Gaming system, gaming device, and method for providing a cascading symbols game which builds layers of multiple dimension symbols

• US 9,005,022 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• 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): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US13/353,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/32
• US Class Current: 463/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

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 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 multiple dimension symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position grid, wherein;

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

(ii) each multiple dimension symbol includes a plurality of symbol sides,

(b) 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 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 are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions,

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

(d) if a plurality of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the symbol display position grid form at least one winning symbol combination;

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

(ii) remove at least one displayed multiple dimension symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

(iii) for each created empty symbol display position, display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one multiple dimension symbol,

(iv) repeat (c) to (d) until no displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the symbol display position grid form any winning symbol combinations, and

(e) repeat (a) to (d) for at least one additional and different symbol display position grid, wherein;

(i) a plurality of the symbol display positions of different symbol display position grids associated with different depths correspond with each other, and

(ii) for at least one created empty symbol display position, at least one of the displayed symbol sides of at least one multiple dimension symbol generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids is from a different one of the symbol display position grids than the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol.

2. 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 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.

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, for each empty symbol display position created after a plurality of the multiple dimension symbols are generated at the symbol display positions of a plurality of the display position grids:

(i) display one of the symbol sides of one of the multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position.

4. 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.

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:

(i) generate the plurality of multiple dimension symbols at each of the plurality of symbol display positions of different symbol display position grids from different pluralities of multiple dimension symbols.

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 multiple dimension symbols for at least one of the created empty symbol display positions if no multiple dimension symbols remain at any symbol display positions corresponding to the at least one created empty symbol display position.

7. 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 remove a plurality of displayed multiple dimension symbols from each displayed winning symbol combination.

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

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;

(a) generate one of a plurality of different multiple dimension symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of a first symbol display position grid, wherein;

(i) the first symbol display position grid is associated with a first depth,

(ii) the plurality of symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid 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) each multiple dimension symbol includes a plurality of symbol sides,

(b) 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 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 are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions,

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

(d) if a plurality of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the first symbol display position grid form at least one winning symbol combination;

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

(ii) remove at least one displayed multiple dimension symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination,

(iii) for each of any multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

(iv) for each of any multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

(v) for each created empty symbol display position, display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one multiple dimension symbol,

(vi) repeat (c) to (d) until no displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the first symbol display position grid form any winning symbol combinations, and

(e) when no displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the first symbol display position grid form any winning symbol combinations;

(i) generate one of the plurality of different multiple dimension symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of a second symbol display position grid, wherein;

(A) the second symbol display position grid is associated with a second, different depth,

(B) the plurality of symbol display positions of the second symbol display position grid 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

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

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

(A) 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

(B) 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;

(iii) determine if any of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols form any winning symbol combinations;

(iv) if a plurality of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols form at least one winning symbol combination;

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

(B) remove at least one displayed multiple dimension symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination,

(C) for each of any multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

(D) for each of any multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

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

(F) repeat (e)(iii) to (e)(iv) at least once.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, 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.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to, for each empty symbol display position created after a plurality of the multiple dimension symbols are generated at the symbol display positions of the second symbol display position grid:

(i) display one of the symbol sides of one of the multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position.

12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the first symbol display position grid and the second symbol display position grid each include a different quantity of symbol display positions.

13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

(i) generate the plurality of multiple dimension symbols at each of the plurality of symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid from a first plurality of multiple dimension symbols, and (ii) generate the plurality of multiple dimension symbols at each of the plurality of symbol display positions of the second symbol display position grid from a second, different plurality of multiple dimension symbols.

14. The gaming system of claim 9, 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 multiple dimension symbols for at least one of the created empty symbol display positions if no multiple dimension symbols remain at any symbol display positions corresponding to the at least one created empty symbol display position.

15. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to remove a plurality of displayed multiple dimension symbols from each displayed winning symbol combination.

