AU2003100455A4 - Method for symbol manipulation in gaming machines - Google Patents

Description

Method for symbol manipulation in gaming machines Field of the invention The present invention relates generally to gaming consoles, gaming machines or networked gaming machines and, more particularly, to gaming machines found in casinos or betting environments. In addition the present invention relates to a gaming method.

Background of the invention Gaming machines otherwise known as slot machines, poker machines, pokies or EGMs, have proven very popular and for many years have been one of the base elements of the gaming industry. Although there have been many adaptations used in gaming machines to encourage players to invest money in the chance to win substantial prizes, players quickly tier of games, requiring further stimulation to encourage interest. For this reason, game creators have to constantly enhance the entertainment value associated with the likelihood of winning money or other assorted prizes, so as to attract players to their particular machines.

Typically gaming machines of the spinning reels type, and more recently video simulations thereof, providing games where game outcomes display a number of reels with 3 symbol locations for each reel and the player wagers on a number of pay lines that typically include one symbol location per reel, and should a winning combination of symbols occur on a wagered pay line the machine issues an award. One such game is described in United States Patent US 5580053 published 21 December 1994 by Philip Crouch and titled "Multi-line gaming machine". Further gaming machines of this type not only require symbol combinations to appear on pay lines but often symbols displayed must conform to pay rules in order to be eligible for an award. Such pay rules including combinations of symbols which offer an award if the symbols appear left to right with the first symbol in the left most reel. Thus a combination of symbols is entitled to a prize if all the symbols of the combination appear along a pay line and ordered according to pay rules.

Spinning reel gaming machines and in particular the video type, often offer games where a multitude of pay lines can be brought into play by placing wagers on the pay lines.

Commonly, gaming machines of this type usually offer up to 9 pay lines, and more recently up to 20 pay lines or even 50 pay lines. Should a player bring into play only some of the pay lines available, winning combinations that may occur on pay lines without a wager would not award a prize, stimulating the player to wager on all possible pay lines. Attempts have been made in the past to offer during each game one additional pay line by randomly selecting certain symbol locations to form a pay line that normally is not offered. One such game is described in the United States patent US 6261178 published 17 July 2001 by Nicholas Bennett and titled "Slot Machine Game with Dynamic Payline". However, this method does not provide for much of a variation on existing benefits to a player, as the additional randomly selected pay line mutates each game, and is only one line with no special characteristics setting it aside from an otherwise normal pay line, nor can US 6261178 make beneficial use of symbols on reels that are currently not part of the game out come displayed to the player.

In addition to providing games that award prizes for combinations of symbols occurring on pay lines it is known in the art to provide awards for symbol combinations that occur scattered, whereby symbols do not need to occur along a pay line but simply need to be displayed somewhere on the outcome display in order to be part of a paying combination.

Although the player would never miss out on an award for a potential combination of symbols should the symbol pay for scatters, often the player is puzzled as to why a certain win combination was awarded when the symbols for which a prize was awarded did not appear in any obvious pattern. Additionally, scatter symbols are limited in use due to the nature of awarding prizes so easily.

Although it is theoretically possible to have a gaming machine where all possible pay lines could be offered for play (being 243 possible pay lines for a typical 5 reels machine), it is not practically achievable to bring into play all 243 pay lines, as pay lines are typically indicated to the player by graphical means with the number of pay lines that can be displayed being limited by the space provided on the display means (most frequently a video displays). Accordingly, the above-described methods (of pay lines and scatters) fail to provide in a satisfactory manner for gaming machine methods where prizes are awarded for combinations of symbols that when displayed, had the symbols appeared in a different combination, the game controller would have provided an award to the player; other wise known as providing awards for near miss combinations. Instead, and as is more often the case, symbols have a habit of becoming near misses due to the deliberate placement of symbols on the given reels of such machines. That is to say, symbol combinations displayed will often fall just short of providing a combination that would provide an award to the player. Though near misses can provide excitement, without a way to elevate this problem, over a short period of time, the player becomes frustrated and stops playing the game.

