SLOT MACHINE GAME WITH ENHANCED WILD SYMBOL FEATURES
A game is provided including a special wild symbol that applies a transformation field to other symbols around it. The effect of this transformation field is to change the symbols into wild symbols. Multiple transformation fields may overlap, increasing the value of the transformed symbol in certain designated ways. Rules are provided for applying the transformation field in certain directions with respect to the special wild symbol with which it is associated.
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TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to gaming systems and to gaming machines through which players may participate in wagering games. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for conducting an interactive reel or symbol array type wagering game including special wild symbols.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious slot machine games use wild symbols to enhance the game experience for games with reels, simulated reels, or other arrays of gaming symbols. Some machines use an “expanding wild” symbol that can expand to fill an entire reel, thereby creating more potential for forming winning patterns in a particular game result. Other games known in the art use an expanding wild symbol that expands until it reaches a termination symbol. Still other games use various special features associated with wild symbols.
What is needed are more exciting variations for the use in the creation of wild symbols in order to increase player excitement and enjoyment of slot machine games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention includes a highly entertaining method of conducting a game for one or more players. The entertainment value is achieved partially by a game including a reel symbol known as a special wild symbol which has the ability to make a 2×2 section of reel positions wild. That is, when the special symbol lands in the visible window on any reel, the symbol itself is wild, it makes an adjacent position on that same reel wild, and it also makes the corresponding two positions on an adjacent reel wild. Preferably, such transformation is accomplished by using a transformation field associated with the special wild symbol.
Because the transformation zone that is activated by a special wild symbol is non-symmetric about the triggering symbol, a rule is necessary to specify which direction the zone is placed about the triggering symbol. Several advantageous rules are disclosed. A static rule may be used which provides that the transformation field is always positioned in the same direction with respect to the triggering symbol (e.g. the triggering symbol always ends up as the top left symbol in the 2×2 section of wilds). This has the possibly undesirable consequence that the transformation field will sometimes go outside the visible window and hence make fewer than 4 positions wild. An alternative which avoids this is to make the rule that the transformation field is always positioned towards the center of the matrix—if the symbol lands on one of the top two rows, then its transformation field is positioned downward, whereas if it lands on one of the bottom two rows, then the associated transformation field is positioned upward. If it lands on reel 1 or 2 then it is positioned towards the right, whereas if it lands on reel 4 or 5 then it is positioned towards the left.
In some embodiments, if two special wild symbols land on the same play, there is the possibility of their transformation fields overlapping. In this case, the overlapping position(s) become 2× wild(s) (see
Special rules are provided to handle the situation if a transformation field covers a scattered bonus symbol (which wilds do not substitute for). In that case, there is preferably a depiction showing that the symbols overlap, and that the bonus symbol is still active along with the wilds. In a preferred embodiment, a side bet is required to activate the special wild symbol feature. If the side bet is not placed, the special symbol could either act as a single-position wild, or it could be a completely dead symbol. In a preferred embodiment, the game also has a free-spin bonus, within which it is guaranteed that each free spin will hit at least one special wild.
Another version of the invention is a computer program stored on a non-transitory readable medium. The software version is, of course, typically designed to be executed by a gaming machine or networked gaming system. The software includes multiple portions of computer executable code referred to as program code. Gaming results are provided in response to a wager and displayed by display program code that generates simulated slot reels each including one or more symbol locations. The program also has game controller program code for determining game play results for a designated number of spins of the reels, each spin producing a spin result, each spin result having a chance to include one or more of the special wild symbols.
Another version of the invention is a gaming system that includes one or more gaming servers, and a group of electronic gaming machines connected to the servers by a network. The various functionality described herein may be distributed between the electronic gaming machines and the gaming servers in any practically functional way. For example, the current preferred architecture is for the servers to determine all aspects of game logic, random number generation, and prize awards. The gaming machines provide functionality of interfacing with the player and animating the game results to the present the results received from the server in an entertaining manner. However, other embodiments of course might use a thin client architecture in which the animation is also conduct by the server and electronic gaming machines serve merely as a terminal to receive button or touch screen input from the player and to display graphics received from the server.
Different features may be included in different versions of the invention. For example, different animation themes may be applied that display the application of the special wild transformation field in different ways.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, a slot machine reel game may employ special wild symbols in the base game play or the bonus game, these wild symbols having special properties and rules. Depicted in the base game result shown in matrix 1001 are two such special wild symbols 1004, stars marked WILD. In this embodiment, the special wild symbol is a star, but other graphic schemes and changing graphics may also be used. The special wild symbol preferably has the function of transforming adjacent symbols in a 2×2 field into wild symbols.
Some versions require an extra bet to buy the opportunity for a special wild symbol in the base game round. An option for these versions is to make this extra bet mandatory, that is, included in the minimum required bet for each payline level, so there is no game available where the special wild symbols act as single-position wilds or are not wild.
