Electronic Gaming Machine and Gaming Method

• US 20140141857A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd. (Novomatic AG)
• Original Assignee: Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd. (Novomatic AG)
• Inventors: Meyer, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,811,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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

In an aspect, an electronic gaming machine includes an electronic game controller and a display for playing a plurality of games that are selectable for simultaneous play. Where one or more special symbols appear in a first game of the selected games, the electronic game controller applies one or more game enhancing elements that are associated with the special symbols to each of the selected games. In another aspect, the special symbols are associated with numerical values that are applied to each of the selected games. Gaming methods are also provided.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of games, wherein each game comprises game symbols arranged into an array and where predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols in each game award prizes to a player, and

an electronic game controller for controlling the display of game symbols on the display,

wherein said player selects the number of said games that are simultaneously playable,

said electronic game controller determining the appearance of one or more special symbols in a first game of said player-selected games, wherein said special symbols are associated with one or more game enhancing elements for enhancing said player-selected games, and

the appearance of at least one special symbol in said first game causes said electronic game controller to apply the game enhancing element associated with said at least one special symbol to each of said player-selected games.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said game enhancing element increases the value of any prizes awarded upon any predetermined winning combinations appearing in said player-selected games.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 2, wherein said gaming enhancing element comprises a numerical value and said increase being associated with said numerical value.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 3, wherein said gaming enhancing element comprises at least one of a multiplier symbol;

an all wins multiplier symbol which applies to all predetermined winning combinations;

a wild multiplier symbol which applies to predetermined winning combinations that include the wild multiplier symbol;

a wheel with two or more numerical values where the electronic game controller randomly selects one of the numerical values on said wheel for application to said player-selected games;

a free game symbol with an associated numerical value representing the number of additional free games awarded to said player;

a symbol associated with a jackpot level value;

a bonus prize value, and a numerical enhancement of said prize(s).

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said game enhancing elements comprise at least one or more of a second array, bonus prizes, collector symbols, bonus wilds, trigger symbols to retrigger the second array, held columns, random wild symbols, progressives, jackpot symbols, one or more symbol replacements and additional plays of feature games.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein more than one special symbol appears in said first game, the game enhancing elements associated with each special symbol are applied simultaneously to each of said player-selected games.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said game enhancing element is immediately applied to any predetermined winning combinations in said player-selected games.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said game enhancing element is applied to said player-selected games for one or more subsequent plays of said player-selected games after an initial play of said first game in which said at least one special symbol has appeared.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, said first game comprises a base game and a feature game, wherein said one or more special symbols appear in said feature game.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the number of player-selected games is dependent on the amount wagered by said player.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the number of player-selected games is dependent on the number of pay lines that are wagered by said player.

10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein said feature game comprises additional game symbols displayed adjacent to said array of said first game.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said array of said first game comprises an array of rows and columns and said additional game symbols are displayed as an extra row or column, said game enhancing element also being displayed in said extra row or column.

14. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of games, wherein each game comprises game symbols arranged into an array and where predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols in each game award prizes to a player, and

an electronic game controller for controlling the display of game symbols on the display,

wherein said player selects the number of said games that are simultaneously playable,

said electronic game controller determining the appearance of one or more special symbols in a first game of said player-selected games, wherein said special symbols are associated with one or more numerical values for enhancing said player-selected games, and

the appearance of at least one special symbol in said first game causes said electronic game controller to apply the numerical value associated with said at least one special symbol to each of said player-selected games.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14, wherein said numerical value increases the value of any prizes awarded upon any predetermined winning combinations appearing in said player-selected games.

16. The electronic gaming machine of claim 15, wherein said increase is associated with said numerical value.

17. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14, wherein more than one special symbol appears in said first game, the numerical values associated with each special symbol are applied simultaneously to each of said player-selected games.

18. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14, wherein said numerical value is applied to said player-selected games for one or more subsequent plays of said player-selected games after an initial play of said first game in which said at least one special symbol has appeared.

19. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the association of said numerical value with said player-selected games is indicated on said display.

20. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14, wherein said first game comprises a base game and a feature game, wherein said one or more special symbols appear in said feature game.

21. The electronic gaming machine of claim 20, wherein said feature game comprises additional game symbols displayed adjacent to said array of said first game.

22. The electronic gaming machine of claim 21, wherein said array of said first game comprises an array of rows and columns and said additional game symbols are displayed as an extra row or column, said game enhancing element also being displayed in said extra row or column.

23. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the number of player-selected games is dependent on the amount wagered by said player.

24. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the number of player-selected games is dependent on the number of pay lines that are wagered by said player.

25. A gaming method for an electronic gaming machine comprising a display and an electronic game controller, the method comprising the steps of:

controllably displaying game symbols for playing a plurality of games, where predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols in each said game results in the award of prizes to a player, said game symbols being arranged in an array;

said player selecting the number of said games that are simultaneously playable;

determining the appearance of one or more special symbols in a first game of said player-selected games, wherein said special symbols are associated with one or more game enhancing elements for enhancing said player-selected games, and

wherein, upon the appearance of at least one special symbol in said first game, applying the game enhancing element associated with said at least one special symbol to each of said player-selected games.

26. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein said applying step further comprises increasing the value of any prize awarded upon a predetermined winning combination appearing in said player-selected games.

27. The gaming method of claim 26, wherein said game enhancing element comprises a numerical value and said applying step comprises associating said prize value with said numerical value.

28. The gaming method of claim 27, wherein said applying step further comprises multiplying said prize value by said numerical value associated with said special symbol.

29. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein more than one special symbol appears in said first game, said applying step further comprises applying the game enhancing elements associated with each special symbol simultaneously to each of said player-selected games.

30. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein said applying step further comprises immediately applying said game enhancing element to any predetermined winning combinations in said player-selected games.

31. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein said applying step further comprises applying said game enhancing element to said player-selected games for one or more subsequent plays of said player-selected games after an initial play of said first game in which said at least one special symbol has appeared.

32. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein said first game comprises a base game and a feature game, wherein said one or more special symbols appear in said feature game and said method further comprising displaying additional game symbols adjacent to said array of said first game.

33. The gaming method of claim 32, wherein said array of said first game comprises an array of rows and columns, said method further comprising displaying said additional game symbols as an extra row or column, and also displaying said game enhancing element in said extra row or column.

42. A computer system comprising a central processing unit configured for communication with an electronic gaming machine, wherein said computer system is configured to perform the method of claim 25.

43. A computer program configured to perform the method of claim 25.

44. A non-transitive carrier medium carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a central processing unit configured for communication with an electronic gaming machine, causes said central processing unit to perform the method of claim 25.

34. A gaming method for an electronic gaming machine comprising a display and an electronic game controller, the method comprising the steps of:

controllably displaying game symbols for playing a plurality of games, where predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols in each said game results in the award of prizes to a player, said game symbols being arranged in an array;

said player selecting the number of said games that are simultaneously playable;

determining the appearance of one or more special symbols in a first game of said player-selected games, said special symbols being associated with one or more numerical values for enhancing said player-selected games, and

wherein, upon the appearance of at least one special symbol in said first game, applying the numerical value associated with said at least one special symbol to each of said player-selected games.

35. The gaming method of claim 34, wherein said applying step further comprises increasing the value of any prize awarded upon a predetermined winning combination appearing in said player-selected games.

36. The gaming method of claim 35, wherein said increase is associated with said numerical value.

37. The gaming method of claim 34, wherein more than one special symbol appears in said first game, said applying step further comprises applying the numerical values associated with each special symbol simultaneously to each of said player-selected games.

38. The gaming method of claim 34, wherein said applying step further comprises applying said numerical value to said player-selected games for one or more subsequent plays of said player-selected games after an initial play of said first game in which said at least one special symbol has appeared.

39. The gaming method of claim 34, wherein said first game comprises a base game and a feature game, wherein said one or more special symbols appear in said feature game.

40. The gaming method of claim 34, wherein said first game comprises a base game and a feature game, wherein said one or more special symbols appear in said feature game and said method further comprising displaying additional game symbols adjacent to said array of said first game.

41. The gaming method of claim 40, wherein said array of said first game comprises an array of rows and columns, said method further comprising displaying said additional game symbols as an extra row or column, and also displaying said game enhancing element in said extra row or column.

45. A computer system comprising a central processing unit configured for communication with an electronic gaming machine, wherein said computer system is configured to perform the method of claim 34.

46. A computer program configured to perform the method of claim 34.

47. A non-transitive carrier medium carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a central processing unit configured for communication with an electronic gaming machine, causes said central processing unit to perform the method of claim 34.