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 performed on an electronic gaming machine, the method including:
(a) displaying a matrix of a set number of symbol locations on an electronic display, the symbol locations arranged in rows and columns for displaying graphic symbols to communicate results for a wagering game;
(b) receiving a first game activation input from a player through a player input system of the gaming machine, the first game activation input requesting a spin of the matrix of symbol locations, and in response updating the matrix by simulating symbols being moved and stopped as multi-symbol reels to provide a first result for the first game activation input;
(c) in response to a first trigger event in the first result, altering the matrix of symbol locations to operate as simulated uni-symbol reels by associating a uni-symbol reel simulator with each existing symbol location in the matrix, and stopping the simulation of multi-symbol reels, and showing a graphic sequence designed to indicate to the player that uni-symbol reels are now being employed; and
(d) after (c), receiving a second game activation input from the player through the player input system, the second game activation input requesting a spin of the matrix of symbol locations now simulating uni-symbol reels, and in response, updating the matrix by visually simulating uni-symbol reels being spun and stopped in each symbol location.
2. The method of claim 1 further including:
(a) in response to a second trigger event while the matrix of symbol locations is simulating uni-symbol reels, altering the matrix of symbol locations to return to operation as simulated multi-symbol reels by associating a multi-symbol reel simulator with each existing column of symbol locations in the matrix, and stopping the simulation of uni-symbol reels, and showing a graphic sequence designed to indicate to the player that multi-symbol reels are now being employed; and
(b) in response to a subsequent game activation input, operate a subsequent game with the matrix of symbol locations simulating multi-symbol reels spinning and stopping to provide a subsequent game result.
3. The method of claim 1 further including, when altering the matrix of symbol locations to operate as simulated uni-symbol reels, initiating the state of each simulated uni-symbol reel to maintain each symbol previously shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification.
4. The method of claim 1 further including, when altering the matrix of symbol locations to operate as simulated uni-symbol reels, 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 altering the matrix of symbol locations to operate as simulated uni-symbol reels, modifying a set of potential symbols for display at each symbol location.
6. The method of claim 1 further including, when altering the matrix of symbol locations to operate as simulated uni-symbol reels, modifying game conditions to provide an altered set of game outcome probabilities.
7. A gaming machine comprising:
a set of multi-symbol reel simulators for simulating spins of slot machine reels having multiple displayed symbol locations;
a set of uni-symbol reel simulators for simulating spins of reels having single displayed symbol locations;
a gaming display including a matrix of symbol locations for presenting graphic symbols to a player to communicate game results, the matrix having multiple rows and columns of symbol locations; and
a presentation controller operable to alter the gaming display to change the matrix of symbol locations back and forth from a first state in which the columns are linked to the multi-symbol reel simulators for visually simulating spinning and stopping multi-symbol reels to provide game results, to a second state in which the multi-symbol reel simulators are unlinked from the matrix, and each symbol location is instead linked to a respective one of the uni-symbol reel simulators for visually simulating spinning and stopping uni-symbol reels to provide game results.
8. The gaming machine of claim 7 , wherein the presentation controller is operable to display a first graphic sequence of steps occurring when the gaming display is altered to the second state, the first graphic sequence indicating to the player that the existing matrix of symbol locations is now to simulate uni-symbol reels.
9. The gaming machine of claim 8 , in which the presentation controller is further operable to display a second graphic sequence when the matrix of symbol locations is changed from the second state to the first state, the second graphic sequence indicating to the player that the existing matrix of symbol locations is now operable to simulate multi-symbol reels.
10. The gaming machine of claim 8 , in which the first graphic sequence includes a step of adding dividers between adjacent symbol locations on the reel to indicate that the multi-symbol reels are being visually separated into uni-symbol reels.
11. The gaming machine of claim 7 , in which the presentation controller is configured to alter the matrix of symbol locations to the second state in response to a trigger event in a game result in the first state.
12. The gaming machine of claim 7 , in which the presentation controller is configured to alter the matrix of symbol locations to the first state in response to a trigger event in a game result in the second state.
13. The gaming machine of claim 7 , in which the gaming machine is operable in the second state to receive a player game activation input and, in response, provide a game result by simulating spinning and stopping of the uni-symbol reels.
14. The gaming machine of claim 13 in which the player game activation input includes a wager entitled to the game result and a wager result.
15. The gaming machine of claim 7 further comprising a first set of game control scripts designed to control the multi-symbol reel simulators, and a second set of game control scripts designed to control the uni-symbol reel simulators.
16. The gaming machine of claim 15 , in which the second set of game control scripts includes multiple scripts for conveying a single designated prize amount with a different sequence of events.
17. The gaming machine of claim 16 , in which the presentation controller is further programmed to randomly select between the multiple scripts conveying the single designated prize amount.
18. The gaming machine of claim 7 , further including, when changing the matrix of symbol locations to the second state, initiating the state of each simulated uni-symbol reel to maintain each symbol previously shown in the matrix of symbol locations over the course of the modification.
19. The gaming machine of claim 7 , in which the uni-symbol reel simulators are operable in the second state to change the symbol displayed at their respective symbol location independently of any other symbol location in the matrix of symbol locations.