C may also include speakers 142 to output various audio such as game sound, background music, etc.

Many different types of games, including mechanical slot games, video slot games, video poker, video black jack, video pachinko, keno, bingo, and lottery, may be provided with or implemented within gaming devices 104A-104C and other similar gaming devices. Each gaming device may also be operable to provide many different games. Games may be differentiated according to themes, sounds, graphics, type of game (e.g., slot game vs. card game vs. game with aspects of skill), denomination, number of paylines, maximum jackpot, progressive or non-progressive, bonus games, Class II, or Class III, etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary gaming device 200, or EGM, connected to various external systems, including TITO system server 108, player tracking system server 110, progressive system server 112, and casino management system server 114. All or parts of gaming device 200 may be embodied in game devices 104A-104X shown in FIG. 1. The games conducted on gaming device 200 are controlled by a game controller 202 that includes one or more processors 204 and a memory 208 coupled thereto. Games are represented by game software or a game program 206 stored on memory 208. Memory 208 includes one or more mass storage devices or media housed within gaming device 200. One or more databases 210 may be included in one or more databases 210 for use by game program 206. A random number generator (RNG) 212 is implemented in hardware and/or software and is used, in certain embodiments, to generate random numbers for use in operation of gaming device 200 to conduct game play and to ensure the game play outcomes are random and meet regulations for a game of chance.

Alternatively, a game instance, or round of play of the game, may be generated on a remote gaming device such as central determination gaming system server 106, shown in FIG. 1. The game instance is communicated to gaming device 200 via a network 214 and is then displayed on gaming device 200. Gaming device 200 executes game software to enable the game to be displayed on gaming device 200. In certain embodiments, game controller 202 executes video streaming software that enables the game to be displayed on gaming device 200. Game software may be loaded from memory 208, including, for example, a read only memory (ROM), or from central determination gaming system server 106 into memory 208. Memory 208 includes at least one section of ROM, random access memory (RAM), or other form of storage media that stores instructions for execution by processor 204. Note that embodiments of the present disclosure represent an improvement in the art of EGM software and provide new technology in that they provide skill-based ways in which the player can appear to affect aspects of the outcome of main or bonus games. These embodiments are thus not merely new game rules or simply a new display pattern.

Gaming device 200 includes a topper display 216. In an alternative embodiment, gaming device 200 includes another form of a top box such as, for example, a topper wheel, or other topper display that sits on top of cabinet 218. Cabinet 218 or topper display 216 may also house various other components that may be used to add features to a game being played on gaming device 200, including speakers 220, a ticket printer 222 that prints bar-coded tickets, a ticket reader 224 that reads bar-coded tickets, and a player tracking interface 232a. Player tracking interface 232a may include a keypad 226 for entering player tracking information, a player tracking display 228 for displaying player tracking information (e.g., an illuminated or video display), a card reader 230 for receiving data and/or communicating information to and from media or a device such as a smart phone enabling player tracking. Ticket printer 222 may be used to print tickets for TITO system server 108. Gaming device 200 may further include a bill validator 234, player-input buttons 236 for player input, cabinet security sensors 238 to detect unauthorized opening of main cabinet 218, a primary game display 240, and a secondary game display 242, each coupled to and operable under the control of game controller 202.

Gaming device 200 may be connected over network 214 to player tracking system server 110. Player tracking system server 110 may be, for example, an OASIS® system manufactured by Aristocrat® Technologies, Inc. Player tracking system server 110 is used to track play (e.g., amount wagered and time of play) for individual players so that an operator may reward players in a loyalty program. The player may use player tracking interface 232a to access his/her account information, activate free play, and/or request various information. Player tracking or loyalty programs seek to reward players for their play and help build brand loyalty to the gaming establishment. The rewards typically correspond to the player's level of patronage (e.g., to the player's playing frequency and/or total amount of game plays at a given casino). Player tracking rewards may be complimentary and/or discounted meals, lodging, entertainment and/or additional play. Player tracking information may be combined with other information that is now readily obtainable by casino management system server 114.

Gaming devices, such as gaming devices 104A-104X and 200, are highly regulated to ensure fairness and, in many cases, gaming devices 104A-104X and 200 are operable to award monetary awards (e.g., typically dispensed in the form of a redeemable voucher). Therefore, to satisfy security and regulatory requirements in a gaming environment, hardware and software architectures are implemented in gaming devices 104A-104X and 200 that differ significantly from those of general-purpose computers. Adapting general purpose computers to function as gaming devices 200 is not simple or straightforward because (1) regulatory requirements for gaming devices, (2) harsh environments in which gaming devices operate, (3) security requirements, and (4) fault tolerance requirements. These differences require substantial engineering effort and often additional hardware.

