Granted Patent B2

US 9,280,877 · App. 14/098,092 · Granted Mar 8, 2016

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A method of gaming a) on a gaming machine having a non-transitory memory storing symbol data indicative of a plurality of symbol images, a game controller, and a display device operable to display at least one of said symbol images at a speed, and b) for playing a first game round having a first outcome based on at least one of said plurality of symbol images and a second game round having a second outcome based on at least one of said plurality of symbol images, the method comprising:

conducting the first game round including selecting via the game controller for display at least one of said first plurality of symbol images for said first outcome and the second game round including selecting via the game controller for display at least one of said second plurality of symbol images for said second outcome concurrently on the display device;

determining via the game controller a first length of play time for the first game round to reach said first outcome;

determining via the game controller a second length of play time for the second game round to reach said second outcome;

comparing via the game controller said first and said second length of play time;

in response to the comparison, increasing the speed of said display of 1) at least one of said first plurality of symbol images for said first outcome when said first length of play time is longer than said second length of play time, and 2) at least one of said second plurality of symbol images for said second outcome when said second length of play time is longer than said first length of play time; and

terminating via the game controller both said first game round and said second game round, inclusive of the display of respective first outcome and second outcome, substantially coterminously.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the display device includes a plurality of display areas, the method further comprising displaying said first game round and said second game round in different display areas.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein said first game round and said second game round are of the same game.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , and wherein said display device comprises a plurality of display areas, and the method further comprising dividing said first game round and said second game round between the plurality of display areas.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein said first game round and said second game round are of different games.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , and further comprising determining at least one combined outcome based on outcomes of said different games.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein said display device comprises a plurality of display positions, wherein selecting for display at least one of said plurality of symbol images further includes selecting for display at least one of said plurality of symbol images at at least one of said plurality of display positions, and determining at least one of said first outcome and said second outcome at least partly based on respective said at least one of said first plurality of symbol images and said at least one of said second plurality of symbol images.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , and further comprising carrying said plurality of symbol images on one or more of a plurality of spinnable reels.

9. A game controller for a gaming system a) having a non-transitory memory storing symbol data indicative of a plurality of symbol images, and a display device operable to display at least one of said symbol images at a speed, and b) playing a first game round having a first outcome based on at least one of said plurality of symbol images and a second game round having a second outcome based on at least one of said plurality of symbol images, the game controller comprising:

an outcome generator configured to conduct the first game round including selecting for display at least one of said first plurality of symbol images for said first outcome and the second game round including selecting for display at least one of said second plurality of symbol images for said second outcome concurrently on the display device;

a feature controller configured to determine a first length of play time for the first game round to reach said first outcome, to determine a second length of play time for the second game round to reach said second outcome, and to compare said first length and said second length; and

a concurrent display module, in response to said comparison, configured to increase the speed of said display of 1) at least one of said first plurality of symbol images for said first outcome when said first length of play time is longer than said second length of play time, and 2) at least one of said second plurality of symbol images for said second outcome when said second length of play time is longer than said first length of play time, and to terminate both said first game round and said second game round, inclusive of the display of respective first outcome and second outcome, substantially coterminously.

10. A game controller as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein said display device comprises a plurality of display areas, and wherein said concurrent display module is further configured to control said plurality of display areas to display said first game round and said second game round in different display areas of said plurality of display areas.

11. A game controller as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein said first game round and said second game round are of the same game.

12. A game controller as claimed in claim 11 , and wherein said display device comprises a plurality of display areas, and wherein said concurrent display module is further configured to divide said first game round and said second game round between the plurality of display areas.

13. A game controller as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein said first game round and said second game round are of different games.

14. A game controller as claimed in claim 13 , and the game controller is further configured to determine at least one combined outcome based on outcomes of said different games.

15. A game controller as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein said display device comprises a plurality of display positions, wherein the outcome generator is further configured to select for display at least one of said plurality of symbol images at at least one of said plurality of display positions and determining at least one of said first outcome and said second outcome at least partly based on respective said at least one of said first plurality of symbol images and said at least one of said second plurality of symbol images.

16. A game controller as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein the gaming system further comprises a plurality of spinnable reels configured to carry said plurality of symbol images.

17. A gaming system comprising:

a non-transitory memory storing symbol data indicative of a plurality of symbol images;

at least one display device configured to display at least one of said symbol images at a speed; and

a game controller configured to:

play a first game round having a first outcome based on at least one of said plurality of symbol images and a second game round having a second outcome based on at least one of said plurality of symbol images;

conduct the first game round including selecting for display at least one of said first plurality of symbol images for said first outcome and the second game round including selecting for display at least one of said second plurality of symbol images for said second outcome concurrently on the at least one display device;

determine a first length of play time for the first game round to reach said first outcome;

determine a second length of play time for the second game round to reach said second outcome;

compare said first length of play time and said second length of play time;

in response to said comparison, increase the speed of said display of 1) at least one of said first plurality of symbol images for said first outcome when said first length of play time is longer than said second length of play time, and 2) at least one of said second plurality of symbol images for said second outcome when said second length of play time is longer than said first length of play time; and

terminate both said first game round and said second game round, inclusive of the display of respective first outcome and second outcome, substantially coterminously.

Assignments (6)