Method and apparatus for determining and presenting outcomes at a gaming device

• US 7,914,376 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/426,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463/25, 463/29, 463/30, 463/31, 463 40- 43, 273/138.1, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A gaming device provides outcomes to the player of the gaming device by positioning symbols within a scrolling matrix. If the symbols position within the scrolling matrix matches a pay event outcome, the player may receive a benefit. In a first embodiment, the symbols are generated from the symbols of a basic game such as the symbols on a slot machine reel. The symbols are moved from the slot machine reel to the matrix.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

implementing a round of game play at a gaming device by;

randomly generating and displaying a first plurality of symbols;

thereafter, randomly determining at least a second plurality of symbols from the first plurality of symbols to position within a matrix, the matrix including a plurality of positions and the second plurality of symbols being less than the first plurality of symbols;

for each of the second plurality of symbols, display said symbol in association with one of the positions of the matrix;

determining a first outcome based on an evaluation of the symbols displayed in association with the positions of the matrix;

providing a payout based on the determined first outcome; and

after determining the first outcome;

(i) during the round of the game play, scrolling the matrix, such that at least one of the symbols associated with one of the positions of the matrix is not evaluated for a subsequently determined second outcome in the round of game play;

(ii) displaying at least one additional symbol in association with one of the positions of the matrix; and

(iii) after scrolling the matrix, determining said second outcome based on an evaluation of the symbols displayed in association with the positions of the matrix, said evaluation including an evaluation of;

(A) at least one of the symbols evaluated when determining said first outcome, and (B) said at least one additional symbol.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second plurality of symbols comprises a subset of the first plurality of symbols.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the first plurality of symbols comprises selecting symbols from symbols displayed on slot machine reels.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein conducting game play at the gaming device comprises conducting a basic game and a meta-game.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein generating the first plurality of symbols comprises generating the first plurality of symbols as part of the basic game.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein positioning each of the second plurality of symbols within the matrix forms part of the meta-game.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising awarding a payout for the basic game based on outcomes of the basic game.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing a bonus payout for the meta-game based on one or more of the symbols displayed in association with positions of the matrix.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a bonus payout if symbols displayed in association with positions of the matrix are arranged in positions within a predetermined row or positions arranged in a diagonal manner.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein scrolling the matrix comprises scrolling the matrix from a top of a display to a bottom of the display.

11. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a user interface; and

a controller operatively coupled to the display device and the user interface and adapted, for a round of game play at the gaming device, to;

randomly generate a first plurality of symbols;

display the first plurality of symbols on the display device;

thereafter, randomly determine a second plurality of symbols from the first plurality of symbols, the second plurality of symbols being less than the first plurality of symbols;

for each of the second plurality of symbols, display said symbol in association with one of a plurality of positions of a matrix, the matrix being displayed by the display device;

determine a first outcome based on an evaluation of the symbols displayed in association with the positions of the matrix

provide a payout based on the first outcome; and

after determining the first outcome;

(i) during the round of the game play, scroll the matrix such that at least one of the symbols displayed in association with a position of the matrix is not evaluated for a subsequently determined second outcome in the round of game play;

(ii) display at least one additional symbol in association with one of the positions of the matrix; and

(iii) after scrolling the matrix, determine said second outcome based on an evaluation of the symbols displayed in association with the positions of the matrix, said evaluation including an evaluation of;

(A) at least one of the symbols evaluated when determining said first outcome, and (B) said at least one additional symbol.

12. The gaming device of claim 11 wherein the display device comprises a first display and a second display.

13. The gaming device of claim 12 wherein the controller adapted to display the first plurality of symbols on the display device is adapted to cause the first plurality of symbols to be displayed on the first display.

14. The gaming device of claim 11 wherein the controller is further adapted to provide a basic game and a meta-game to a player through the use of the symbols.

15. The gaming device of claim 11 wherein the controller adapted to display the first plurality of symbols on the display device causes symbols to be displayed as part of a reel in a slot machine style game.

16. The gaming device of claim 11 wherein the gaming device comprises a mobile terminal.

17. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, the method comprising:

in a basic game, causing a processor to randomly determine a plurality of symbols;

causing a display device to display the plurality of symbols;

thereafter, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a first outcome for the basic game based on at least a portion of the plurality of symbols;

causing the processor to randomly determine a subset of the plurality of symbols to position within a matrix, the matrix including a plurality of positions and the subset including at least one but less than all of the plurality of symbols;

for each of the symbols of the subset of symbols, causing the display device to display said symbol in association with one of the positions of the matrix;

determining a first outcome of a meta-game based on an evaluation of the symbols displayed in association with the positions of the matrix; and

after the determination of the first outcome;

(i) during the meta-game, moving the matrix as symbols are displayed in association with the positions of the matrix, such that at least one of the symbols previously displayed in association with a first one of the positions of the matrix is displayed in association with a second, different one of the positions of the matrix, and at least one of the symbols previously displayed in association with a third one of the positions of the matrix is not evaluated for a subsequently determined second outcome of the meta-game;

(ii) causing the display device to display at least one additional symbol in association with one of the positions of the matrix; and

(iii) after moving the matrix, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the second outcome of the meta-game based on an evaluation of the symbols displayed in association with the positions of the matrix, said evaluation including an evaluation of;

(A) at least one of the symbols evaluated when determining said first outcome, and (B) said at least one additional symbol.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein moving the matrix comprises scrolling the matrix.