown as a symbol within the first set of symbols.

3. The gaming apparatus of claim 2 wherein no blank spaces are available as symbols in the second gaming display.

4. The gaming apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first gaming display comprises exactly three reels.

5. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein no blank spaces are available as symbols in the second gaming display.

6. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first gaming display comprises exactly three reels.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim 6 wherein while at least one of the three reels spin, the second gaming display is active and has not yet shown, a symbol for determining the second prize.

8. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first gaming display comprises exactly three reels and the second gaming display comprises exactly one reel, wheel or disk.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first gaming display and the second gaming display is a video display.

10. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, comprising a coin or currency input slot to receive a wager.

11. A gaming system comprising:

a memory device;

at least one display device; and

a processor operatively coupled to the at least one memory device and the at least one display device, the processor being operable with the at least one display device to;

(a) display a plurality of reels and a plurality of reel symbols on the reels;

(b) display a wheel and a plurality of wheel symbols on the wheel;

(c) receive a play signal;

(d) simultaneously display the reels spinning and the wheel spinning as a result of the play signal;

(e) generate at least one combination of the reel symbols;

(f) display the generated combination of reel symbols;

(g) indicate a first award as a result of the generated combination satisfying a winning condition;

(h) generate at least one of the wheel symbols independent of the generation of the combination of reel symbols;

(i) display the generated wheel symbol;

(j) determine whether the generated wheel symbol matches at least one of the reel symbols of the generated combination of reel symbols; and

(k) indicate a second award as a result of the match.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the generated combination of reel symbol is randomly generated, and the generated wheel symbol is randomly generated independent of the random generation of the generated combination.

13. The gaming system of claim 11, which includes a first award schedule associated with the reels and a different second award schedule associated with the wheel.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein:

(a) the first award schedule specifies;

(i) a first winning combination of the reel symbols, the first winning combination having a first one of the reel symbols; and

(ii) a different second winning combination of the reel symbols, the second winning combination having the first one of the reel symbols; and

(b) the second award schedule specifies;

(i) one award corresponding to a match between a generated one of the wheel symbols and the first reel symbol of the first winning combination; and

(ii) a different award corresponding to a match between a generated one of the wheel symbols and the first reel symbol of the second winning combination.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the memory device includes at least one instruction executable by the processor to cause an automatic display of the simultaneous spinning of the reels and the wheel, the automatic display occurring in response to a single play signal.

16. A method for operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of reels and a plurality of reel symbols on the reels;

displaying a wheel and a plurality of wheel symbols on the wheel;

receiving a play signal;

simultaneously displaying the reels spinning and the wheel spinning as a result of the play signal;

generating at least one combination of the reel symbols;

displaying the generated combination of reel symbols;

indicating a first award as a result of the generated combination satisfying a winning condition;

generating at least one of the wheel symbols independent of the generation of the combination of reel symbols;

displaying the generated wheel symbol;

determining whether the generated wheel symbol matches at least one of the reel symbols of the generated combination of reel symbols; and

indicating a second award as a result of the match.

17. The method of claim 16, which includes:

(a) randomly generating the generated combination of reel symbol; and

(b) randomly generating the generated wheel symbol independent of the random generation of the generated combination.

18. The method of claim 16, which includes specifying a first award schedule associated with the reels and specifying a different second award schedule associated with the wheel.

19. The method of claim 18, which includes:

(a) specifying, for the first award schedule;

(i) a first winning combination of the reel symbols, the first winning combination having a first one of the reel symbols; and

(ii) a different second winning combination of the reel symbols, the second winning combination having the first one of the reel symbols; and

(b) specifying, for the second award schedule;

(i) one award corresponding to a match between a generated one of the wheel symbols and the first reel symbol of the first winning combination; and

(ii) a different award corresponding to a match between a generated one of the wheel symbols and the first reel symbol of the second winning combination.

20. The method of claim 19, which includes causing an automatic display of the simultaneous spinning of the reels and the wheel, wherein the automatic display occurs in response to a single play signal.