US-12620288-B2 - Electronic gaming machine and system with a game action reel strip controlling symbol evaluation and selection

US12620288B2US 12620288 B2US12620288 B2US 12620288B2US-12620288-B2

Abstract

A gaming device comprises a display operable to display prize value symbols and a game action symbol selected. A processor initiates a game action associated with the game action symbol selected. The game action corresponds to either a further selection of prize value symbols or the prize value symbols displayed. The processor also selects, when one further selection of prize value symbols is to be made, a prize value symbol, and provides an award amount based on the prize value symbols in a quantity of display positions selected.

Inventors

Jason Meyer

Assignees

ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231024
Priority Date: 20200916

Claims (19)

1 . An electronic gaming system comprising: at least one server; and a gaming device coupled to the at least one server and having a display that provides a plurality of display positions, a device processor and memory storing data indicative of a set of symbols having a plurality of prize symbols and a plurality of game action symbols, and a plurality of instructions, which, when executed, cause the device processor to at least: receive, from the at least one server, data indicative of an awardable prize, animate a plurality of symbols being randomly selected for the plurality of display positions selected based on dividing random numbers generated by a random number generator into ranges and associating the ranges with display positions in dynamic weight tables that modify during selection by deleting an entry in the dynamic weight tables that corresponds to an already-selected display position and changing the ranges after the entry is deleted, in response to a first game action symbol being displayed at a first display position among the plurality of display positions, animate a first game action associated with the first game action symbol visually iterating through one prize symbol followed by another prize symbol within a selected subset of the plurality of prize symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions selected from a remainder of the plurality of display positions to animate graphical effects indicative of one or more prizes associated with the plurality of prize symbols in the selected subset of the plurality of prize symbols, and animate an award amount representing the awardable prize received when the selected subset of the plurality of prize symbols selected have been visually iterated.
2 . The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to animate on the display the first game action symbol striking each of the plurality of prize symbols while iterating through the plurality of prize symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions selected from the remainder of the plurality of display positions.
3 . The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to animate the first game action visually iterating through the plurality of prize symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions selected in a predetermined order.
4 . The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to iterate through a selected quantity of the plurality of display positions from the remainder of the plurality of display positions when the first game action symbol is displayed.
5 . The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to update a win meter to reflect the award amount animated.
6 . The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to increment a counter for all of the plurality of prize symbols displayed.
7 . A method of operating an electronic gaming system comprising a gaming device having a display that provides a plurality of display positions, a device processor and memory storing data indicative of a set of symbols having a plurality of prize symbols and a plurality of game action symbols, the method comprising: transmitting, from at least one server, data indicative of an awardable prize; animating, at a first display position of a plurality of display positions, a first game action symbol being selected; animating at a remainder of the plurality of display positions a subset of prize symbols being randomly selected based on dividing random numbers generated by a random number generator into ranges and associating the ranges with display positions in dynamic weight tables that modify during selection by deleting an entry in the dynamic weight tables that corresponds to an already-selected display position and changing the ranges after the entry is deleted; animating graphical effects indicative of a first game action associated with the first game action symbol visually iterating through one prize symbol followed by another prize symbol within a selected subset of prize symbols displayed to award one or more prizes associated with the plurality of prize symbols; and animating an award amount representing the awardable prize received when the selected subset of the plurality of prize symbols displayed have been visually iterated.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising animating the first game action symbol striking each of the plurality of prize symbols in the subset of prize symbols while iterating through the subset of prize symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions selected from the remainder of the plurality of display positions.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of prize symbols further includes at least one blank symbol.
10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising animating the first game action visually iterating through the subset of prize symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions selected in a predetermined order.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the selected subset of the plurality of prize symbols displayed comprises a selected quantity of display positions from the remainder of the plurality of display positions when the first game action symbol is displayed.
12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising updating a win meter to reflect the award amount animated.
13 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising animating visually incrementing a counter for all of the plurality of prize symbols displayed.
14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising data indicative of a set of symbols having a plurality of prize symbols including at least one blank symbol and a plurality of game action symbols, and a plurality of device instructions for use with a remote gaming device that comprises a plurality of display positions and a device processor, and the device instructions, which, when executed, cause the device processor to perform the steps of: receiving, from at least one server, data indicative of an awardable prize; animating at a first display position of the plurality of display positions a first game action symbol being selected; animating at a subset of a remainder of the plurality of display positions a subset of prize symbols being randomly selected based dividing random numbers generated by a random number generator into ranges and associating the ranges with display positions in dynamic weight tables that modify during selection by deleting an entry in the dynamic weight tables that corresponds to an already-selected display position and changing the ranges after the entry is deleted; animating graphical effects indicative of a first game action associated with the first game action symbol visually iterating through one prize symbol followed by another prize symbol within a selected subset of prize symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions selected to award one or more prizes associated with the subset of prize symbols; and controlling the remote gaming device to present an award amount representing the awardable prize received when the selected subset of the plurality of prize symbols selected have been visually iterated.
