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Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with interacting symbols

  • US 9,418,518 B2
  • Filed: 09/17/2013
  • Issued: 08/16/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A gaming system comprising:

  • a housing;

    at least one display device supported by the 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 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 plurality of input devices 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) display a plurality of symbol display position matrices, wherein;

    (i) each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions,(ii) each symbol display position matrix is associated with a distinct plurality of symbols, and(iii) at least a first one of the symbol display positions of a first one of the symbol display position matrices is linked to at least a first one of the symbol display positions of a second one of the symbol display position matrices,(c) at each symbol display position of each symbol display position matrix, display a symbol from the plurality of symbols associated with said symbol display position matrix,(d) for each symbol display position matrix;

    (i) determine if any of the symbols displayed at the symbol display positions of said symbol display position matrix form any winning symbol combinations, and(ii) if a plurality of the displayed symbols form at least one winning symbol combination, display one of a plurality of awards for each displayed winning symbol combination,(e) determine whether each displayed symbol qualifies to be removed,(f) if at least one of the displayed symbols qualifies to be removed;

    (i) for each displayed symbol that qualifies to be removed, remove said symbol, and(ii) thereafter;

    (A) reposition a quantity of any remaining displayed symbols, wherein any remaining displayed symbols from the first one of the symbol display positions of the first one of the symbol display position matrices are repositioned to at least the first one of any empty linked symbol display positions of the second one of the symbol display position matrices,(B) prior to a display of any of the plurality of symbols at any of the created empty symbol display positions, modify at least one of the remaining displayed symbols if the repositioning caused a designated remaining displayed symbol from the first one of the symbol display positions of the first one of the symbol display position matrices to be repositioned to an empty linked symbol display position of the second one of the symbol display position matrices,(C) for each created empty symbol display position, display one of the plurality of symbols, and(D) repeat (d) to (f) at least once, and(g) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

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