Granted Patent B2

US 12,430,981 · App. 18/504,659 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Inventors: Kimberly Yost (Las Vegas, NV); John Pariseau (Las Vegas, NV)

Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.

G07F17/3213G07F17/3258G07F17/3267G07F17/34

Abstract

Claims (68)

1. A gaming machine for displaying computer-animated images, comprising:

a cabinet;

a display device mounted to the cabinet and including a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen displaying computer-generated images thereon; and

a control unit operably coupled to the display device, the control unit including a memory device storing image data, a random number generator, and one or more processors programmed to execute an algorithm to display a computer-animated sequence of computer-generated images on the display device including the steps of:

accessing the image data stored in the memory device and rendering a game screen on the display device GUI including a grid including a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of columns, each column including a predefined number of cells;

displaying a plurality of credit symbol images within a subset of cells within each column;

animating a corresponding bonus wheel game symbol to appear adjacent a top end of each column, each bonus wheel game symbol indicating a different prize wheel;

randomly selecting a number of game symbols to appear in each column using the random number generator;

animating a stack of game symbols to appear within each column including:

animating a first stack of game symbols to appear in a first column having a number of game symbols that is less than a number of cells in the first column such that the first stack of game symbols does not extend to a full height of the first column; and

animating a second stack of game symbols to appear in a second column extending to a full height of the second column; and

rendering a computer-animated prize wheel associated with the corresponding bonus wheel game symbol displayed atop the second column to appear on the display device.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

animating each stack of game symbols to appear at a bottom end of each corresponding column and increasing in height towards the top end of each corresponding column.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

animating a row of multiplier images to move from the bottom end of the columns towards the top end of the columns.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

transforming each credit symbol image based on multiplier values indicated by the multiplier images.

5. The gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying each corresponding bonus wheel game symbol with an associated number of wheel spins; and

increasing the associated number of wheel spins based on the multiplier values indicated by the multiplier images.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying the plurality of credit symbol images overlaying game symbols displayed in a same cell.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying a computer-animated bonus feature selection reel on the game screen indicating one or more bonus feature events that increase a number of game symbols displayed in one or more stacks of game symbols.

8. A method of operating a gaming machine to display computer-animated images, the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet, a display device mounted to the gaming cabinet and including a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen displaying computer-generated images thereon, and a control unit operably coupled the display device and including a memory device storing image data, a random number generator, and one or more processors, the method including the one or more processors executing an algorithm to display a computer-animated sequence of computer-generated images on the display device GUI including the steps of:

accessing the image data stored in the memory device and rendering a game screen on the display device GUI including a grid including a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of columns, each column including a predefined number of cells;

displaying a plurality of credit symbol images within a subset of cells within each column;

animating a corresponding bonus wheel game symbol to appear adjacent a top end of each column, each bonus wheel game symbol indicating a different prize wheel;

randomly selecting a number of game symbols to appear in each column using the random number generator;

animating a stack of game symbols to appear within each column including:

animating a first stack of game symbols to appear in a first column having a number of game symbols that is less than a number of cells in the first column such that the first stack of game symbols does not extend to a full height of the first column; and

animating a second stack of game symbols to appear in a second column extending to a full height of the second column; and

rendering a computer-animated prize wheel associated with the corresponding bonus wheel game symbol displayed atop the second column to appear on the display device.

9. The method of claim 8 , including the one or more processors executing the algorithm including the steps of:

animating each stack of game symbols to appear at a bottom end of each corresponding column and increasing in height towards the top end of each corresponding column.

10. The method of claim 8 , including the one or more processors executing the algorithm including the steps of:

animating a row of multiplier images to move from the bottom end of the columns towards the top end of the columns.

11. The method of claim 10 , including the one or more processors executing the algorithm including the steps of:

transforming each credit symbol image based on multiplier values indicated by the multiplier images.

12. The method of claim 10 , including the one or more processors executing the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying each corresponding bonus wheel game symbol with an associated number of wheel spins; and

increasing the associated number of wheel spins based on the multiplier values indicated by the multiplier images.

13. The method of claim 8 , including the one or more processors executing the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying the plurality of credit symbol images overlaying game symbols displayed in a same cell.

14. The method of claim 8 , including the one or more processors executing the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying a computer-animated bonus feature selection reel on the game screen indicating one or more bonus feature events that increase a number of game symbols displayed in one or more stacks of game symbols.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon to operate to display computer-animated images, the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet, a display device mounted to the gaming cabinet and including a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen displaying computer-generated images thereon, and a control unit operably coupled the display device and including a memory device storing image data, a random number generator, and one or more processors, when executed by the one or more processors the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to execute an algorithm to display a computer-animated sequence of computer-generated images on the display device GUI including the steps of:

accessing the image data stored in the memory device and rendering a game screen on the display device GUI including a grid including a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of columns, each column including a predefined number of cells;

displaying a plurality of credit symbol images within a subset of cells within each column;

animating a corresponding bonus wheel game symbol to appear adjacent a top end of each column, each bonus wheel game symbol indicating a different prize wheel;

randomly selecting a number of game symbols to appear in each column using the random number generator;

animating a stack of game symbols to appear within each column including:

animating a first stack of game symbols to appear in a first column having a number of game symbols that is less than a number of cells in the first column such that the first stack of game symbols does not extend to a full height of the first column; and

animating a second stack of game symbols to appear in a second column extending to a full height of the second column; and

rendering a computer-animated prize wheel associated with the corresponding bonus wheel game symbol displayed atop the second column to appear on the display device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

animating each stack of game symbols to appear at a bottom end of each corresponding column and increasing in height towards the top end of each corresponding column.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

animating a row of multiplier images to move from the bottom end of the columns towards the top end of the columns.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying the plurality of credit symbol images overlaying game symbols displayed in a same cell; and

transforming each credit symbol image based on multiplier values indicated by the multiplier images.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying each corresponding bonus wheel game symbol with an associated number of wheel spins; and

increasing the associated number of wheel spins based on the multiplier values indicated by the multiplier images.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to execute the algorithm including the steps of:

displaying a computer-animated bonus feature selection reel on the game screen indicating one or more bonus feature events that increase a number of game symbols displayed in one or more stacks of game symbols.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (14)