Multiple-game gaming machine
View Patent ↗A gaming machine includes a gaming console. A display is mounted in the gaming console for displaying a wagering game and its result. A controller controls operation of the game, the controller displaying the result of a first game on the display, making payment of a prize if the first game has a prize winning result and, thereafter, irrespective of the result of the first game, varying a result displayed on the display without requiring any additional wager by a player whether before or after completion of the first game.
1. A method, comprising:
displaying a first plurality of symbols on a gaming machine;
awarding a first prize in response to the first plurality of symbols comprising a winning group of symbols;
displaying a second plurality of symbols on the gaming machine;
awarding a second prize in response to the second plurality of symbols comprising a winning group of symbols; and
triggering a feature of the gaming machine in response to determining that the first plurality of symbols and the second plurality of symbols combined include at least a threshold count of a predetermined symbol.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
counting how many of the predetermined symbol are present in the first plurality of symbols; and
counting how many of the predetermined symbol are present the second plurality of symbols.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
spinning a plurality of symbol carrying reels of the gaming machine to obtain the first plurality of symbols; and
spinning at least a subset of the plurality of symbol carrying reels to obtain the second plurality of symbols.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
said awarding the first prize comprises awarding the first prize in response to determining that the first plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols in alignment with a pay line of the gaming machine; and
said awarding a second prize comprises awarding the second prize in response to determining that the second plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols in alignment with a pay line of the gaming machine.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
said awarding a first prize comprises awarding the first prize in response to determining that the first plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols in alignment with a pay line of the gaming machine; and
said spinning at least the subset of symbol carrying reels comprises spinning at least the subset of symbol carrying reels regardless of whether the first plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising awarding a free series of games in response to triggering the feature.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a screen animation in response to triggering the feature.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
displaying the first plurality of symbols comprises displaying a first video simulation of spinning reels upon a screen of the gaming machine; and
displaying the second plurality of symbols comprises displaying a second video simulation of spinning reels upon the screen.
9. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising a program, that in response to being executed, causes a gaming machine to:
display a first plurality of symbols;
award a first prize in response to the first plurality of symbols comprising a winning group of symbols;
display a second plurality of symbols;
award a second prize in response to the second plurality of symbols comprising a winning group of symbols; and
trigger a feature of the gaming machine in response to determining that the first plurality of symbols and the second plurality of symbols combined include at least a threshold count of a predetermined symbol.
10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the program, in response to being executed, further causes a gaming machine to:
count how many of the predetermined symbol are present in the first plurality of symbols; and
count how many of the predetermined symbol are present the second plurality of symbols.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the program, in response to being executed, further causes a gaming machine to:
spin a plurality of symbol carrying reels of the gaming machine to obtain the first plurality of symbols; and
spin at least a subset of the plurality of symbol carrying reels to obtain the second plurality of symbols.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the program, in response to being executed, further causes a gaming machine to:
award the first prize in response to determining that the first plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols in alignment with a pay line of the gaming machine; and
award the second prize in response to determining that the second plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols in alignment with a pay line of the gaming machine.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the program, in response to being executed, further causes a gaming machine to:
award the first prize in response to determining that the first plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols in alignment with a pay line of the gaming machine; and
spin at least the subset of symbol carrying reels regardless of whether the first plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the program, in response to being executed, further causes a gaming machine to award a free series of games in response to triggering the feature.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the program, in response to being executed, further causes a gaming machine to display a screen animation in response to triggering the feature.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the program, in response to being executed, further causes a gaming machine to:
display a first video simulation of spinning reels upon a screen of the gaming machine to obtain the first plurality of symbols; and
display a second video simulation of spinning reels upon the screen to obtain the second plurality of symbols.
17. A game machine, comprising
a display configured to display a plurality of symbols;
a user interface configured to receive user input;
a validation device configured to indicate receipt of a sufficient wager; and
a control system configured to cause the display to present a first plurality of symbols, award a first prize in response to the first plurality of symbols comprising a winning group of symbols, to cause the display to present a second plurality of symbols, award a second prize in response to the second plurality of symbols comprising a winning group of symbols, and trigger a feature of the gaming machine in response to determining that the first plurality of symbols and the second plurality of symbols combined include at least a threshold count of a predetermined symbol.
18. The game machine of claim 17 , wherein the control system is further configured to cause a plurality of symbol carrying reels of the display to spin in order to obtain the first plurality of symbols, and cause at least a subset of the plurality of symbol carrying reels to spin in order to obtain the second plurality of symbols.
19. The game machine of claim 18 , wherein the control system is further configured to award the first prize in response to determining that the first plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols in alignment with a pay line of the gaming machine, and award the second prize in response to determining that the second plurality of symbols comprises a winning group of symbols in alignment with a pay line of the gaming machine.
20. The game machine of claim 18 , wherein the display is configured to present spinning of the plurality of symbol carrying reels as a screen animation.