Wagering game with awarded paylines
View Patent ↗A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more additional payline awards made through special symbols appearing in the game. The number of additional paylines is determined based at least on the special symbol present. A preferred version provides a slot machine game with a payline meter zone on a dedicated display or beside the reels which emphasizes to the player the amount of additional paylines provided and their application in the prize award.
1. A method for providing additional paylines in a wagering game conducted through a gaming machine, the method including:
(a) controlling a gaming display device of the gaming machine with one or more electronic processors associated with the gaming machine, the gaming display device displaying a gaming zone comprising a matrix of symbol locations through which multiple original paylines are defined, each original payline defining a respective position for one of a number of possible winning patterns of symbols;
(b) receiving a player game activation through a player interface of the gaming machine and, in response, beginning an animated display in the gaming zone under control of the one or more electronic processors, the animated display showing motion in the symbol locations indicating a game is in progress;
(c) stopping the animated display in the gaming zone under control of the one or more electronic processors to show a game result in the symbol locations, the game result including a number of symbols arranged in the symbol locations, and possibly including a special symbol;
(d) if the special symbol is included in the game result in one or more designated locations, (i) providing multiple additional paylines defined in the matrix of symbol locations, each additional payline defining a respective position for one of the possible winning patterns of symbols, and wherein at least one of the additional paylines does not intersect the symbol location of the special symbol, and the number of additional paylines is based on a characteristic of the special symbol; and (ii) under control of the one or more electronic processors, determining an award for the game based on the original paylines and the additional paylines being applied to the game result; and
(e) paying the award determined for the game.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the special symbol comprises one of a number of special symbols, each respective special symbol causing a different designated quantity of additional paylines to be provided and evaluated.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each special symbol includes a visual indication of the number of additional paylines with which that special symbol is associated.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a meter indicator in a second display zone separate from the gaming zone, the meter indicator providing a graphical representation of the total paylines employed including the original paylines and the additional paylines.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting the award for the game in an animation having a first phase depicting the original paylines being applied and a second phase depicting the additional paylines being applied.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising displaying a meter indicator in a second display zone separate from the gaming zone, the meter indicator providing a graphical representation of the total paylines employed including the original paylines and the additional paylines, the meter indicator being animated simultaneously with the second phase of the animation to depict the additional paylines being applied.
7. A program product comprising program code stored on one or more tangible, non-transitory computer readable media, the program code executable by at least one processor associated with a gaming machine for:
(a) controlling a gaming display device of the gaming machine, the gaming display device displaying a gaming zone comprising a matrix of symbol locations through which multiple original paylines are defined, each original payline defining a respective position for one of a number of possible winning patterns of symbols;
(b) receiving a player game activation from a player interface of the gaming machine and, in response, beginning an animated display in the gaming zone showing motion in the symbol locations indicating a game is in progress;
(c) stopping the animated display in the gaming zone to show a game result in the symbol locations, the game result including a number of symbols arranged in the symbol locations, and possibly including a special symbol;
(d) if the special symbol is included in the game result in one or more designated locations, (i) providing multiple additional paylines defined in the matrix of symbol locations, each additional payline defining a respective position for one of the possible winning patterns of symbols, and wherein at least one of the additional paylines does not intersect the symbol location of the special symbol, and the number of additional paylines is based on a characteristic of the special symbol; and (ii) determining an award for the game based on the original multiple paylines and the additional paylines being applied to the game result; and
(e) paying the award determined for the game.
8. The program product of claim 7 , wherein the special symbol comprises one of a number of special symbols, each respective special symbol causing a different designated quantity of additional paylines to be provided and evaluated.
9. The program product of claim 8 , wherein each special symbol includes a visual indication of the number of additional paylines with which that special symbol is associated.
10. The program product of claim 7 , further comprising displaying a meter indicator in a second display zone separate from the gaming zone, the meter indicator providing a graphical representation of the total paylines employed including the original paylines and the additional paylines.
11. The program product of claim 7 , further comprising presenting the award for the game in an animation having a first phase depicting the original paylines being applied and a second phase depicting the additional paylines being applied.
12. The program product of claim 11 , further comprising displaying a meter indicator in a second display zone separate from the gaming zone, the meter indicator providing a graphical representation of the total paylines employed including the original paylines and the additional paylines, the meter indicator being animated simultaneously with the second phase of the animation to depict the additional paylines being applied.