US-20260127940-A1 - ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE WITH SYMBOLS STREAMING ADJACENT AN ACTIVE REEL MATRIX WITH REEL EXPANSION AND SYMBOL ABSORPTION PROCESSES

US20260127940A1US 20260127940 A1US20260127940 A1US 20260127940A1US-20260127940-A1

Abstract

An electronic gaming device that satisfies a return-to-player value when different features are initiated. The electronic gaming device includes a display device and a controller. The controller animates in the active reel matrix a plurality of game symbols, and a plurality of configurable symbols selected moving from a space moving into the active reel matrix. When the plurality of game symbols selected include a first trigger symbol, the controller also expands the active reel matrix to include more symbols. When the active reel matrix includes a second trigger symbol, the controller absorbs values of the plurality of configurable symbols into the second trigger symbol.

Inventors

Eric Boese
Ronald Williams, II
Jae Yi

Assignees

ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251229

Claims (20)

1 . An electronic gaming device comprising: a display device configured to display a space adjacent to an active reel matrix; one or more memory devices; and one or more processors in communication with the one or more memory devices, the one or more processors configured to cause: displaying, in the active reel matrix on the display device, a plurality of game symbols based on one or more random numbers generated by a random number generator, animating, on the display device, one or more of a plurality of configurable symbols having an inactive state and displayed in the space adjacent to the active reel matrix, the animating of the one or more configurable symbols including moving the one or more configurable symbols from the space into at least a portion of the active reel matrix and replacing one or more of the game symbols with the one or more configurable symbols, updating the one or more configurable symbols in the active reel matrix to have an active state, including altering a graphical representation of the one or more configurable symbols on the display device, animating, when the active reel matrix displays a designated trigger symbol, the active one or more configurable symbols, the animating of the active one or more configurable symbols including absorbing the active one or more configurable symbols into the trigger symbol, and accessing a pay table to evaluate whether an award exists based on at least the absorbing of the active one or more configurable symbols into the trigger symbol.
2 . The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , the one or more processors further configured to cause: controlling the display device to expand the portion of the active reel matrix, when the plurality of game symbols includes the designated trigger symbol, to include one or more further configurable symbols from the space adjacent to the active reel matrix.
3 . The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of configurable symbols having the inactive state and displayed in the space adjacent to the active reel matrix are partially visible, dimmed and/or in an off state.
4 . The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the active reel matrix includes a plurality of reels, and the space adjacent to the active reel matrix includes a plurality of symbol stacks.
5 . The electronic gaming device of claim 4 , the one or more processors further configured to cause: streaming items from the plurality of symbol stacks into the plurality of reels.
6 . The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the active reel matrix includes one or more first reels overlaying, replacing, or masking one or more second reels.
7 . The electronic gaming device of claim 1 , the one or more processors further configured to cause: independently controlling reel strips of one or more reels in the active reel matrix to satisfy one or more of a game design, a game control, a jurisdictional requirement, a volatility or a return-to-player.
8 . A method performed using one or more processors, the method comprising: displaying, in an active reel matrix adjacent to a space on a display device, a plurality of game symbols based on one or more random numbers generated by a random number generator; animating, on the display device, one or more of a plurality of configurable symbols having an inactive state and displayed in the space adjacent to the active reel matrix, the animating of the one or more configurable symbols including moving the one or more configurable symbols from the space into at least a portion of the active reel matrix and replacing one or more of the game symbols with the one or more configurable symbols; updating the one or more configurable symbols in the active reel matrix to have an active state, including altering a graphical representation of the one or more configurable symbols on the display device; animating, when the active reel matrix displays a designated trigger symbol, the active one or more configurable symbols, the animating of the active one or more configurable symbols including absorbing the active one or more configurable symbols into the trigger symbol; and accessing a pay table to evaluate whether an award exists based on at least the absorbing of the active one or more configurable symbols into the trigger symbol.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising: controlling the display device to expand the portion of the active reel matrix, when the plurality of game symbols includes the designated trigger symbol, to include one or more further configurable symbols from the space adjacent to the active reel matrix.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of configurable symbols having the inactive state and displayed in the space adjacent to the active reel matrix are partially visible, dimmed and/or in an off state.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the active reel matrix includes a plurality of reels, and the space adjacent to the active reel matrix includes a plurality of symbol stacks.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: streaming items from the plurality of symbol stacks into the plurality of reels.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the active reel matrix includes one or more first reels overlaying, replacing, or masking one or more second reels.
14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising: independently controlling reel strips of one or more reels in the active reel matrix to satisfy one or more of a game design, a game control, a jurisdictional requirement, a volatility or a return-to-player.
15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing program instructions executable by one or more processors to cause: displaying, in an active reel matrix adjacent to a space on a display device, a plurality of game symbols based on one or more random numbers generated by a random number generator, animating, on the display device, one or more of a plurality of configurable symbols having an inactive state and displayed in the space adjacent to the active reel matrix, the animating of the one or more configurable symbols including moving the one or more configurable symbols from the space into at least a portion of the active reel matrix and replacing one or more of the game symbols with the one or more configurable symbols, updating the one or more configurable symbols in the active reel matrix to have an active state, including altering a graphical representation of the one or more configurable symbols on the display device, animating, when the active reel matrix displays a designated trigger symbol, the active one or more configurable symbols, the animating of the active one or more configurable symbols including absorbing the active one or more configurable symbols into the trigger symbol, and accessing a pay table to evaluate whether an award exists based on at least the absorbing of the active one or more configurable symbols into the trigger symbol.
16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , the program instructions being executable by the one or more processors to further cause: controlling the display device to expand the portion of the active reel matrix, when the plurality of game symbols includes the designated trigger symbol, to include one or more further configurable symbols from the space adjacent to the active reel matrix.
17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of configurable symbols having the inactive state and displayed in the space adjacent to the active reel matrix are partially visible, dimmed and/or in an off state.
18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the active reel matrix includes a plurality of reels, and the space adjacent to the active reel matrix includes a plurality of symbol stacks.
19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18 , the program instructions being executable by the one or more processors to further cause: streaming items from the plurality of symbol stacks into the plurality of reels.
20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the active reel matrix includes one or more first reels overlaying, replacing, or masking one or more second reels.

