3D enhancements to game components in gaming systems with stacks of game components

• US 9,373,216 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Igt Canada Solutions Ulc (GTECH SpA)
• Original Assignee: Igt Canada Solutions Ulc (GTECH SpA)
• Inventors: Leger, Francois, Trainor, Bethany, Amos, William George, Leblanc, Vicky, Adams, Khaled, Pierer, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US14/142,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20140187309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A computer-implemented method for enhancing game components in a gaming system using various three-dimensional enhancements. The three-dimensional enhancements may involve stacks of gaming components to provide and integrate additional symbols, multi-faceted gaming components, multi-faceted gaming surfaces running multiple games in parallel, items animating to simulate real-world physics, merging components, shapes to push up or down gaming components to create stacks, and so on. Further example three-dimensional enhancements are described.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine for providing game components with three-dimensional (3D) enhancement, the machine comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one persistent data store;

at least one receiver to receive game data for storage in the at least one persistent data store;

a card reader to receive input data to interface with a host system to identify a user account;

a display device connected to a display controller to render a user interface to display a portion of the game data as a base layer matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components along a plane in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto;

trigger the display controller to generate at least one 3D stack of at least one additional game component as part of the user interface rendered on the display device, the 3D stack having a top game component;

associate at least one additional symbol with the at least one additional game components in the 3D stack; and

trigger the display controller to configure the display device to render the user interface to display the at least one 3D stack along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device in relation to at least one of the game components of the base layer matrix to provide a 3D enhancement, and generate an animation effect to display at least one game component of the base layer matrix as a transparent area such that the top game component of the 3D stack is initially hidden and becomes visible through the transparent area to integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game to trigger transfer to the user account using the card reader and the host system.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the 3D stack of at least one additional game component along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device is below the at least one of the game components of the base layer matrix.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to associate the at least one additional symbol with a secondary prize via a secondary game playable in parallel to the given game on the display device.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to associate the at least one additional symbol with a secondary prize via a secondary game by allowing the at least one additional symbol to be displaced on the display device via a user interface.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein:

the display device is configured with the user interface to display a plurality of 3D stacks of additional game components along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device in relation a plurality of the game components of the base layer matrix to provide the 3D enhancement, the plurality of 3D stacks having a corresponding plurality of top game components;

the at least one processor is further configured to;

associate a plurality of additional symbols with the additional game components in the a plurality of 3D stacks; and

generate the animation effect to display the plurality of game components of the base layer matrix as a plurality of transparent areas such that the plurality of top game components of the plurality of 3D stacks are initially hidden and become visible through the plurality of transparent areas to plurality of 3D stacks into the given game to trigger transfer to the user account using the card reader and the host system.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to generate the plurality of 3D stacks by stacking different one of the game components to varying depths.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the display device is further configured to display a 3D enhancement shape in contact with one or more game components of the base layer matrix to generate the plurality of 3D stacks.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the display device is further configured to display as the 3D stack a plurality of multi-faceted game components, wherein each multi-faceted game component is associated with a single game symbol, wherein the single game symbol is identifiable on a plurality of faces of the multi-faceted game component such that the single game symbol is identifiable when the multi-faceted game component is part of the 3D stack.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a request to purchase the at least one additional game component of the 3D stack;

and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine winning combinations using the symbols in the display device plane and along the 3D stack.

10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the at least one additional symbol of the 3D stack;

and remove the top game component of the 3D stack to reveal a further symbol, wherein the further symbol is a Wild feature.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the top game component of the 3D stack;

remove the top game component of the 3D stack to reveal an additional symbol of the 3D stack; and

determine an additional winning combination of symbols, wherein the additional winning combination involves the determining winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the additional symbol of the 3D stack.

12. The machine of claim 1, wherein the 3D stack comprises a plurality of additional game components, the at least one processor being configured to:

display as part of the transparent area a number of game components in the 3D stack.

13. The machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

detect a trigger event and in response generate another animation effect to remove the top game component in the 3D stack to render visible another game component in the 3D stack.

14. The machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

detect a trigger event and in response generate another animation effect to move an item in a manner that imitates real-world physics and interacts with the 3D stack to remove the top game component from the 3D stack or add the top game component to the 3D stack.

15. An electronic gaming system for providing game components with 3D enhancement, the system comprising:

a server comprising a transmitter for transmitting electronic data signals representing game data;

an electronic device comprising;

at least one processor;

at least one persistent data store;

at least one receiver to receive the electronic data signals representing game data for storage in the at least one persistent data store;

a card reader to receive input data to interface with a host system to identify a user account;

a display device connected to a display controller to render a user interface to display a portion of the game data as a base layer matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components along a plane in accordance with the electronic data signals a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

trigger the display controller to generate at least one 3D stack of at least one additional game component as part of the user interface rendered on the display device, the at least one 3D stack having a top game component;

associate at least one additional symbol with the at least one additional game components in the 3D stack; and

trigger the display controller to configure the display device to render the user interface to display the at least one 3D stack along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device in relation to at least one of the game components of the base layer matrix to provide a 3D enhancement, and generate an animation effect to display at least one game component of the base layer matrix as a transparent area such that the top game component of the 3D stack is initially hidden and becomes visible through the transparent area to integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game to trigger transfer to the user account using the card reader and the host system; and

a network configured to provide a communication link to couple the server and the electronic device to receive the electronic data signals.

16. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is an electronic gaming terminal and wherein the system further comprises:

a mobile gaming device operated by a player coupled via a communications link to the electronic gaming terminal, the mobile gaming device running a remote gaming program to play the given game, the electronic gaming terminal programmed to carry out at least the game functions of pseudo-randomly determining a game outcome and determining an award to a player and receiving player control signals by the electronic gaming terminal from the mobile gaming device to initiate the given game;

wherein the electronic gaming terminal is configured to carry out the given game by the electronic gaming terminal, including determining a final outcome of the given game and any award for the outcome and transmitting electronic data signals to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the given game and the award.