In such situations, players can only wish in vain that symbols that had created near miss combination had fallen into different combinations. In GB 2296360 published in the UK by David Adrian Francis a method for a player selection and swapping of 2 symbols locations is disclosed. Though patent 360 teaches us that symbols can change locations, 360 is limited to two symbols swapping location only once during any one reel spin, and is reliant on the players skill at identifying combinations. Even if a combination can be found, it is often difficult to simple single out 2 symbols that when changed would produce the highest award. Additionally, 360 fails to allow symbols to actively interact with each other with any certainty or flexibility to alleviate player frustrations. Such limitations fundamentally restrict a players chance of winning major prizes, reducing the excitement that a player may otherwise enjoy, and in some jurisdictions 360 remains unlawful due to its skill based content. A further limitation of 360 is that it is also limited to the symbols currently displayed on the screen and in only being able to swap symbols of 2 locations, ultimately further disadvantaging the player from fulfilling their expectations.

In US 2003/0027623 Al by Bradley Rose, a gaming machine is described with number based symbols being superimposed over a base game reel symbols set, and then being shuffled by moving the symbols from one symbol location to another symbol location.

This shuffling of revealed number based symbols is then read from left to right across the independent reels as a whole number indicating the award won by the player. US 2003/0027623 Al does not attempt to address the need for a second chance at near misses, use symbols currently not displayed, nor does it make use of base symbols to create winning paylines..

The present invention discloses a gaming machine and method of play that will appeal to a wide range of players as it offers a more flexible, diverse and fresh approach to gaming machines. The invention disclosed provides for multiple symbols that are displayed on a display to be moved to other areas of the display including across reels, to form new combinations of symbols across pay lines that would otherwise have been near misses.

This process is preferably though not restricted to automation by a set of pre-programmed commands that dictate which symbols would under certain conditions be moved, in what manor the symbols will be moved, the quantity of movements, and evaluations of pay lines. By having multiple symbols changing locations with other symbols through such autonomously movement to new locations on the displayed matrix of symbols, new awardable symbol combinations on pay lines are presented where such combinations would otherwise not have appeared.

Because of the great value that playing methods add to a gaming machine in attracting players, there is an obvious need to continue to invent new and improved ways of play to further develop this industry. Further, since there are many gaming options in modern casinos, which compete for the player's attention and which provide generally the same return, there is a need for a game, which provides such enhanced entertainment value for the player. The present invention aims to satisfy the above needs and relates specifically to a novel play method for gamming machines thereof.

Summary of the invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, in its first broad form, the invention provides a gaming console comprising a display, a game controller, a stake selector, a memory buffer, a plurality of reels containing symbols, a matrix of symbol locations displaying at least a portion of said reel symbols on said display and a game initiation means where on initiation by the game initiation means the game controller selects a plurality of symbols and displays the selected symbols on said display with said matrix of symbol locations to produce a game outcome and awards prizes according to game rules. Often, such awards are based on the stakes wagered on winning combinations of symbols otherwise known as pay lines.

The disclosed invention satisfies the need to enhance symbol location arrangements and assist in alleviating near miss combinations of standard pre-programmed pay lines by allowing symbols of said reels to be relocated to other locations on said reels. In one broad embodiment of this invention, the player after activating the reels of said game controller, will be presented with a set of symbols on said matrix comprising of symbols in total, to form a grid (also referred to as matrix) of 3 symbols on each of reels 3 X 5 symbol locations) on said display as typically found on casino slot machines. As an example, on a trigger condition, such as a Ferris Wheel symbol appearing in the central location on the 3 rd reel of the said matrix, other symbols in locations on the matrix surrounding the Ferris Wheel symbol are instructed by the game controller to shift locations to occupy the next symbol location in a clockwise direction next to their own, so that the symbols will move around the Ferris Wheel. Upon completing this movement and coming to rest, the displayed matrix of symbols will have changed, allowing for new combinations along pay lines and possible awards to the player.

In the first preferred embodiment, symbols from pre-selected symbol locations on said matrix are removed from said display one after the other or simultaneously, to be relocated to said memory buffer of the gaming console, having the game controller decide where the symbols will be placed, and then restoring the symbols from the memory buffer back on to said display into new symbol locations of the said matrix. This transfer may be instantaneous, or preferably with hazing effects to present a more mystical feel to the relocating. The actual deciding of the new locations for the symbols may be performed at any time. For example, on a trigger condition, the symbols could be removed with the intent of deliberately creating a win combination along a pay line on said matrix. In such an embodiment, the deciding of where the symbols are to be relocated would be performed before the symbols where removed whereas if the symbols were to be relocated randomly, the controlling of when the symbols will be placed may be performed at any time leading up to the actual placement of the symbols themselves.

