Abstract: A console is described, having display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which one or more symbols are randomly selected as a combination of symbols and displayed on the display means. If a winning combination results, the machine awards a prize. In some circumstances, the console will display an animated character to communicate information to the player. The character is independent of and appears asynchronously with respect to the game being played and is arranged to appear super imposed over any game screen currently displayed at the time the character is displayed.

Abstract: In a first aspect the invention provides a storage method for a gaming machine, including allocating program code to one of at least two program categories including a first category of program code that is expected to be modified more frequently than a second category of program code and storing program code from the first and second categories in logically separate storage areas.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a display area, an outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols and to provide a player reward when the displayed symbols correspond to a win outcome, and a symbol modifier arranged to automatically modify at least one symbol so that the displayed symbols after modification of the at least one symbol correspond to an optimum win outcome. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of gaming comprising: conducting an initial play round comprising: selecting and displaying a first set of normal symbols at a plurality of display positions; displaying at least one special symbol at a display position; determining a game outcome based on each at least one special symbol and the first set of normal symbols, and conducting one or more further play rounds until an end condition is met, each further play round comprising: retaining the at least one special symbol from the previous play round; selecting a new display position at random for each retained special symbol; selecting and displaying a further set of normal symbols at a plurality of display positions; and determining a further game outcome based on the new display position of each special symbol and the further set of normal symbols.

Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize to a player. When a trigger condition occurs in a base game of the game 16, a bonus game feature is awarded comprising a series of bonus games. If a particular special symbol outcome occurs during any of the bonus games, the particular special symbol outcome is collected towards a jackpot prize awarding event.

Abstract: Gaming methods and apparatus are described for providing a plurality of progressive prizes for a gaming system. Separate progressive prizes are maintained for each of a plurality of different wager options for a game playable on the gaming system. The progressive prizes can be maintained so as to reduce the difference in contribution to the expected return to player between the wager options.

Abstract: A method of populating symbol spaces on a gaming device includes providing a plurality of designated spaces arranged to display a plurality of symbols, wherein one of the designated spaces is populated with a symbol from the plurality of symbols by moving the symbol from an initial location, to a final location within the designated space, wherein the game outcome is at least partly dependent on the final location of the symbol.

Abstract: A method is described for running a feature on a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming consoles linked by a communication network. The method comprises running at least one elimination round of the feature. A set of participating gaming consoles are determined for the elimination round and a group of options is displayed on the participating gaming consoles. Selections of options from the group are entered by players at the participating gaming consoles and a winning option is displayed from the group of options. Consoles are eliminated from the set of participating consoles unless the winning option was selected at the respective console; and further elimination rounds are commenced unless termination criteria are met. A flashing sequence of lights and sounds may be exhibited to reveal the winning option.

Abstract: A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14). The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events arc caused to be displayed on the display (14) and, if a predefined winning event results, the machine (10) awards a prize which is credited to a credit meter of the machine (10). The credit meter includes two meter displays, a first meter display (42.1) indicating credit which is available for expenditure in the machine (10) to play at least one game and a second meter display (42.2) indicating credit set aside by at least one of a player and the game controller and which credit is unavailable to the player for wagering on a game but which is only available by termination of a playing session.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a gaming console. A display is mounted in the gaming console for displaying a wagering game and its result. A controller controls operation of the game, the controller displaying the result of a first game on the display, making payment of a prize if the first game has a prize winning result and, thereafter, irrespective of the result of the first game, varying a result displayed on the display without requiring any additional wager by a player whether before or after completion of the first game.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The gaming machine further comprises a game feature where, upon being awarded at least one prize in the feature, a player is offered a choice and, if the choice results in a successful outcome, the player has the option of continuing with the feature but, if the choice results in an unsuccessful outcome, the feature ends and a portion, but not all, of a total prize accumulated up to termination of the feature is forfeited.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a control unit. A plurality of gaming machines are linked to the control unit. An identifier is associated with one of each player and each gaming machine, the identifier providing an indication to the control unit whether or not the player wishes to participate in a cooperative gaming environment. The control unit monitors operation of the gaming machines in the cooperative gaming environment and, each time any one of a number of predetermined elements of the cooperative gaming environment changes, generating a milestone and using the milestone so that no one player in the cooperative gaming environment benefits at the expense of the other players participating in the cooperative gaming environment.

Abstract: Systems, methods and/or apparatus for slot machine eye-strain reduction are disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for slot machine back lighting are further provided. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for a slot machine back lighting effect are also disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for reel line lights are disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for reel tilt and motion detection are disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for reel wins display for an electromechanical slot machine and/or gaming machine viewing window configurable lines are disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for a configurable shelf system for an electromechanical slot machine are disclosed. Systems, methods, and apparatus are also disclosed for reel tilt minimization. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for slot machine controlled lighting. Further embodiments of the present disclosure can provide slot machine reel stop systems, methods, and apparatus useful for electromechanical slot machines.

Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. When a trigger condition occurs during the playing of a base game, a first feature is awarded that results in a feature prize potentially made up of a plurality of individual prizes. After completion of the first feature, a second feature occurs that enables a player to wager the feature prize for at least one other prize which is independent of a value of the feature prize.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a display, a symbol selector arranged to select at least a first set of normal symbols to be displayed by the display at a plurality of display positions and to cause a special symbol to be displayed at a display position, a special symbol controller arranged to replicate an aspect of the special symbol until an end condition is met, the special symbol controller arranged to maintain each previously displayed special symbol in the display position where the special symbol occurred, select at least one display position for each replicated aspect of the special symbol and cause each replicated aspect of the special symbol to be displayed at the selected position, and an outcome generator arranged to determine at least one game outcome based on the displayed special symbol, the displayed normal symbols and the replicated aspect of the special symbol. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming machine display (14) includes a game playing arrangement (16) mountable in a cabinet (62) of a gaming machine (10). An electronically controlled display element (50) overlies the game playing arrangement (16) so that, depending on a state of the display element (50), the game playing arrangement (16) is visible through the display element (50).

Abstract: There is disclosed a system including one or more gaming machines and one or more system control resources. The system control resources are configured to dynamically control the provision of services to components of the system. Each of the services is implemented by way of one or more software processes running on one or more data processing resources of the gaming system. At least one system control resource is further configured to dynamically allocate said software processes amongst the data processing resources of the gaming system. The services can include a service that determines an outcome of one or more games playable on a gaming machine, and at a service configured to trigger the award of a jackpot prize.

Abstract: A boot program held in a BIOS memory device of a processing system is authenticated. At system start-up, a BIOS protection device temporarily prevents execution of the boot program by the central processor of the processing system by control of address and data paths. The BIOS protection device interrogates the contents of the BIOS memory device to establish authentication. If the contents of the BIOS memory device are not authentic, execution of the boot program is prevented.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method of gaming comprising wherein a wager for a play of a game is received from a player and a set of symbols for playing the game is determined based on the wager. The set of symbols includes, based on the wager, a number of specified symbols that can contribute to one or more specified winning game outcomes. Symbols selected from the set are displayed and an award made to the player if the displayed one or more symbols correspond to one or more of the specified winning game outcomes.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a symbol selector arranged to select at least one player symbol at each level of a multilevel game from a set of symbols, an outcome generator arranged to determine at each level of the multilevel game a successful or unsuccessful game level outcome based on a comparison of the at least one selected player symbol with at least one reference symbol such that the player proceeds to a succeeding game level if the game outcome is successful and the player does not proceed to a succeeding game level if the game outcome is not successful. The gaming system also comprises a prize allocator arranged to allocate a prize to a player based on the game level the player has successfully completed. A corresponding method is also disclosed.