When a player wishes to play gaming device 200, he/she can insert cash or a ticket voucher through a coin acceptor (not shown) or bill validator 234 to establish a credit balance on the gaming machine. The credit balance is used by the player to place wagers on instances of the game and to receive credit awards based on the outcome of winning instances of the game. The credit balance is decreased by the amount of each wager and increased upon a win. The player can add additional credits to the balance at any time. The player may also optionally insert a loyalty club card into card reader 230. During the game, the player views the game outcome one or more of the primary game display 240 and secondary game display 242. Other game and prize information may also be displayed.

For each game instance, a player may make selections that may affect play of the game. For example, the player may vary the total amount wagered by selecting the amount bet per line and the number of lines played. In many games, the player is asked to initiate or select options during course of game play (such as spinning a wheel to begin a bonus round or select various items during a feature game). The player may make these selections using player-input buttons 236, primary game display 240, which may include a touch screen, or using another suitable device that enables a player to input information into gaming device 200.

During certain game events, gaming device 200 may display visual and auditory effects that can be perceived by the player. These effects add to the excitement of a game, which makes a player more likely to continue playing. Auditory effects include various sounds that are projected by speakers 220. Visual effects include flashing lights, strobing lights, or other patterns displayed from lights on gaming device 200 or from lights behind information panel 152, shown in FIG. 1.

When the player wishes to stop playing, he/she cashes out the credit balance (typically by pressing a cash out button to receive a ticket from ticket printer 222). The ticket may be “cashed-in” for money or inserted into another machine to establish a credit balance for play.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary wagering game 300. In the exemplary embodiment, wagering game 300 includes a player-selectable symbol display area 302 (or “symbol display area” for brevity) and a plurality of reels, such as a first reel 304, a second reel 306, a third reel 308, a fourth reel 310, and a fifth reel 312. Reels 304-312 may include simulated or “virtual” reels generated and displayed by game controller 202 on primary game display 240 and/or secondary game display 242.

In the exemplary embodiment, reels 304-312 are displayed on primary game display 240. In other embodiments, reels 304-312 may include one or more physical or mechanical reels having a display element, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), capable of displaying one or more symbols during gameplay. In still other embodiments, reels 304-312 may include a plurality of mechanical reels overlaid by an LCD panel. Further, in the exemplary embodiment, symbol display area 302 is displayed on secondary game display 242, such as, for example, in an orientation or position which permits a player to interact with symbol display area 302 while also viewing reels 304-312.

Each reel 304-312 may include a plurality of symbols, and symbols from each reel 304-312 may be displayed in one of a plurality of symbol positions, which may, together, define a matrix 311 of symbol positions. Each symbol position may be designated by a row number (e.g., “1,” “2,” “3,” etc.) and a column letter (e.g., “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “E,” etc.) For example, the upper-left-most symbol position, occurring on reel 304 at the intersection of row 1 and column A, may be designated by the symbol position “1A.” Thus, reels 304-312 may define a matrix 311 of symbol positions, and the matrix 311 may include a plurality of rows (e.g., rows “1,” “2,” “3,” etc.) and a plurality of columns (e.g., “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “E,” etc.). In some embodiments, any or all of the symbol positions within the matrix 311 may represent unisymbol or independent reels. With unisymbol reels, a symbol position is supported by its own dedicated reel, where only one symbol from that underlying unisymbol reel is displayed in the symbol position after a spin. For example, in an example embodiment where all of the symbol positions of matrix 311 are unisymbol reels, there are 15 reels included in the wagering game 300, one for each of the 15 symbol positions.

During gameplay, one or more reels 304-312 may be spun virtually and stopped to display a subset of the symbols of one or more reels 304-312. In particular, in at least some embodiments, one or more reels 304-312 may be spun and stopped in response to a credit wager placed by a player (e.g., which a player may place by selecting a “spin” button). In at least some embodiments, three symbol positions of one or more reels 304-312 may be selected, stopped, and displayed by game controller 202 for presentation to a player.

