×

Gaming system and method for providing a multiple dimension cascading symbols game

  • US 9,245,421 B2
  • Filed: 06/06/2013
  • Issued: 01/26/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A gaming system comprising:

  • a housing;

    a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

    (i) an acceptor, and(ii) a cashout device;

    at least one display device supported by the housing;

    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 plurality of input devices and the at least one display device to;

    (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item;

    (b) 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) 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(iii) 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;

    (c) 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;

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

    (e) 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;

    (iv) for each removed symbol, create an empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol, wherein said empty symbol display position is created in association of at least one of;

    (A) the removal of the symbol, and(B) a repositioning of 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, and(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

    (f) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×