AU2015100261A4 - A method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller - Google Patents

A method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller Download PDF

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AU2015100261A4
AU2015100261A4 AU2015100261A AU2015100261A AU2015100261A4 AU 2015100261 A4 AU2015100261 A4 AU 2015100261A4 AU 2015100261 A AU2015100261 A AU 2015100261A AU 2015100261 A AU2015100261 A AU 2015100261A AU 2015100261 A4 AU2015100261 A4 AU 2015100261A4
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reel
symbols
positions
clone
visible
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AU2015100261B4 (en
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Hung Ngoc Nguyen
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Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
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Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
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Abstract

Abstract A gaming system comprising a display for symbols to be displayed in a set of display positions to a player and 5 a game controller. The game controller comprises a symbol selector for selecting in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of 10 reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on spinning reels, a cloned symbol controller arranged to implement a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all 15 symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, and wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, 20 the game controller being arranged to restrict the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and the other reel are fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned 25 symbol game round, and an outcome generator arranged to determine an outcome based on the selected symbols and a player selection of win lines in each cloned symbol game round. 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 SYMBOL SELECTOR RNG 610 SYMBOL Display- OUTCOME -INSTRUCTIONS GENERATOR ,644 Game Play Mechanism CLONED SYMBOL 50 CONTROLLER 620 ORIGINAL SUBSET CLONE SUBSET Figure 6 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15

