GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING INDICATION OF NOTABLE SYMBOLS

• US 20100062827A1
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Paulina, Parker, Christmas C., Hoffman, Benjamin C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,591,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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

The gaming device and method disclosed herein produces an indication of an appearance of a notable or designated symbol in a symbol display region while at least one reel is spinning. The indication continues while the notable symbol appears in the symbol display region and while the at least one reel is spinning. Different indications are produced for the different notable symbols when appearing in the symbol display region while the at least one reel is spinning.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device configured to store 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 at least one input device to;

(a) receive an input corresponding to a wager;

(b) display at least one reel spinning, the reel having a plurality of symbols including at least one designated symbol;

(c) display part of the reel within a symbol display region, the symbol display region having at least;

(i) a first sub-region configured to reveal one of the symbols; and

(ii) a second sub-region configured to reveal one of the symbols, the second sub-region being adjacent to the first sub-region;

(d) indicate at least one payline corresponding to at least one of the first sub-region and the second sub-region;

(e) while the reel is spinning, determine whether the at least one designated symbol will appear at the first sub-region;

(f) based on said determination, cause a first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region, the audible indication being performed regardless of whether the at least one payline corresponds to the first sub-region or the second sub-region;

(g) continue the first audible indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region;

(h) display the at least one reel stopped after a reel stop event occurs;

(i) cause a second audible indication, the second audible indication indicating the stopping of the at least one reel, said audible indication being different from the audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol; and

(j) determine whether an award condition is satisfied based on one or more of the displayed symbols.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region is selected from a group consisting of:

a sound, a sound having a tempo, a sound having a pitch, a musical note, and a song.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store 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 at least one input device to:

(a) based on said determination, cause a graphical indication of the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region; and

(b) continue the graphical indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the graphical indication is selected from a group consisting of:

a color of the designated symbol, a highlighting of the designated symbol, a glow frame substantially surrounding the designated symbol, blinking of the designated symbol, animation of the designated symbol, or a change in position of the designated symbol.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one designated symbol is predetermined.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one designated symbol is randomly determined.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol includes a first sound, and the second audible indication for the stopping of the at least one reel includes a second, different sound.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the first sound has at least one different characteristic from the second, different sound.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the characteristic is selected from a group consisting of:

a volume, a pitch, a tempo, and a frequency.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a first designated symbol is associated with the first audible indication and a second, different designated symbol is associated with an audible indication which is different than the first audible indication.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store 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 at least one input device to:

(a) based on said determination, cause the first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol when any part of the designated symbol appears at the first sub-region,

(b) change the first audible indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region, and

(c) stop the first audible indication when each part of the designated symbol no longer appears at the second sub-region.

12. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device configured to store 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 at least one input device to;

(a) receive an input corresponding to a wager;

(b) display at least one reel spinning, the reel having a plurality of symbols including at least one designated symbol;

(c) display part of the reel within a symbol display region, the symbol display region having a plurality of sub-regions, each one of the sub-regions being one of;

(i) an evaluation sub-region configured to reveal one of the symbols; and

(ii) a non-evaluation sub-region configured to reveal one of the symbols, the non-evaluation sub-region being adjacent to the evaluation sub-region;

(d) while the reel is spinning, determine when the at least one designated symbol will initially appear at one of the sub-regions;

(e) based on said determination, cause a first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol, and none of the other symbols, at the one sub-region, the first audible indication being performed regardless of whether said sub-region is the evaluation sub-region or the non-evaluation sub-region;

(f) continue the first audible indication while the designated symbol moves from said one sub-region and past the other sub-regions, at least one which is the non-evaluation sub-region;

(g) display the at least one reel stopped after a reel stop event occurs;

(h) cause a second audible indication, the second audible indication indicating the stopping of the at least one reel, said second audible indication being different from the first audible indication; and

(i) determine whether an award condition is satisfied based on one or more of the symbols which are displayed stopped at the evaluation sub-regions.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol is selected from a group consisting of:

a sound, a sound having a tempo, a sound having a pitch, a musical note, and a song.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the at least one designated symbol is predetermined.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the at least one designated symbol is randomly determined.

16. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol includes a first sound, and the second audible indication for the stopping of the at least one reel includes a second, different sound.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the first sound has at least one different characteristic from the second, different sound.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the characteristic is selected from a group consisting of:

a volume, a pitch, a tempo, and a frequency.

19. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein a first designated symbol is associated with the first audible indication and a second, different designated symbol is associated with an audible indication which is different than the first audible indication.

20. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device configured to store 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 at least one input device to;

(a) receive an input corresponding to a wager;

(b) display at least one reel spinning, the reel having a plurality of symbols including at least one designated symbol;

(c) display part of the reel within a symbol display region, the symbol display region having at least;

(i) a first sub-region configured to reveal one of the symbols; and

(ii) a second sub-region configured to reveal one of the symbols, the second sub-region being adjacent to the first sub-region;

(d) indicate at least one payline corresponding to at least one of the first sub-region and the second sub-region;

(e) while the reel is spinning, determine whether the designated symbol will appear at the first sub-region regardless of whether the at least one payline corresponds to the first sub-region or the second sub-region;

(f) based on said determination, cause a graphical indication of the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region;

(g) continue the graphical indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region;

(h) display the at least one reel stopped after a reel stop event occurs; and

(i) determine whether an award condition is satisfied based on one or more of the revealed symbols.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the graphical indication is selected from a group consisting of:

a color of the designated symbol, a highlighting of the designated symbol, a glow frame substantially surrounding the designated symbol, blinking of the designated symbol, animation of the designated symbol, or a change in position of the designated symbol.

22. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one designated symbol is predetermined.

23. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one designated symbol is randomly determined.

24. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein a first designated symbol is associated with a first graphical indication and a second, different designated symbol is associated with a second, different graphical indication.

26. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store 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 at least one input device to:

(a) based on said determination, audibly indicate the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region; and

(b) continue the audible indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region.

27. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region is selected from a group consisting of:

a sound, a sound having a tempo, a sound having a pitch, a musical note, and a song.

33. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with at least one display device and the at least one input device to based on said determination, cause the first graphical indication of the appearance of the designated symbol, and none of the other symbols, at the first sub-region.

25. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store 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 at least one input device to:

(a) based on said determination, graphically indicate the appearance of the designated symbol when any part of the designated symbol appears at the first sub-region,

(b) change the graphical indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region, and

(c) stop the graphical indication when each part of the designated symbol no longer appears at the second sub-region.

25-1. (canceled)

28. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

receiving an input corresponding to a wager;

displaying at least one reel spinning, the reel having a reel, the reel having a plurality of symbols including at least one designated symbol;

displaying part of the reel within a symbol display region, the symbol display region having at least;

(a) a first sub-region configured to reveal one of the symbols; and

(b) a second sub-region configured to reveal one of the symbols, the second sub-region being adjacent to the first sub-region;

indicating at least one payline corresponding to at least one of the first sub-region and the second sub-region;

while the reel is spinning, determine whether the at least one designated symbol will appear at the first sub-region;

based on said determination, causing a first audible indication which indicates the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region, the first audible indication being performed regardless of whether the at least one payline corresponds to the first sub-region or the second sub-region;

continuing the first audible indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region;

displaying the at least one reel stopped after a reel stop event occurs;

causing a second audible indication which indicates the stopping of the at least one reel, said second audible indication being different from the first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol; and

determining whether an award condition is satisfied based on one or more of the revealed symbols.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first audible indication of the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region is selected from a group consisting of:

a sound, a sound having a tempo, a sound having a pitch, a musical note, and a song.

30. The method of claim 28, which includes:

(a) based on said determination, causing the first audible indication when any part of the designated symbol appears at the first sub-region,

(b) changing the first audible indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region, and

(c) stopping the first audible indication when each part of the designated symbol no longer appears at the second sub-region.

31. The method of claim 28, which includes:

(a) based on said determination, causing a graphical indication of the appearance of the designated symbol at the first sub-region; and

(b) continuing the graphical indication while the designated symbol moves in a direction from the first sub-region toward the second sub-region.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the graphical indication is selected from a group consisting of:

a color of the designated symbol, a highlighting of the designated symbol, a glow frame substantially surrounding the designated symbol, blinking of the designated symbol, animation of the designated symbol, or a change in position of the designated symbol.