Method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system a generation rule specifying when a new symbol pattern is selected

• US 8,337,290 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hung Ngoc, Oldfield, Lynne Cheryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Brewster, William M.
• Application Number:
  US12/331,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20090191939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 463/19, 463/20, 463/22
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of gaming comprising: generating a game outcome by selecting symbols for a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns, at least some of the selected symbols being displayed to a player; generating a win entitlement by selecting a symbol pattern to be evaluated in respect of the game outcome, the symbol pattern consisting of a subset of displayed symbol positions; and evaluating the win entitlement by determining the extent to which the subset of displayed symbol positions corresponds to one or more designated winning symbols.

Claims

1. A method of gaming using a display and a game controller, comprising:

generating a game outcome by selecting symbols via the game controller for a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns, at least some of the selected symbols being displayed to a player;

evaluating the game outcome via the game controller in respect of a predefined base win entitlement that is defined by one or more combinations of symbol positions, each combination formed from a symbol position of each column;

generating, in accordance with a generation rule, a further win entitlement by selecting via the game controller a new symbol pattern to be evaluated in respect of the game outcome, the new symbol pattern consisting of a subset of displayed symbol positions, the generation rule at least specifying when a new symbol pattern is selected;

displaying on the display via the game controller a representation of the new symbol pattern in a position that is proximal to the plurality of columns so as to inform the player of the new symbol pattern that has been selected; and

evaluating the further win entitlement by determining via the controller the extent to which the subset of displayed symbol positions corresponds to one or more designated winning symbols.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises evaluating the game outcome in respect of a base win entitlement defined by one or more combinations of symbol positions, each combination formed from a symbol position of each column.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of symbol positions of the subset is randomly determined.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positions of the symbol positions of the subset are randomly determined.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one random determination is limited by one or more constraints.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a constraint is a maximum number of symbol positions.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a constraint is a minimum number of symbol positions.

8. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a constraint is that the symbol positions must be contiguous.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a new win entitlement is generated for each game round such that a new symbol pattern is selected for each game round.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a new win entitlement is generated after a defined period such that a new symbol pattern is selected for each new player.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a new win entitlement is generated subsequent to a winning outcome occurring.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining the extent to which the subset of displayed symbol positions corresponds to one or more designated winning symbols includes determining whether the number of winning symbols in the symbol pattern is within a designated number of symbols required to fill all the symbol positions.

13. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base win entitlement is defined by a player selection of one or more play lines, each play line consisting of a combination of displayed symbol positions.

14. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base win entitlement is defined by a player selection of reels, each symbol position of a selected reel forming a symbol combination with designated displayed symbol positions of non-selected reels.

15. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of selecting a symbol pattern is performed by a player.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a symbol pattern is performed by a game controller.

28. A game controller as claimed in claim 2, arranged to generate a new win entitlement for each game round such that a new symbol pattern is selected for each game round.

29. A game controller as claimed in claim 2, arranged to generate a new win entitlement after a defined period such that a new symbol pattern is selected for each new player.

47. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generating a further win entitlement comprises selecting a new symbol pattern after each game round.

48. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generating a further win entitlement comprises selecting a new symbol pattern after a win.

49. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generating a further win entitlement comprises selecting a new symbol pattern after a defined idle period.

50. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generating a further win entitlement comprises selecting a new symbol pattern for a new player.

17. A game controller for a gaming system having a display, the game controller arranged to:

generate a game outcome by selecting symbols for a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns, at least some of the selected symbols being for display to a player on a display;

evaluate the game outcome in respect of a predefined base win entitlement that is defined by one or more combinations of symbol positions, each combination formed from a symbol position of each column;

generate, in accordance with a generation rule, a further win entitlement by selecting a new symbol pattern to be evaluated in respect of the game outcome, the new symbol pattern consisting of a subset of displayed symbol positions, the generation rule at least specifying when a new symbol pattern is selected;

display a representation of the new symbol pattern in a position that is proximal to the plurality of columns so as to inform the player of the new symbol pattern that has been selected; and

evaluate a further win entitlement generated by obtaining a symbol pattern to be evaluated in respect of the game outcome, the symbol pattern consisting of a subset of displayed symbol positions, the evaluation performed by determining the extent to which the subset of displayed symbol positions corresponds to one or more designated winning symbols.

18. A game controller as claimed in claim 17, comprising an outcome generator arranged to generate the game outcome.

19. A game controller as claimed in claim 17 comprising a symbol pattern generator arranged to generate the symbol pattern.

