Abstract: An electronic method of operating a gaming system. The method includes selecting a plurality of symbols, displaying the selected symbols, and upon the displayed symbols including one or more designated symbols, retaining each displayed designated symbol for a subsequent game round at a respective symbol display position at which the designated symbol is displayed. The method also includes, in the subsequent game round, selecting, a plurality of symbols from the symbol data, upon a further designated symbol being selected for display at a symbol display position at which the retained designated symbol is displayed, modifying the retained designated symbol to indicate that a win containing the retained designated symbol will be increased, and upon the selected symbols in the subsequent game round corresponding to a winning outcome incorporating the modified retained designated symbol, making an award of an award value corresponding to the winning outcome modifier by the increase.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprising a display, and a game controller that at least: selects a first set of symbols, causes the display to display the first set of symbols at a first set of display positions and conducts a random selection process so that a second set of display positions has an overlapping spatial relationship with a first set of display positions. The random selection process includes a first type of outcome where a designated number of special symbols is selected and a second type of outcome where less than the designated number of special symbols is selected. Upon the occurrence of the second type of outcome, the game controller displays the less than the designated number of special symbols selected at either individual ones of the first set of display positions or of the second set of display positions, and triggers a feature game for conducting feature game play.

Abstract: A saber apparatus comprises a hilt assembly having a hilt body and a drive assembly. The saber apparatus further comprises a blade member connected to the drive assembly to selectively deploy and retract the blade member. The blade member is deployed in an arc shape and is stored in a flat shape wound up in a reel form within the hilt body. The drive assembly operates to deploy the blade member outward from the hilt body and retract the blade member into the hilt body. The blade member comprises a blade cap at a distal end of the blade member, and the hilt assembly comprises a light source within the hilt body. The light from the light source is directed through a lens axially outward towards the blade cap at the distal end of the blade member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for sharing of collaborative documents with users via instant messaging. In one aspect, a collaborative application is configured to display one or more user interfaces associated with a collaborative application that allows a user to engage in a real-time chat between and among one or more users. The collaborative application may also present one or more user interfaces that allow the user to select one or more references of collaborative documents stored at a remote document datastore, and then share these references of collaborative documents with one or more users in the real-time chat. In one example, these references may be represented in real-time chat as a user interface element that visually present the collaborative document title and associated collaborative document pictogram or icon.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprising a display, and a game controller that at least: selects a first set of symbols, causes the display to display the first set of symbols at a first set of display positions and conducts a random selection process so that a second set of display positions has an overlapping spatial relationship with a first set of display positions. The random selection process includes a first type of outcome where a designated number of special symbols is selected and a second type of outcome where less than the designated number of special symbols is selected. Upon the occurrence of the second type of outcome, the game controller displays the less than the designated number of special symbols selected at either individual ones of the first set of display positions or of the second set of display positions, and triggers a feature game for conducting feature game play.

Abstract: A gaming device comprises a display, a processor, and a memory storing (a) a current symbol position state defining, for each of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, a number of symbol positions for which symbols are to be selected; (b) a pay table; and (c) instructions. The instructions cause the processor to control the display to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions corresponding to the current symbol position state, select symbols for the displayed symbol positions by selecting stopping positions of a plurality of reel strips, wherein at least one of the reel strips comprises at least one designated symbol, evaluate the symbols for winning combinations based on the pay table, and responsive to the selected symbols of a column including a designated symbol, modify the symbol position state for the respective column to include at least one additional symbol position for a next symbol selection.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control display of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, where each column of symbol positions includes a plurality of symbols. The processor is also configured to select the symbols for each column and simulate display of the first reel strip stopping prior to simulating display of the second reel strip stopping, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol. The processor is also configured to determine whether a first column includes the prize sub-category symbol as well as whether a second column includes the prize category symbol. If the prize sub-category and prize category symbols are included, the processor is also configured to provide an award.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control a display device to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions, where each symbol position includes a symbol selected from a set of symbols. The processor is also configured to determine whether any of the symbol positions include a designated symbol, and if so, to: i) control the display device to hold the designated symbol in the symbol position for at least one subsequent game instance of a series of game instances, and ii) increase a multiplier used in determining a game award from a first multiplier to a second, larger, multiplier. The processor is also configured to evaluate the symbols included in each symbol position to determine whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed. If a winning combination of symbols is displayed, the processor also calculates a game award using one of the first multiplier or the second multiplier.

Abstract: A gaming device comprises a display, a processor, and a memory storing (a) a current symbol position state defining, for each of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, a number of symbol positions for which symbols are to be selected; (b) a pay table; and (c) instructions. The instructions cause the processor to control the display to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions corresponding to the current symbol position state, select symbols for the displayed symbol positions by selecting stopping positions of a plurality of reel strips, wherein at least one of the reel strips comprises at least one designated symbol, evaluate the symbols for winning combinations based on the pay table, and responsive to the selected symbols of a column including a designated symbol, modify the symbol position state for the respective column to include at least one additional symbol position for a next symbol selection.

Abstract: Gaming systems, methods, and machines provided herein may be used to provide bonus games that are associated with two different classes of awards, e.g., one or more first awards and one or more second awards. The first award(s) may generally be much more desirable to players than the second award(s), e.g., the first awards may be large-denomination jackpot awards, whereas the second awards may be small-denomination credit awards, e.g., non-jackpot awards. During play of such bonus games, selection of a stop position associated with a second award may cause that stop position to be instead associated with one of the one or more first awards for future play of the bonus game, thereby increasing the opportunities to win a first award in subsequent play of the bonus game.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control display of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, where each column of symbol positions includes a plurality of symbols. The processor is also configured to select the symbols for each column and simulate display of the first reel strip stopping prior to simulating display of the second reel strip stopping, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol. The processor is also configured to determine whether a first column includes the prize sub-category symbol as well as whether a second column includes the prize category symbol. If the prize sub-category and prize category symbols are included, the processor is also configured to provide an award.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a game controller configured to, for each game round of a game: select symbols from a first set that includes first special symbols for display in symbol positions associated with reels to form a game outcome; select a second special symbol from a second set and associate the selected second special symbol with an initial reel; associate each previously selected second special symbol with a subsequent reel or remove a previously selected second special symbol; evaluate the game outcome to determine any winning symbol combination occurring in the game outcome; for each reel, accumulate any first special symbol occurring in the game outcome and determine a prize value based on the accumulated first special symbols and any second special symbol associated with the reel when an accumulation threshold for the reel is met; and generate an award based on a total of prize values.

Abstract: A method and system for autofocusing an objective lens in a microscope system are disclosed. A decentered aperture is disposed in an optical path between an objective lens and an image plane of an image capturing device and a plurality of reference images are captured. Each reference image is captured when the objective lens is positioned at a corresponding z-position of a plurality of z-positions along an axis of travel of the objective lens and the optical path is at least partially occluded by the decentered aperture. At least one reference image of the plurality of the reference images is associated with a best focus position. The plurality of reference images are analyzed to develop a plurality of pattern locations, wherein each pattern location represents a position of a pattern formed on the image plane when a corresponding reference image was captured. The objective lens is positioned in accordance with the best focus position and the plurality of pattern locations.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control a display device to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions, where each symbol position includes a symbol selected from a set of symbols. The processor is also configured to determine whether any of the symbol positions include a designated symbol, and if so, to: i) control the display device to hold the designated symbol in the symbol position for at least one subsequent game instance of a series of game instances, and ii) increase a multiplier used in determining a game award from a first multiplier to a second, larger, multiplier. The processor is also configured to evaluate the symbols included in each symbol position to determine whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed. If a winning combination of symbols is displayed, the processor also calculates a game award using one of the first multiplier or the second multiplier.

Abstract: A gaming device include a processor, and a memory storing (a) reel strip data defining a set of reel strips and (b) instructions. The reel strips may be used to select symbols to populate positions of a playing field shown on a display. When two or more of the same special symbols occupy adjacent positions of the playing field, they may merge into a single position occupied by one of the special symbols in question. If three or more special symbols are adjacent, all merge into a single position and a higher-value special symbol. The higher-value special symbol thus replaces one of the adjacent special symbols while the rest are removed or disappear.

Abstract: Gaming systems, methods, and machines provided herein may be used to provide bonus games that are associated with two different classes of awards, e.g., one or more first awards and one or more second awards. The first award(s) may generally be much more desirable to players than the second award(s), e.g., the first awards may be large-denomination jackpot awards, whereas the second awards may be small-denomination credit awards, e.g., non-jackpot awards. During play of such bonus games, selection of a stop position associated with a second award may cause that stop position to be instead associated with one of the one or more first awards for future play of the bonus game, thereby increasing the opportunities to win a first award in subsequent play of the bonus game.

Abstract: A gaming device comprises a display, a processor, and a memory storing (a) reel strip data defining a set of reel strips, each reel of the set of reel strips comprising special symbols and regular symbols; and (b) instructions. The reel strips are used to select symbols to populate positions of a playing field shown on the display. When two or more of the same special symbols occupy adjacent positions of the playing field, they may merge into a single position occupied by one of the special symbols in question. If three or more special symbols are adjacent, all merge into a single position and a higher-value special symbol. This merge may be signaled by a graphic such as an animation or image, a sound, a light, a vibration, or other audiovisual or haptic indicator. The higher-value special symbol thus replaces one of the adjacent special symbols while the rest are removed or disappear.

Abstract: An electronic method of operating a gaming system. The method includes selecting a plurality of symbols, displaying the selected symbols, and upon the displayed symbols including one or more designated symbols, retaining each displayed designated symbol for a subsequent game round at a respective symbol display position at which the designated symbol is displayed. The method also includes, in the subsequent game round, selecting, a plurality of symbols from the symbol data, upon a further designated symbol being selected for display at a symbol display position at which the retained designated symbol is displayed, modifying the retained designated symbol to indicate that a win containing the retained designated symbol will be increased, and upon the selected symbols in the subsequent game round corresponding to a winning outcome incorporating the modified retained designated symbol, making an award of an award value corresponding to the winning outcome modifier by the increase.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an improved display system for a gaming system comprising a bank of gaming machines. In particular embodiments, the display system comprises display elements that are spatially arranged relative to one another in a manner such that when an animation is displayed on the display elements, the spatial arrangement of the display elements relative to each other interacts with the animation to provide a greater apparent depth in the animation. In some embodiments, the display system further comprises a display element positioned between each pair of adjacent gaming machines and controlled to display a graphical representation indicative of a level of a jackpot, which representation is updated as players place wagers on the gaming machines. Methods for operating the gaming system comprising elements of the improved display system are also provided.