US-20260127942-A1 - GAMING DEVICE WITH A SECONDARY SPINS FEATURE

US20260127942A1US 20260127942 A1US20260127942 A1US 20260127942A1US-20260127942-A1

Abstract

A gaming system including a processor and a memory storing instructions thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: select symbols from reel strips stored in the memory for display in corresponding columns by determining stopping positions for the reel strips; cause display of the selected symbols in the columns on a display of a gaming device; determine that a trigger condition stored in the memory is satisfied based on the selected symbols; and in response to determining that the trigger condition is satisfied: replace one or more of the selected symbols in a group of symbol positions with an animation effect, the animation effect including display of a spin and stop sequence of credit values in the group of symbol positions; select a subset of the credit values; and cause display of the subset of credit values in the group of symbol positions.

Inventors

Eric Boese
Ronald Williams, II
Alex Jagrowski

Assignees

ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (20)

1 . A gaming system comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: cause display of an initial game outcome including a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions; in response to the initial game outcome satisfying a trigger condition, cause an animation effect to be displayed over a subset of the plurality of symbols arranged in a group of symbol positions, the animation effect including display of a spin and stop sequence of a plurality of credit values in the group of symbol positions; and cause display of a subset of the plurality of credit values in the group of symbol positions.
2 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome are displayed in a plurality of columns, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to determine that the trigger condition is satisfied based, at least in part, on the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome including a stack of WILD symbols that fully populates at least one column of the plurality of columns.
3 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome are displayed in a plurality of columns and are selected from a plurality of base reel strips stored on the memory, the plurality of base reel strips including a plurality of fixed symbols and a plurality of lookup trigger symbols, and wherein the memory stores a plurality of cash reel strips different from the plurality of base reel strips.
4 . The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to determine that the trigger condition is satisfied based, at least in part, on the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome including one of the plurality of lookup trigger symbols for display in a symbol position of each of the plurality of columns.
5 . The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the processor selects the subset of the plurality of credit values based on a lookup of at least one of the plurality of cash reel strips.
6 . The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: determine a stopping position of a first base reel strip of the plurality of base reel strips for display in a corresponding first column of the plurality of columns; identify a lookup trigger symbol on the first base reel strip associated with the stopping position of the first base reel strip; perform a lookup in a credit table associated with the lookup trigger symbol; and select a first credit value, based on the lookup, for display in a symbol position of the first column.
7 . The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of cash reel strips includes a plurality of identifiers each corresponding to a different set of credit values in a credit value table stored in the memory, and wherein the plurality of credit values for the animation effect is the set of credit values corresponding to one of the plurality of identifiers selected by the processor in response to determining that the trigger condition is satisfied.
8 . The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the processor randomly selects the one of the plurality of identifiers in response to determining that the trigger condition is satisfied to determine the plurality of credit values for the animation effect by performing a first lookup of the plurality of cash reel strips.
9 . The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the subset of the plurality of credit values is a subset of the set of credit values in the credit value table, wherein the processor selects the subset of the plurality of credit values by performing a second lookup of the credit value table based on the selected one of the plurality of identifiers.
10 . The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein identifiers of the plurality of identifiers corresponding to relatively lower value sets of credit values have a greater probability of being selected by the first lookup.
11 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the plurality of symbols in the group of symbol positions is a stack of WILD symbols, and wherein the animation effect includes display of an intermediate animation over the stack of WILD symbols prior to display of the spin and stop sequence of the plurality of credit values to visually indicate that the trigger condition is satisfied.
12 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the display of the subset of credit values in the group of symbol positions persists for at least one subsequent game outcome.
13 . A computer-implemented method for providing an electronic game, the method comprising: displaying an initial game outcome including a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions; in response to the initial game outcome satisfying a trigger condition, displaying an animation effect over a subset of the plurality of symbols arranged in a group of symbol positions, the animation effect including display of a spin and stop sequence of a plurality of credit values in the group of symbol positions; and displaying a subset of the plurality of credit values in the group of symbol positions.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome are displayed in a plurality of columns, and wherein the method further comprises: determining that the trigger condition is satisfied based, at least in part, on the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome including a stack of WILD symbols that fully populates at least one column of the plurality of columns.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome are displayed in a plurality of columns and are selected from a plurality of base reel strips stored on a memory, the plurality of base reel strips including a plurality of fixed symbols and a plurality of lookup trigger symbols, and wherein the memory stores a plurality of cash reel strips different from the plurality of base reel strips.
16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising: determining that the trigger condition is satisfied based, at least in part, on the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome including one of the plurality of lookup trigger symbols for display in a symbol position of each of the plurality of columns.
17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions embodied thereon, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least: cause display of an initial game outcome including a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions; in response to the initial game outcome satisfying a trigger condition, cause an animation effect to be displayed over a subset of the plurality of symbols arranged in a group of symbol positions, the animation effect including display of a spin and stop sequence of a plurality of credit values in the group of symbol positions; and cause display of a subset of the plurality of credit values in the group of symbol positions.
18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome are displayed in a plurality of columns, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to determine that the trigger condition is satisfied based, at least in part, on the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome including a stack of WILD symbols that fully populates at least one column of the plurality of columns.
19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome are displayed in a plurality of columns and are selected from a plurality of base reel strips stored on the medium, the plurality of base reel strips including a plurality of fixed symbols and a plurality of lookup trigger symbols, and wherein the medium stores a plurality of cash reel strips different from the plurality of base reel strips.
20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to determine that the trigger condition is satisfied based, at least in part, on the plurality of symbols for the initial game outcome including one of the plurality of lookup trigger symbols for display in a symbol position of each of the plurality of columns.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/464,939, filed Sep. 11, 2023, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/409,426 , filed Sep. 23, 2022, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The field of disclosure relates generally to electronic gaming devices, systems and methods that provide a secondary spins feature outcome of a game. 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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION In one aspect, a gaming system including a processor and a memory is provided. The memory stores instructions thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: select a plurality of symbols from a plurality of reel strips stored in the memory for display in a corresponding plurality of columns by determining stopping positions for the plurality of reel strips; cause display of the selected plurality of symbols in the plurality of columns on a display of a gaming device; determine that a trigger condition stored in the memory is satisfied based on the selected plurality of symbols; and in response to determining that the trigger condition is satisfied: replace one or more of the selected plurality of symbols in a group of symbol positions with an animation effect, the animation effect including display of a spin and stop sequence of a plurality of credit values in the group of symbol positions; select a subset of the plurality of credit values; and cause display of the subset of credit values in the group of symbol positions. The instructions may direct additional, less, or alternate functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein. In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for providing an electronic game is provided. The method includes selecting a plurality of symbols from a plurality of reel strips stored in a memory for display in a corresponding plurality of columns by determining stopping positions for the plurality of reels; causing display of the selected plurality of symbols in the plurality of columns on a display of a gaming device; determining that a trigger condition stored in the memory is satisfied based on the selected plurality of symbols; and in response to determining that the trigger condition is satisfied: replacing one or