20. A game controller as claimed in claim 17, arranged to determine the symbol pattern based on one or more selections made by a player employing a game play mechanism in data communication with the game controller.

21. A game controller as claimed in claim 17, arranged to evaluate the game outcome in respect of a base win entitlement defined by one or more combinations of symbol positions, each combination formed from a symbol position of each column.

22. A game controller as claimed in claim 17, arranged to randomly determine the number of symbol positions of the subset.

23. A game controller as claimed in claim 17, arranged to randomly determine the positions of the symbol positions of the subset.

24. A game controller as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one random determination is limited by one or more constraints.

25. A game controller as claimed in claim 24, wherein a constraint is a maximum number of symbol positions.

26. A game controller as claimed in claim 24, wherein a constraint is a minimum number of symbol positions.

27. A game controller as claimed in claim 24, wherein a constraint is that the symbol positions must be contiguous.

30. A game controller as claimed in claim 20, arranged to generate a new win entitlement subsequent to a winning outcome occurring.

31. A game controller as claimed in claim 17, arranged to determine the extent to which the subset of displayed symbol positions corresponds to one or more designated winning symbols at least partly by determining whether the number of winning symbols in the symbol pattern is within a designated number of symbols required to fill all the symbol positions.

32. A game controller as claimed in claim 17, arranged to select the symbol pattern.

51. A game controller as claimed in claim 17 being further arranged to generate a further win entitlement by selecting a new symbol pattern after each game round.

52. A game controller as claimed in claim 17 being further arranged to generate a further win entitlement by selecting a new symbol pattern after a win.

53. A game controller as claimed in claim 17 being further arranged to generate a further win entitlement by selecting a new symbol pattern after a defined idle period.

54. A game controller as claimed in claim 17 being further arranged to generate a further win entitlement by selecting a new symbol pattern for a new player.

33. A gaming system comprising:

a display; and

a game controller arranged to;

generate a game outcome by selecting symbols for a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns, at least some of the selected symbols being for display to a player on a display;

evaluate the game outcome in respect of a predefined base win entitlement that is defined by one or more combinations of symbol positions, each combination formed from a symbol position of each column;

generate, in accordance with a generation rule, a further win entitlement by selecting a new symbol pattern to be evaluated in respect of the game outcome, the new symbol pattern consisting of a subset of displayed symbol positions, the generation rule at least specifying when a new symbol pattern is selected;

display a representation of the new symbol pattern in a position that is proximal to the plurality of columns so as to inform the player of the new symbol pattern that has been selected; and

evaluate a further win entitlement generated by obtaining a symbol pattern to be evaluated in respect of the game outcome, the symbol pattern consisting of a subset of displayed symbol positions, the evaluation performed by determining the extent to which the subset of displayed symbol positions corresponds to one or more designated winning symbols.

34. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the game controller comprises an outcome generator arranged to generate the game outcome.

35. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the game controller comprises a symbol pattern generator arranged to generate the symbol pattern.

36. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the display is part of a player interface in data communication with the game controller, the player interface further comprising a game play mechanism operable by a player to place a wager from which a base win entitlement is established, the base win entitlement being defined by one or more combinations of symbol positions, each combination formed from a symbol position of each column.

37. A gaming system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the game play mechanism is operable to select the symbol pattern.

38. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the game controller is arranged to randomly determine the number of symbol positions of the subset.

39. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the game controller is arranged to randomly determine the positions of the symbol positions of the subset.

40. A gaming system as claimed in claim 38, wherein at least one random determination is limited by one or more constraints.

41. A gaming system as claimed in claim 40, wherein at least one constraint is selected from the group comprising a maximum number of symbol positions;

a minimum number of symbol positions; and

a requirement that the symbol positions must be contiguous.

42. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the game controller is arranged to generate a new win entitlement for each game round such that a new symbol pattern is selected for each game round.

43. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the game controller is arranged to generate a new win entitlement after a defined period such that a new symbol pattern is selected for each new player.

44. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the game controller is arranged to generate a new win entitlement subsequent to a winning outcome occurring.

45. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the game controller is arranged to determine the extent to which the subset of displayed symbol positions corresponds to one or more designated winning symbols at least partly by determining whether the number of winning symbols in the symbol pattern is within a designated number of symbols required to fill all the symbol positions.

46. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the game controller is arranged to select the symbol pattern.