Bonus game using a subset of reels
View Patent ↗A gaming method includes spinning the plurality of reels 20 within a display window 30 of the gaming machine 10 . A subset of the spinning reels 20 is then selected for use in determining the game outcome. The non-selected reels are removed from a player's view within the display window 30 . The selected reels are then appealingly repositioned into a closer grouping within the display window. The gaming machine then determines if the selected and repositioned reels produce a winning game outcome. A prize is awarded if a winning game outcome is achieved.
1. A gaming method for playing a reel selection slot machine, the method comprising:
spinning a plurality of reels within a display window, the plurality of reels each displaying one or more game symbols;
selecting a subset of the currently spinning reels from the plurality of reels for use in determining a game outcome, wherein the selection of the reels for use in determining a game outcome is player controlled;
removing the non-selected reels from a player's view within the display window;
consolidating the selected subset of the reels within the display window, wherein consolidating the selected reels within the display window comprises juxtapositioning the selected subset of the reels to eliminate any non-contiguous positioning of the selected reels produced by the removal of the non-selected reels; and
stopping the subset of the currently spinning reels and determining if the selected subset of reels produce a winning game outcome, and awarding a prize if a winning game outcome is achieved.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: stopping the spinning of the selected reels, before the consolidating of the selected reels within the display window.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: stopping the spinning of the selected reels, before the removing of the non-selected reels from a player's view within the display window.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reels are video representations of physical reels.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
randomly changing the position of the selected reels after the removing of the non-selected reels.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming method is used as a bonus game in conjunction with an underlying primary game.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a winning game outcome in the bonus game results in a prize that is added to a prize won in the underlying primary game.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein a winning game outcome in the bonus game results in multiplying a prize won in the underlying primary game.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein a non-winning game outcome in the bonus game reduces a prize won in the underlying primary game.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein a non-winning game outcome in the bonus game includes at least the possibility of losing a prize won in the underlying primary game.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming method is used as a primary game.
12. A gaming method for playing a reel selection slot machine that includes a plurality of reels, the method comprising:
spinning the plurality of reels;
selecting a subset of the currently spinning reels from the plurality of reels, wherein the subset of currently spinning reels is used to determine a game outcome, wherein the selection of the subset of reels for use in determining a game outcome is player controlled;
removing the non-selected reels from a player's view before determining the game outcome;
rearranging the subset of the currently spinning reels adjacent to one another before determining the game outcome;
stopping the subset of the currently spinning reels and determining if the selected reels produce a winning game outcome; and
awarding a prize if a winning game outcome is achieved.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: stopping the spinning of the selected reels, before the rearranging of the selected reels adjacent to one another.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: stopping the spinning of the selected reels, before the removing of the non-selected reels from a player's view.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein rearranging the selected reels within the display window comprises juxtapositioning the selected reels to eliminate any non-contiguous positioning of the selected reels produced by the removal of the non-selected reels.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the gaming method is used as a bonus game in conjunction with an underlying primary game.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the gaming method is used as a primary game.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of reels are video representations of physical reels.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
randomly changing the position of the selected reels after the removing of the non-selected reels.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein a winning game outcome in the bonus game results in a prize that is added to a prize won in the underlying primary game.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein a winning game outcome in the bonus game results in multiplying a prize won in the underlying primary game.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein a non-winning game outcome in the bonus game reduces a prize won in the underlying primary game.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein a non-winning game outcome in the bonus game includes at least the possibility of losing a prize won in the underlying primary game.
24. A gaming method for playing a reel selection slot machine, the method comprising:
spinning a plurality of reels, each reel displaying game symbols thereon;
selecting a subset of the currently spinning reels from the plurality of reels, wherein the subset of reels is used to determine a game outcome;
juxtapositioning the subset of the currently spinning reels to eliminate any non-contiguous positioning of the subset of the currently spinning reels resulting from interstitial location of non-selected reels before stopping the subset of the currently spinning reels;
stopping the subset of the currently spinning reels; and
determining if the selected subset of reels produce a winning game outcome, and awarding a prize if a winning game outcome is achieved.
25. A method for playing a reel selection slot machine, the method comprising:
spinning a plurality of reels, wherein the plurality of reels each displaying one or more game symbols;
selecting a subset of the currently spinning reels from the plurality of reels, wherein the subset of currently spinning reels is used to determine a game outcome;
removing the non-selected spinning reels from a player's view within the display window before determining the game outcome;
consolidating the subset of the currently spinning reels within the display window, wherein consolidating the subset of the currently spinning reels comprises juxtapositioning the subset of the currently spinning reels to eliminate any non-contiguous positioning of the subset of the currently spinning reels produced by the removal of the non-selected spinning reels;
stopping the subset of the currently spinning reels and determining if the selected subset of reels produce a winning game outcome; and
awarding a prize if a winning game outcome is achieved.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the reels are mechanical reels.
27. The method of claim 25 , further comprising randomly changing the positions of the currently spinning reels after the removing of the non-selected reels.
28. A method for playing a reel selection slot machine, the method comprising:
initiating a bonus game in response to a triggering event in a primary game by spinning a plurality of reels, wherein the plurality of reels each displaying one or more game symbols;
selecting a subset of the currently spinning reels from the plurality of reels, wherein the subset of currently spinning reels is used to determine a game outcome;
removing the non-selected spinning reels from a player's view within the display window before determining the game outcome;
consolidating the subset of the currently spinning reels within the display window, wherein consolidating the subset of the currently spinning reels comprises juxtapositioning the subset of the currently spinning reels to eliminate any non-contiguous positioning of the subset of the currently spinning reels produced by the removal of the non-selected spinning reels;
stopping the subset of the currently spinning reels and determining if the selected subset of reels produce a winning game outcome; and
awarding a prize if a winning game outcome is achieved.
29. The method of claim 28 , further comprising decreasing a prize of the primary game in response to a non-winning game outcome of the bonus game.