System and method for reducing memory requirements for a user interface
A computer-implemented for reducing memory requirements for a user interface method includes generating, by one or more processors, a first matrix of symbols with columns that correspond to reels of cyclical symbols. The reels are configured to be rendered in adjacent sections of a display. The method further includes rotating, by one or more processors, each reel by a random amount responsive to receiving a spinning instruction. The method includes configuring a first reel to occupy both a first section of the display associated with the first reel and a second section of the display associated with an adjacent reel so that the adjacent reel will not be rendered when a pattern of symbols of the rendered reels is determined to correspond to a particular pattern. Data that represents the symbols of the reels is maintained in a shadow matrix stored in memory. The one or more processors determine the existence of particular patterns from the shadow matrix and search a table in memory for scores associated with the patterns. Data in the shadow matrix is copied between cells of the shadow matrix to correspond to the rendered reels in such a way as to obviate increasing the size of the table. This, in turn, reduces memory requirements associated with the rendering of the reels.
1. A computer-implemented method for a purpose-built gaming machine with reduced memory requirements for a user interface, the method comprising:
generating, by one or more processors, a first matrix of symbols with columns that correspond to reels of cyclical symbols, wherein the reels are configured to be rendered in adjacent sections of a display;
responsive to receiving a spinning instruction, rotating, by one or more processors, each reel by a random amount; and
responsive to determining that a pattern of symbols of rendered reels corresponds to a particular pattern, configuring a first reel to occupy both a first section of the display associated with the first reel and a second section of the display associated with an adjacent reel so that the adjacent reel will not be rendered;
storing, by the one or more processors, information that defines a second matrix of symbols, wherein an initial configuration of symbols of the first matrix matches an initial configuration of symbols of the second matrix, wherein determining that a pattern of symbols of the rendered reels corresponds to a particular pattern comprises determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix correspond to a particular pattern; and
determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix corresponds to a particular pattern when all the symbols in a particular row of the second matrix match, wherein responsive to determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix corresponds to a particular pattern further comprises:
for each row of the second matrix, copying, by the one or more processors, a symbol in a first column of the second matrix that is associated with the first reel to a second column of the second matrix that is associated with the adjacent reel to thereby couple the first column to the second column;
stacking the symbols of the first column of the second matrix so that every two consecutive symbols of the first column match; and
responsive to determining that a particular symbol exists in a row of the second matrix, adding a further row of symbols to the first matrix and the second matrix for rendering on the display.
2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein configuring the first reel to occupy both the first section of the display and the second section of the display further comprises:
stacking the symbols of the first reel so that every two consecutive symbols of the first reel match.
3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 2 , further comprising;
responsive to receiving a second spinning instruction, rotating, by one or more processors, each rendered reel by a random amount; and
responsive to determining a pattern of symbols of the rendered reels corresponds to a particular pattern, configuring the first reel to occupy a third section of the display associated with a further adjacent rendered reel so that the adjacent reel is no longer visible.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein rotating, by one or more processors, each reel by a random amount further comprises animating the reel to simulate spinning of the reel.
5. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions for a purpose-built gaming machine with reduced memory requirements for a user interface that, wherein upon execution by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
generating a first matrix of symbols with columns that correspond to reels of cyclical symbols, wherein the reels are configured to be rendered in adjacent sections of a display;
responsive to receiving a spinning instruction, rotating each reel by a random amount;
responsive to determining that a pattern of symbols of rendered reels corresponds to a particular pattern, configuring a first reel to occupy both a first section of the display associated with the first reel and a second section of the display associated with an adjacent reel so that the adjacent reel will not be rendered;
storing information that defines a second matrix of symbols, wherein an initial configuration of symbols of the first matrix matches an initial configuration of symbols of the second matrix, wherein determining that a pattern of symbols of the rendered reels corresponds to a particular pattern comprises determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix correspond to a particular pattern;
determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix corresponds to a particular pattern when all the symbols in a particular row of the second matrix match, wherein responsive to determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix corresponds to a particular pattern further comprises:
for each row of the second matrix, copying, by the one or more processors, a symbol in a first column of the second matrix that is associated with the first reel to a second column of the second matrix that is associated with the adjacent reel to thereby couple the first column to the second column;
stacking the symbols of the first column of the second matrix so that every two consecutive symbols of the first column match; and
responsive to determining that a particular symbol exists in a row of the second matrix, adding a further row of symbols to the first matrix and the second matrix for rendering on the display.
6. The article of manufacture of claim 5 , wherein configuring the first reel to occupy both the first section of the display and the second section of the display further comprises:
stacking the symbols of the first reel so that every two consecutive symbols of the first reel match.
7. The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein execution of the program instructions causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
responsive to receiving a second spinning instruction, rotating by a random amount; and
responsive to determining a pattern of symbols of the rendered reels corresponds to a particular pattern, configuring the first reel to occupy a third section of the display associated with a further adjacent rendered reel so that the adjacent reel is no longer visible.
8. The article of manufacture of claim 5 , wherein rotating each reel by a random amount further comprises:
animating the reel to simulate spinning of the reel.
9. A computer system for a purpose-built gaming machine with reduced memory requirements for a user interface comprising:
a display device;
a plurality of input devices including (i) an acceptor device configured to receive and validate a physical item associated with a monetary value, and (ii) a cash-out button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with a credit account;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device that stores instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
generating a first matrix of symbols with columns that correspond to reels of cyclical symbols, wherein the reels are configured to be rendered in adjacent sections of the display device;
responsive to receiving a spinning instruction via one of the plurality of input devices, rotating each reel by a random amount; and
responsive to determining that a pattern of symbols of rendered reels corresponds to a particular pattern, configuring a first reel to occupy both a first section of the display device associated with the first reel and a second section of the display device associated with an adjacent reel so that the adjacent reel will not be rendered;
storing information that defines a second matrix of symbols, wherein an initial configuration of symbols of the first matrix matches an initial configuration of symbols of the second matrix, wherein determining that a pattern of symbols of the rendered reels corresponds to a particular pattern comprises determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix correspond to a particular pattern;
determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix corresponds to a particular pattern when all the symbols in a particular row of the second matrix match, wherein responsive to determining that a pattern of symbols of the second matrix corresponds to a particular pattern further comprises:
for each row of the second matrix, copying, by the one or more processors, a symbol in a first column of the second matrix that is associated with the first reel to a second column of the second matrix that is associated with the adjacent reel to thereby couple the first column to the second column;
stacking the symbols of the first column of the second matrix so that every two consecutive symbols of the first column match; and
responsive to determining that a particular symbol exists in a row of the second matrix, adding a further row of symbols to the first matrix and the second matrix for rendering on the display.
10. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein configuring the first reel to occupy both the first section of the display and the second section of the display further comprises:
stacking the symbols of the first reel so that every two consecutive symbols of the first reel match.