Wagering game including multiple arrays of reel symbols
View Patent ↗A gaming system displays a first array of symbols and a second array of symbols for a wagering game. The second array of symbols includes at least one second-array reel. The at least one second-array reel includes a predetermined sequence of symbols. The at least one second-array reel rotates the predetermined sequence of symbols to determine at least partially the second array of symbols. The second array is divided into at least two sub-arrays, the at least one second-array reel extending into the at least two sub-arrays. A controller selects at least one symbol from the first array and copies the at least one selected symbol into one or more positions in each of the at least two sub-arrays. The at least two sub-arrays is displayed with combinations of symbols including the at least one selected symbol. The controller evaluates the combinations to determine an outcome to the wagering game.
1. A gaming system comprising:
a credit detector adapted to detect a wager to play a wagering game;
a display adapted to display, in response to the wager, a first array of symbols and a second array of symbols for the wagering game, the second array of symbols including at least one second-array reel, the at least one second-array reel including a predetermined sequence of symbols, the at least one second-array reel rotating the predetermined sequence of symbols to determine at least partially the second array of symbols, the second array being divided into at least two sub-arrays, the at least one second-array reel extending into the at least two sub-arrays; and
a controller operative to select at least one symbol from the first array and to copy the at least one selected symbol into one or more positions in each of the at least two sub-arrays, the at least two sub-arrays being displayed with combinations of symbols including the at least one selected symbol, the controller evaluating the combinations of symbols in the at least two sub-arrays to determine an outcome to the wagering game.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one selected symbol replaces at least one symbol in the predetermined sequence of symbols of one of the reels in the second array.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the first array and each of the sub-arrays include the same number of columns and rows, and the at least one symbol is copied to each of the sub-arrays according to a one-to-one mapping between the first array and each of the sub-arrays.
4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller selects the at least one selected symbol according to a position of the at least one selected symbol in the first array.
5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the second array is evenly divided by the sub-arrays.
6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the first array is selected from a larger array.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller evaluates the combinations of symbols in the at least two sub-arrays according to one or more paylines in each sub-array, the one or more paylines being determined by a selection of corresponding one or more paylines in the first array.
8. A method of conducting a wagering game for a human player, the wagering game including a game sequence in which the player provides an input and a wagering game outcome is determined, the method comprising the acts of:
using a user interface device to accept the player input, and transforming the player input to electronic data signals indicative of a wager to play the wagering game;
using one or more processors to interpret the wager from the data signals and to cause the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage devices;
using at least one of the processors to initiate the game sequence of the wagering game;
using at least one of the processors to cause at least one display device to display a first array of symbols and a second array of symbols for the wagering game, the second array of symbols including at least one second-array reel, the at least one second-array reel including a predetermined sequence of symbols, the at least one second-array reel rotating the predetermined sequence of symbols to determine at least partially the second array of symbols, the second array being divided into at least two sub-arrays, the at least one second-array reel extending into the at least two sub-arrays; and
using at least one of the processors to select at least one symbol from the first array and to copy the at least one selected symbol into one or more positions in each of the at least two sub-arrays, the at least two sub-arrays being displayed with combinations of symbols including the at least one selected symbol; and
evaluating the combinations of symbols in the at least two sub-arrays to determine an outcome to the wagering game.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one selected symbol replaces at least one symbol in the predetermined sequence of symbols of one of the reels in the second array.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first array and each of the sub-arrays include the same number of columns and rows, and the at least one symbol is copied to each of the sub-arrays according to a one-to-one mapping between the first array and each of the sub-arrays.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising using the at least one processor to selects the at least one selected symbol according to a position of the at least one selected symbol in the first array.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein evaluating the combinations of symbols in the at least two sub-arrays comprises evaluating the combinations of symbols in the at least two sub-arrays according to one or more paylines in each sub-array, the one or more paylines being determined by a selection of corresponding one or more paylines in the first array.
13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having an instruction set borne thereby, the instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by a controller, the acts of:
using a user interface device to accept the player input, and transforming the player input to electronic data signals indicative of a wager to play the wagering game;
using one or more processors to interpret the wager from the data signals and to cause the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage devices;
using at least one of the processors to initiate the game sequence of the wagering game;
using at least one of the processors to cause at least one display device to display a first array of symbols and a second array of symbols for the wagering game, the second array of symbols including at least one second-array reel, the at least one second-array reel including a predetermined sequence of symbols, the at least one second-array reel rotating the predetermined sequence of symbols to determine at least partially the second array of symbols, the second array being divided into at least two sub-arrays, the at least one second-array reel extending into the at least two sub-arrays; and
using at least one of the processors to select at least one symbol from the first array and to copy the at least one selected symbol into one or more positions in each of the at least two sub-arrays, the at least two sub-arrays being displayed with combinations of symbols including the at least one selected symbol; and
evaluating the combinations of symbols in the at least two sub-arrays to determine an outcome to the wagering game.