Abstract: An electronic gaming machine that awards additional opportunities to extend game play. The electronic gaming machine displays a number of games having independent game outcomes. When one of the game outcomes includes a winning combination of symbols, symbols at display positions that form the winning combination of symbols and symbols at corresponding or matching display positions of other game outcomes are replaced with symbols. The game outcomes with the replaced symbols are re-evaluated for winning combinations.

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 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 method of operating a gaming system comprising a game controller. The method comprises 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 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 method of operating a gaming system comprising a game controller. The method comprises 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 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 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 system which employs a plurality of randomly generated stacks of symbols, wherein a stack of symbols includes a plurality of related symbols positioned adjacent to each other. If a symbol stack modification event occurs, the gaming system modifies a plurality of such symbols not included in any stack of symbols into a stack of symbols. The gaming system then evaluates the displayed symbols (including this newly formed stack of symbols) for any additional awards to provide to the player.

Abstract: An electronic method of gaming includes displaying an evaluation area having columns of symbol display positions divided between first and second game instances by a border such that positions on a first side of the border are allocated to the first game instance and positions on a second side of the border are allocated to the second game instance. The method includes selecting symbols for the first and second game instances and displaying the selected symbols in response to initiation of a round of gaming. The method includes determining a winning game instance associated with the round. The winning instance is determined based on a round number and a position of the border divider. The method includes moving the border divider based on the determination of the winning game instance. The method includes determining an award based on symbols displayed at the symbol positions after the border divider is moved.

Abstract: An electronic method of operating a gaming system comprising a game controller. The method comprises 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: An electronic method of gaming includes displaying an evaluation area having columns of symbol display positions divided between first and second game instances by a border such that positions on a first side of the border are allocated to the first game instance and positions on a second side of the border are allocated to the second game instance. The method includes selecting symbols for the first and second game instances and displaying the selected symbols in response to initiation of a round of gaming. The method includes determining a winning game instance associated with the round. The winning instance is determined based on a round number and a position of the border divider. The method includes moving the border divider based on the determination of the winning game instance. The method includes determining an award based on symbols displayed at the symbol positions after the border divider is moved.

Abstract: A gaming system which employs a plurality of randomly generated stacks of symbols, wherein a stack of symbols includes a plurality of related symbols positioned adjacent to each other. If a symbol stack modification event occurs, the gaming system modifies a plurality of such symbols not included in any stack of symbols into a stack of symbols. The gaming system then evaluates the displayed symbols (including this newly formed stack of symbols) for any additional awards to provide to the player.

Abstract: The present invention teaches novel methods for simultaneous indication of winning combinations in the symbol matrix. More specifically, the present invention simultaneously indicates all winning combinations formed by symbols appearing in symbol positions common to multiple pay lines. In a preferred embodiment, symbol positions common to multiple pay lines that display winning symbol combinations are simultaneously indicated to the player in a first manner. In addition, the remaining symbol positions for each of said multiple pay lines are simultaneously indicated in a second manner.

Abstract: A method of operating a slot machine, and a slot machine in which the method may be used. One or more symbols on a reel are replaced with symbols prescribed by a selected schema. The schema may be selected randomly, or according to a weighted probability, or according to a count of recent plays. All symbols of one type may be replaced with one other type of symbol, or with a variety of different symbols as prescribed by the schema. A symbol stack may be replaced with another symbol stack. Symbols may be replaced on one, several, or all of the reels that make up the display.

Abstract: The present invention teaches novel methods for simultaneous indication of winning combinations in the symbol matrix. More specifically, the present invention simultaneously indicates all winning combinations formed by symbols appearing in symbol positions common to multiple pay lines. In a preferred embodiment, symbol positions common to multiple pay lines that display winning symbol combinations are simultaneously indicated to the player in a first manner. In addition, the remaining symbol positions for each of said multiple pay lines are simultaneously indicated in a second manner.

Abstract: The present invention teaches novel methods for simultaneous indication of winning combinations in the symbol matrix. More specifically, the present invention simultaneously indicates all winning combinations formed by symbols appearing in symbol positions common to multiple pay lines. In a preferred embodiment, symbol positions common to multiple pay lines that display winning symbol combinations are simultaneously indicated to the player in a first manner. In addition, the remaining symbol positions for each of said multiple pay lines are simultaneously indicated in a second manner.

Abstract: A variety of methods are used to calculate symbol award values based upon the location of one or more predetermined symbols in a symbol matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the award value for a symbol varies according to the row in which the symbol appears. In another embodiment, the award value for symbols varies according to the relative locations of the symbols to each other in the symbol matrix.

Abstract: A method of operating a slot machine, and a slot machine in which the method may be used. One or more symbols on a reel are replaced with symbols prescribed by a selected schema. The schema may be selected randomly, or according to a weighted probability, or according to a count of recent plays. All symbols of one type may be replaced with one other type of symbol, or with a variety of different symbols as prescribed by the schema. A symbol stack may be replaced with another symbol stack. Symbols may be replaced on one, several, or all of the reels that make up the display.