Game machine having a plurality of ways for a user to obtain payouts based on the appearance of any and all symbols within an active symbol matrix (WYSIWYG)

• US 20110165934A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PTT LLC
• Original Assignee: PTT LLC
• Inventors: Marks, Howard, Singer, Anthony, Marks, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,251,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• 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 17/3262 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 17/3267 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

A gaming device and method for playing a gaming device which provide awards for any and all symbols appearing within selected portions of a symbol matrix (“What You See Is What You Get” or “WYSIWYG”).

Claims

1. A method for playing a game of chance having an initial symbol matrix having at least a processor and input means, the method comprising:

accepting, via the input means, at least one wager to initiate the game wherein said wager also funds a bonus event;

initiating, via the processor, game play by randomly displaying game symbols in the initial symbol matrix;

determining, via the processor, any winning outcomes displayed in the initial symbol matrix and providing an award for said outcome; and

determining, via the processor, if a triggering event occurs to initiate said bonus event and if said triggering, event occurs, initiate one or more iterations of the bonus by;

a) selecting, via the processor, at least one symbol position from the initial symbol matrix to designate an active symbol matrix, wherein the active symbol matrix does not consist of one or more standard pay lines;

b) selecting, via the processor, a wager amount for the active symbol matrix, wherein the wager amount is individually adjustable for the selected symbol positions in the active symbol matrix;

c) receiving awards determined, via the processor, by the game symbols displayed in each symbol position of the active symbol matrix, wherein the awards are calculated based upon the wager amount placed upon a symbol position and a pay schedule, and wherein the awards are not generated or affected by any association between symbol positions; and

d) determining, via the processor, if any iterations of the bonus remain and if said one or more iterations remain, repeating steps a) through c).

2. A method of claim 1 wherein step a) further comprises automatically selecting and activating all symbol positions.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein step b) further comprises applying an equal wager to each selected symbol position.

4. A method of claim 1 wherein step b) further comprises applying a different wager to each selected symbol position.