Method, apparatus, and program product for conducting a game using both unisymbol and multisymbol reel effects
View Patent ↗A novel game is provided that transforms at least a part of the graphic symbol matrix shown on a video-based reel-type gaming machine to change the game operation from multi-symbol reels to single-symbol reels. Methods, apparatus and program products for implementing the game are provided. A preferred game operates in a first display matrix state displaying a symbol matrix. The symbol matrix provides a game play result by displaying two or more reel representations that combine to form the symbol matrix. In response to a trigger event in game play, the game switches to a second display matrix state where it is modified to show single-symbol reel representations with separating elements between at least one pair of adjacent symbols of a respective reel representation. Multiple sets of data structures are provided for operation in each display state.
1. A method including:
(a) displaying a matrix of symbol locations in a first game play state, the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state being displayed by two or more reel representations aligned along a common axis of rotation, each reel representation displaying at least two adjacent symbol locations of the matrix of symbol locations, and each symbol location displaying a respective reel symbol;
(b) in response to a first game activation associated with a first wager initiated by a player while the matrix of symbol locations is displayed in the first game play state, simulating the rotation of each reel representation to change the symbols displayed by the matrix of symbol locations;
(c) in response to a trigger event while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the first game play state, displaying an animated graphic sequence which includes more than one animated action occurring with regard to the matrix of symbol locations with the effect of modifying the matrix of symbol locations to display the matrix of symbol locations in a second game play state, the modification including, as part of the animated graphic sequence, adding a previously not present separating element displayed between at least one pair of adjacent symbol locations displayed by a respective reel representation, the modification further including changing the two or more reel representations from simulating multi-symbol reels in the first game play state to simulating uni-symbol reels in the second game play state; and
(d) in response to a second game activation initiated by the player while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the second game play state, simulating an independent rotation for at least one of the symbol locations of a respective pair of adjacent symbol locations having a respective separating element shown there between, the simulated independent rotation changing the symbol displayed at the respective symbol location independently of any other symbol location in the matrix of symbol locations.
2. The method of claim 1 further including, in response to a second trigger event while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the second game play state, displaying an animated graphic sequence which includes more than one animated action occurring with regard to the matrix of symbol locations with the effect of modifying the matrix of symbol locations to display the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state and to, in response to a subsequent game play request, operate a subsequent game with the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state.
3. The method of claim 1 further including, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, maintaining each symbol shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification.
4. The method of claim 1 further including, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, randomly changing each symbol shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification.
5. The method of claim 1 further including, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, changing each symbol shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification in accordance with a second symbol scheme associated with the second game play state.
6. The method of claim 1 further including, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, modifying a set of potential symbols for display at each matrix location.
7. The method of claim 1 further including, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, modifying game conditions to provide an altered set of game outcome probabilities.
8. The method of claim 1 further including, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, modifying a game paytable.
9. A gaming machine including:
(a) a video display device;
(b) a player interface; and
(c) a presentation controller, the presentation controller for (i) causing the video display device to display a matrix of symbol locations in a first game play state, the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state being displayed by two or more reel representations aligned along a common axis of rotation, each reel representation displaying at least two adjacent symbol locations of the matrix of symbol locations, and each symbol location displaying a respective reel symbol; and for (ii) in response to a first game activation associated with a first wager initiated by a player while the matrix of symbol locations is displayed in the first game play state, simulating the rotation of each reel representation to change the symbols displayed by the matrix of symbol locations; and for (iii) in response to a trigger event while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the first game play state, displaying an animated graphic sequence which includes more than one animated action occurring with regard to the matrix of symbol locations with the effect of modifying the matrix of symbol locations to display the matrix of symbol locations in a second game play state, the modification including, as part of the animated graphic sequence, adding a previously not present separating element displayed between at least one pair of adjacent symbol locations displayed by a respective reel representation, the modification further including changing the two or more reel representations from simulating multi-symbol reels in the first game play state to simulating uni-symbol reels in the second game play state; and for (iv) in response to a second game activation initiated by the player while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the second game play state, simulating an independent rotation for at least one of the symbol locations of a respective pair of adjacent symbol locations having a respective separating element shown there between, the simulated independent rotation changing the symbol displayed at the respective symbol location independently of any other symbol location in the matrix of symbol locations.
