Method and apparatus for setting game parameters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gaming system comprising:
- at least one input device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor for each play of a game, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, prior to any random determinations associated with the play of the game;
(a) determine a game parameter, the determined game parameter serving to control at least one element of the game such that it affects a manner in which a play of the game will be conducted,(b) determine a range of values associated with the determined game parameter,(c) display at least one of a plurality of symbols on a reel, each symbol representing a potential value within the range of values associated with the determined game parameter,(d) randomly select at least one of the symbols,(e) set an actual value of the determined game parameter based on the randomly selected symbol, and(f) control the at least one element of the game using the actual value such that the manner in which the play of the game is conducted subsequent to the setting of the actual value is affected by the actual value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention allows gaming devices to set or modify game parameters through the use of random events such as spinning slot machine reels or random number generators. In some embodiments, game parameters may be established with various initial values, and then, by spinning the gaming devices'"'"' reels, for example, random reel values lining up on the payline may be used as new game parameter values. Parameter values may be used to control or initialize almost any aspect of the gaming device play experience, ranging from the types of symbols seen on the reels, to the appearance or behavior of game characters, to the rate at which “complementary” points are awarded.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A gaming system comprising:
-
at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor for each play of a game, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, prior to any random determinations associated with the play of the game; (a) determine a game parameter, the determined game parameter serving to control at least one element of the game such that it affects a manner in which a play of the game will be conducted, (b) determine a range of values associated with the determined game parameter, (c) display at least one of a plurality of symbols on a reel, each symbol representing a potential value within the range of values associated with the determined game parameter, (d) randomly select at least one of the symbols, (e) set an actual value of the determined game parameter based on the randomly selected symbol, and (f) control the at least one element of the game using the actual value such that the manner in which the play of the game is conducted subsequent to the setting of the actual value is affected by the actual value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A gaming system comprising:
-
at least one input device; at least one display device; and at least one processor; at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor for each play of a game, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to; (a) prior to any random determinations associated with a play of the game; (i) determine a game parameter, (ii) determine a range of different values associated with the determined game parameter, (iii) randomly select at least one of the different values, and (iv) set an actual value of the determined game parameter based on the at least one randomly selected value, and (b) after setting the actual value of the game parameter for the play of the game; (i) determine an outcome, said outcome being determined; (A) at least in part based on at least one random determination which occurs after the actual value of the determined game parameter is set, and (B) at least in part based on the set actual value of the determined game parameter, (ii) display said determined outcome, (iii) thereafter, determine any award associated with the determined outcome, and (iv) display to a player any determined award associated with the determined outcome. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of operating a gaming system for each play of a game, said method comprising:
-
(a) prior to any random determinations associated with a play of the game; (i) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a game parameter, (ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a range of different values associated with the game parameter, (iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly select at least one of the different values, and (iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to set an actual value of the game parameter based on the at least one randomly selected value, and (b) after setting the actual value of the game parameter for the play of the game; (i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an outcome, said outcome being determined; (A) at least in part based on at least one random determination which occurs after the actual value of the game parameter is set, and (B) at least in part based on the set actual value of the game parameter, (ii) causing at least one display device to display said determined outcome, (iii) thereafter, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any award associated with the determined outcome, and (iv) causing the at least one display device to display to a player any determined award associated with the determined outcome. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification