Abstract: A gaming machine includes a player interface, a memory, a display device, and a game controller. The memory stores data that defines initial symbol arrangements. Each initial symbol arrangement provides a respective, predetermined minimum return-to-player. The game controller randomly selects an initial symbol arrangement from the initial symbol arrangements and displays, with the display device, symbols per the selected initial symbol arrangement. The game controller further updates the symbols displayed on the display device to an updated symbol arrangement by moving a symbol per input signals from the player interface. The game controller also presents, on the display device, an award for the updated symbol arrangement.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display, an indicator display device, a symbol selector, a function allocator, and an award allocator. The display includes display positions. The indicator display device is configured to visually display the indicator symbol for visually identifying a single display position. The symbol selector is configured to randomly select symbols from a set of symbols and, after display of the indicator symbol, place the selected symbols on the display with at least one of the selected symbols placed in each of the display positions including the single display position. The function allocator is configured to determine which symbol is placed in the single display positon and perform a game function in response to the identity of the selected symbol in the single display position. The award allocator may be configured to allocate an award based on at least one of the placed symbols.

Abstract: A processor of a gaming machine displays a game outcome on a display device and accumulates, among symbol meters displayed by the display device, bonus symbols awarded based on the game outcome. After accumulating the bonus symbols, the processor creates, based on input from a player interface, a request to substitute a first set of bonus symbols accumulated among the symbol meters for a second set of bonus symbols accumulated by another gaming machine, and sends the request to the another gaming machine. In response to receiving an acceptance of the request from the another gaming machine, the processor removes the first set of bonus symbols from the symbol meters of the gaming machine, and adds the second set of bonus symbols to the symbol meters of the gaming machine. The processor triggers an event in response to the symbol meters accumulating a winning set of bonus symbols.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display, an indicator display device, a symbol selector, a function allocator, and an award allocator. The display includes display positions. The indicator display device is configured to visually display the indicator symbol for visually identifying a single display position. The symbol selector is configured to randomly select symbols from a set of symbols and, after display of the indicator symbol, place the selected symbols on the display with at least one of the selected symbols placed in each of the display positions including the single display position. The function allocator is configured to determine which symbol is placed in the single display position and perform a game function in response to the identity of the selected symbol in the single display position. The award allocator may be configured to allocate an award based on at least one of the placed symbols.

Abstract: A gaming machine having an electronic display which displays a plurality of empty drinking cups. A game controller causes the display of a ball and its movement toward and into one of the empty cups. A game play mechanism allows the player to direct the movement of the ball. If the player is successful in movement of a ball into a cup, the cup and the ball is then removed from the display. During play of the game, an amount of sobriety is determined in accord with the number of cups removed by the player. In accordance with the amount of sobriety determined, the cups are displayed in wobbling movement in order to give amusement to the game as well as difficulty in the play.

Abstract: A gaming machine having an electronic display which displays a plurality of empty drinking cups. A game controller causes the display of a ball and its movement toward and into one of the empty cups. A game play mechanism allows the player to direct the movement of the ball. If the player is successful in movement of a ball into a cup, the cup and the ball is then removed from the display. During play of the game, an amount of sobriety is determined in accord with the number of cups removed by the player. In accordance with the amount of sobriety determined, the cups are displayed in wobbling movement in order to give amusement to the game as well as difficulty in the play.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system conducts a reel-based electronic wagering game, in which jackpot upgrade symbols are added to one or more reel strips based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols in the wagering game. In the exemplary embodiment, jackpot upgrade symbols are added to a third reel strip based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols on a first reel strip, and to a fifth reel strip based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols on the third reel strip. In addition, jackpot upgrade symbols are added to the first and third reel strips to replace the one or more reel upgrade symbols occurring thereon.

Abstract: A reel-based electronic gaming system, electronic gaming device, and electronic wagering game in which a player is provided one or more player actions during the course of play. The player actions allow the player to alter an active play area in a variety of ways. The system controls the return to player based on potential user actions and their associated potential outcomes.

Abstract: A reel-based electronic gaming system, electronic gaming device, and electronic wagering game in which a player is provided one or more player actions during the course of play. The player actions allow the player to alter an active play area in a variety of ways. The system controls the return to player based on potential user actions and their associated potential outcomes.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system conducts a reel-based electronic wagering game, in which jackpot upgrade symbols are added to one or more reel strips based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols in the wagering game. In the exemplary embodiment, jackpot upgrade symbols are added to a third reel strip based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols on a first reel strip, and to a fifth reel strip based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols on the third reel strip. In addition, jackpot upgrade symbols are added to the first and third reel strips to replace the one or more reel upgrade symbols occurring thereon.

Abstract: An electronic method of operating a gaming system includes a game controller. The method includes forming, using the game controller, at least one dynamically generated reel strip by a) conducting a random determination to select one of a plurality of different arrangements of a defined number of stacked symbols, each arrangement dividing the defined number of stacked symbols into a different number of stacks of the symbol, and b) adding the selected arrangement to symbols predefined for the respective reel strip; selecting symbols, using the game controller, from a set of reel strips including the at least one dynamically generated reel strip; displaying the selected symbols on the display; and making, using the game controller, an award if the selected symbols include one or more winning outcomes.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and game machine are presented, that provide a skill-based game of a wagering machine with a predetermined return-to-player. The method includes constructing, for each initial game state of a plurality of initial game states, a decision tree that includes a root node, intermediary nodes, leaf nodes, and collective leaf nodes that each represents a class of game states and its expected minimum payout. The method further includes determining, based on the decision tree for each initial game state, an expected minimum payout for the respective initial game state; and generating, for the wagering machine, a table that weights each initial game state of the plurality of initial games states based on its respective expected minimum payout to achieve a desired minimum return-to-player.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a player interface, a memory, a display device, and a game controller. The memory stores data that defines initial symbol arrangements. Each initial symbol arrangement provides a respective, predetermined minimum return-to-player. The game controller randomly selects an initial symbol arrangement from the initial symbol arrangements and displays, with the display device, symbols per the selected initial symbol arrangement. The game controller further updates the symbols displayed on the display device to an updated symbol arrangement by moving a symbol per input signals from the player interface. The game controller also presents, on the display device, an award for the updated symbol arrangement.

Abstract: A processor of a gaming machine displays a game outcome on a display device and accumulates, among symbol meters displayed by the display device, bonus symbols awarded based on the game outcome. After accumulating the bonus symbols, the processor creates, based on input from a player interface, a request to substitute a first set of bonus symbols accumulated among the symbol meters for a second set of bonus symbols accumulated by another gaming machine, and sends the request to the another gaming machine. In response to receiving an acceptance of the request from the another gaming machine, the processor removes the first set of bonus symbols from the symbol meters of the gaming machine, and adds the second set of bonus symbols to the symbol meters of the gaming machine. The processor triggers an event in response to the symbol meters accumulating a winning set of bonus symbols.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and game machine are presented, which provide a predetermined return-to-player for a skill-based wagering game. The method includes determining, for each initial game state of a plurality of initial game states, a predetermined expected minimum payout that accounts for skill-based moves of a player. The method further includes weighting each initial game state of the plurality of initial game states based on its respective predetermined expected minimum payout and a desired minimum return-to-player for the predetermined return-to-player.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism, a player interface, a display device, and a game controller. The game controller increases a credit balance of a credit meter based on monetary value of a physical item received by the credit input mechanism, and decreases the credit balance based on a wager. The game controller further randomly selects an initial game screen from a plurality of initial game screens in a manner that ensures a predetermined minimum return-to-player. The game controller also displays symbols in display positions of the display device per an initial symbol arrangement specified by the selected initial game screen, and updates symbols in the display positions per the move represented by the input signals to obtain updated symbols. The game controller increase the credit balance based on an award associated with the updated symbols.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism, a display device, symbol meters, a player interface, and a game controller. The player interface generates input signals representative of a trade offer. The trade offer specifies a first set of bonus symbols accumulated by the first symbol meters to be traded for a second set of bonus symbols accumulated by another gaming machine. The game controller randomly generates a game outcome displayed by the display device, and accumulates respective bonus symbols of the game outcome among the first symbol meters. In response to an acceptance of the trade offer, the game controller removes the first set of bonus symbols from the first symbol meters and adds the second set of bonus symbols to the first symbol meters. The game controller further triggers an event in response to the first symbol meters accumulating a winning set of bonus symbols.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism, a player interface, a display device, and a game controller. The game controller increases a credit balance of a credit meter based on monetary value of a physical item received by the credit input mechanism, and decreases the credit balance based on a wager. The game controller further randomly selects an initial game screen from a plurality of initial game screens in a manner that ensures a predetermined minimum return-to-player. The game controller also displays symbols in display positions of the display device per an initial symbol arrangement specified by the selected initial game screen, and updates symbols in the display positions per the move represented by the input signals to obtain updated symbols. The game controller increase the credit balance based on an award associated with the updated symbols.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and game machine are presented, which provide a predetermined return-to-player for a skill-based wagering game. The method includes determining, for each initial game state of a plurality of initial game states, a predetermined expected minimum payout that accounts for skill-based moves of a player. The method further includes weighting each initial game state of the plurality of initial game states based on its respective predetermined expected minimum payout and a desired minimum return-to-player for the predetermined return-to-player.

Abstract: A reel-based electronic gaming system, electronic gaming device, and electronic wagering game in which a player is provided one or more player actions during the course of play. The player actions allow the player to alter an active play area in a variety of ways. The system controls the return to player based on potential user actions and their associated potential outcomes.