Description

Title A METHOD OF GAMING, A GAMING SYSTEM AND A GAME CONTROLLER 5 Related Application This application is a divisional application of Australian application no. 201201129, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 10 Field The present invention relates to a method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller. 15 Background to the Invention Gaming systems are known comprising a game controller arranged to randomly display several symbols from a 20 predetermined set of symbols and to determine a game outcome such as a game win based on the displayed symbols. Such gaming systems may commonly be implemented as a stepper machine provided with reels with each reel carrying several symbols of the set, or a video machine 25 with selected symbols are displayed in virtual reels on a video display. While such systems provide users with enjoyment, there is a need for alternative gaming systems with different 30 features. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is 35 provided a gaming system comprising: a display for symbols to be displayed in a set of display positions to a player; and 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 2 a game controller comprising: a symbol selector for selecting in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the 5 display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on spinning reels, a cloned symbol controller arranged to implement 10 a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel 15 also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, and wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, the game controller being arranged to restrict the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and 20 the other reel are fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round, and an outcome generator arranged to determine an outcome based on the selected symbols and a player 25 selection of win lines in each cloned symbol game round. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming system comprising: a display for symbols to be displayed in a set of 30 display positions to a player; and a game controller comprising: a symbol selector for selecting in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the 35 display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 -3 spinning reels, a cloned symbol controller arranged to implement a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, 5 wherein all symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from 10 the other reel, and wherein the symbols of the cloned reel replace symbols previously occupying corresponding display positions, the game controller being arranged to restrict the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and 15 the other reel are fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round, and an outcome generator arranged to determine an outcome based on the selected symbols in each cloned 20 symbol game round. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming system comprising: a display for symbols to be displayed in a set of 25 display positions to a player; and a game controller comprising: a symbol selector for selecting in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the 30 display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on spinning reels, a cloned symbol controller arranged to implement 35 a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all symbols at visible positions of a clone reel 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 4 are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from 5 the other reel, and wherein the clone reel only occurs during a series of free spins, the game controller being arranged to restrict the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and the other reel are fixed relative to each other 10 so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round, and an outcome generator arranged to determine an outcome based on the selected symbols in each cloned symbol game round. 15 According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of gaming for use with a gaming machine having a display, and a controller, the method comprising: selecting via the controller in each game round a 20 plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on spinning reels; 25 implementing via the controller a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, 30 and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, and wherein the symbols of the cloned reel replace symbols previously occupying corresponding display positions; 35 restricting via the controller the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and the other reel are 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 5 fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round; and determining via the controller an outcome based 5 on the selected symbols in each cloned symbol game round. According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of gaming for use with a gaming machine having a display, and a controller, the method comprising: 10 selecting via the controller in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality 15 of visible reel positions on spinning reels; implementing via the controller a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same 20 as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, and wherein the symbols of the cloned reel replace symbols 25 previously occupying corresponding display positions; restricting via the controller the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and the other reel are fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the 30 same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round; and determining via the controller an outcome based on the selected symbols and a player selection of win lines in each cloned symbol game round. 35 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 6 Brief Description of Drawings An embodiment of the invention is described in relation to 5 the following drawings by way of example. Figure 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a gaming system. 10 Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stand alone gaming machine; Figure 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gaming machine; 15 Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional components of a memory; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a network gaming 20 system; Figure 6 is a further block diagram of the gaming system; Figures 7A to 7B show displays of Example 1; 25 Figures 8A to 8C show displays of Example 2; Figures 9A to 9F show displays of Example 3; 30 Figures 10A to 10D show displays of Example 4; Figures 11A to 11D show displays of Example 5; and Figure 12 shows a flow diagram for the method of an 35 embodiment of the invention. 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 -7 Detailed Description Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system 5 arranged to implement a game wherein symbols at original subsets of the display positions can be copied to form cloned subsets of symbols. The gaming system can take a number of different forms. 10 In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine. In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided 15 wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a "thick client" architecture may be used 20 wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a "thin client" architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player 25 operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player. However, it will be understood that other arrangements are 30 envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming 35 machine mode, "thick client" mode or "thin client" mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 -8 skilled in the art. Irrespective of the form, the gaming system comprises several core components. At the broadest level, the core 5 components are a player interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in Figure 1. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter 10 instructions and play the game. Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable a player to input credits 15 and receive payouts, one or more displays 54, a game play mechanism 56 that enables a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place bets), and one or more speakers 58. 20 The game controller 60 is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored 25 as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Herein the term "processor" is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device 30 or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in Figure 2. The gaming machine 35 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which are displayed representations of a game 16 that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 9 houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin input 5 chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of 10 reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device. 15 A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted 20 beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10. The display 14 shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen 25 device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be 30 of the same type as the display 14, or of a different type. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or 35 different to the gaming machine of Figure 2. 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 10 The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102. 5 Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103. 10 The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the 15 peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons 20 skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers. In the example shown in Figure 3, a player interface 120 includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game 25 controller 101 and comprises one or more displays 106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107, a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming 30 machine 100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation. In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. 35 The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 11 data or commands from the central controller, server or database. Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of 5 an exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain 10 some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere. 15 It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101. 