SYNCHRONIZED REEL OUTCOMES IN REEL GAMES
A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing synchronized reel movement in wagering games played on slot machines or other gaming machines. A synchronized game outcome is provided in which slot reels rotate in a synchronized fashion at a slow rate, allowing the player to observe potential reel stop combinations passing over the game display. Processes for implementing the synchronization are provided for mechanical and simulated reels.
1 . A method of providing a wagering game, the method conducted under control of one or more electronic processors to present gaming results on one or more displays on a gaming machine, the method comprising:
(a) receiving a wager activation on a player input device at the gaming machine;
(b) in response, conducting a game round concluding with a game result in which a matrix of symbol locations displayed on one of the displays is populated with randomly selected symbols presented on simulated reels or mechanical reels, the game result including a possibility of winning credits and a possibility of activating a synchronized game outcome;
(c) providing a synchronized game outcome by:
i) determining a set of reel stop locations for all reels in the display;
ii) determining reel offsets for one or more of the reels;
iii) applying the reel offsets to place the reels in a desired position for synchronized spinning;
iv) next, performing a synchronized spin of the reels including moving all reels at the same speed and with symbols moving in synchronized parallel rows;
v) while performing the synchronized spin, moving the reels at a velocity at which reel stop combinations can be recognized by a player;
vi) next, stopping the reels in synchronized parallel rows to rest at the reel stop locations; and
vii) evaluating the matrix of symbol locations.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before applying the reel offsets, performing an unsynchronized spin of the reels at a velocity at least twice the synchronized spin velocity.
3 . The method of claim 1 , in which providing the synchronized game outcome further comprises displaying at least four different unique potential stop combinations during the synchronized spin.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising while performing the synchronized spin, moving the reels at a constant velocity of less than three symbols per second.
5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising maintaining continuous movement of the reels from the unsynchronized spin to the synchronized spin.
6 . The method of claim 2 , in which the unsynchronized spin of the reels has a spin velocity of at least eighteen symbols per second.
7 . The method of claim 2 , in which applying the reel offsets is done at a transition between the unsynchronized spin and the synchronized spin.
8 . The method of claim 1 , in which providing a synchronized game outcome is triggered as a mystery outcome.
9 . The method of claim 1 , in which determining the reel offsets comprises determining a desired reel state to begin the synchronized spin, and determining a difference between a present state and the desired reel state.
10 . The method of claim 1 , in which applying the reel offsets comprises altering the reels to move symbols over the reel offset to new locations.
11 . The method of claim 1 , in which the reels are mechanical reels, and applying the reel offsets comprises commanding respective stepper motors to rotate respective reels by the offset.
12 . A gaming machine comprising:
a display system including one or more displays;
a player input system;
at least one processor operably connected to the display system and player input system; and
at least one memory device operably connected to the processor and storing program code executable by the at least one processor for:
(a) receiving a wager activation on a player input device at the gaming machine;
(b) in response, conducting a game round concluding with a game result in which a matrix of symbol locations displayed on one of the displays is populated with randomly selected symbols presented on simulated reels or mechanical reels, the game result including a possibility of winning money value credits and a possibility of activating a synchronized game outcome;
(c) providing a synchronized game outcome by:
i) determining a set of reel stop locations for all reels in the display;
ii) determining reel offsets for one or more of the reels;
iii) applying the reel offsets to place the reels in a desired position for synchronized spinning;
iv) next, performing a synchronized spin of the reels including moving all reels at the same speed and with symbols moving in synchronized parallel rows;
v) while performing the synchronized spin, moving the reels at a velocity at which reel stop combinations can be recognized by a player;
vi) next, stopping the reels in synchronized parallel rows to rest at the reel stop locations; and
vii) evaluating the matrix of symbol locations.
13 . The gaming machine of claim 12 , in which the program code is further executable for, before applying the reel offsets, performing an unsynchronized spin of the reels at a velocity at least twice the synchronized spin velocity.
14 . The gaming machine of claim 13 , in which the program code is further executable for further comprising maintaining continuous movement of the reels from the unsynchronized spin to the synchronized spin.
15 . The gaming machine of claim 13 , in which applying the reel offsets is done at a transition between the unsynchronized spin and the synchronized spin.
16 . The gaming machine of claim 12 , in which performing the synchronized spin, moving the reels at a constant velocity of less than three symbols per second.
17 . The gaming machine of claim 12 , in which the program code is further executable for providing the synchronized game outcome triggered as a mystery outcome.
18 . The gaming machine of claim 12 , in which determining the reel offsets comprises determining a desired reel state to begin the synchronized spin, and determining a difference between a present state and the desired reel state.
19 . The gaming machine of claim 12 , in which applying the reel offsets comprises altering the reels to move symbols over the reel offset to new locations.
20 . The gaming machine of claim 12 , in which the reels are mechanical reels, and applying the reel offsets comprises commanding respective stepper motors to rotate respective reels by the respective reel offset.