IP Library Granted Patent US 8,328,621
Granted Patent B2
US 8,328,621 · App. 12/276,012 · Granted Dec 11, 2012

Gaming system and a method of gaming

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,328,621
App. No.
12/276,012
Granted
Dec 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of gaming including: displaying at least one symbol which comprises a visible symbol and a hidden symbol; locating an overlay on the at least one symbol; and determining whether the overlay makes the hidden symbol visible.

Claims (30)

1. A method of gaming comprising:

selecting a plurality of symbols for respective displaying at respective ones of a plurality of display positions, the plurality of symbols being selected from a set of symbols having at least one symbol which comprises a visible symbol and a hidden symbol; and

selecting at least one of the plurality of display positions and locating an overlay, which is separate from the at least one symbol and the selected display, over the selected display position to determine whether the symbol displayed in the selected display position comprises a hidden symbol, wherein the overlay is arranged such that when overlaid over the display position, the visible symbol is concealed and any hidden symbol is revealed; wherein the overlay comprises a transparent window of a predetermined colour and the hidden symbol is a different colour to the predetermined colour, the visible symbol being the same colour as the predetermined colour.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one symbol comprises a plurality of symbols, at least one of the plurality of symbols comprising the visible symbol and the hidden symbol, the symbols being arranged in a reel format having a plurality of reel strips each comprised of some of the symbols to thereby form at least one row of symbols.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of symbols, including the visible symbol, form a group of symbols to determine a game outcome, and the overlay, when located on the hidden symbol, modifies the game outcome.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the overlay comprises an overlay on a reel strip overlaying one of the said reel strips.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the overlay comprises a roaming overlay.

6. A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:

select a plurality of symbols for respective display at respective ones of a plurality of display positions, the plurality of symbols being selected from a set of symbols having at least one symbol which comprises a visible symbol and a hidden symbol; and

select at least one of the plurality of display positions and locate an overlay, which is separate from the at least one symbol and the selected display position, over the selected display position to determine whether the symbol

displayed in the selected display position comprises a hidden symbol wherein the overlay is arranged such that when overlaid over the display position, the visible symbol is concealed and any hidden symbol is revealed;

wherein the overlay comprises a transparent window of a predetermined colour and the hidden symbol is a different colour to the predetermined colour, the visible symbol being the same colour as the predetermined colour.

7. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the at least one symbol comprises a plurality of symbols, at least one of the plurality of symbols comprising the visible symbol and the hidden symbol, the symbols being arranged in a reel format having a plurality of reel strips each comprised of some of the symbols to thereby form at least one row of symbols.

8. The controller of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of symbols, including the visible symbol, form a group of symbols to determine a game outcome, and the overlay, when located on the hidden symbol, modifies the game outcome.

9. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the overlay comprises an overlay on a reel strip overlaying one of the said reel strips.

10. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the overlay comprises a roaming overlay.

11. The controller of claim 6 , implemented by a processor executing program code stored in a memory.

12. A gaming system comprising:

a player interface comprising a display for displaying game outcomes;

and a game controller arranged to:

select a plurality of symbols for respective display at respective ones of a plurality of display positions, the plurality of symbols being selected from a set of symbols having at least one symbol which comprises a visible symbol and a hidden symbol; and

select at least one of the plurality of display positions and locate an overlay, which is separate from the at least one symbol and the selected display position, over the selected display position to determine whether the symbol displayed in the selected display position comprises a hidden symbol, wherein the overlay is arranged such that when overlaid over the display position the visible symbol is concealed and any hidden symbol is revealed; wherein the overlay comprises a transparent window of a predetermined colour and the hidden symbol is a different colour to the predetermined colour, the visible symbol being the same colour as the predetermined colour.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one symbol comprises a plurality of symbols, at least one of the plurality of symbols comprising the visible symbol and the hidden symbol, the symbols being arranged in a reel format having a plurality of reel strips each comprised of some of the symbols to thereby form at least one row of symbols.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of symbols, including the visible symbol, form a group of symbols to determine a game outcome, and the overlay, when located on the hidden symbol, modifies the game outcome.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the overlay comprises an overlay on a reel strip overlaying one of the said reel strips.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the overlay comprises a roaming overlay.

17. A computer readable medium comprising computer program code which, when executed, implements a method of gaming, the method comprising:

selecting a plurality of symbols for respective displaying at respective ones of a plurality of display positions, the plurality of symbols being selected from a set of symbols having at least one symbol which comprises a visible symbol and a hidden symbol; and

selecting at least one of the plurality of display positions and locating an overlay, which is separate from the at least one symbol and the selected display position, over the selected display position to determine whether the symbol displayed in the selected display position comprises a hidden symbol,

wherein the overlay is arranged such that when overlaid over the display position, the visible symbol is concealed and any hidden symbol is revealed; wherein the overlay comprises a transparent window of a predetermined colour and the hidden symbol is a different colour to the predetermined colour, the visible symbol being the same colour as the predetermined colour.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE (REEL 060204 / FRAME 0216) Recorded Mar 2, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 074989/0657 →
NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2022
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 060204/0216 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059368/0799 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS SECURITY TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 052828/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 16, 2015
From: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 034777/0498 →