Gaming system and method providing multi-dimensional symbol wagering game

• US 8,430,737 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US13/187,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20130023328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/22
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system and method providing a multi-dimensional symbol wagering game is provided. A player selects a payline, places a wager on the selected payline, and selects a plurality of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order. Symbols are generated and displayed at each of a plurality of symbol display positions. If at least a designated quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline displays any one of the selected symbols, the gaming system determines a display order of the generated and displayed symbols associated with the selected payline, and determines any awards associated with the selected payline based on a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline that display the player selected symbols and a comparison of the selection order with the display order. Any awards are provided to the player. Cascading and rotating symbol features are provided.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; 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, for a play of a wagering game;

(a) receive, from a player;

(i) a selection of at least one of a plurality of paylines, each of the paylines being associated with a different plurality of a plurality of symbol display positions;

(ii) at least one wager associated with the player selected paylines; and

(iii) a selection of a designated quantity of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order;

(b) for each of the symbol display positions, randomly generate and display one of the plurality of different symbols at said symbol display position;

(c) for each of the player selected paylines, if each of at least a designated quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline displays any one of the player selected symbols, the designated quantity being at least one;

(i) determine a display order of the symbols generated and displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline, and

(ii) determine any awards associated with said player selected payline based on;

(A) a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline that display the player selected symbols, and

(B) a comparison of the selection order with the display order, wherein a first award determined when the selection order does not match the display order is different than a second award determined when the selection order matches the display order;

(d) if at least one award is determined;

(i) remove at least one displayed symbol associated with the at least one determined award,

(ii) reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions to create at least one empty symbol display position,

(iii) generate and display one of the plurality of different symbols at each of the at least one empty symbol display position, and

(iv) repeat (c) to (d); and

(e) provide any determined awards to the player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the selection order is predetermined.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, for each of the player selected paylines, the designated quantity of the symbol display positions is at least two.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the designated quantity of the symbols is equal to a maximum quantity of the symbol display positions associated with any one of the paylines.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the symbol display positions are adjacently displayed, and each of the paylines has a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal orientation.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein, for each of the player selected paylines, the display order is determined:

(a) from left to right or right to left for a horizontal payline,

(b) from top to bottom or bottom to top for a vertical payline,

(c) from left to right, right to left, top to bottom, or bottom to top for a diagonal payline,

(d) randomly, or

(e) based on an input by the player.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, for each of the player selected paylines, a third award is determined when a first quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline each display one of the player selected symbols and a fourth award is determined when a second, greater quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline each display one of the player selected symbols, wherein the fourth award is greater than the third award.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first award is less than the second award.

9. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; 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, for a play of a wagering game;

(a) receive, from a player;

(i) a selection of at least one of a plurality of paylines, each of the paylines being associated with a different plurality of a plurality of digit display positions;

(ii) at least one wager associated with the player selected paylines; and

(iii) a selection of a designated quantity of a plurality of different digits in a selection order;

(b) for each of the digit display positions, randomly generate and display one of the plurality of different digits at said digit display position;

(c) for each of the player selected paylines, if each of at least a designated quantity of the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline displays any one of the player selected digits, the designated quantity being at least one;

(i) determine a display order of the digits generated and displayed at the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline, and

(ii) determine any awards associated with said player selected payline based on;

(A) a quantity of the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline that display the player selected digits, and

(B) a comparison of the selection order with the display order, wherein a first award determined when the selection order does not match the display order is different than a second award determined when the selection order matches the display order;

(d) if at least one award is determined;

(i) remove at least one displayed digit associated with the at least one determined award,

(ii) reposition at least one of the displayed digits to another one of the digit display positions to create at least one empty digit display position,

(iii) generate and display one of the plurality of different digits at each of the at least one empty digit display position, and

(iv) repeat (c) to (d); and

(e) provide any determined awards to the player.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the selection order is predetermined.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein, for each of the player selected paylines, the designated quantity of the digit display positions is at least two.

12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the designated quantity of the digits is equal to a maximum quantity of the digit display positions associated with any one of the paylines.

13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the digit display positions are adjacently displayed, and each of the paylines has a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal orientation.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein, for each of the player selected paylines, the display order is determined:

(a) from left to right or right to left for a horizontal payline,

(b) from top to bottom or bottom to top for a vertical payline,

(c) from left to right, right to left, top to bottom, or bottom to top for a diagonal payline,

(d) randomly, or

(e) based on an input by the player.

15. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein, for each of the player selected paylines, a third award is determined when a first quantity of the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline each display one of the player selected digits and a fourth award is determined when a second, greater quantity of the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline each display one of the player selected digits, wherein the fourth award is greater than the third award.

16. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the first award is less than the second award.

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

(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 input device to receive, from a player;

(i) a selection of at least one of a plurality of paylines, each of the paylines being associated with a different plurality of a plurality of symbol display positions;

(ii) at least one wager associated with the player selected paylines; and

(iii) a selection of a designated quantity of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to, for each of the symbol display positions, randomly generate and display one of the plurality of different symbols at said symbol display position;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of the player selected paylines, if each of at least a designated quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline displays any one of the player selected symbols, the designated quantity being at least one;

(i) determine a display order of the symbols generated and displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline, and

(ii) determine any awards associated with said player selected payline based on;

(A) a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline that display the player selected symbols, and

(B) a comparison of the selection order with the display order, wherein a first award determined when the selection order does not match the display order is different than a second award determined when the selection order matches the display order;

(d) if at least one award is determined;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to remove at least one displayed symbol associated with the at least one determined award,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions to create at least one empty symbol display position,

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to generate and display one of the plurality of different symbols at each of the at least one empty symbol display position, and

(iv) repeating (c) to (d); and

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause any determined awards be provided to the player.

18. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to predetermine the selection order.

19. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to adjacently display the symbol display positions, and to display each of the paylines in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal orientation.

20. The method of claim 19, which includes, for each of the player selected paylines, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the display order:

(a) from left to right or right to left for a horizontal payline,

(b) from top to bottom or bottom to top for a vertical payline,

(c) from left to right, right to left, top to bottom, or bottom to top for a diagonal payline,

(d) randomly, or

(e) based on an input by the player.

21. The method of claim 17, which includes, for each of the player selected paylines, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:

(a) determine a third award when a first quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline each display one of the player selected symbols, and

(b) determine a fourth, greater award when a second, greater quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said player selected payline each display one of the player selected symbols.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first award is less than the second award.

23. The method of claim 17, which is provided through a data network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the data network is the internet.

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

(a) causing the at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to receive, from a player;

(i) a selection of at least one of a plurality of paylines, each of the paylines being associated with a different plurality of a plurality of digit display positions;

(ii) at least one wager associated with the player selected paylines; and

(iii) a selection of a designated quantity of a plurality of different digits in a selection order;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to, for each of the digit display positions, randomly generate and display one of the plurality of different digits at said digit display position;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of the player selected paylines, if each of at least a designated quantity of the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline displays any one of the player selected digits, the designated quantity being at least one;

(i) determine a display order of the digits generated and displayed at the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline, and

(ii) determine any awards associated with said player selected payline based on;

(A) a quantity of the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline that display the player selected digits, and

(B) a comparison of the selection order with the display order wherein a first award determined when the selection order does not match the display order is different than a second award determined when the selection order matches the display order;

(d) if at least one award is determined;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to remove at least one displayed digit associated with the at least one determined award,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to reposition at least one of the displayed digits to another one of the digit display positions to create at least one empty digit display position,

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to generate and display one of the plurality of different digits at each of the at least one empty digit display position, and

(iv) repeating (c) to (d); and

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause any determined awards be provided to the player.

26. The method of claim 25, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to predetermine the selection order.

27. The method of claim 25, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to adjacently display the digit display positions, and to display each of the paylines in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal orientation.

28. The method of claim 25, which includes, for each of the player selected paylines, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the display order:

(a) from left to right or right to left for a horizontal payline,

(b) from top to bottom or bottom to top for a vertical payline,

(c) from left to right, right to left, top to bottom, or bottom to top for a diagonal payline,

(d) randomly, or

(e) based on an input by the player.

29. The method of claim 25, which includes, for each of the player selected paylines, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:

(a) determine a third award when a first quantity of the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline each display one of the player selected digits, and

(b) determine a fourth, greater award when a second, greater quantity of the digit display positions associated with said player selected payline each display one of the player selected digits.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the first award is less than the second award.

31. The method of claim 25, which is provided through a data network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the data network is the internet.