Gaming machine having independent spinning forms and multiple pay lines

• US 20060183532A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jackson, Kathleen Nylund
• Granted Patent: US 7,601,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A display is provided on which symbols may be provided for use in a slot-type wagering game. Symbols are displayed on sectioned geometrical shapes such as ovals, squares, circles, polygons, etc. Specific symbol combinations, particularly comprised of one symbol appearing on one section of each sectioned geometric shape or all symbols appearing on all sections of one sectioned geometric shape, may constitute a winning combination according to a predetermined pay table. Preferably the invention incorporates three 3-section circular reels, providing 30 different pay lines and an additional pay line incorporating all nine sections of the reels.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering game on a gaming apparatus that displays symbols and provides awards on the appearance of predetermined symbols or predetermined arrangements of symbols comprising:

a player placing a wager within the wagering game;

providing at least three defined areas that can display at least three active symbols within each defined area, each area being divided into distinct sub-areas where the symbols can be provided;

randomly selecting symbols to appear within each distinct sub-area;

resolving the wager by determining whether the symbols selected causes a win, tie or loss in the appearance of predetermined symbols or predetermined arrangements of symbols under rules of the wagering game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the three defined areas are geometric shapes.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the three defined areas comprise three identical geometric shapes.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the three identical geometric shapes are selected from the group consisting of circles, ovals and polygons.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the three identical geometric shapes are selected from the group consisting of circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons and octagons.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein paylines formed by symbols within the geometric shapes are predetermined orders or combinations of sub-areas within the geometric shapes.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein paylines formed by symbols within the geometric shapes are predetermined orders or combinations of sub-areas within the geometric shapes.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein paylines formed by symbols within the geometric shapes are predetermined orders or combinations of sub-areas within the geometric shapes.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein paylines formed by symbols within the geometric shapes are predetermined orders or combinations of sub-areas within the geometric shapes.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein the game is played on an electronic video wagering apparatus.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the game is played on an electronic video wagering apparatus.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the game is played on an electronic video wagering apparatus.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the game is played on an electronic video wagering apparatus.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the sub-areas are demarked by lines within the areas.

15. The method of claim 2 played on an electronic video wagering system wherein symbols appear to move within the areas and between sub-areas.

16. A gaming apparatus comprising a display area and a processor, the processor having software therein enabling play of the method of claim 1 on the display area.

17. A gaming apparatus comprising a display area and a processor, the processor having software therein enabling play of the method of claim 12 on the display area.

18. A gaming apparatus comprising a display area and a processor, the processor having software therein enabling play of the method of claim 13 on the display area.

19. A gaming apparatus comprising a display area and a processor, the processor having software therein enabling play of the method of claim 14 on the display area.