Gaming system, gaming device, and method for providing a cascading symbols game which reuses discarded symbols

• US 8,512,138 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Saunders, Brian F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US13/353,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/30, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Abstract

In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which retains, saves or stores zero, one or more of any symbols removed during the play of a primary cascading symbols game. In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which sequentially layers a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids at different depths.

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 which stores 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, for a play of a game, to;

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

(b) display the generated symbols,

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

(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 displayed symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination, wherein after being removed, said at least one removed symbol is not currently displayed,

(iii) store at least one of any removed symbols,

(iv) for each of any symbols removed from the first row of the symbol display positions, 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,

(v) for each of any symbols removed from the second row of the symbol display positions, 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,

(vi) for each created empty symbol display position, display one of the plurality of symbols, and

(vii) repeat (c) to (d) until no winning symbol combinations are displayed, and

(e) upon a stored symbol reuse triggering event;

(i) regenerate at least one of the stored, not currently displayed symbols,

(ii) display said at least one regenerated symbol,

(iii) determine a bonus award, said determination based on at least one of the displayed regenerated symbols, and

(iv) display any determined bonus award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the stored symbol reuse triggering event occurs based on at least one displayed event occurring in association with the play of the game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to regenerate at least one of the stored symbols for the play of the game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to regenerate at least one of the stored symbols for a subsequent play of the game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to generate one of the symbols for each created empty symbol display position.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

generate one of the 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,

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 at said symbol display positions, and

for at least one 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 including the empty symbol display position.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the generated symbols is a multiple dimension symbol including a plurality of symbol sides.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

display a plurality of the symbol sides of a plurality of the generated multiple dimension symbols, wherein;

(i) at least one of the symbol sides of a plurality of the multiple dimension 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) at least one of the symbol sides of a plurality of the multiple dimension symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions, and

determine if any of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols form any winning symbol combinations.

9. 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 for a play of a game, wherein the plurality of symbol display positions 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,

(b) causing at least one display device to display the generated symbols,

(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,

(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 displayed symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination, wherein after being removed, said at least one removed symbol is not currently displayed,

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to store at least one of any removed symbols,

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

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

(vi) for each created empty symbol display position, causing the at least one display device to display one of the plurality of symbols, and

(vii) repeating (c) to (d) until no winning symbol combinations are displayed, and

(e) upon a stored symbol reuse triggering event;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to regenerate at least one of the stored, not currently displayed symbols,

(ii) causing the at least one display device to display said at least one regenerated symbol,

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a bonus award, said determination based on at least one of the displayed regenerated symbols, and

(iv) causing the at least one display device to display any determined bonus award.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored symbol reuse triggering event occurs based on at least one displayed event occurring in association with the play of the game.

11. The method of claim 9, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to regenerate at least one of the stored symbols for the play of the game.

12. The method of claim 9, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to regenerate at least one of the stored symbols for a subsequent play of the game.

13. The method of claim 9, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of the symbols for each created empty symbol display position.

14. The method of claim 9, which includes:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of the 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,

causing the 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 at said symbol display positions, and

for at least one 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 including the empty symbol display position.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the generated symbols is a multiple dimension symbol including a plurality of symbol sides.

16. The method of claim 15, which includes:

causing the at least one display device to display a plurality of the symbol sides of a plurality of the generated multiple dimension symbols, wherein;

(i) at least one of the symbol sides of a plurality of the multiple dimension 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) at least one of the symbol sides of a plurality of the multiple dimension symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions, and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols form any winning symbol combinations.

17. The method of claim 9, which is executed through a data network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data network is an internet.

19. 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:

(a) generate one of a plurality of different symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions for a play of a game, wherein the plurality of symbol display positions 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,

(b) cause the at least one display device to display the generated symbols,

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

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

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

(ii) remove at least one displayed symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination, wherein after being removed, said at least one removed symbol is not currently displayed,

(iii) store at least one of any removed symbols,

(iv) for each of any symbols removed from the first row of the symbol display positions, 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,

(v) for each of any symbols removed from the second row of the symbol display positions, 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,

(vi) for each created empty symbol display position, display one of the plurality of symbols, and

(vii) repeat (c) to (d) until no winning symbol combinations are displayed, and

(e) upon a stored symbol reuse triggering event;

(i) regenerate at least one of the stored, not currently displayed symbols,

(ii) cause the at least one display device to display said at least one regenerated symbol,

(iii) determine a bonus award, said determination based on at least one of the displayed regenerated symbols, and

(iv) cause the at least one display device to display any determined bonus award.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the stored symbol reuse triggering event occurs based on at least one displayed event occurring in association with the play of the game.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to regenerate at least one of the stored symbols for the play of the game.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to regenerate at least one of the stored symbols for a subsequent play of the game.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to generate one of the symbols for each created empty symbol display position.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

generate one of the 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,

cause the 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 at said symbol display positions, and

for at least one created empty symbol display position, cause 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 including the empty symbol display position.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein at least one of the generated symbols is a multiple dimension symbol including a plurality of symbol sides.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

cause the at least one display device to display a plurality of the symbol sides of a plurality of the generated multiple dimension symbols, wherein;

(i) at least one of the symbol sides of a plurality of the multiple dimension 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) at least one of the symbol sides of a plurality of the multiple dimension symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions, and

determine if any of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols form any winning symbol combinations.