A second method of relocating symbols would be to display the movement of symbols from one location of the said matrix to another. As such, symbols of the matrix that have been displayed to the player are moved to other symbol locations of said matrix preferably in a fluid motion with a fancily animation of the symbol being moved. As the symbols are shown to be moving to new symbol locations on said matrix, the symbols would then pushing other symbols that already occupy the new locations to other location on the matrix. This can best be described as a cascading effect that would end when the final moving symbol would be pushed into an unoccupied location where the original symbol was moved from. Of course the symbols may also be moved in such as manor that the player would not be able to distinguish which symbol actually moved first, as the pattern of movement would have been pre-calculated before any movement took place. In such an application, the symbols would appear to the human eye to be moving simultaneously.

A third method of relocating symbols would be to display symbols in a rotating mode before the symbols are displayed in a stopped mode and display symbols bouncing forward and backward just before coming to rest as to permit a player to identify the symbols that are off the displayed area and are located on the reels immediately before or after the symbols displayed in the stopped position. This can also be achieved by displaying only a portion of symbols preceding and following the symbols on the matrix on the display for ease of reference by the player. The symbols that are off the matrix being then displayed to move to the said matrix and as the symbols are shown to be moving to new symbol locations on said matrix, pushing other symbols that already occupy the new locations to other location on the matrix or to the location off the matrix, that is to locations where symbols that were moved onto the matrix originated. This can be described as circulating symbols off the matrix are and being replaced in turn by symbol that come from off the matrix.

After all the symbols have moved to their new locations, the pay lines can be assessed, and if need be, the shuffling or relocating of symbols to new symbol locations may occur again. The instant advantage is that the player is rewarded for playing the game with the excitement of anticipation to see how the symbols may move, whether pre-programmed, random, or allocated by other means. After a plurality of symbols have been re-located the newly formed combinations may be entitled to awards that would otherwise have simply been near misses. Essentially, a more dynamic system now exists that provides the player an additional chance to realise an award that would otherwise have been a near miss combination.

Description Typically, games played on gaming consoles of this invention may be displayed on a video display, which is controlled by the game controller, and which in turn is controlled by a set of instructions processed by the CPU. Recently gaming consoles have been simulated by networked electronic equipment where the various elements typically found on a gaming console may be distributed over the network and said display, game controller, stake selector, memory buffer and game initiation means may be shared and hosted by any of the machines of the network. It is to be understood that when referring to a gaming console, the term gaming console is intended to include such networks that simulate gaming consoles. In addition multipurpose machines such as personal computers have been used to simulate gaming consoles and this present invention equally applies to such multipurpose machines or multitasking machines or any other machine that comprises physically or virtually of the elements typically found on a gaming console and that is adapted to play a game of this invention. The preferred embodiments of the invention allows for the display to show a typical 5 reel video game as found in most casinos, however it is to be understood that the invention may equally be used in games displaying any number of reels or games such as Kino, Draw Poker, Bingo, or any other game where some sort of symbols are selected and displayed on a dimensional matrix.

Typically spinning reel games have symbols that appear on the display means in a two dimensional matrix, where reels represent the columns of the matrix. Game reels are generally constructed from a number of set symbols placed in a specific order that are nowadays often 40 or move symbols in length. Each symbol of the base game may appear on any of the game reels a multiple of times to allow for certain odds of game combinations to appear. Typically each column of the displayed matrix contains three symbol locations which will display 3 symbols from a corresponding reel for that column. Thus in a typical 5 reel game there are 15 symbol locations on the matrix, that is 3 locations on each of the 5 reels. Should more reels than 5 columns be displayed or more symbols than 3 symbols per reel be displayed, the said matrix size and the number of symbol locations of said matrix is generally increased proportionally.

Currently, 5 reel video games are restricted to the need for pre-programmed pay lines or alternatively by additionally pay lines created by randomly selecting symbol locations that define a pay line before the reels are spun. Further methods used for determining pay methods other than pay lines are through scatter symbols, where awards for scatter symbols are issued if the correct number of scatter symbols appear anywhere on the set of reels displayed to the player on said display, allowing any combination of scatter symbols to appear in any symbol location and pay a prize. Due to the obvious volatility that the use of scatter symbols provide, and their complete restriction to near miss excitement when symbols are displayed in a game outcome, such symbols combinations are given only very limited use and often are only used as a trigger condition for game features as opposed to being symbols that provide for the majority of the prizes issued to players.