More particularly, as described herein, each reel 304-312 may be spun, such as in response to selection of a “spin” button by a player. However, unlike many traditional reel games, in wagering game 300, one or more symbol positions may be overlaid (e.g., initially displayed as empty symbol positions) and remain fixed while the reels 304-312 spin. These overlaid, fixed symbol positions may be referred to herein as “player-populated symbol positions,” and the number of player-populated symbol positions may be represented as P. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the wagering game 300 presents three player-populated symbol positions 320A, 320B, 320C (collectively, player-populated symbol positions 320) (e.g., P=3). In other embodiments, all of the symbol positions in one or more columns “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “E,” or one or more rows “1,” “2,” “3,” may be player-populated symbol positions, and thus may be overlaid with player-selectable symbols and remain fixed while the other symbol positions are spun. For example, in one embodiment, rows “1” and “3” (comprised of non-fixed symbol positions) may present a spin of the reels 304-312 while row “2” remains fixed and displays blank player-populated symbol positions 320 and player selected symbols as described herein (e.g., where P=5). The term “non-fixed symbol position” may be used to refer to symbol positions that are not player-populated symbol positions (e.g., all of the symbol positions of matrix 311 except symbol positions 320A, 320B, and 320C.

Visually, therefore, reels 304-312 may only appear to spin on the non-fixed symbol positions while the player-populated symbol positions 320 appear to remain stationary as reels 304-312 are spun. Moreover, as described in greater detail below, the player-populated symbol positions 320 may not initially be filled with symbols from reels 304-312. Rather, the player-populated symbol positions 320 may begin as empty or unfilled symbol positions, which may be populated or filled with symbols based upon one or more symbol selections by a player from player-selectable symbol display area 302. In some embodiments, reels 304-312 may spin on all symbol positions, while the player-populated symbol positions 320 are not initially filled with symbols from reels 304-312.

Further, although embodiments are described herein in which player-populated symbol positions 320 are fixed and are filled with player-selectable symbols from player-selectable symbol display area 302, it will be appreciated that any number and combination of symbol positions may be player-populated symbol positions 320 and filled with one or more player-selectable symbols and/or held stationary while any other column(s) and/or row(s) are spun. In other words, in broad terms, any symbol position of any spinning and/or non-spinning row(s) and/or column(s) may be filled, as described herein, with one or more player-selectable symbols. In some embodiments, empty symbol positions may appear to spin, and in other embodiments, empty symbol positions may be held fixed.

In some embodiments, the number of player-populated symbol positions 320, P, may be a pre-determined, fixed number (e.g., P=3). In some embodiments, the number or position of player-populated symbol positions 320 may be randomly determined. In some embodiments, the number of player-populated symbol positions 320, P, may be dynamically determined based on an outcome of a preceding game (e.g., a base game). For example, the wagering game 300 may provide one player-populated symbol position 320 for each feature symbol appearing in an outcome of the base game. In some embodiments, the position of the player-populated symbol positions 320 may be determined based on the position of the feature symbols (e.g., providing a player-populated symbol position 320 at each location of a feature symbol).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 400 for playing wagering game 300 (shown at FIG. 3). In the exemplary embodiment, game controller 202 may, as described above, display a plurality of reels, such as reels 304-312, on a display of an EGM 104A-104X, such as, for example, on primary game display 240 (step 402). Moreover, as described above, reels 304-312 may define a matrix 311 of symbol positions, which may include one or more columns (e.g., columns “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “E,” etc.) and/or one or more rows (e.g., rows “1,” “2,” “3,” etc.), as well as one or more player-populated symbol positions 320.

Game controller 202 may, in addition, simulate spinning of reels 304-312 within columns “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “E,” etc. (step 404). In various embodiments, each reel 304-312 may include a plurality of symbols, such as only a few symbols to several thousand symbols. Thus, each time reels 304-312 are spun and stopped, a subset of the symbols included on each reel 304-312 may be selected by game controller 202 (e.g., based upon a random number or otherwise based upon a random determination) and displayed in a corresponding symbol position. For example, as shown at FIG. 3, if matrix 311 of symbol positions includes fifteen symbol positions (e.g., five columns and three rows of symbol positions), fifteen (or fewer, as described below) symbols may be selected from each of reels 304-312 for display in at least some of the symbol positions of matrix 311.

