Slot machine game having a plurality of ways for a user to obtain payouts based on selection of one or more symbols (power pays)

• US 20050282620A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Marks, Howard M., Marks, Daniel M., Singer, Anthony M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,785,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3265 Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of playing a slot machine game in which a player wagers upon one or more symbols and then collect awards for combinations of two or more symbols wagered upon appearing in adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix. The slot machine game may also provide a symbol repositioning feature in which one or more symbols are moved from their original positions to other positions in the symbol matrix.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming machine having a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, the game including a plurality of symbols, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to wager on at least one of the symbols from the plurality of symbols;

(b) randomly rearranging a plurality of the symbols;

(c) displaying a plurality of the rearranged symbols in the symbol matrix;

(d) upon an appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, repositioning at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and

(e) issuing at least one award if two or more symbols wagered upon appear adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes placing one of the displayed symbols of the symbol matrix with another displayed symbol of the symbol matrix to allow at least two symbols to occupy a same symbol position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes merging one of the symbols with another one of the symbols to form a new symbol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes covering a first one of the symbols with a second one of the symbols to conceal the first symbol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes revealing nothing underneath a repositioned symbol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes revealing a symbol underneath one of the repositioned symbols.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes revealing an award underneath a repositioned symbol.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes using an animated character to reposition one of the symbols.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes repositioning one of the displayed symbols in the symbol matrix to another position in the symbol matrix to create a winning combination of adjacent symbols.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning includes repositioning one of the symbols to another position in the symbol matrix to create a winning combination of adjacent symbols by:

(a) calculating an award value of repositioning said symbol in each of the positions in the symbol matrix; and

(b) repositioning said symbol to the position in the symbol matrix with the highest calculated award value.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said symbol repositioning is initiated by an appearance of the predetermined symbol in a rightmost column of the symbol matrix.

12. A method of operating a gaming machine having a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, said game including a plurality of symbols, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to place a wager upon symbols in the plurality of symbols in a predetermined order;

(b) randomly rearranging a plurality of the symbols;

(c) displaying a plurality of the rearranged symbols;

(d) upon the appearance of a predetermined symbol in a designated column of the symbol matrix, repositioning one symbol in the symbol matrix such that;

(1) the repositioned symbol is located in another position in the symbol matrix resulting in a highest award value if any such award is possible, by;

i. calculating an award value of repositioning said symbol in each of the positions in the symbol matrix; and

ii. repositioning said symbol to the position in the symbol matrix with the highest calculated award value;

(2) the repositioned symbol covers another symbol to conceal the covered symbol;

(3) the symbol repositioning is indicated;

(e) issuing at least one award based upon the appearance of two or more same symbols wagered upon appearing;

(1) with said symbols adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix;

(2) with said symbols adjacent to each other in horizontal or diagonal directions;

(3) with at least one of said symbols appearing in another designated column of the symbol matrix; and

(4) with at most one of said symbols appearing in each column of the symbol matrix.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein nothing is revealed underneath a repositioned symbol.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the designated column is an outermost column.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the another designated column is an outermost column.

16. A method of operating a gaming machine having a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, the game including a plurality of symbols, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to place a wager;

(b) randomly rearranging a plurality of the symbols;

(c) displaying a plurality of the rearranged symbols;

(d) upon the appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, repositioning of at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and

(e) awarding the player for predetermined symbol combinations in the symbol matrix.

17. A gaming machine operated under the control of the processor, said gaming machine comprising:

a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns;

a plurality of symbols in the game; and

a display device, wherein the processor is operable with the display device to;

(a) enable a player to wager on at least one of the symbols from the plurality of symbols;

(b) randomly rearrange a plurality of the symbols;

(c) display a plurality of the rearranged symbols in the symbol matrix;

(d) upon the appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and

(e) issue at least one award if two or more symbols wagered upon appear adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix by placing one of the displayed symbols of the symbol matrix with another displayed symbol of the symbol matrix to allow at least two symbols to occupy a same symbol position.

19. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix by merging one of the symbols with another one of the symbols to form a new symbol.

20. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix by covering a first one of the symbols with a second one of the symbols to conceal the first symbol.

21. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix by revealing nothing underneath a repositioned symbol.

22. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix by revealing a symbol underneath one of the repositioned symbols.

23. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix by revealing an award underneath a repositioned symbol.

24. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix by using an animated character to reposition one of the symbols.

25. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix to another position in the symbol matrix to create a winning combination of adjacent symbols and provide the award for such a combination pursuant to the issuance of one or more awards.

26. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix by repositioning one of the symbols to another position in the symbol matrix to create a winning combination of adjacent symbols by:

(a) calculating an award value of repositioning said symbol in each of the positions in the symbol matrix; and

(b) repositioning said symbol to the position in the symbol matrix with the highest calculated award value.

27. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the processor and the display device are operable to reposition at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix initiated by the appearance of a predetermined symbol in a rightmost column of the symbol matrix.

28. A gaming machine operated under the control of a processor, said gaming machine comprising:

a game including a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, said game including a plurality of symbols, wherein said symbols include a plurality of predetermined symbols; and

a display device, wherein said processor is operable with the display device to;

(a) enable a player to place a wager upon symbols in the plurality of symbols in a predetermined order;

(b) randomly rearrange the symbols;

(c) display a plurality of the rearranged symbols;

(d) upon the appearance of a predetermined symbol in the a designated column of the symbol matrix, reposition one symbol in the symbol matrix such that;

(1) the repositioned symbol is located in another position in the symbol matrix resulting in a highest award value under if any such award is possible by;

i. calculating an award value of repositioning said symbol in each of the positions in the symbol matrix; and

ii. repositioning said symbol to the position in the symbol matrix with the highest calculated award value;

(2) the repositioned symbol covers another symbol to conceal the covered symbol;

(3) the symbol repositioning is indicated;

(e) issue awards based upon the appearance of two or more same symbols wagered upon appearing;

(1) with said symbols adjacent to each other in the symbol matrix;

(2) with said symbols adjacent to each other in horizontal or diagonal directions;

(3) with at least one of said symbols appearing in the another designated column of the symbol matrix; and

(4) with at most one of said symbols appearing in each column of the symbol matrix.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein nothing is revealed underneath a repositioned symbol.

30. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the designated column is an outermost column.

31. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the another designated column is an outermost column.

32. A gaming machine operated under the control of a processor, said gaming machine comprising:

a game controlled by the processor;

a symbol matrix in said game, wherein said symbol matrix is formed by a plurality of rows intersecting a plurality of columns, said game including a plurality of symbols;

wherein the processor is operable with the display device to;

(a) enable a player to place a wager;

(b) randomly rearrange a plurality of the symbols;

(c) display a plurality of the rearranged symbols;

(d) upon the appearance of one or more predetermined symbols, reposition of at least one of the symbols displayed in the symbol matrix; and

(e) award the player for predetermined symbol combinations.