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

17. 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 multiple dimension symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position grid, wherein;

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

(ii) each multiple dimension symbol includes a plurality of symbol sides,

(b) causing 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 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 are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions,

(c) 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,

(d) if a plurality of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the symbol display position grid 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 multiple dimension symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

(iii) for each created empty symbol display position, causing the at least one display device to display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one multiple dimension symbol,

(iv) repeating (c) to (d) until no displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the symbol display position grid form any winning symbol combinations, and

(e) repeating (a) to (d) for at least one additional and different symbol display position grid, wherein;

(i) a plurality of the symbol display positions of different symbol display position grids associated with different depths correspond with each other, and

(ii) for at least one created empty symbol display position, at least one of the displayed symbol sides of at least one multiple dimension symbol generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of one of the symbol display position grids is from a different one of the symbol display position grids than the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol.

18. The method of claim 17, 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.

19. The method of claim 17, which includes, for each empty symbol display position created after a plurality of the multiple dimension symbols are generated at the symbol display positions of a plurality of the display position grids:

(i) causing the at least one display device to display one of the symbol sides of one of the multiple dimension 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) causing the at least one display device to display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one of the multiple dimension symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position.

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

21. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate the plurality of multiple dimension symbols at each of the plurality of symbol display positions of different symbol display position grids from different pluralities of multiple dimension symbols.

22. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of the plurality of multiple dimension symbols for at least one of the created empty symbol display positions if no multiple dimension symbols remain at any symbol display positions corresponding to the at least one created empty symbol display position.

23. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to remove a plurality of displayed multiple dimension symbols from each displayed winning symbol combination.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the symbol sides of each of the multiple dimension symbols generated at each of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions.

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

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

27. 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 multiple dimension symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of a first symbol display position grid, wherein;

(i) the first symbol display position grid is associated with a first depth,

(ii) the plurality of symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid 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) each multiple dimension symbol includes a plurality of symbol sides,

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

at least one of the symbol sides of a plurality of the multiple dimension symbols generated at a plurality of the symbol display positions 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 are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions,

(c) 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,

(d) if a plurality of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the first symbol display position grid form at least one winning symbol combination;

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 multiple dimension symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination,

(iii) for each of any multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

(iv) for each of any multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

(v) for each created empty symbol display position, causing the at least one display device to display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one multiple dimension symbol,

(vi) repeating (c) to (d) until no displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the first symbol display position grid form any winning symbol combinations, and

(e) when no displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols of the first symbol display position grid form any winning symbol combinations;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of the plurality of different multiple dimension symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of a second symbol display position grid, wherein;

(A) the second symbol display position grid is associated with a second, different depth,

(B) the plurality of symbol display positions of the second symbol display position grid 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

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

(ii) 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;

(A) 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

(B) 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;

(iii) 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;

(iv) if a plurality of the displayed symbol sides of any displayed multiple dimension symbols form at least one winning symbol combination;

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

(B) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to remove at least one displayed multiple dimension symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination,

(C) for each of any multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

(D) for each of any multiple dimension 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 multiple dimension symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed multiple dimension symbol,

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

(F) repeating (e)(iii) to (e)(iv) at least once.

28. The method of claim 27, 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.

29. The method of claim 27, which includes, for each empty symbol display position created after a plurality of the multiple dimension symbols are generated at the symbol display positions of the second symbol display position grid:

(i) causing the at least one display device to display one of the symbol sides of one of the multiple dimension 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) causing the at least one display device to display at least one of the symbol sides of at least one of the multiple dimension symbols generated at one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the created empty symbol display position.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the first symbol display position grid and the second symbol display position grid each include a different quantity of symbol display positions.

31. The method of claim 27, which includes:

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate the plurality of multiple dimension symbols at each of the plurality of symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid from a first plurality of multiple dimension symbols, and

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate the plurality of multiple dimension symbols at each of the plurality of symbol display positions of the second symbol display position grid from a second, different plurality of multiple dimension symbols.

32. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of the plurality of multiple dimension symbols for at least one of the created empty symbol display positions if no multiple dimension symbols remain at any symbol display positions corresponding to the at least one created empty symbol display position.

33. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to remove a plurality of displayed multiple dimension symbols from each displayed winning symbol combination.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the symbol sides of each of the multiple dimension symbols generated at each of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids are not initially displayed at said symbol display positions.

35. The method of claim 27, which is executed through a data network.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the data network is an internet.