Another preferred embodiment similar to that shown in
At step 2005, the process checks the resulting matrix of symbols for the presence of special wild symbols. In some embodiments, the software executing the process may, of course, already have available some indication that a special wild symbol is present in the game matrix, because some embodiments employ reverse-mapped outcomes generated from randomly selected prizes, or otherwise create outcomes from prizes and not directly based on an array of random symbols. For example, some embodiments reverse-map the outcome from Class II bingo game results which are operable with less regulatory requirements in certain gaming jurisdictions. Other embodiments may select outcomes from a bank of predetermined outcomes such as electronic lottery tickets. The particular method of generating a randomized outcome of the base game is not important; if the base game result matrix includes a special wild symbol, the process goes to step 2006. If not, the process skips to step 2008.
Referring to step 2006, if the appropriate special wild symbol was found, the process handles each special wild symbol in the display by applying the associated transformation field to adjacent symbol in the matrix according to the rules discussed above. Preferably, this step includes displaying some type of graphic sequence indicating that the transformations are taking place in order to build the excitement of playing the game. Preferably, at the end of this step, the transformed symbols are left with some visual indication that they have been turned wild, such as, for example, wild or some other special graphics added to the symbol. Next at step 2007, the process evaluates the matrix for winning patterns, preferably along a plurality of pay lines according to well-known slot machine game techniques; but this is not limiting and other versions may use other prize evaluation schemes or combination of schemes to determine the presence winning patterns. At step 2008, the process confers any resulting awards to the player, and in the game round at step 2009.
In preferred versions, the gaming machine 100 illustrated in
It will be appreciated that gaming machines may also include a number of other player interface devices in addition to devices that are considered player controls for use in playing a particular game. Gaming machine 100 also includes a currency/voucher acceptor having an input ramp 112, a player card reader having a player card input 114, and a voucher/receipt printer having a voucher/receipt output 115. Audio speakers 116 generate an audio output to enhance the user's playing experience. Numerous other types of devices may be included in gaming machines that may be used according to the present invention.
Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will appreciate that other basic electronic components will be included in gaming machine 100 such as a power supply, cooling systems for the various system components, audio amplifiers, and other devices that are common in gaming machines. These additional devices are omitted from the drawings so as not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail.
All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 shown in
It will also be appreciated that graphics processors are also commonly a part of modern computer systems. Although separate graphics processor 215 is shown for controlling primary video display device 104 and secondary video display device 107, and graphics processor 216 is shown for controlling both auxiliary display devices 108 and 109, it will be appreciated that CPU 205 may control all of the display devices directly without any intermediate graphics processor. The invention is not limited to any particular arrangement of processing devices for controlling the video display devices included with gaming machine 100. Also, a gaming machine implementing the present invention is not limited to any particular number of video display device or other types of display devices.
In the illustrated gaming machine 100, CPU 205 executes software which ultimately controls the entire gaming machine including the receipt of player inputs and the presentation of the graphic symbols displayed according to the invention through the display devices 104, 107, 108, and 109 associated with the gaming machine. As will be discussed further below, CPU 205 either alone or in combination with graphics processor 215 may implement a presentation controller for performing functions associated with a primary game that may be available through the gaming machine and may also implement a game client for directing one or more display devices at the gaming machine to display portions of a special wild game according to the present invention. CPU 205 also executes software related to communications handled through network controller 210, and software related to various peripheral devices such as those connected to the system through audio interface 209, serial interface 211, and touch screen controller 217. CPU 205 may also execute software to perform accounting functions associated with game play. Random access memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in executing its various software programs while the nonvolatile memory or storage device 207 may comprise a hard drive or other mass storage device providing storage for programs not in use or for other data generated or used in the course of gaming machine operation. Network controller 210 provides an interface to other components of a gaming system in which gaming machine 100 is included. In particular, network controller 210 provides an interface to a game controller which controls certain aspects of the multiplayer, special wild game as will be discussed below in connection with
It should be noted that the invention is not limited to gaming machines employing the personal computer-type arrangement of processing devices and interfaces shown in example gaming machine 100. Other gaming machines through which a special wild game is implemented may include one or more special purpose processing devices to perform the various processing steps for implementing the present invention. Unlike general purpose processing devices such as CPU 205, these special purpose processing devices may not employ operational program code to direct the various processing steps.
It should also be noted that the invention is not limited to gaming machines including only video display devices for conveying results. It is possible to implement a special wild game within the scope of the present invention using an electro mechanical arrangement or even a purely mechanical arrangement for displaying the symbols needed to complete a special wild game as described herein. However, the most preferred forms of the invention utilize one or more video display devices for displaying the spinning reels, the accumulated symbols, and the special wild offer. For example, a gaming machine suitable for providing a special wild game may include a mechanical reel-type display rather than a video-type display device for displaying results in a primary game, and include a video display device for presenting the special wild game as a bonus game.
