Gaming device having a plurality of wildcard symbol patterns
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gaming device comprising:
- at least one input device;
at least one processor;
at least one display device; and
at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;
(a) display a game including a plurality of non-wild symbols and at least one wild symbol, said symbols displayable at a plurality of symbol positions in a symbol matrix;
(b) display a plurality of selections, each of the displayed selections being associated with a different one of a plurality of different patterns of the symbol positions, each of the different patterns of the symbol positions including at least two predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix;
(c) cause a selection of one of the displayed selections; and
(d) for each of a plurality of plays of the game;
(i) display the wild symbol at each of the predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix included in the pattern of the symbol positions associated with the selected displayed selection;
(ii) independent from the selection of said displayed selection, randomly generate a plurality of said non-wild symbols;
(iii) after the wild symbol is displayed at each of the predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix included in the pattern of the symbol positions associated with the selected displayed selection, display the generated plurality of non-wild symbols at a plurality of the symbol positions in the symbol matrix;
(iv) determine any awards associated with any winning combinations of the displayed symbols; and
(v) provide any determined awards to a player.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming device which includes a variety of methods to allow the player to select patterns of wildcard symbols, from a plurality of wildcard symbol patterns, and use those patterns during subsequent games. One embodiment allows the player to select a pattern of wildcard symbols and use the selected pattern during a free spin bonus game.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gaming device comprising:
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at least one input device; at least one processor; at least one display device; and at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to; (a) display a game including a plurality of non-wild symbols and at least one wild symbol, said symbols displayable at a plurality of symbol positions in a symbol matrix; (b) display a plurality of selections, each of the displayed selections being associated with a different one of a plurality of different patterns of the symbol positions, each of the different patterns of the symbol positions including at least two predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix; (c) cause a selection of one of the displayed selections; and (d) for each of a plurality of plays of the game; (i) display the wild symbol at each of the predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix included in the pattern of the symbol positions associated with the selected displayed selection; (ii) independent from the selection of said displayed selection, randomly generate a plurality of said non-wild symbols; (iii) after the wild symbol is displayed at each of the predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix included in the pattern of the symbol positions associated with the selected displayed selection, display the generated plurality of non-wild symbols at a plurality of the symbol positions in the symbol matrix; (iv) determine any awards associated with any winning combinations of the displayed symbols; and (v) provide any determined awards to a player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:
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(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display; (i) a plurality of symbol positions in a symbol matrix; and (ii) a plurality of selections, each of the displayed selections being associated with a different one of a plurality of different patterns of the symbol positions, each of the different patterns of the symbol positions including at least two predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix; (b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable a selection of one of the displayed selections; and (c) after the selection of one of the displayed selections, for each of a plurality of plays of a game; (i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a wild symbol at each of the predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix included in the pattern of the symbol positions associated with the selected displayed selection; (ii) independent from the selection of said displayed selection, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate a plurality of non-wild symbols; (iii) after the wild symbol is displayed at each of the predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix included in the pattern of the symbol positions associated with the selected displayed selection, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display the generated plurality of non-wild symbols at a plurality of the symbol positions in the symbol matrix; (iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards associated with any winning combinations of the displayed symbols; and (v) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause any determined awards to be provided to a player. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
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(a) cause at least one display device to display a game including a plurality of non-wild symbols and at least one wild symbol, said symbols displayable at a plurality of symbol positions in a symbol matrix; (b) cause the at least one display device to display a plurality of selections, each of the displayed selections being associated with a different one of a plurality of different patterns of the symbol positions, each of the different patterns of the symbol positions including at least two predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix; (c) cause a selection of one of the displayed selections; and (d) for each of a plurality of plays of the game; (i) cause the at least one display device to display the wild symbol at each of the predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix included in the pattern of the symbol positions associated with the selected displayed selection; (ii) independent from the selection of said displayed selection, randomly generate a plurality of said non-wild symbols; (iii) after the wild symbol is displayed at each of the predefined symbol positions in the symbol matrix included in the pattern of the symbol positions associated with the selected displayed selection, cause the at least one display device to display the generated plurality of non-wild symbols at a plurality of the symbol positions in the symbol matrix; (iv) determine any awards associated with any winning combinations of the displayed symbols; and (v) cause any determined awards to be provided to a player. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification