Wagering game with altered payline
A method of conducting a wagering game includes determining a randomly-selected outcome in response to receiving a wager input from a player. The randomly-selected outcome is selected from a plurality of outcomes that includes at least one winning outcome. Each of the plurality of outcomes is represented via a plurality of symbols arranged in a plurality of columns. The method further includes displaying the randomly-selected outcome. A prize is awarded if a symbol combination is aligned along an active payline to indicate the winning outcome. The symbol combination includes a number of symbols that is less than the number of columns.
1 . A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising:
determining a randomly-selected outcome in response to receiving a wager input from a player, said randomly-selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes including at least one winning outcome, each of said plurality of outcomes being represented via a plurality of symbols arranged in a plurality of columns;
displaying said randomly-selected outcome; and
awarding a prize if a symbol combination is aligned along an active payline for indicating said at least one winning outcome, said symbol combination including a number of symbols that is less than said number of columns.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said active payline is one from a group consisting of a one-reel payline, a two-reel payline, a three-reel payline, and a four-reel payline, said plurality of symbol-bearing reels including at least five reels.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said active payline extends across adjacent reels for said active payline.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein two consecutive symbols on said active payline are located on non-adjacent reels.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting said active payline via a player input.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an all-reel payline that includes symbols on all of said reels, said randomly-selected outcome also being indicated by said all-reel payline.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said all-reel payline is paid for by said wager input, and further comprising selecting said active payline in response to receiving a side wager input.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said side wager input is less than said wager input.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting said active payline in response to receiving said wager input.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said active payline is a plurality of paylines, said method further comprising selecting a predetermined combination of paylines from said plurality of paylines in response to receiving a side wager input, said combination of paylines being based on a combination of reels selected from a group consisting of one reel, two reels, three reels, and four reels, said plurality of reels including at least five reels.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a starting point of said active payline is located on an inner reel of said symbol-bearing reels, said inner reel being located between two of said symbol-bearing reels.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said active payline wraps around from one outer reel of said symbol-bearing reels to another outer reel of said symbol-bearing reels, each of said outer reel and said another outer reel being located next to only one reel of said symbol-bearing reels.
13 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, comprising:
accepting a primary wager input and a secondary wager input for a wagering game on a gaming system;
in response to said primary wager input, selecting a primary randomly-selected outcome for said wagering game, the primary randomly-selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes, each of said plurality of outcomes being represented via a plurality of symbols arranged in a plurality of columns;
in response to said secondary wager input, selecting a secondary randomly-selected outcome from said plurality of outcomes for said wagering game;
aligning a first symbol combination along a primary active payline for indicating said primary randomly-selected outcome, the first symbol combination including a number of symbols that is equal to said number of columns; and
aligning a second symbol combination along a secondary active payline for indicating said secondary randomly-selected outcome, said second symbol combination including a number of symbols that is less than said number of columns.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing an award according to a common paytable if either one of said primary outcome and said secondary outcome is a winning outcome.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing an award according to a first paytable for said primary outcome and an award according to a second paytable for said secondary outcome.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising activating said secondary active payline in response to said secondary wager input.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said gaming system includes a set of spinning reels having five reels, said secondary active payline extending at least across three reels.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said primary active payline is a plurality of primary active paylines and said secondary active payline is a plurality of secondary active paylines, said secondary wager input having a reduced wagering amount as compared to a wagering amount for said primary wagering input when all of said primary paylines have been activated.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising including in said plurality of secondary active paylines all paylines possible based on a subset of reels selected from a group consisting of one reel, two reels, three reels, and four reels.
20 . A gaming system for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal, comprising:
a display on said gaming terminal for displaying a randomly-selected outcome, said randomly-selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes including at least one winning outcome, each of said plurality of outcomes being represented via a plurality of symbols arranged in a plurality of columns; and
a controller coupled to said display and programmed to award a prize if a symbol combination is aligned along an active payline for indicating said at least one winning outcome, said symbol combination including a number of symbols that is less than said number of columns.
21 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein said active payline extends only across adjacent reels of a plurality of reels.
22 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein said active payline extends across nonadjacent reels of a plurality of reels.
23 . The gaming system of claim 20 , further comprising a player input device for selecting said active payline, said player input device being coupled to said controller.
24 . The gaming system of claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of mechanical reels.
25 . The gaming system of claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of video reels.
26 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein said controller is further programmed to determine said randomly-selected outcome.
27 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein said controller is located within said gaming terminal.