Still referring to the hardware and logical block diagram 200 showing an example design for a gaming machine 100, the depicted machine in operation is controlled generally by CPU 205 which stores operating programs and data in memory 207 with wagering game 204, user interface 220, network controller 210, audio/visual controllers, and reel assembly 213 (if mechanical reel configuration). CPU or game processor 205 may comprise a conventional microprocessor, such as an Intel Pentium microprocessor, mounted on a printed circuit board with supporting ports, drivers, memory, software, and firmware to communicate with and control gaming machine operations, such as through the execution of coding stored in memory 207 including one or more wagering games 204. Game processor 205 connects to user interface 220 such that a player may enter input information and game processor 205 may respond according to its programming, such as to apply a wager and initiate execution of a game.
Game processor 205 also may connect through network controller 210 to a gaming network, such as example casino server network 400 shown in
Referring now to
Each gaming machine 100, and particularly player interface 301 associated with each gaming machine, allows a player to make any inputs that may be required to make the respective gaming machine eligible for a special wild game, and make selections of selectable objects displayed at the respective gaming machine in the course of a special wild game. Player interface 301 also allows a player at the gaming machine to initiate plays in a primary game available through the gaming machine in some implementations. The respective video display device 107 associated with each respective gaming machine 100 is used according to the invention to generate the graphic displays to show the various elements of a special wild game at the respective gaming machine.
The game control arrangement made up of game server 302 and the respective game client 303 at a given gaming machine functions to control the respective video display device 107 for that gaming machine to display a special wild graphic and a number of selectable objects. Award controller 305 is responsible for awarding prizes for a player's participation in a special wild game, and maintaining progressive prize information where the special wild game offers one or more progressive prizes. The network arrangement made up of network switches 306 and 307, and the various communication links 308 shown in
Referring to
As shown, networked gaming machines 100 (EGM1-EGM4) and one or more overhead displays 413 may be network connected and enable the content of one or more displays of gaming machines 100 to be mirrored or replayed on an overhead display. For example, the primary display content may be stored by the display controller or game processor 205 and transmitted through network controller 210 to the overhead display controller either substantially simultaneously or at a subsequent time according to either periodic programming executed by game processor 205 or a triggering event, such as a jackpot or large win, at a respective gaming machine 100. In the event that gaming machines 100 have cameras installed, the respective players' video images may be displayed on overhead display 413 along with the content of the player's display 100 and any associated audio feed.
In one or more embodiments, game server 403 may provide server-based games and/or game services to network connected gaming devices, such as gaming machines 100 (which may be connected by network cable or wirelessly). Progressive server 407 may accumulate progressive awards by receiving defined amounts (such as a percentage of the wagers from eligible gaming devices or by receiving funding from marketing or casino funds) and provide progressive awards to winning gaming devices upon a progressive event, such as a progressive jackpot game outcome or other triggering event such as a random or pseudo-random win determination at a networked gaming device or server (such as to provide a large potential award to players playing the community feature game). Accounting server 411 may receive gaming data from each of the networked gaming devices, perform audit functions, and provide data for analysis programs, such as the IGT Mariposa program bundle.
Player account server 409 may maintain player account records, and store persistent player data such as accumulated player points and/or player preferences (e.g. game personalizing selections or options). For example, the player tracking display may be programmed to display a player menu that may include a choice of personalized gaming selections that may be applied to a gaming machine 100 being played by the player.
In one or more embodiments, the player menu may be programmed to display after a player inserts a player card into the card reader. When the card reader is inserted, an identification may be read from the card and transmitted to player account server 409. Player account server 409 transmits player information through network controller 210 to user interface 220 for display on the player tracking display. The player tracking display may provide a personalized welcome to the player, the player's current player points, and any additional personalized data. If the player has not previously made a selection, then this information may or may not be displayed. Once the player makes a personalizing selection, the information may be transmitted to game processor 205 for storing and use during the player's game play. Also, the player's selection may be transmitted to player account server 409 where it may be stored in association with the player's account for transmission to the player in future gaming sessions. The player may change selections at any time using the player tracking display (which may be touch sensitive or have player-selectable buttons associated with the various display selections).
In one or more embodiments, a gaming website may be accessible by players, e.g. gaming website 421, whereon one or more games may be displayed as described herein and played by a player such as through the use of personal computer 423 or handheld wireless device 425 (e.g. Blackberry cell phone, Apple iPhone, personal data assistant (PDA), iPad, etc.). To enter the website, a player may log in with a username (that may be associated with the player's account information stored on player account server 409 or be accessible by a casino operator to obtain player data and provide promotional offers), play various games on the website, make various personalizing selections, and save the information, so that during a next gaming session at a casino establishment, the player's playing data and personalized information may be associated with the player's account and accessible at the player's selected gaming machine 100.
Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., to refer to an element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).
Further, as described herein, the various features have been provided in the context of various described embodiments, but may be used in other embodiments. The combinations of features described herein should not be interpreted to be limiting, and the features herein may be used in any working combination or sub-combination according to the invention. This description should therefore be interpreted as providing written support, under U.S. patent law and any relevant foreign patent laws, for any working combination or some sub-combination of the features herein.
The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method of providing a wagering game for a player on an electronic gaming machine controlled by a processor and having an electronic display, the method comprising the following performed under control of the processor:
- (a) receiving a wager input from the player;
- (b) receiving a play input from the player;
- (c) displaying a matrix of symbol locations on the electronic display including a plurality of symbol locations;
- (d) displaying a number of symbols at selected symbol locations in the matrix, the symbol type indicative of elements in the matrix that are made available to be used in forming patterns according to rules of the wagering game;
- (e) the symbol elements including a special wild symbol having a fixed-size transformation field associated with it;
- (f) the special wild symbol causing symbols in the fixed-size transformation field adjacent to the special wild symbol to receive a wild status according to a dynamic conditional rule for determining the placement of the fixed-size transformation field;
- (g) the transformation field being applied in a non-symmetric multidirectional fashion;
- (h) after performing (f), evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and
- (i) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple transformation fields of multiple special wild symbols overlap one or more symbol locations in the matrix causing symbols in the one or more locations to have additional wild values.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein any bonus symbols located in the transformation field of the special wild symbol retains its bonus value in addition to the wild status.
4. A system for providing a wagering game for a player, the system comprising an electronic gaming machine interacting with at least one server, the system programmed for:
- (a) receiving a wager input from the player;
- (b) receiving a play input from the player;
- (c) displaying a matrix of symbol locations including a plurality of symbol locations;
- (d) displaying a number of symbols at selected symbol locations in the matrix, the symbol type indicative of elements in the matrix that are made available to be used in forming patterns according to rules of the wagering game;
- (e) the symbol elements including a special wild symbol having a fixed-size transformation field associated with it;
- (f) the special wild symbol causing symbols in the fixed-size transformation field adjacent to the special wild symbol to receive a wild status according to a dynamic conditional rule for determining the placement of the fixed-size transformation field;
- (g) the transformation field being applied in a non-symmetric multidirectional fashion;
- (h) after performing (f), evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and
- (i) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein multiple transformation fields of multiple special wild symbols overlap one or more symbol locations in the matrix causing symbols in the one or more locations to have additional wild values.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein any bonus symbols located in the transformation field of the special wild symbol retains its bonus value in addition to the wild status.
7. A program product embodied in one or more tangible non-transitory computer readable media, the program product including code executable by a gaming machine and at least one gaming server for:
- (a) receiving a wager input from the player;
- (b) receiving a play input from the player;
- (c) displaying a matrix of symbol locations including a plurality of symbol locations;
- (d) displaying a number of symbols at selected symbol locations in the matrix, the symbol type indicative of elements in the matrix that are made available to be used in forming patterns according to rules of the wagering game;
- (e) the symbol elements including a special wild symbol having a fixed-size transformation field associated with it;
- (f) the special wild symbol causing symbols in the fixed-size transformation field adjacent to the special wild symbol to receive a wild status according to a dynamic conditional rule for determining the placement of the fixed-size transformation field;
- (g) the transformation field being applied in a non-symmetric multidirectional fashion;
- (h) after performing (f), evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and
- (i) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.
8. The program product of claim 7, wherein multiple transformation fields of multiple special wild symbols overlap one or more symbol locations in the matrix causing symbols in the one or more locations to have additional wild values.
9. The program product of claim 7, wherein any bonus symbols located in the transformation field of the special wild symbol retains its bonus value in addition to the wild status.
10. The method of claim 1 in which the dynamic conditional rule positions the fixed-size transformation field downward from the special wild symbol if the special wild symbol is in the upper half of the array, but positions the fixed-size transformation field upward from the special wild symbol if the symbol is in the lower half of the array.
11. The system of claim 4 in which the dynamic conditional rule positions the fixed-size transformation field downward from the special wild symbol if the special wild symbol is in the upper half of the array, but positions the fixed-size transformation field upward from the special wild symbol if the symbol is in the lower half of the array.
12. The program product of claim 7 in which the dynamic conditional rule positions the fixed-size transformation field downward from the special wild symbol if the special wild symbol is in the upper half of the array, but positions the fixed-size transformation field upward from the special wild symbol if the symbol is in the lower half of the array.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 13, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 17, 2013
Inventor: Brian Alexander Watkins (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 13/182,066
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);