15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of device instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to perform the step of animating the first game action symbol striking the subset of prize symbols while iterating through the subset of prize symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions selected from the remainder of the plurality of display positions.
16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of device instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to perform the step of animating the first game action visually iterating through the subset of prize symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions selected in a predetermined order.
17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of device instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to perform the step of iterating through a selected quantity of display positions from the remainder of the plurality of display positions when the first game action symbol is displayed.
18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of device instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to perform the step of updating a win meter to reflect the award amount animated.
19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of device instructions, when executed, cause the device processor to perform the step of animating visually incrementing a counter for all of the plurality of prize symbols displayed in the subset of prize symbols.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/389,303, filed Jul. 29, 2021, and entitled “An Electronic Gaming Machine and System with a Game Action Reel Strip Controlling Symbol Evaluation and Selection” which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 020902684, filed Jul. 30, 2020, and Australian Patent Application No. 2020233681, filed Sep. 16, 2020, all which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND The present application relates to a gaming device, a method of operating a gaming device and a gaming system where a game action symbol is selected from a game action reel strip. Electronic gaming machines (“EGMs”) or gaming devices provide a variety of wagering games such as slot games, video poker games, video blackjack games, roulette games, video bingo games, keno games and other types of games that are frequently offered at casinos and other locations. Play on EGMs typically involves a player establishing a credit balance by inputting money, or another form of monetary credit, and placing a monetary wager (from the credit balance) on one or more outcomes of an instance (or single play) of a primary or base game. In many games, a player may qualify for secondary games or bonus rounds by attaining a certain winning combination or triggering event in the base game. Secondary games provide an opportunity to win additional game instances, credits, awards, jackpots, progressives, etc. Awards from any winning outcomes are typically added back to the credit balance and can be provided to the player upon completion of a gaming session or when the player wants to “cash out.” “Slot” type games are often displayed to the player in the form of various symbols arrayed in a row-by-column grid or matrix. Specific matching combinations of symbols along predetermined paths (or paylines) through the matrix indicate the outcome of the game. The display typically highlights winning combinations/outcomes for ready identification by the player. Matching combinations and their corresponding awards are usually shown in a “pay-table” which is available to the player for reference. Often, the player may vary his/her wager to include differing numbers of paylines and/or the amount bet on each line. By varying the wager, the player may sometimes alter the frequency or number of winning combinations, frequency or number of secondary games, and/or the amount awarded. Typical games use a random number generator (RNG) to randomly determine the outcome of each game. The game is designed to return a certain percentage of the amount wagered back to the player (RTP=return to player) over the course of many plays or instances of the game. The RTP and randomness of the RNG are critical to ensuring the fairness of the games and are therefore highly regulated. Upon initiation of play, the RNG randomly determines a game outcome and symbols are then selected which correspond to that outcome. Notably, some games may include an element of skill on the part of the player and are therefore not entirely random. SUMMARY In example embodiments of a gaming device, a method of operating a gaming device and a gaming system, symbols are selected from prize value symbol reel strips and a game action symbol is selected from a game action reel strip which controls at least the next action that will be carried out. In an example, by controlling which of a plurality of sub-routines, a processor will implement one or more available game play options. Examples of next actions include making a further selection of symbols or evaluating the selected prize value symbols, for example by selecting a subset of prize value symbols from which to make an award. In an embodiment, there is disclosed a gaming device comprising a display, a processor, and a memory storing (a) symbol position data defining a plurality of symbol positions; (b) reel data defining a plurality of reel strips comprising (i) a game action reel strip comprising a plurality of game action symbols, and (ii) one or more prize value symbol reel strips, each comprising prize value symbols at a subset of reel strip positions of the respective reel strip; and (c) computer executable instructions, including instructions for a plurality of different sub-routines associated with respective ones of the game action symbols. When the instructions are executed by the processor, they cause the processor to select symbols from the plurality of reel strips for the plurality of symbol positions including by selecting a game action symbol from the game action reel strip, control the display to display at least each selected prize value symbol and the selected game action symbol at respective symbol positions, execute the sub-routine corresponding to the selected game action symbol, and make any awards resulting from execution of the sub-routine. When a first sub-routine of the plurality of sub-routines