Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing a multiple dimension cascading symbols game with a time element

• US 8,371,930 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Saunders, Brian F., Caputo, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/187,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20130023326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 463/11, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.

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, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to;

(a) generate one of a plurality of different symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of each of a plurality of symbol display position grids, wherein;

(i) each symbol display position grid is associated with a different depth,

(ii) the plurality of symbol display positions of each of the symbol display position grids form at least three columns and at least three rows including a first row, a second row positioned adjacent to the first row and a third row positioned adjacent to the second row,

(iii) a plurality of the symbol display positions of a first one of the symbol display position grids associated with a first depth correspond to a plurality of the symbol display positions of a second one of the symbol display position grids associated with a second, different depth, and

(iv) said plurality of generated symbols include at least one active designated symbol, said at least one active designated symbol being associated with an initial indicated quantity, said initial indicated quantity being greater than one;

(b) display a plurality of the generated symbols, wherein;

(i) a plurality of the symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are initially displayed, and

(ii) a plurality of the symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed;

(c) determine if any of the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations; and

(d) if a plurality of the displayed symbols form at least one winning symbol combination;

(i) display an award for each displayed winning symbol combination,

(ii) remove at least one of any displayed non-designated symbols from the at least one displayed winning symbol combination,

(iii) for at least one of any displayed designated symbols from the at least one winning symbol combination;

(A) modify the indicated quantity associated with said displayed designated symbol,

(B) determine whether said designated symbol is inactive, said determination being based, at least in part, on the modified indicated quantity associated with said displayed designated symbol,

(C) if said displayed designated symbol is determined to be inactive, remove said inactive displayed designated symbol, and

(D) if said displayed designated symbol is determined to be active, continue displaying said active displayed designated symbol; and

(iv) for each of any symbols removed from the first row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol,

(v) for each of any symbols removed from the second row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol,

(vi) for each created empty symbol display position, display one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids different than the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol, wherein said symbol is generated at one of the symbol display positions corresponding to the symbol display position of the removed symbol, and

(vii) repeat (c) to (d) at least once.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the symbol display position grids each include a different quantity of symbol display positions.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each of the symbols generated at each of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is associated with a characteristic and when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display a matching characteristic award if a plurality of the displayed symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are each associated with the same characteristic.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine whether at least one of any generated displayed designated symbols is active based on whether the indicated quantity exceeds a predefined indicated quantity.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is a multiple dimension symbol including a plurality of symbol sides.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display at least one of the symbol sides of each displayed multiple dimension symbol and not display at least one of the symbol sides of each displayed multiple dimension symbol.

8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to, for each created empty symbol display position:

(i) display one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids different than the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position, and (ii) display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position.

9. 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, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, for a play of a game;

(a) generate one of a plurality of different symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of each of a plurality of symbol display position grids, wherein;

(i) each symbol display position grid is associated with a different depth,

(ii) the plurality of symbol display positions of each of the symbol display position grids form at least three columns and at least three rows including a first row, a second row positioned adjacent to the first row and a third row positioned adjacent to the second row, and

(iii) a plurality of the symbol display positions of a first one of the symbol display position grids associated with a first depth correspond to a plurality of the symbol display positions of a second one of the symbol display position grids associated with a second, different depth;

(b) display a plurality of the generated symbols, wherein;

(i) a plurality of the symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are initially displayed, and

(ii) a plurality of the symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed;

(c) determine if any award is associated with the displayed symbols, said determination being based on a comparison of the displayed symbols to a plurality of stored symbols, said stored symbol being symbols previously generated and previously displayed in association with a previous play of the game; and

(d) if the determination is an award is associated with the displayed symbols;

(i) display the award associated with the displayed symbols,

(ii) remove at least one displayed symbol,

(iii) for each of any symbols removed from the first row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol,

(iv) for each of any symbols removed from the second row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol,

(v) for each created empty symbol display position, display one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids different than the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol, wherein said symbol is generated at one of the symbol display positions corresponding to the symbol display position of the removed symbol, and

(vi) repeat (c) to (d) at least once.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein at least two of the symbol display position grids each include a different quantity of symbol display positions.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein each of the symbols generated at each of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed.

12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is associated with a characteristic and when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display a matching characteristic award if a plurality of the displayed symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are each associated with the same characteristic.

13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is a multiple dimension symbol including a plurality of symbol sides.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display at least one of the symbol sides of each displayed multiple dimension symbol and not display at least one of the symbol sides of each displayed multiple dimension symbol.

15. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to, for each created empty symbol display position:

(i) display one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids different than the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position, and (ii) display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position.

16. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to generate one of a plurality of different symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of each of a plurality of symbol display position grids, wherein;

(i) each symbol display position grid is associated with a different depth,

(ii) the plurality of symbol display positions of each of the symbol display position grids form at least three columns and at least three rows including a first row, a second row positioned adjacent to the first row and a third row positioned adjacent to the second row,

(iii) a plurality of the symbol display positions of a first one of the symbol display position grids associated with a first depth correspond to a plurality of the symbol display positions of a second one of the symbol display position grids associated with a second, different depth, and

(iv) said plurality of generated symbols includes at least one active designated symbol, said at least one active designated symbol being associated with an initial indicated quantity, said initial indicated quantity being greater than one;

(b) causing at least one display device to display a plurality of the generated symbols, wherein;

(i) a plurality of the symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are initially displayed, and

(ii) a plurality of the symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations; and

(d) if a plurality of the displayed symbols form at least one winning symbol combination;

(i) causing the at least one display device to display an award for each displayed winning symbol combination,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to remove at least one of any displayed non-designated symbols from the at least one displayed winning symbol combination,

(iii) for at least one of any displayed designated symbols from the at least one winning symbol combination;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the indicated quantity associated with said displayed designated symbol,

(B) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether said designated symbol is inactive, said determination being based, at least in part, on the modified indicated quantity associated with said displayed designated symbol,

(C) if said displayed designated symbol is determined to be inactive, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to remove said inactive displayed designated symbol, and

(D) if said displayed designated symbol is determined to be active, causing the at least one display device to continue displaying said active displayed designated symbol; and

(iv) for each of any symbols removed from the first row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol,

(v) for each of any symbols removed from the second row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol,

(vi) for each created empty symbol display position, causing the at least one display device to display one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids different than the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol, wherein said symbol is generated at one of the symbol display positions corresponding to the symbol display position of the removed symbol, and

(vii) repeating (c) to (d) at least once.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least two of the symbol display position grids each include a different quantity of symbol display positions.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the symbols generated at each of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is associated with a characteristic and which includes causing the at least one display device to display a matching characteristic award if a plurality of the displayed symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are each associated with the same characteristic.

20. The method of claim 16, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether at least one of any generated displayed designated symbols is active based on whether the indicated quantity exceeds a predefined indicated quantity.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is a multiple dimension symbol including a plurality of symbol sides.

22. The method of claim 21, which includes causing the at least one display device to display at least one of the symbol sides of each displayed multiple dimension symbol and not display at least one of the symbol sides of each displayed multiple dimension symbol.

23. The method of claim 21, which includes for each created empty symbol display position, causing the at least one display device to:

(i) display one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids different than the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position, and (ii) display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position.

24. The method of claim 16, which is provided through a data network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the data network is the internet.

26. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

for a play of a game;

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to generate one of a plurality of different symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of each of a plurality of symbol display position grids, wherein;

(i) each symbol display position grid is associated with a different depth,

(ii) the plurality of symbol display positions of each of the symbol display position grids form at least three columns and at least three rows including a first row, a second row positioned adjacent to the first row and a third row positioned adjacent to the second row, and

(iii) a plurality of the symbol display positions of a first one of the symbol display position grids associated with a first depth correspond to a plurality of the symbol display positions of a second one of the symbol display position grids associated with a second, different depth;

(b) causing at least one display device to display a plurality of the generated symbols, wherein;

(i) a plurality of the symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are initially displayed, and

(ii) a plurality of the symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any award is associated with the displayed symbols, said determination being based on a comparison of the displayed symbols to a plurality of stored symbols, said stored symbol being symbols previously generated and previously displayed in association with a previous play of the game; and

(d) if the determination is an award is associated with the displayed symbols;

(i) causing the at least one display device to display the award associated with the displayed symbols,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to remove at least one displayed symbol,

(iii) for each of any symbols removed from the first row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol,

(iv) for each of any symbols removed from the second row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol,

(v) for each created empty symbol display position, causing the at least one display device to display one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids different than the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol, wherein said symbol is generated at one of the symbol display positions corresponding to the symbol display position of the removed symbol, and

(vi) repeating (c) to (d) at least once.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least two of the symbol display position grids each include a different quantity of symbol display positions.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein each of the symbols generated at each of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is associated with a characteristic and which includes causing the at least one display device to display a matching characteristic award if a plurality of the displayed symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are each associated with the same characteristic.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is a multiple dimension symbol including a plurality of symbol sides.

31. The method of claim 30, which includes causing the at least one display device to display at least one of the symbol sides of each displayed multiple dimension symbol and not display at least one of the symbol sides of each displayed multiple dimension symbol.

32. The method of claim 30, which includes, for each created empty symbol display position, causing the at least one display device to:

(i) display one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids different than the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position, and (ii) display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one of the symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position.

33. The method of claim 26, which is provided through a data network.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the data network is the internet.