10. The gaming machine of claim 9 in which the presentation controller is further for, in response to a second trigger event while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the second game play state, displaying an animated graphic sequence which includes more than one animated action occurring with regard to the matrix of symbol locations with the effect of modifying the matrix of symbol locations to display the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state and to, in response to a subsequent game play request, operate a subsequent game with the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state.
11. The gaming machine of claim 9 in which the presentation controller is further for, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, maintaining each symbol shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification.
12. The gaming machine of claim 9 in which the presentation controller is further for, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, changing each symbol shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification in accordance with a second symbol scheme associated with the second game play state.
13. The gaming machine of claim 9 in which the presentation controller is further for, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, modifying a set of potential symbols for display at each matrix location.
14. The gaming machine of claim 9 in which the presentation controller is further for, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, modifying game conditions to provide an altered set of game outcome probabilities.
15. A program product embodied in one or more non-transitory computer readable media, the program product including:
(a) first game program code executable by a computer processor, the first game program code causing the computer processor to transmit electronic signals via a system bus to cause a gaming machine to operate in a game play mode in which a game display device associated with the gaming machine displays a matrix of symbol locations in a first game play state, the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state being displayed by two or more reel representations aligned along a common axis of rotation, each reel representation displaying at least two adjacent symbol locations of the matrix of symbol locations, and each symbol location displaying a respective reel symbol, the first game program code further executable to, in response to a first game activation associated with a first wager initiated by a player while the matrix of symbol locations is displayed in the first game play state, cause the computer processing device to transmit electronic signals via the system bus to cause the game display device to simulate the rotation of each reel representation to change the symbols displayed by the matrix of symbol locations; and
(b) second game program code executable to, in response to a trigger event while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the first game play state, cause the computer processor to transmit electronic signals via a system bus in order to modify the matrix of symbol locations to display an animated graphic sequence which includes more than one animated action occurring with regard to the matrix of symbol locations with the effect of displaying the matrix of symbol locations in a second game play state, the modification including, as part of the animated graphic sequence, adding a previously not present separating element displayed between at least one pair of adjacent symbol locations displayed by a respective reel representation, the modification further including changing the two or more reel representations from simulating multi-symbol reels in the first game play state to simulating uni-symbol reels in the second game play state, and in response to a second game activation issued by the player via a game input device while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the second game play state, cause the computer processing device to transmit electronic signals via the system bus, in order to cause the game display device to simulate an independent rotation for at least one of the symbol locations of a respective pair of adjacent symbol locations having a respective separating element shown there between, the simulated independent rotation changing the symbol displayed at the respective symbol location independently of any other symbol location in the matrix of symbol locations.
16. The program product of claim 15 in which the second game program code is operable to, in response to a second trigger event while the matrix of symbol locations is operated in the second game play state, displaying an animated graphic sequence which includes more than one animated action occurring with regard to the matrix of symbol locations with the effect of modifying the matrix of symbol locations to display the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state and to, in response to a subsequent game play request, operate a subsequent game with the matrix of symbol locations in the first game play state.
17. The program product of claim 15 in which the second game program code is operable to, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, maintain each symbol shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification.
18. The program product of claim 15 in which the second game program code is operable to, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, change each symbol shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification in accordance with a second symbol scheme associated with the second game play state.
19. The program product of claim 15 in which the second game program code is operable to, when modifying the matrix to display the matrix of symbol locations in the second game play state, modify game conditions to provide an altered set of game outcome probabilities.
20. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting from a first group of scripts for play in the first game play state, the first group of scripts for controlling display of reel representations for multi-symbol reels, and further comprising selecting from a second group of scripts provided for play in the second game play state, the second group of scripts for controlling display of the reel representations for uni-symbol reels.