Gaming system and method with an expanding symbol array feature
There is provided a gaming system and methods that utilize a presentation assembly configured to present a series of spins of a plurality of symbol-bearing reels arranged in multiple arrays. Upon the appearance of a catalyst symbol on one of the reels, at least one additional row of symbols is added between the arrays to join the arrays into a single large array to increase the probability of winning combinations of the symbols and to enable different types of winning combinations.
1 . A method of operating a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet and game-logic circuitry secured within a locked box inside the gaming cabinet, the game-logic circuitry including memory storing programming for a random number generator (RNG) and a wagering game, the method comprising the operations of:
prior to executing the wagering game, executing an authentication program on the gaming machine to authenticate at least RNG programming and wagering-game programming that determines game outcomes, wherein executing the authentication program comprises generating a live authentication code derived from contents of the memory and comparing the live authentication code to a trusted code stored in the memory, and permitting execution of the RNG programming and the wagering-game programming only upon a match;
presenting, by a presentation assembly under control of the game-logic circuitry, a plurality of reels, a first array, and a second array comprising a plurality of columns, the plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols;
conducting, by the game-logic circuitry, a spin of the plurality of reels of the wagering game, each spin including using the RNG to randomly determine an outcome of the spin;
maintaining, in the memory, a game-state data record indicative of at least (i) landed symbols for the first array and the second array, (ii) whether the landed symbols of either a first column of the first array or a first column of the second array comprise a catalyst symbol, and (iii) a current array-configuration state;
updating, by the game-logic circuitry and based on the randomly-determined outcome, the game-state data record to indicate the landed symbols, whether the catalyst symbol is present in the first column of the first array or the first column of the second array, and the current array-configuration state;
transforming, by the game-logic circuitry, the updated game-state data record into animation control signals for the presentation assembly;
outputting, by the game-logic circuitry, the animation control signals to the presentation assembly to animate spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to land symbols from the reels in the first array and the second array in accordance with the randomly-determined outcome;
if the landed symbols of either the first column of the first array or the first column of the second array do not comprise the catalyst symbol, causing, via the animation control signals, presentation, on the presentation assembly, of an award for any winning combination of symbols in the first array and the second array according to a first pay table; and
if the landed symbols of either the first column of the first array or the first column of the second array comprise the catalyst symbol, causing, via the animation control signals, animation, on the presentation assembly, of a visual transformation indicating the combining of some or all columns of the first array and the second array to form a new combined visual array presented by the presentatation assembly, wherein the visual transformation includes graphically replacing at least one row of the first array and the second array with the catalyst symbol, and causing, via the animation control signals, presentation, on the presentation assembly, of an award for a winning combination of symbols in the new combined visual array according to a second pay table.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pay table and the second pay table are the same.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pay table and the second pay table are different.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first pay table and the second pay table comprises ways pays.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining some or all of the columns of the first array and the second array to form a new array comprises adding one or more additional rows to one or more columns of the new array.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, if the landed symbols of either the first column of the first array or the first column of the second array comprise a catalyst symbol, the landed symbol in at least one row of the respective first array or second array is replaced by the catalyst symbol.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of symbols comprises value-bearing symbols and wherein the award for a winning combination of symbols in the new array is based on the values borne by the value-bearing symbols.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, via a value input device, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance; and
receiving, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a cash out input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a wager input that initiates the spin.
10 . A gaming system comprising:
a gaming machine including a gaming cabinet and game-logic circuitry secured within a locked box inside the gaming cabinet, the game-logic circuitry including memory storing programming for a random number generator (RNG) and a wagering game, the gaming machine further including a presentation assembly configured to present a plurality of reels and a first array and a second array comprising a plurality of columns, the plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols, the game-logic circuitry configured to perform the operations of:
prior to executing the wagering game, executing an authentication program on the gaming machine to authenticate at least RNG programming and wagering-game programming that determines game outcomes, wherein executing the authentication program comprises generating a live authentication code derived from contents of the memory and comparing the live authentication code to a trusted code stored in the memory, and permitting execution of the RNG programming and the wagering-game programming only upon a match;
conducting, by the game-logic circuitry, a spin of the plurality of reels of the wagering game, each spin including using the RNG to randomly determine an outcome of the spin;
maintaining, in the memory, a game-state data record indicative of at least (i) landed symbols for the first array and the second array, (ii) whether the landed symbols of either a first column of the first array or a first column of the second array comprise a catalyst symbol, and (iii) a current array-configuration state;
updating, by the game-logic circuitry and based on the randomly-determined outcome, the game-state data record to indicate the landed symbols, whether the catalyst symbol is present in the first column of the first array or the first column of the second array, and the current array-configuration state;
transforming, by the game-logic circuitry, the updated game-state data record into animation control signals for the presentation assembly;
outputting, by the game-logic circuitry, the animation control signals to the presentation assembly to animate spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to land symbols from the reels in the first array and the second array in accordance with the randomly-determined outcome;
if the landed symbols of either the first column of the first array or the first column of the second array do not comprise a catalyst symbol, causing, via the animation control signals, presentation, on the presentation assembly, of an award for any winning combination of symbols in the first array and the second array according to a first pay table; and
if the landed symbols of either the first column of the first array or the first column of the second array comprise the catalyst symbol, causing, via the animation control signals, animation, on the presentation assembly, of a visual transformation indicating the combining of some or all columns of the first array and the second array to form a new combined visual array presented by the presentation assembly, wherein the visual transformation includes graphically replacing at least one row of the first array and the second array with the catalyst symbol, and causing, via the animation control signals, presentation, on the presentation assembly, of an award for a winning combination of symbols in the new combined visual array according to a second pay table.
11 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the first pay table and the second pay table are the same.
12 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the first pay table and the second pay table are different.
13 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first pay table and the second pay table comprises ways pays.
14 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein combining some or all of the first array and the second array to form a new array comprises adding one or more additional rows to one or more columns of the new array.
15 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein, if the landed symbols of either the first column of the first array or the first column of the second array comprise a catalyst symbol, the landed symbol in at least one row of the respective first array or second array is replaced by the catalyst symbol.
16 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of symbols comprises value-bearing symbols and wherein the award for a winning combination of symbols in the new array is based on the values borne by the value-bearing symbols.
17 . The gaming system of claim 10 , further comprising the operations of:
detecting, via a value input device, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance; and
receiving, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a cash out input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.
18 . The gaming system of claim 10 , further comprising the operation of receiving, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a wager input that initiates the spin.