17. The electronic gaming system of claim 16, wherein the mobile gaming device is a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a mobile phone.

18. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the network comprises a wireless network.

19. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the 3D stack of at least one additional game component along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device is below the at least one of the game components of the base layer matrix.

20. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to associate the at least one additional symbol with a secondary prize via a secondary game playable in parallel to the given game on the display device.

21. The electronic gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to associate the at least one additional symbol with a secondary prize via a secondary game by allowing the at least one additional symbol to be displaced on the display device via a user interface.

22. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein:

the display device is configured with the user interface to display a plurality of 3D stacks of additional game components along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device in relation a plurality of the game components of the base layer matrix to provide the 3D enhancement, the plurality of 3D stacks having a corresponding plurality of top game components;

the at least one processor is further configured to;

associate a plurality of additional symbols with the additional game components in the a plurality of 3D stacks; and

generate the animation effect to display the plurality of game components of the base layer matrix as a plurality of transparent areas such that the plurality of top game components of the plurality of 3D stacks are initially hidden and become visible through the plurality of transparent areas to plurality of 3D stacks into the given game to trigger transfer to the user account using the card reader and the host system.

23. The electronic gaming system of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to generate the plurality of 3D stacks by stacking different one of the game components to varying depths.

24. The electronic gaming system of claim 22, wherein the display device is further configured to display a 3D enhancement shape in contact with one or more game components of the base layer matrix to generate the plurality of 3D stacks.

25. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the display device is further configured to display as the 3D stack a plurality of multi-faceted game components, wherein each multi-faceted game component is associated with a single game symbol, wherein the single game symbol is identifiable on a plurality of faces of the multi-faceted game component such that the single game symbol is identifiable when the multi-faceted game component is part of the 3D stack.

26. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the display device is further configured to display at least one game component of the base layer matrix as a transparent area such that the 3D stack of the at least one additional game component is behind and visible through the transparent area to integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game.

27. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a request to purchase the at least one additional game component of the 3D stack;

and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine winning combinations using the symbols in the display device plane and along the 3D stack.

28. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the top game component of the 3D stack;

and remove the top game component of the 3D stack to reveal a further symbol, wherein the further is a Wild feature.

29. The electronic gaming system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the top symbol of the 3D stack;

remove the top game component of the 3D stack to reveal an additional symbol of the 3D stack; and

determine an additional winning combination of symbols, wherein the additional winning combination involves the determining winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the additional symbol of the 3D stack.

30. A computer-implemented method for providing game components with 3D enhancement in a gaming system, the method comprising:

a card reader to receive input data to interface with a host system to identify a user account;

displaying on a display device connected to a display control a user interface with a base layer matrix of at least one of a row and a column of game components along a plane in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto;

generating, by triggering the display controller, at least one 3D stack of at least one additional game component, as part of the user interface rendered on the display device, the 3D stack having a top game component;

triggering the display controller to configure the display device to render the user interface to display the at least one 3D stack along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device in relation to at least one of the game components of the base layer matrix to provide a 3D enhancement, and generating an animation effect to display at least one game component of the base layer matrix as a transparent area such that the top game component of the 3D stack is initially hidden and becomes visible through the transparent area to integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game to trigger transfer to the user account using the card reader and the host system; and

associating at least one additional symbol with the at least one additional game components in the 3D stack.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein the 3D stack of at least one additional game component along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device is below the at least one of the game components of the base layer matrix.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising associating the at least one additional symbol with a secondary prize via a secondary game playable in parallel to the given game.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein associating the at least one additional symbol with a secondary prize via a secondary game comprises allowing the at least one additional symbol to be displaced on the display device via a user interface.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising:

displaying on the display device a plurality of 3D stacks of additional game components along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the display device in relation a plurality of the game components of the base layer matrix to provide the 3D enhancement, the plurality of 3D stacks having a corresponding plurality of top game components;

associating a plurality of additional symbols with the additional game components in the a plurality of 3D stacks; and

generating the animation effect to display the plurality of game components of the base layer matrix as a plurality of transparent areas such that the plurality of top game components of the plurality of 3D stacks are initially hidden and become visible through the plurality of transparent areas to plurality of 3D stacks into the given game to trigger transfer to the user account using the card reader and the host system.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, further comprising:

generating the plurality of 3D stacks by stacking different one of the game components to varying depths.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, further comprising:

displaying a 3D enhancement shape in contact with one or more game components of the base layer matrix to generate the plurality of 3D stacks.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising:

displaying as the 3D stack a plurality of multi-faceted game components, wherein each multi-faceted game component is associated with a single game symbol, wherein the single game symbol is identifiable on a plurality of faces of the multi-faceted game component such that the single game symbol is identifiable when the multi-faceted game component is part of the 3D stack.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising:

displaying on a display device at least one game component of the base layer matrix as a transparent area such that the 3D stack of the at least one additional game component is behind and visible through the transparent area to integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving a request to purchase the at least one additional game component of the 3D stack, wherein winning combinations may be determined using the symbols in the display device plane and along the 3D stack.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the at least one additional symbol of the 3D stack; and

removing the at least one additional symbol of the 3D stack to reveal a further symbol, wherein the further symbol is a Wild feature.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the top game component of the 3D stack; and

removing the top game component of the 3D stack to reveal an additional symbol of the 3D stack;

determining an additional winning combination of symbols, wherein the additional winning combination involves the determining winning combinations of symbols, wherein a winning combination involves the additional symbol of the 3D stack.