In the disclosed invention, the current forms of pay lines are enhanced by the ability of moving already displayed symbols on the displayed matrix to new locations of the matrix thus displaying in turn multiple symbols combination on the pay line. Where a win combination is created on a pay line, an award is given to the player. To determine when symbols move to new locations, a trigger condition would need to be met. The trigger condition may be any condition required to trigger the event, such as combinations of symbols displayed, a timed event, an award granted to a lucky player, the appearance of a symbol such as a special symbol or the symbol to be moved, a random event, the appearance of a sprit on the display, an amount wagered, the amount of pay lines that have been waged on, an event that the player may activate by a choice of some kind, a progressive type scheme or a combination of any of these methods or any other method as known in the industry. By the same token, the event for triggering the relocation of symbols may be calculated at any time during a game, causing any number of the symbols shifting locations, as is decided by the game rules.

In the preferred embodiment, one such trigger condition may be a Ferris Wheel symbol that appears on the centre location of a matrix of 5 columns and 3 rows. After awarding any prizes for win combinations along enabled pay lines, the game controller moves symbols from one said matrix location to another said matrix location. If the another symbol location is already occupied by another symbol, the another symbol will also be relocated until such time as the symbol to be relocated is allocated a location that has no other symbol occupying the allocated symbol location. The symbols chosen to be moved may be at random, or from a pre-programmed set of instructions, such as each symbol that is in a juxtaposed position to the symbol that triggered the feature, may change locations with another symbol chosen at random. Each symbol may be swapped with an adjacent symbol, or may be moved from its location on the said matrix to a new location elsewhere on said matrix that would otherwise be unrelated with the moving symbol. As an example, symbol may leave Symbol 'A's location and head for Symbol 'B's location on the matrix. Symbol would be pushed from symbol 'B's location to find a new symbol location belonging to symbol Symbol is then pushed out of its location by symbol and may head to the original location that was occupied by symbol before symbol was moved. In such an embodiment the process of movement ended because there was no need to reassigned any of the symbols of the matrix to further new locations. As such, the symbols being moved may form a triangular, circular, square, rectangle, zigzag flow patterns, or alternatively the movement may appear to be random motion as required by game rules. In yet another embodiment, the symbols moved may be of a certain class of symbols, or symbols that may form specific combinations. Importantly, the movement of symbols being relocated to new locations in the matrix may be assigned in advance by the game controller and as such any movement by the symbols themselves may appear to the player as simultaneous.

In an alternative embodiment, a moving symbol may move off one end of the screen to the adjacent side of the matrix moving its way to a new location. Alternatively, the symbol may move from one end of the display off the display, and appear on the matrix in a seemingly random location. In yet another embodiment, the symbol or symbols moving may appear from behind the reels appearing to come from a distance in the background and push other symbols to new locations taking the position of the other symbols. It may suffice to say that symbols are relocated in any visual manner known in the art.

As the symbol or symbols are moved, they preferably would move displaying an animation such as a walking, waddling or a move in a fanciful dance like motion.

Alternatively, the any symbols that are moved to new locations on said matrix may appear to be aided by other symbols, such as an image of a truck used to relocate symbols, or a large monkey symbol jumbling the symbols appearing on said matrix into new combinations. In yet another alternative embodiment, the awards generated by the symbols being re-located may be influenced by the manor or process in which the transfer of the symbols occurred. For example, a symbol of a person may be relocated with the aid of a sprite that appears on the display. The award offered to the player may thusly be dependant on the sprite appearing as a car, so if the symbol is transported by a normal car sprite, then once a win combination along a pay line is created and an award is given, the award may be multiplied by two. Had the sprite image of a car depicted a sports car, then the multiplier may have been five, and thereby enhancing the excitement for the player. In an alternative embodiment, the symbol may pass over other symbols whilst changing locations, and whilst doing so, the symbol may be awarded special bonuses, or leave special bonuses behind. Such bonuses including the granting of new properties as according to the game rules, or simply presenting the player with a bonus award.

