Gaming system, gaming device, and method for providing a cascading symbol game including shifting symbols according to directional indicators

• US 9,165,433 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2009
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Caputo, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ROSS A
• Application Number:
  US12/615,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20110111825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,170 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/21, 463 30- 33, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/3246 involving coins and/or banknotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• 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 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

The disclosed gaming system displays an arrangement of symbols including a plurality of symbol positions. For a play of the game, the gaming system displays a randomly generated symbol in each symbol position. One or more of the symbols are displayed as associated with a directional indicator indicating a shift direction for that symbol. If any winning symbol combination is displayed, the gaming system shifts at least one symbol within the symbol matrix according to the directional indicator associated with that symbol, such as by shifting the symbol as designated distance in the shift direction indicated by the symbol'"'"'s directional indicator. In one embodiment, the gaming system removes one or more symbols in the shift path of a shifting symbol. In one embodiment, the gaming system generates and displays new symbols in the then-empty symbol positions of the symbol matrix and repeats the determination, shifting, and generation.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices and the at least one display device to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) for a play of a game;

(i) display a plurality of symbol positions in a designated arrangement of symbol positions,

(ii) for each of the symbol positions, display a randomly generated one of a plurality of symbols in said symbol position,

(iii) determine if the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations, and

(iv) if the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations;

(A) provide an award based on each winning symbol combination;

(B) determine if any of the symbols of each winning symbol combination is individually associated with one of a plurality of different shift paths, wherein at least one of said shift paths includes at least one designated non-winning symbol determined not to be in any winning symbol combination;

(C) for each symbol of each winning symbol combination individually associated with one of the plurality of shift paths;

 

(I) display said symbol as shifting along said associated shift path, and

 

(II) remove the shifted symbols and any designated non-winning symbols,

(D) display one of the plurality of symbols in each of any empty symbol positions, and

(E) repeat (b)(iii) and (d)(iv), and

(c) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to remove any shifted symbols and any designated non-winning symbol by removing each of said symbols along any of the shift paths associated with any of the displayed symbols.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to remove at least one symbol of any winning symbol combination which is not associated with any directional indicator.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the award is based, at least in part, on any removed symbols for the play of the game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of symbols is associated with a directional indicator and the shift path of said shifted symbol is based on any directional indicator associated with said shifted symbol.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display at least one randomly generated directional indicator in association with at least one of the displayed symbols, wherein the shift path of the at least one shifted symbol of the at least one winning symbol combination is based on the displayed directional indicator associated with that at least one shifted symbol.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the at least one randomly generated directional indicator in association with at least one of the symbols of the plurality of symbol positions based, at least in part, on a location of that at least one symbol.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display at least one universal directional indicator and display at least two symbols as shifting along at least two shift paths for the play of the game, the shift paths of the at least two shifted symbols each based on the at least one universal directional indicator.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to randomly determine a direction of the at least one universal directional indicator at least twice for the play of the game.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of symbols is a designated symbol, and if the designated symbol is in the shift path, when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the designated symbol as remaining at one of the symbol positions regardless of any displayed shifting.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at lease one display device to, for at least one of any empty symbol positions, display one of the plurality of symbols in said empty symbol position by displaying at least one already-generated symbols as shifting into said empty symbol position and thereafter randomly generating one of the plurality of symbols in at least one then-empty symbol positions.

12. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an accceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices and the at least one display device to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) for a play of a game;

(i) for each of the plurality of symbol positions, display a randomly generated one of a plurality of symbols in said symbol position,

(ii) determine if the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations,

(iii) for each of any winning symbol combinations;

(A) display an award based on said winning symbol combination, and

(B) for each of any of the symbols of said winning symbol combination individually associated with a displayed directional indicator;

 

(I) display said symbol as shifting along a shift path indicated by the displayed directional indicator individually associated with said symbol, and

 

(II) remove any symbols displayed in any symbol positions along the shift path, and

(iv) for each of any empty symbol positions;

(A) display one of the plurality of symbols in that empty symbol position,

(B) determine if the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations, and

(C) modify the award based on any displayed winning symbol combinations, and

(c) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the award is based, at least in part, on any removed symbols for the play of the game.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of symbols is associated with one of a plurality of directional indicators and the shift path for each symbol is based on the directional indicator for that symbol.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein each of a first type of symbol is associated with one of a plurality of directional indicators and each of a second type of symbol is not associated with any directional indicators.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein each of the first type of symbol is associated with a same universal directional indicator.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the universal directional indicator is a first universal directional indicator and each of a third type of symbol is associated with a different second universal directional indicator.

18. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to randomly generate and display at least one directional indicator in association with at least one of the displayed symbols.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to randomly generate and display the at least one directional indicator in association with at least one of the generated symbols based on a displayed location of that at least one symbol.

20. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at lease one display device to, for at least one of any empty symbol positions, display one of the plurality of symbols in said empty symbol position by displaying at least one already-generated symbols as shifting into said empty symbol position and thereafter randomly generating one of the plurality of symbols in at least one then-empty symbol positions.

21. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, after (b)(iii), repeat (b)(ii) and (b)(iv) at least once.

22. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices and the at least one display device to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) for a play of a game;

(i) for each of a plurality of symbol positions, display a randomly generated one of a plurality of symbols in said symbol position, the plurality of symbols including a predetermined shiftable symbol and a predetermined path-altering symbol, and

(ii) if any winning symbol combinations are displayed;

(A) provide an award based, at least in part, on each winning symbol combination,

(B) for each of any of the symbols of at least one of the winning symbol combinations which is the shiftable symbol;

(I) display said shiftable symbol as shifting along a first shift path, and

(II) for each symbol position in the shift path;

 

(1) if the symbol displayed in that symbol position is not the path-altering symbol, remove said symbol from display, and

 

(2) if the symbol displayed in that symbol position is the path-altering symbol, display said shiftable symbol as shifting along a second, different shift path, and

(C) if any empty symbol positions are displayed;

(I) display one of the plurality of symbols in each of any empty symbol positions, and

(II) repeat (b)(ii)A and (b)(ii)(B) at least once.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to generate at least one directional indicator in association with the shiftable symbol.

24. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the shiftable symbol in association with a directional indicator each time the shiftable symbol is generated for the play of the game.

25. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to randomly determine the directional indicator of the shiftable symbol after generating the shiftable symbol in one of the plurality of symbol positions.

26. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the directional indicators is generated based, at least in part, on a position of at least one shiftable symbol with which the at least one directional indicator is associated within the plurality of symbol positions.

27. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the award is based, at least in part, on a quantity of path-altering symbols in the shift path of any shifted symbol for the play of the game.

28. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the award is based, at least in part, on a quantity of symbols removed from the plurality of symbol positions during the play of the game.

29. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, if any empty symbol positions are displayed, repeat (b)(ii)A, (b)(ii)B, and (b)(iii)(C).

30. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices and the at least one display device to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) for a play of a game;

(i) display a plurality of symbol positions in a designated arrangement of symbol positions,

(ii) for each of the symbol positions, display a randomly generated symbol in said symbol position,

(iii) determine if the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations, and

(iv) if the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations;

(A) provide an award based on each winning symbol combination;

(B) for each of any of the symbols of each of any winning symbol combinations which is individually associated with a directional indicator;

 

(I) display said symbol as shifting according to said directional indicator, and

 

(II) remove said shifted symbol and at least one non-shifted symbol which is not included in any winning symbol combination,

(C) remove at least one symbol of at least one winning symbol combination which is not associated with any directional indicator;

(D) display one of the plurality of symbols in each of any empty symbol positions, and

(E) repeat (iii) and (iv), and

(c) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

31. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display at least one randomly generated directional indicator in association with at least one of the displayed symbols.

32. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the at least one randomly generate directional indicator in association with at least one of the symbols of the plurality of symbol positions based, at least in part, on a location of that at least one symbol.

33. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to associate at least two different symbols with a same universal directional indicator.

34. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to randomly determine a direction of the at least one universal directional indicator at least twice for the play of the game.

35. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at lease one display device to, for at least one of any empty symbol positions, display one of the plurality of symbols in said empty symbol position by displaying at least one already-generated symbols as shifting into said empty symbol position and thereafter randomly generating one of the plurality of symbols in at least one then-empty symbol positions.