Gaming system and a method of gaming
View Patent ↗A gaming apparatus comprises a movable symbol selector and a reference object. The symbol selector has a plurality of presentation portions. Each portion is associated with one or more symbols of a first set of symbols. The reference object comprises a plurality of parts over which the selector can be moved. Each part is associated with one or more symbols of a second set of symbols. When the symbol selector moves relative to the reference object at least one relationship is formed between at least one of the selector portions and at least one of the reference object parts. The at least one relationship is for use in determining a game outcome.
1. A gaming apparatus comprising:
a display configured to display a movable symbol selector and a reference object;
a game controller including a processor configured to control the display, the processor further configured to control:
the movable symbol selector having a plurality of presentation portions, wherein each portion includes one or more symbols of a first set of symbols; and
the reference object comprising a plurality of parts over which the movable symbol selector can be moved, wherein each part includes one or more symbols of a second set of symbols,
and wherein the movable symbol selector is rollable and when the movable symbol selector moves by rolling relative to the reference object so that at least one relationship is formed between at least one of the movable symbol selector portions and at least one of the reference object parts;
a comparator configured to:
identify a symbol of the first set of symbols that makes contact with a symbol of the second set of symbols;
compare the identified symbol of the first set of symbols with the symbol of the second set of symbols; and
determine the identified symbol of the first set of symbols matches the symbol of the second set of symbols; and
an outcome generator configured to determine a game outcome based on the matching.
2. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the portions are arranged over a surface of the movable symbol selector.
3. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reference object comprises one or more game surfaces.
4. A gaming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each game surface comprises at least one of the parts.
5. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one relationship is formed by at least one portion contacting at least one part.
6. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the parts of the reference object are spaced apart from each other.
7. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the parts of the reference object are connected to each other.
8. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reference object is stationary.
9. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reference object is movable.
10. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each symbol associated with each portion is displayed in the portion.
11. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each symbol associated with each part is displayed in the part.
12. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the movable symbol selector is a ball.
13. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the movable symbol selector is one of a plurality of movable symbol selectors that are moved relative to the reference object.
14. A gaming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the movable symbol selectors have the same symbols associated with their respective portions.
15. A gaming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein there is a different set of symbols for each movable symbol selector.
16. A gaming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the movable symbol selectors have the same arrangement of symbols on their respective surfaces.
17. A gaming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein there is a different arrangement of symbols on each movable symbol selector.
18. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of symbols is the same as the second set of symbols.
19. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein some of the first set of symbols are also in the second set of symbols.
20. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of symbols is different to the second set of symbols.
21. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the parts of the reference object are arranged in a lane of sequential parts.
22. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the parts of the reference object are arranged into a plurality of lanes and a movable symbol selector is provided for each lane.
23. A gaming apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the symbols in each lane are the same.
24. A gaming apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein a sequence of symbols differs between lanes.
25. A gaming apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the symbols differ between lanes.
26. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reference object comprises a game surface and wherein the game surface is inclined and the movable symbol selector is released to roll down the game surface when the game is played.
27. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of symbols and the second set of symbols are faces of playing cards.
28. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the symbols are shapes, colours, letters, numbers or combinations of these.
29. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gaming apparatus is arranged to electronically simulate the movable symbol selector and the reference object.
30. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a monitor for determining which of the movable symbol selector portions form a relationship with which of the reference object parts such that the symbols corresponding to the determined portions and parts can be determined.
31. A gaming apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the gaming apparatus comprises the comparator for comparing the determined symbols with game criteria to determine the game outcome.
32. A gaming apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the comparator is arranged to determine that the game outcome is a win in the event that one of more of the determined symbols of the movable symbol selector is the same as one or more of the determined symbols of the reference object.
33. A gaming apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein the comparator is arranged to determine the outcome of the game according to the number of determined movable symbol selector symbols that are the same as the determined reference object symbols.
34. A gaming apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein the comparator is arranged to determine that the outcome of the game is a win in the event that a combination of the determined symbols indicate a win.
35. A gaming apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein the comparator is arranged to determine that the outcome of the game is a loss in the event that none of determined symbols are the same.
36. A gaming apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein the comparator is arranged to determine that the outcome of the game is a loss in the event that a combination of the determined symbols do not indicate a win.
37. A gaming apparatus according to claim 30 , further comprising an indicator for indicating the determined symbols.
38. A gaming apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the indicator indicates the determined movable symbol selector symbols separately from the determined reference object symbols.
39. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gaming apparatus comprises a prize allocator for allocating a prize to a player of the game based on the game outcome.
40. A gaming apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the prize allocator allocates a prize having a quantum based on the number of determined symbols that are the same.
41. A gaming apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein each prize may be in the form of a monetary amount, points, tokens, progressive prizes, eligibility for feature games, tournament entitlements, or entitlements to inclusion of special symbols in subsequent rounds of the game, such as wildcard symbols.
42. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein gaming apparatus is arranged such that a player is able to choose to enter into one or more rounds of the game such that entry into each subsequent round after a first round risks losing a prize or a portion of a prize, or the player is able to choose to end the game and receive a prize won thus far.
43. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gaming apparatus is implemented as a stand alone gaming machine or across a network.
44. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gaming apparatus forms part of a gaming system.
45. A method of playing conducting a game using a gaming apparatus, the method comprising:
displaying, by a display, a movable symbol selector and a reference object;
controlling, by a processor, i) the movable symbol selector having a plurality of presentation portions, wherein each portion includes one or more symbols of a first set of symbols; and ii) the reference object comprising a plurality of parts over which the movable symbol selector can be moved, wherein each part includes one or more symbols of a second set of symbols, and wherein the movable symbol selector is rollable and when the movable symbol selector moves by rolling relative to the reference object so that at least one relationship is formed between at least one of the movable symbol selector portions and at least one of the reference object parts;
identifying, by a comparator, a symbol of the first set of symbols that makes contact with a symbol of the second set of symbols;
comparing, by the comparator, the identified symbol of the first set of symbols with the symbol of the second set of symbols;
determining, by the comparator, the identified symbol of the first set of symbols matches the symbol of the second set of symbols; and
determining, by an outcome generator, a game outcome based on the matching.
46. A method according to claim 45 , wherein the outcome of the game is a win in the event that the one or more of the related symbols are the same.
47. A method according to claim 45 , wherein a quantum of the outcome the game is based on the number of related symbols that are the same.
48. A method according to claim 45 , wherein a quantum of the outcome the game is based on which movable symbol selector symbols are related to which reference object symbols.