Granted Patent B2

US 12,725,489 · App. 18/744,984 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Emma Charles (Beaconsfield, AU); Lloyd Sefton (Beaconsfield, AU)

Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.

G07F17/3267G07F17/3213G07F17/3246G07F17/3265

Abstract

Claims (47)

1 . A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising the operations of:

generating, by game-logic circuitry of the gaming machine via execution of an authentication program stored in one or more memory devices of the game-logic circuitry, a live authentication code based on contents of at least one of the one or more memory devices;

comparing, by the game-logic circuitry, the live authentication code to a trusted authentication code stored in the one or more memory devices;

permitting execution of random-number-generator programming and game-outcome logic based on the comparing; and

in response to permitting execution of the random-number-generator programming and the game-outcome logic;

presenting, by a presentation assembly, a plurality of reels and an array having a plurality of positions, the plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols including clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols, each cluster of the clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols, when landed, occupying a single respective position of the array with the multiple value-bearing symbols of the cluster appearing within the single respective position, and each value-bearing symbol bearing a respective credit value;

spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to land symbols from the plurality of symbols in respective positions of the array; and

in response to the landed symbols including a triggering combination of clusters of value-bearing symbols;

disbanding each cluster by animating distribution of the value-bearing symbols in each cluster from the single respective position previously occupied by the cluster to different positions of the array such that, after the disbanding, each value-bearing symbol of the cluster occupies its own respective position of the array and is no longer clustered with other value-bearing symbols of the cluster; and

presenting, on the presentation assembly, an award based at least in part on credit values borne by the distributed value-bearing symbols.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinning and stopping operation occurs in a free games feature that is triggered in response to a base-game spin outcome.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-bearing symbols in each cluster are arranged in a respective standard die pip pattern.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the clusters in the triggering combination include at least a predetermined number of the value-bearing symbols.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined number is six.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further including after the disbanding operation, conducting, by game-logic circuitry, a hold-and-spin feature using a second plurality of reels, the second plurality of reels bearing a plurality of additional value-bearing symbols, the hold-and-spin feature including:

holding the distributed value-bearing symbols in place in the array; and

spinning and stopping the second plurality of reels and holding any of the additional value-bearing symbols that land in an unoccupied position in the array;

wherein the presented award is based at least in part on the distributed value-bearing symbols and the held additional value-bearing symbols.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of disbanding each cluster by animating distribution of the value-bearing symbols in each cluster to different positions in the array includes enlarging and moving the value-bearing symbols in each cluster.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting, via a value input device, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a monetary balance; and

dispensing, via a value output device, a payout in response to a cashout input that initiates a payout from the monetary balance.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is regulatorily approved and primarily dedicated to playing a wagering game.

10 . A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine including a presentation assembly configured to present a plurality of reels and an array having a plurality of positions, the plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols including clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols, each cluster of the clusters of multiple value-bearing symbols, when landed, occupying a single respective position of the array with the multiple value-bearing symbols of the cluster appearing within the single respective position, and each value-bearing symbol bearing a respective credit value; and

game-logic circuitry comprising one or more processors and one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing (i) an authentication program, (ii) a trusted authentication code, and (iii) instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the game-logic circuitry to:

generate, via execution of the authentication program, a live authentication code based on contents of at least one of the one or more memory devices;

compare the live authentication code to the trusted authentication code;

permit execution of random-number-generator programming and game-outcome logic based on the comparing; and

in response to permitting execution of the random-number-generator programming and the game-outcome logic;

spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to land symbols from the plurality of symbols in respective positions of the array; and

in response to the landed symbols including a triggering combination of clusters of value-bearing symbols;

disbanding each cluster by animating distribution of the value-bearing symbols in each cluster from the single respective position previously occupied by the cluster to different positions in of the array such that, after the disbanding, each value-bearing symbol of the cluster occupies its own respective position of the array and is no longer clustered with other value-bearing symbols of the cluster; and

presenting, on the presentation assembly, an award based at least in part on credit values borne by the distributed value-bearing symbols.

11 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the spinning and stopping operation occurs in a free games feature that is triggered in response to a base-game spin outcome.

12 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the value-bearing symbols in each cluster are arranged in a respective standard die pip pattern.

13 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the clusters in the triggering combination include at least a predetermined number of the value-bearing symbols.

14 . The gaming system of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined number is six.

15 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein after the disbanding operation, the game-logic circuitry is further configured to perform a hold-and-spin feature using a second plurality of reels, the second plurality of reels bearing a plurality of additional value-bearing symbols, the hold-and-spin feature including:

holding the distributed value-bearing symbols in place in the array; and

spinning and stopping the second plurality of reels and holding any of the additional value-bearing symbols that land in an unoccupied position in the array;

wherein the presented award is based at least in part on the distributed value-bearing symbols and the held additional value-bearing symbols.

16 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the operation of disbanding each cluster by animating distribution of the value-bearing symbols in each cluster to different positions in the array includes enlarging and moving the value-bearing symbols in each cluster.

17 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the gaming machine includes a value input device and a value output device, and wherein the game-logic circuitry is further configured to perform the operations of:

detecting, via a value input device, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a monetary balance; and

dispensing, via a value output device, a payout in response to a cashout input that initiates a payout from the monetary balance.

18 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the gaming machine is regulatorily approved and primarily dedicated to playing a wagering game.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (77)