Symbol and Reel Substitution Methods for Multi-Line Slot Machines
A method of operating a slot machine, and a slot machine in which the method may be used. One or more symbols on a reel are replaced with symbols prescribed by a selected schema. The schema may be selected randomly, or according to a weighted probability, or according to a count of recent plays. All symbols of one type may be replaced with one other type of symbol, or with a variety of different symbols as prescribed by the schema. A symbol stack may be replaced with another symbol stack. Symbols may be replaced on one, several, or all of the reels that make up the display.
1 . A method of operating a slot machine comprising:
(a) receiving from a player a command to initiate a play;
(b) selecting a symbol schema;
(c) replacing a plurality of symbols that make up a reel with symbols prescribed by the selected schema;
(d) presenting a spinning reel display to the player; and
(e) if a winning combination of symbols appears in a pay line of the slot machine, giving an award to the player.
2 . A method as in claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving a wager from the player.
3 . A method as in claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises selecting a schema randomly from among a plurality of schemas.
4 . A method as in claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises selecting a schema according to a weighted probability.
5 . A method as in claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises selecting a schema according to a count of recent plays.
6 . A method as in claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises replacing all symbols of one type with one other symbol as prescribed by the selected schema.
7 . A method as in claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises replacing all symbols of one type with various other symbols as prescribed by the selected schema.
8 . A method as in claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises replacing a symbol stack with a different symbol stack.
9 . A method as in claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises randomly selecting symbols for replacement.
10 . A method as in claim 1 and further comprising replacing a plurality of symbols that make up another reel with symbols prescribed by the selected schema.
11 . A slot machine comprising:
a processor;
a display of reels in electrical communication with the processor;
a start control in electrical communication with the processor; and
instructions that cause the processor, in response to a command from a player to initiate a play, to select a symbol schema, replace a plurality of symbols that make up a reel with symbols prescribed by the selected schema, present a spinning reel display to the player, and if a winning combination of symbols appears in a pay line, give an award to the player.
12 . A slot machine as in claim 11 where the display of reels comprises a visual depiction of a plurality of reels each carrying a plurality of symbols and a window through which the player can observe selected ones of the symbols carried by the reels in one or more pay line windows.
13 . A slot machine as in claim 11 and further comprising a memory that stores the instructions and provides them to the processor under control of the processor.
14 . A slot machine as in claim 11 wherein the start control comprises a coin box that receives a wager from the player.
15 . A slot machine as in claim 11 wherein selecting a symbol schema comprises selecting a schema randomly from among a plurality of schemas.
16 . A slot machine as in claim 11 wherein selecting a symbol schema comprises selecting a schema according to a count of recent plays.
17 . A slot machine as in claim 11 wherein replacing a plurality of symbols comprises replacing all symbols of one type with one other symbol as prescribed by the selected schema.
18 . A slot machine as in claim 11 wherein replacing a plurality of symbols comprises replacing a symbol stack with a different symbol stack.
19 . A slot machine as in claim 11 wherein replacing a plurality of symbols comprises replacing all symbols of one type with various other symbols as prescribed by the selected schema.
20 . A slot machine as in claim 11 wherein the instructions cause the processor to replace a plurality of symbols that make up another reel with symbols prescribed by the selected schema.