Gaming system and a method of gaming

• US 9,542,809 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Kim, Hyong Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US14/142,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20140113702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Certain example embodiments relate to a gaming system which includes a symbol selector which is arranged to select a plurality of symbols from an available set of symbols. The set of symbols may include one or more predetermined symbols. The predetermined symbols form a predetermined symbol arrangement, such as a pattern or word. When a predetermined symbol is selected it is placed in a symbol store. When the predetermined symbol arrangement is completed, by selection of all of the predetermined symbols, then a prize may be won.

Claims

1. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:

a credit input mechanism comprising at least one of a card reader and a ticket reader, the credit input mechanism configured to establish a credit balance;

a user interface configured to receive a wager to enable the wagering game, wherein the credit balance is reduced by the wager;

a display device comprising;

a reel display configured to display a first plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions representing a plurality of reels for the wagering game, wherein the first plurality of symbols comprises a second plurality of symbols that is a subset of the first plurality of symbols; and

a symbol store display configured to display two or more symbols of the second plurality of symbols across multiple game plays in a plurality of stored-symbol positions, the second plurality of symbols forming a predetermined symbol arrangement, wherein each reel of the plurality of reels corresponds to a single respective symbol position of the plurality of stored-symbol positions;

a non-transitory memory storing computer-executable program instructions thereon; and

a processor coupled to the non-transitory memory and configured to execute the computer program instructions to particularly configure the processor to implement;

a symbol selector comprising a random number generator configured to select a symbol of the first plurality of symbols to be displayed on a reel of the plurality of reels; and

an outcome generator configured to;

determine the symbol displayed on the reel is from the second plurality of symbols;

display the symbol on the symbol store display at a stored-symbol position corresponding to the reel on which the symbol is displayed; and

determine a game outcome based on comparing symbols displayed on the symbol store display to the predetermined symbol arrangement.

2. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outcome generator is further configured to delete the symbol from the symbol store display when another symbol from the second plurality symbols to be displayed on the symbol store display is displayed on the reel corresponding to the stored-symbol position of an already-displayed symbol.

3. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein symbols from the second plurality of symbols displayed anywhere in the reel display may be displayed on the symbol store display.

4. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein the reel display is configured to display the first plurality of symbols in the plurality of symbol positions in a line and row format, including a plurality of lines and a plurality of rows.

5. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein only symbols from the second plurality of symbols displayed in a symbol position on a predetermined line may be displayed on the symbol store display.

6. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein only symbols from the second plurality of symbols displayed in a symbol position on a predetermined row may be displayed on the symbol store display.

7. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outcome generator is further configured to determine a base game outcome based on symbols from the first plurality of symbols displayed in the plurality of symbol positions.

8. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second plurality of symbols are letters and the predetermined symbol arrangement is an arrangement of letters.

9. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the predetermined symbol arrangement includes a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements, and the outcome generator is configured to determine whether the symbol displayed on the reel is a symbol from one or more of the predetermined symbol arrangements.

10. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 9, wherein the symbol store display is further configured to implement a plurality of symbol stores, wherein each of the plurality of symbols stores displays a plurality of stored-symbol positions corresponding to a respective predetermined symbol arrangement of the plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements.

11. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein symbols displayed on the symbol store display are displayed across multiple subsequent game plays until the predetermined symbol arrangement is completed, after which the symbol store display is reset to be emptied of symbols.

12. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outcome generator is further configured to delete the symbol from the symbol store display.

13. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, said method comprising:

receiving a credit input via a credit input mechanism comprising at least one of a card reader and a ticket reader, the credit input establishing a credit balance;

receiving a wager via a user interface to enable the wagering game, the wager decreasing the credit balance;

selecting, using a random number generator, a symbol from a first plurality of symbols to be displayed on a reel of a plurality of reels on a reel display of a display device of the gaming machine in a symbol position of a plurality of symbol positions, the plurality of symbol positions representing the plurality of reels, each reel of the plurality of reels corresponding to a single respective stored-symbol position on a symbol store display of the display device;

determining, using a processor, the symbol displayed on the reel is from a second plurality of symbols, wherein the second plurality of symbols is a subset of the first plurality of symbols, the second plurality of symbols forming a predetermined symbol arrangement;

displaying the symbol on the symbol store display at the stored-symbol position, wherein the symbol displayed on the symbol store display is displayed across multiple game plays; and

determining, using the processor, a game outcome based on comparing symbols displayed on the symbol store display to the predetermined symbol arrangement.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising displaying symbols from the first plurality of symbols on the reel display, wherein symbols from the seconds plurality of symbols displayed anywhere in the reel display may be displayed on the symbol store display.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the displaying symbols from the first plurality of symbols on the reel display comprises displaying the symbols in line and row format, including a plurality of lines and a plurality of rows.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein only symbols displayed on a predetermined line are eligible to be displayed on the symbol store display.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein only symbols displayed on a predetermined row are eligible to be displayed on the symbol store display.

18. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

displaying symbols from the first plurality of symbols on the reel display; and

determining a base game outcome based on the displayed symbols from the first plurality of symbols.

19. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the second plurality of symbols are letters and the predetermined symbol arrangement is an arrangement of letters.

20. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the predetermined symbol arrangement includes a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements, and the determining the symbol displayed on the reel is from the second plurality of symbols comprises determining whether the symbol displayed on the reel is a symbol from one or more of the plurality of the predetermined symbol arrangements.

21. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising deleting the symbol from the symbol store display.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein deleting the symbol from the symbol store display comprises deleting the symbol from the symbol store display when another symbol from the second plurality of symbols to be displayed on the symbol store display is displayed on the reel corresponding to the stored-symbol position of an already-displayed symbol.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer program providing instructions for controlling a gaming machine, the instructions, when executed by a processor of the gaming machine, configured to:

receive a credit input via a credit input mechanism comprising at least one of a card reader and a ticket reader, the credit input establishing a credit balance;

receive a wager via a user interface to enable the wagering game, the wager decreasing the credit balance;

select, using a random number generator, a symbol from a first plurality of symbols to be displayed on a reel of a plurality of reels on a reel display of a display device of the gaming machine in a symbol position of a plurality of symbol positions, the plurality of symbol positions representing the plurality of reels, each reel of the plurality of reels corresponding to a single respective stored-symbol position on a symbol store display of the display device;

determine the symbol displayed on the reel is from a second plurality of symbols, wherein the second plurality of symbols is a subset of the first plurality of symbols, the second plurality of symbols forming a predetermined symbol arrangement;

display the symbol on the symbol store display at the stored-symbol position, wherein the symbol displayed on the symbol store display is displayed across multiple game plays; and

determine a game outcome based on comparing symbols displayed on the symbol store display to the predetermined symbol arrangement.