More particularly, as described above, although matrix 311 may include, as an example, fifteen symbol positions, in at least one embodiment, game controller 202 displays a plurality of player-populated symbol positions 320 within the matrix of symbol positions (step 406). Player-populated symbol positions 320 may not be filled with symbols from reels 304-312 when reels 304-312 are spun. In the example of FIG. 3, the player-populated symbol positions 320 are not filled with symbols when reels 304-312 are spun (e.g., as a first spin of a bonus or feature game). Rather, the player-populated symbol positions 320 remain empty or unfilled and do not appear to rotate, in at least some embodiments, while reels 304-312 are spun. Specifically, the player-populated symbol positions 320 are not filled from reels 304-312 but are instead filled from the player-selectable symbols presented to the player in symbol display area 302. Accordingly, as shown in the example, the symbol positions of the non-fixed symbol positions are populated with symbols from reels 304-312. Thus, in at least one embodiment, reels 304-312 may appear to spin on the non-fixed symbol positions while the player-populated symbol positions 320 are fixed.

Now with greater attention to symbol display area 302, in addition to spinning reels 304-312, game controller 202 may also display (or cause to be displayed) a sequence of player-selectable symbols within symbol display area 302, which may be presented or positioned, for example, above or below reels 304-312 (step 408). In various embodiments, the sequence of player-selectable symbols may be randomly determined by game controller 202, and each player-selectable symbol of the sequence may be displayed within symbol display area 302 in order (e.g., from the sequence), such as, for example, by displaying each player-selectable symbol in symbol display area 302 one at a time.

For instance, as shown at FIG. 3, the first player-selectable symbol 314 is displayed within symbol display area 302. First player-selectable symbol 314 may be a first symbol of a randomly generated sequence of such symbols, each of which may be presented, one at a time, to the player for one of selection for addition to one of the player-populated symbol positions 320 or for discarding, depending upon a preference of the player. The sequence may include a total number, T, of player-selectable symbols when it is generated by game controller 202. In an example embodiment, the number of player-selectable symbols, T, is determined based on adding the number of player-populated symbol positions, P, and a number of “discard” actions, D, allowed by the player (e.g., T=P+D). In some embodiments, the sequence includes a number of player-selectable symbols at least equal to a number of player-populated symbol positions 320 (T≥P).

Each player-selectable symbol presented by game controller 202 within symbol display area 302 may be selectable, as described below, by the player, and game controller 202 may receive, during the spinning, an add gesture of a player-selectable symbol presented from the sequence within symbol display area 302, the add gesture being configured to represent a request by the player for addition of the player-selectable symbol to the matrix (step 410). As described herein, a player selection may be either of a selection indicating that a player would like to “keep” a particular player-selectable symbol (e.g., for addition to one of the player-populated symbol positions 320 of matrix 311) or a selection indicating that the player would prefer to discard the player-selectable symbol (e.g., such that the discarded symbol is not added to any of the player-populated symbol positions 320).

To make these selections, in at least one embodiment, a left arrow 316 and a right arrow 318 may be displayed within symbol display area 302. A player may use left arrow 316 and/or right arrow 318 to select and/or discard a player-selectable symbol from the sequence (e.g., by pressing one of the arrows 316, 318 on a touch-screen display, as “keep” or “discard” actions). In other embodiments, as described below, an up arrow and/or a down arrow may be provided to accomplish substantially the same function. For example, secondary game display 242 may include a touchscreen display, such that a player may touch left arrow 316 and/or right arrow 318 to select (“keep”) and/or discard a symbol in the sequence of player-selectable symbols or swipe in a pre-defined direction for each of those actions. In some embodiments, a player may also select or discard symbols from the sequence using one or more physical buttons (e.g., buttons on player tracking interface 232), and/or using any other suitable input function. In other embodiments, the player may swipe in a pre-defined direction on a touchscreen display (e.g., down or right) to keep a symbol or may swipe in another pre-defined direction (e.g., up or left) to discard the symbol.

Further, in at least some embodiments, an EGM 104A-104X may include one or more cameras, such as one or more video cameras or motion capture cameras, which may record one or more video images of a player. Game controller 202 may receive and analyze one or more images of a player to determine one or more player gestures, such as one or more symbol selection (e.g., right-swiping or down-swiping) and/or symbol discarding (e.g., left-swiping or up-swiping) gestures. Thus, a variety of mechanisms may be used to determine whether a player wishes to select a particular player-selectable symbol and/or discard a particular player-selectable symbol.

Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, each player-selectable symbol of the sequence of player-selectable symbols presented within symbol display area 302 may be selected for addition to matrix 311 or discarded by the player. If a symbol is selected by the player, game controller 202 may add the symbol to a corresponding symbol position of an empty player-populated symbol position 320, as described above. For example, a player may “swipe right,” using any of the mechanisms described herein, to indicate that the player would like to “keep” the symbol for addition to an empty symbol position. Similarly, a player may “swipe left,” using any of the mechanisms described herein, to indicate that the player would like to discard the symbol. In other embodiments, the reverse may be true (e.g., a player may swipe right to discard a symbol and left to keep a symbol).

