Gaming device having oversized symbols in the play matrix
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a gaming device having oversized symbols in the play matrix. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a gaming apparatus having an improved game play comprising oversized symbols in the play matrix, and methods of administering, operating and playing the same in wagering and non-wagering applications. In one embodiment of the present invention, a game comprises a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions; a plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reels, the plurality of symbols including an oversized symbol occupying at least a plurality of symbol positions; and predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations including the oversized symbol, wherein the predetermined winning symbol combination is associated with an award.
1. A game device comprising:
a display device;
an input device; and
a processor for accessing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to:
provide a game comprising:
a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions;
a plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reels, the plurality of symbols including at least one statically-positioned, non-expanding oversized symbol occupying at least a plurality of symbol positions over at least a plurality of reels, wherein at least one reel of the plurality of reels has other sized symbols thereon; and
a predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations including the oversized symbol, wherein the predetermined winning symbol combination is associated with an award wherein mixed sized reels contain both regular sized symbols each occupying one symbol position and said oversized symbols and when said mixed sized symbol reels spin said regular sized symbols and oversized symbols rotate on and off the display device at the same rate.
2. The gaming device of claim 1 , further comprising a payline associated with the reels.
3. The gaming device of claim 2 , wherein the symbol positions associated with the winning symbol combination are on the payline.
4. The gaming device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of paylines associated with the reels.
5. The gaming device of claim 4 , wherein the winning symbol combinations occur at a plurality of the symbol positions on the paylines.
6. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the winning symbol combinations are determined by one of: a random determination, a pre-determination and a determination based on a wager made by the player.
7. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the symbols include a bonus symbol.
8. The gaming device of claim 7 , further comprising a bonus award provided to the player when a winning symbol combination including the bonus symbol occurs on the reels.
9. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the gaming device is one of a slot machine, a mobile device, or a personal computer.
10. A game comprising:
a plurality of reels on a display device, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions;
a plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reels, the plurality of symbols including at least one statically-positioned, non-expanding oversized symbol occupying at least a plurality of symbol positions over at least a plurality of reels, wherein at least one reel of the plurality of reels has other sized symbols thereon; and
a predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations including the oversized symbol, wherein the predetermined winning symbol combination is associated with an award wherein mixed sized reels contain both regular sized symbols each occupying one symbol position and said oversized symbols and when said mixed sized symbol reels spin said regular sized symbols and oversized symbols rotate on and off the display device at the same rate.
11. The game of claim 10 , further comprising a payline associated with the reels.
12. The game of claim 11 , wherein the symbol positions associated with the winning symbol combination are on the payline.
13. The game of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of paylines associated with the reels.
14. The game of claim 13 , wherein the winning symbol combinations occur at a plurality of the symbol positions on the paylines.
15. The game of claim 10 , wherein the winning symbol combinations are determined by one of: a random determination, a pre-determination and a determination based on a wager made by the player.
16. The game of claim 10 , wherein the symbols include a bonus symbol.
17. The game of claim 16 , further comprising a bonus award provided to the player when a winning symbol combination including the bonus symbol occurs on the reels.
18. The game of claim 10 , wherein the game is played on one of a slot machine, a mobile device, or a personal computer.
19. A method of playing a game comprising:
engaging a game device comprising:
a display device;
an input device; and
a processor for accessing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the at processor to operate with the display device and the input device to:
provide a game comprising:
a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions;
a plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reels, the plurality of symbols including at least one statically-positioned, non-expanding oversized symbol occupying at least a plurality of symbol positions over at least a plurality of reels, wherein at least one reel of the plurality of reels has other sized symbols thereon; and
a predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations including the oversized symbol, wherein the predetermined winning symbol combination wherein mixed sized reels contain both regular sized symbols each occupying one symbol position and said oversized symbols and when said mixed sized symbol reels spin said regular sized symbols and oversized symbols rotate on and off the display device at the same rate is associated with an award;
instructing the input device to play the game, such instruction comprising transmitting a signal to the processor to execute the plurality of instructions in order to:
activate the reels to generate one of the plurality of symbols at each of the plurality of symbol positions, including the oversized symbol;
determine if a predetermined winning symbol combination exists by accounting for the symbol of the oversized symbol for each of the occupied plurality of symbol positions of the oversized symbol; and
displaying an award reflective of the predetermined winning symbol combination.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the game device comprises one of a slot machine, a mobile device, or a personal computer.