It should be noted that in the process of choosing and moving symbols, such movement may occur more than once per game outcome and more than once per evaluation of awards. For example, a plurality of symbols may change location at one end of the displayed matrix, whilst another plurality of symbols may also change places at another location of the matrix. As such, multiple sets of movement may occur before pay line evaluations take place, and that any movement of symbols may in fact be to create a more advantageous out come for the player. Further, where this method of play is preferably based on stable base game reel strips, the invention equally applies to reels that may be modified before a game outcome is displayed. Thus symbols may be seen relocating whilst the reels are displayed in a rotating mode, in a way that a plurality of symbols are displayed leaving rotating reels and moving to another rotating reel or simply in a new location on the same reel, thus changing the composition of the reels whist spinning. This method will change the odds of obtaining win combinations on the matrix once the reels come to rest and the game outcome is displayed. For ease of identification the relocated symbols may be displayed on the matrix in easily identifiable manner, thus alerting the player that the relocation of symbols process produce a desirable result.

Alternative ways of moving a plurality of symbols to new locations or applications of their method of play as known in the art may be used, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings and examples in order to illustrate the disclosure of this invention. The drawings and examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention described herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming console according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig.2 is a schematic diagram of the display showing said matrix and a game outcome where a sequence of framed symbols form a win combination along a pay line.

Fig.3 is a schematic diagram of the display with a game outcome showing a bonus game upon a trigger condition.

Fig.4 is a schematic diagram of the display with a game outcome and on a trigger condition showing a bonus game upon a trigger condition in progression.

is a schematic diagram of the display with a game outcome and on a trigger condition showing a bonus game outcome.

Fig.6 is a schematic diagram of a second preferred embodiment of a display with a game outcome showing a bonus game upon a trigger condition.

Fig.7 is a schematic diagram of a second preferred embodiment of a display with a game outcome and on a trigger condition showing a bonus game upon a trigger condition in progression.

Fig.8 is a schematic diagram of a second preferred embodiment of a display with a game outcome and on a trigger condition showing a bonus game outcome.

Fig.9 is a schematic diagram of another preferred embodiment of a display with a game outcome and on a trigger condition showing a bonus game outcome.

Detailed description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a gaming console 10. The gaming console 10 has an operating panel 20 on which there is disposed a coin slot 22, a banknote slot 24, stake selectors 26, and a game initiator 28. The gaming console also has a display 30 that displays the outcome of the game. The display 30 shows the reels 36 (typical of a three, four or five-reel machine) where on each reel three symbol locations are displayed, thus defining the matrix 41of symbol locations. The reels 36 include a plurality of symbols 32 to define game outcomes once a subset of these symbols 32 is displayed stationary in the matrix 41. A further display 40 shows the prize table for winning combinations of displayed symbols and the game rules.

Figure 2 is the first figure of a sequence of figures that illustrate the first preferred embodiment of this invention. Figure 2 shows a game outcome displayed on the display 30 with symbols 32 displayed across reels (36a to 36e) at various symbol locations as indicated by the stationary position of the symbols 32. In figure 2, a pay line 31 depicts a winning symbol 32 combination which when according to the game rules 70, the game controller 12 will issue awards 14 to the player.

In Fig. 3, a Ferris Wheel symbol 34 is displayed on the centre location of the third reel 36c which triggers the game feature. In the first preferred embodiment, three symbols 32 are selected at random will disappear, preferably though a fanciful effect such as hazing, or by some other special effect. The game controller 12 may have already selected the locations on the reels (36a 36c) where the symbols 32 may be relocated, and according the game rules, the symbols may be made to create a more advantages outcome for the player, or simply be placed into random locations. In the preferred embodiment, game controller 12 will create a more advantages outcome for the player, and select the locations where the symbols will re-appear. Alternatively, it is also in the concept of this invention that the symbols 32 whilst in transient state in the memory buffer 67 may be given new properties that will also effect the outcome of the game. Figure 4 depicts the 3 symbols 32 having disappeared from the display 30 as where originally found in figure 3, to reappear in new locations as depicted in figure 5. The arrows 33 in figure 4 will preferably not appear in the preferred embodiment though indication of where the symbols 32 will move to remains within the scope of this invention. In the example provided in figure 5, the symbols 32 that where removed from the display 30 have reappeared in their new locations on the matrix of symbol locations with their original parameters, however it is in the contemplation of this invention that the symbols 32 may have taken on new characteristics whilst in the memory buffer 67, or on transit to the new symbol locations of the matrix. Upon the symbols 32 reappearing in new locations, the game controller 12 now examines for any newly constructed symbols combination along pay lines, and where a win combination exists, the game controller issues awards 14.