When the player selects a symbol to keep when there are multiple available (e.g., empty) player-populated symbol positions 320 available, in some embodiments, game controller 202 may add the symbol to the left-most available player-populated symbol position 320 (e.g., player-populated symbol position 320C). In other embodiments, game controller 202 may add the symbol to the highest available player-populated symbol position 320 (e.g., player-populated symbol position 320A). In still other embodiments, game controller 202 may allow the player to determine which empty player-populated symbol position 320 they wish to put the selected symbol (e.g., drag and drop the symbol into an available position 320, touch the available position 320, and such).

In various embodiments, if a player swipes left or otherwise indicates that a symbol should be discarded, game controller 202 may animate the symbol (e.g., symbol 314), such that the symbol appears to “fly off” of a left side of symbol display area 302. Likewise, if a player swipes right, or otherwise indicates that a symbol should be kept or added to an available player-populated symbol position 320, game controller 202 may animate the symbol, such that the symbol appears to “fly off” of a right side of symbol display area 302 (e.g., in addition to populating the player-populated symbol position 320). In some embodiments, game controller 202 may also animate a symbol that a player has indicated he or she wishes to keep, such that the symbol appears to “fly” into the empty player-populated symbol position 320. Thus, a variety of symbol animations are contemplated by the present disclosure, and no particular symbol animation described herein should be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

Further, in some embodiments, a player may swipe up or down rather than left or right. For example, in at least one embodiment, a player may swipe up to discard a symbol and down to keep a symbol for addition to matrix 311 of symbol positions. In such an embodiment, an “up-swipe” may cause a player-selectable symbol to fly upwards off of symbol display area 302, while a “down-swipe” may cause a player-selectable symbol to fly down into a player-populated symbol position 320 of matrix 311.

Broadly then, player gestures may be of two types. Specifically, player gestures may be “discard gestures,” such as left-swipes and/or up-swipes, or “keep” or “add” gestures, such as right-swipes or down-swipes. As described above, discard gestures may cause a player-selectable symbol (e.g., symbol 314) to be discarded, while add gestures may cause the addition of the player-selectable symbol to an empty player-populated symbol position 320 of matrix 311.

In response to an add gesture, game controller 202 may add a player-selectable symbol (e.g., player-selectable symbol 314) to an empty player-populated symbol position 320 of matrix 311 (step 412). Likewise, in response to a discard gesture, game controller may remove or discard the symbol 314 (e.g., by animating the symbol, as described above) from symbol display area 302 and present a next player-selectable symbol in the sequence of player-selectable symbols in symbol display area 302. The player may discard or add this symbol as well, such as by way of any of the player gestures described above, and this process of adding or discarding symbols may continue until all (or a subset) of the empty player-populated symbol positions 320 within matrix 311 are filled by player selected symbols.

Further, in some embodiments, the player may be limited to the predefined number of discard actions, D, such as, for example, two discards (e.g., D=2). Once the player has discarded a number of symbols equal to the predefined number of discards, D, game controller 202 may require that the player select additional symbols in the sequence of player-selectable symbols for addition to matrix 311 until all player-populated symbol positions 320 are filled. In some embodiments, game controller 202 may auto-populate remaining empty player-populated symbol positions 320 within matrix 311 with a corresponding number of unselected player-selectable symbols from the sequence. In some embodiments, the remaining empty player-populated symbol positions 320 may be removed and replaced by symbols from the reel (e.g., based on the reel spin).

Accordingly, with continuing reference to the example of FIG. 3, first player-selectable symbol 314 of the sequence is displayed and may be kept or discarded by the player. In this example, first player-selectable symbol 314 is discarded by the player (e.g., with a discard gesture). FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the exemplary wagering game shown in FIG. 3, in which the option to discard the first symbol is selected by the player, and in which a first player-selectable symbol 314 is discarded. More specifically, as shown with reference to FIG. 5, the player swipes left on first player-selectable symbol 314, and game controller 202, in response, animates first player-selectable symbol 314 such that first player-selectable symbol appears to “fly off” a left side of symbol display area 302. As described herein, however, the player may swipe up to discard first player-selectable symbol 314, or perform another “discard” gesture, as described herein. As shown, because first player-selectable symbol 314