Description

PRIORITY DATA The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 17/957,129, filed Sep. 30, 2022, and entitled ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE WITH SYMBOLS STREAMING ADJACENT AN ACTIVE REEL MATRIX WITH REEL EXPANSION AND SYMBOL ABSORPTION PROCESSES, which itself claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/252,369, filed Oct. 5, 2021, and entitled “Electronic Gaming Machine Display for Symbols in Reels Adjacent an Active Reel Matrix with Reel Expansion and Symbol Absorption Processes,” both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND 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 some cases, a player may qualify for a special mode of the base game, a secondary game, or a bonus round of the base game by attaining a certain winning combination or triggering event in, or related to, the base game, or after the player is randomly awarded the special mode, secondary game, or bonus round. In the special mode, secondary game, or bonus round, the player is given an opportunity to win extra game credits, game tokens or other forms of payout. In the case of “game credits” that are awarded during play, the game credits are typically added to a credit meter total on the EGM 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 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 over the course of many plays or instances of the game, which is generally referred to as return to player (RTP). The RTP and randomness of the RNG ensure the fairness of the games and are 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 Described herein is a system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for conducting a game on an electronic gaming system. The electronic gaming system may include a display operable to display a matrix of display positions, and a gaming controller that may include a processor and a memory storing one or more sequences of instructions. When one or more sequences of instructions are executed, the processor randomly selects a plurality of symbols for display at the matrix of display positions based on a random number generator, and when the matrix of display positions displays a trigger symbol, animates a movement of at least one of the symbols displayed above the matrix into the matrix, animates a different movement of values displayed on the symbols from the symbols to be absorbed by the trigger symbol. A gaming system is described that comprises at least one display, a game controller that includes at least one processor and at least one memory device. The at least one processor, the at least one memory device, and the at least one display are operably connected. The at least one memory device stores computer-readable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to select and display a plurality of symbols in a respective plurality of display positions on a display for each implemented game, when a trigger symbol appears, highlight one or more symbols outside of the plurality of display positions and the plurality of symbols displayed in the plurality of display positions, generate an animation movement of value displayed on the one or more symbols outside of the plurality of display positions and on the plurali