In Figure 6, a second preferred embodiment is provided where a novel game feature can be created from this instant invention. Figure 6 depicts a game outcome created by the game controller 12 and displayed on the display 30. As in figure 3, a Ferris Wheel symbol 34 has appeared on the centre location of the centre reel 36c and has been used to trigger a bonus game, causing other symbols 32 on the 3 centre reels (36b to 36d) to exchange positions in a clockwise motion. This shuffling of positions requires the game controller 12 to select new location positions for all the symbols 32 that will move, storing this information in the memory buffer 67. To do this, each symbol 32 to be moved is chosen in such that a first symbol 32 will be selected to move, then moved in a visual motion towards it intended new location. If a symbol 32 currently occupies the chosen location, then the symbol 32 in the chosen location will also be relocated, until all the symbols 32 that will be relocated have done so. In a preferred embodiment, the symbol 32 being moved may appear to animate, such as in a walking or waddling motion towards their intended target locations as depicted in figure 7. Alternatively, the symbols 32 being moved may be taken to their new location with the assistance of another symbol 32 that appears on the screen, such as a truck symbol 32. Additionally, whilst the symbol 32 is being moved, the symbol 32 may also take on additional or altered parameters to add further excitement to the players game (not depicted in figure As depicted in figure 7, more than one symbol 32 can undergo the process of moving and will move at what appears to the player to be the same time with the actual movement locations having been worked out prior to any movement commencing.

In figure 7, the Symbols 32 are depicted as moving in a clockwise motion around the centre Ferris Wheel symbol 34. In a preferred embodiment, the symbols 32 according to one embodiment are moved to an adjacent position, evaluated for awards, and then moved again in a process that will take the symbols 32 from their start locations to each position around the Ferris wheel symbol 34, until they return to their original position, for a total of 8 moves for all relocating symbols 34, with a pay line evaluation after the completion of each move. Upon each assigned symbol having moved in accordance with this embodiment and according to the game rules 70, the game controller 12 will assess the pay lines 31 for win combinations according to the game rules 70 for which the game controller 12 will then instruct the issuing of any prizes to the player. Alternatively, the symbols may not make it back to their original positions, ending after the evaluation of the 7th movement, as the 8th movement would place the symbols back to their starting positions, and provide line evaluations on a screen outcome that has already existed.

In Figure 8, we can see that after the first move of the symbols 32 from their original positions (as shown in figure a win combination along a pay line 31 has been formed, and the player will receive an award. In another embodiment, symbols 32 may overlap at times with other symbols 32 of the display 30 whilst relocating, or a variety of trigger conditions may cause multiple sequences of concurrent symbols relocating.

In yet a further embodiment of this invention, symbols 32 being moved may include symbols 32 that are currently not displayed on the matrix 41 but are on other parts of the reels (36a-36e). An example of this is provided in figure 9, which depicts a set of symbols 32 that do not complete any valid pay line31 as are required by the game rules One such symbol 32 that would aid in completing a valid pay line 31 does appear on the fifth reel 36e, though is not located on the display 30 area of the game outcome. The instant invention however is able to take the symbol 32 required from outside of the players view area 37, and relocate that symbol 32 with another symbol 32 of the displayed matrix 41 of symbols.

In such an embodiment, this does not require the entire reel to be moved to allow a given symbol to appear on the display (otherwise known as nudging), as the symbol may be moved from a given location on the reels (currently not displayed), to another location that is being displayed. It may also be the case that symbols 32 on the display 30 are moved until a pay line on the matrix 41 is produced.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that this invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. A method to determine an award from a game console of the type including display means, memory buffer and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means and in response to a wager to control the display to display at least three contiguous reels each with a plurality of symbol locations occupied by game symbols, said reels when displayed in a stopped mode define a game outcome that is displayed on a matrix comprising at least one symbol location for each said reel, award any prizes where required by the game rules, and where on a trigger condition said game controller uses pre-programmed instructions to relocate a plurality of game symbols as they appear on the said reels from one symbol location to another symbol location to form modified reels with at least one of the relocated symbols appearing on said matrix, and award prizes according to game rules.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said symbol relocation occurs whilst the reels are in a non stopped mode.

3. The method of claims 1 and 2 wherein any said symbols when instructed to relocate to a new symbol location that already contains an assigned symbol, will cause the said already assigned symbol to in turn relocate to a new symbol location of said reels.

4. The method of claims of I to 3 wherein at least two said symbol appear to relocate concurrently. The method of claims 2 to 4 wherein said pre-programmed instructions include the altering of properties of said symbols as a consequence of at least one symbol being relocated.