Electronic amusement device and method for operating a game offering continuous reels

1. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a gaming device to:

initiate a paid play;

determine an outcome of said paid play;

visually display said outcome on at least first graphical display area and a second graphical display area, said first and second graphical display areas comprising respective first and second visual continuums and each said first and second graphical display areas lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols, said first and second visual continuums each including a continuous image, wherein said outcome is represented by the relative positions of said first and second visual continuums;

wherein the payout is determined by comparing relative positions of the first and second visual continuums to a payline; and

determine a payout based on said outcome.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein said first and second visual continuums are disposed on rotatable reels.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical display area and the second graphical display area each comprises a respective reel strip of a mechanical reel slot machine.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical display area and the second graphical display area each comprises a respective portion of a video display of a video slot machine.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein said first and second visual continuums are displayed on electronic graphical displays.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second visual continuums comprises a respective continuum of color.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second visual continuums comprises a respective continuum of a physical dimension.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein said physical dimension comprises a width.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each said continuous image is capable of gradually changing its viewable appearance during game play of the gaming device.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each said continuous image is capable of continuously changing its viewable appearance during game play of the gaming device.

11. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a gaming device to:

initiate a paid play;

determine an outcome of said paid play;

display a first animated representation on a first graphical display area, said first animated representation creating an appearance of a first visual continuum comprising a continuous image and said first graphical display area lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols;

display a second animated representation on a second graphical display area, said second animated representation creating an appearance of a second visual continuum comprising a continuous image and said second graphical display area lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols, wherein said first animated presentation is identical to said second animated presentation;

halt said first and second animated representations to display said outcome; and

determine a payout based on said outcome.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first graphical display area and the second graphical display area each comprises a respective reel strip of a mechanical reel slot machine.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first graphical display area and the second graphical display area each comprises a respective portion of a video display of a video slot machine.

14. A method of operating a gaming device, comprising:

initiating a paid play;

determining, based on a random number, an outcome of said paid play;

displaying said outcome via at least a first graphical display area and a second graphical display area,

wherein said first graphical display area comprises a first visual continuum and said second graphical display area comprises a second visual continuum,

wherein said first graphical display area and said second graphical display area each lacks multiple discrete unconnected symbols,

wherein said first visual continuum and said second visual continuum each includes a continuous image,

and further wherein said outcome is represented by the relative positions of said first visual continuum and said second visual continuum, wherein determining the outcome comprises comparing relative positions of the first and second visual continuums to a payline; and

determining a payout based on said outcome.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the gaming device comprises a slot machine, and wherein the first graphical display area comprises at least one of a reel strip and a portion of a video monitor of the gaming device, and wherein the second graphical display area comprises at least one of a reel strip and a second portion of the video monitor of the gaming device.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of said first and second visual continuums comprises a respective continuum of color.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein each of said first and second visual continuums comprises a respective continuum of a physical dimension.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said physical dimension comprises a width.

19. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a gaming device to:

initiate a paid play;

determine an outcome of said paid play;

visually display said outcome on at least first graphical display area and a second graphical display area, said first and second graphical display areas comprising respective first and second visual continuums and each said first and second graphical display areas lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols, said first and second visual continuums each including a continuous image, wherein said outcome is represented by the relative positions of said first and second visual continuums; and

determine a payout based on said outcome, wherein said first and second visual continuums are disposed on rotatable reels.

20. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a gaming device to:

initiate a paid play;

determine an outcome of said paid play;

visually display said outcome on at least first graphical display area and a second graphical display area, said first and second graphical display areas comprising respective first and second visual continuums and each said first and second graphical display areas lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols, said first and second visual continuums each including a continuous image, wherein said outcome is represented by the relative positions of said first and second visual continuums; and

determine a payout based on said outcome, wherein the first graphical display area and the second graphical display area each comprises a respective reel strip of a mechanical reel slot machine.

21. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a gaming device to:

initiate a paid play;

determine an outcome of said paid play;

display a first animated representation on a first graphical display area, said first animated representation creating an appearance of a first visual continuum comprising a continuous image and said first graphical display area lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols;

display a second animated representation on a second graphical display area, said second animated representation creating an appearance of a second visual continuum comprising a continuous image and said second graphical display area lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols;

halt said first and second animated representations to display said outcome; and

determine a payout based on said outcome, wherein the first graphical display area and the second graphical display area each comprises a respective reel strip of a mechanical reel slot machine.

22. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a gaming device to:

initiate a paid play;

determine an outcome of said paid play;

display a first animated representation on a first graphical display area, said first animated representation creating an appearance of a first visual continuum comprising a continuous image and said first graphical display area lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols;

display a second animated representation on a second graphical display area, said second animated representation creating an appearance of a second visual continuum comprising a continuous image and said second graphical display area lacking multiple discrete unconnected symbols, wherein the outcome is determined by comparing relative positions of the first and second visual continuums to a payline;

halt said first and second animated representations to display said outcome; and

determine a payout based on said outcome.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein said first animated presentation is identical to said second animated presentation.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the first graphical display area and the second graphical display area each comprises a respective reel strip of a mechanical reel slot machine.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the first graphical display area and the second graphical display area each comprises a respective portion of a video display of a video slot machine.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein said first and second visual continuums are disposed on rotatable reels.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein said first and second visual continuums are displayed on electronic graphical displays.