GAMING DEVICE WITH PLAYER SELECTABLE THEME
A gaming system and device is disclosed that allows a player to select one of a plurality of game themes. Each game theme has a set of winning game symbols displayed on one or more reels of the gaming device and an associated pay table. When a player plays the gaming device under a particular theme, the gaming device determines whether a winning outcome has occurred and displays the winning outcome to the player using the winning gaming symbols associated with the selected theme.
1 . A gaming system comprising:
(A) a server, comprising:
(a) a memory device configured to store first game information in a first game theme and second game information in a second game theme; and
(B) a gaming device in communication with the server, the gaming device comprising:
(i) a reel apparatus, the reel apparatus being configured to display a first theme specific symbol related to the first theme and a second theme specific symbol related to the second theme;
(ii) wherein the gaming device may download the game information in the first theme and display a game outcome using the first theme specific symbol; and
(iii) wherein the gaming device may download the game information in the second theme and display a game outcome using the second theme specific symbol.
2 . The gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the first game information comprises a first pay table and wherein the second game information comprises a second pay table.
3 . The gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the first game information comprises a first set of winning symbols of the first theme and wherein the second game information comprises a second set of winning symbols of the second theme.
4 . The gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the gaming device further comprises a controller configured to control rotation of the reel apparatus to selectively display a theme specific symbol dependent on the game outcome.
5 . The gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the gaming device further comprises a theme selector that allows a player to select the first theme or the second theme.
6 . The gaming system according to claim 5 wherein the first game information is downloaded from the server to the gaming device in response to a player selecting the first theme and wherein the second game information is downloaded from the server to the gaming device in response to a player selecting the second theme.
7 . A gaming device comprising:
(A) a controller;
(B) a theme selector; and
(C) at least one reel apparatus configured to display a first symbol specific to a first theme and a second symbol specific to a second theme;
(D) wherein the controller controls a position of the at least one reel apparatus to display a game outcome dependent on a theme selected using the theme selector.
8 . The gaming device according to claim 7 further comprising a random number generator for generating the game outcome.
9 . The gaming device according to claim 8 further comprising a memory storing a first pay table associated with the first theme and a second pay table associated with the second theme, wherein the theme selector allows a player to select the first theme or the second theme, and wherein a number generated by the random number generator is compared with the pay table associated with a selected theme to determine the game outcome.
10 . The gaming device according to claim 9 wherein the gaming device communicates with a server and wherein a pay table associated with a theme is downloaded to the memory from the server in response to selection of the respective theme.
11 . The gaming device according to claim 7 wherein a winning symbol of the first theme provides a losing symbol of the second theme.
12 . The gaming device according to claim 7 wherein the at least one reel apparatus comprises:
(A) a chassis;
(B) a reel rotatably mounted on the chassis; and
(C) an actuator for rotating the reel.
13 . The gaming device according to claim 12 wherein the at least one reel apparatus further comprises a reel strip comprising at least one first symbol specific to the first theme and at least one second symbol specific to the second theme.
14 . A method of playing a gaming device comprising:
(A) selecting a theme;
(B) placing a wager;
(C) generating a game outcome; and
(D) displaying the game outcome using the selected theme.
15 . The method according to claim 14 wherein:
(A) selecting a theme determines one or more winning symbols associated with the selected theme; and
(B) displaying the game outcome using the selected theme comprises displaying a winning game outcome by displaying one or more of the winning symbols.
16 . The method according to claim 15 wherein the gaming device comprises one or more reels comprising the winning symbols and wherein displaying a winning game outcome comprises stopping at least one of the one or more reels such that one or more winning symbols of the selected theme are displayed to a player.
17 . The method according to claim 16 wherein the one or more reels display first winning symbols of a first theme and second winning symbols of a second theme.
18 . The method according to claim 17 wherein displaying the game outcome using the first theme comprises displaying a losing game outcome by displaying one or more of the second winning symbols of the second theme.
19 . The method according to claim 15 wherein selecting a theme further determines a pay table.
20 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
(A) means for selecting a theme;
(B) means for determining a game outcome; and
(C) means for displaying the game outcome using a selected theme.
21 . The gaming apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the means for displaying the game outcome comprises reel means comprising at least one first symbol specific to a first theme and at least one second symbol specific to a second theme.
22 . The gaming apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the means for selecting a theme comprises means for selecting a pay table associated with a selected theme.
23 . The gaming apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the means for determining a game outcome comprises means for comparing a randomly generated number with a selected pay table.