20 Figure 5 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of 25 two gaming machines 202 in Figure 5, are connected to the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10,100 shown in Figures 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for 30 implementing game play. While banks 203 of two gaming machines are illustrated in Figure 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged. One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the 35 network 201. For example, the displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to display representations 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 12 associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material. 5 In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they 10 collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot 15 game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided. In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements 20 most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass 25 these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard 30 computer input and output components. Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a 35 licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 13 network 201 and the devices connected to the network. The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate 5 network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the 10 server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single "engine" on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run a random generator engine. 15 Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of games servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the 20 terminals. Embodiments of the invention relate to gaming systems for implementing games that involve a display of spinning reels as part of the display of the outcome of the game. 25 The game controllers of such gaming systems have a stop determining function that determines the stop position for each reel. For example, if there are five reels, each having twenty symbols, the stop determining function might determine that the stop positions are positions: 3, 13, 7, 30 9 and 17. The spinning of the reels is then controlled so that each symbol comes to a stop in the same row, typically a predetermined row in a "window" corresponding to a "single win line" game. When a reels stops, the symbols will be in one of a plurality of possible symbol 35 positions for that reel relative to the stop position. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 14 gaming systems that allow a player to select how many win lines of a plurality of win lines they will play in each game - i.e. a minimum of one win line up to the maximum number of win lines allowed by the game. Each win line is 5 formed by a set of symbol positions consisting of one symbol position from each reel. That is, a predetermined symbol position of each reel is assigned to a win line. The symbol positions that constitute each of the win lines are usually advertised to the player by markings on the 10 display or diagrams showing the symbol positions that correspond to each win line. The win lines may be for example, horizontal or diagonal lines. The game controller of one embodiment is shown in more 15 detail in Figure 6. The game controller 60 incorporates a symbol selector 610 that selects symbols using random numbers from random number generator 650, including possibly a bonus game symbol, to appear on the display 54. When activated by a determination that a subset of the 20 symbols should be cloned, cloned symbol controller 620 operates via original subset controller 621 and clone subset controller 622 to obtain from the player via game play mechanism 56 the original and clone subsets respectively. Clone symbol controller 621 then copies the 25 symbols from the original subset of display positions to the clone subset of display positions to thereby modify the displayed symbols. That is in this embodiment, the player selects both the subset to be cloned and the position at which the subset is to be cloned. In another 30 embodiment, the clone symbol controller 620 selects the subset to be cloned and the positions at which they are cloned. The outcome generator 630 calculates any prize associated 35 with the current round depending on the game instructions 644 and updates prize data 645 and display 54 on the player interface 50. 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 15 Now referring to Figure 12, a flow diagram for an embodiment of the invention is shown. The step of symbol selection 1201 is to select the symbols for display. The 5 system then performs the step 1202 of determining whether a subset of symbols should be cloned. If so, the cloned symbol game controller 620 performs 3 steps 1203, 1204 and 1205 of determining the original subset, the clone subset and then of copying the symbols from the original subset 10 to the clone subset or subsets. Then the outcome generator 630 determines in step 1206 the game round outcome based on the modified symbols. After the conclusion of the current game, the cloned symbol controller 620 determines in step 1207 whether there is to be another following game 15 round using the cloned symbols. If so, in step 1208 the cloned symbols are retained, optionally non-visible symbols on the same reels are also cloned, and the next step 1201 of symbol selection is noted as one with restricted selection such that the original and clone 20 reels are spun together. If there is not to be a following game round using the cloned symbols, in step 1209 the cloned symbol locations are returned to their previous values and the normal symbol selection rules will apply. 25 In an alternative embodiment, the cloning process can occur after it has been decided whether to award a prize such that the cloned symbols only have an effect in a subsequent game round. Such an embodiment is suitable for an arrangement where the game round is part of a series of 30 game rounds, such as is the case of the game round is one of a series of free games or free spins. Any of the known rules for controlling the occurrence of feature in a game may be used to control when the cloning 35 process may occur, for example, cloning may always occur as part of each game round, the cloning may only occur when certain types of bet are made, or cloning may only 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 16 occur when a trigger event occurs, such as a particular symbol or combination of symbols, a turnover amount, or an external event. Similar events may control the extent to which there is cloning or they type of cloning, for 5 example how many reels are cloned. Cloning may also only occur during certain parts of the game, for example during a series of free spins. In one embodiment the clone subset is identical to the 10 original subset, and the symbols of the original subset are duplicated side by side at half-width, fitting in the same display position. In another embodiment, the clone subset is laterally displaced from the original subset (e.g. on another reel) and symbols of the original subset 15 replace symbols previously occupying corresponding display positions of the cloned subsets. In some embodiments only the visible symbols of one reel are cloned - e.g. those which have been spun to a stop at 20 the display positions used in evaluating a win based on win lines. In another embodiment all of the symbols of a reel are cloned. Intermediate embodiments where one or visible symbols of a reel but less than all the symbols are cloned are also possible. In another embodiment, the 25 original subset and each clone subset are mutually non overlapping rectangular regions of the display positions. In an embodiment, cloning is triggered by the appearance of a particular symbol combination in the display 30 positions, by a random event, or by the player purchasing a cloning right or by another event known in the art. The original subset may be determined by player choice, by a random event, or by the occurrence of a particular 35 symbol or symbol combination. The clone subset may be determined in an analogous fashion. The player choice may include the payment of different wagers to get eligibility 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 17 for the symbol or symbol combination. In embodiments which involve retaining the cloned symbols during one or more following cloned symbol game rounds it 5 is advantageous to restrict the symbol selection in the following cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions for reels containing the clone subset and the original subset are fixed relative to each other. 10 Further embodiments will be apparent from the following examples. Example 1 15 Now referring to Figure 7, the display is divided into 5 reels 740a to 740e numbered 1 to 5 from left to right each displaying 3 symbols in a visible reel window, arranged into top line 750a, centre line 750b and bottom line 750c. In this case the system is arranged so that the clone 20 feature can be accessed by player choice. A player has indicated via game play mechanism 56 the desire to enter into a "clone" feature. The reels spin and stop and the player sees the symbols shown in Fig 7A. The player is then asked via the action of original subset controller 25 621 to select a particular original subset to clone, in this case only all display positions of any one reel are on offer. The player selects reel 2 as the original subset. The player is then asked via the action of clone subset controller 622 to select a particular clone subset 30 to clone, in this case only all display positions of any one other reel are on offer. The player selects reel 1 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller 621 now copies the symbols in the original subset, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone 35 subset resulting in the display shown in Fig 7B. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the player is paid for three "10"s on the centre line using the WILD 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 18 symbols. Using the clone feature, the player has turned a non-winning game in Fig 7A to a winning game. Example 2 5 Now referring to Figure 8, a player has purchased the right to clone 2 reels in advance, on the future occurrence of a trigger event. The reels have spun, showing the arrangement of symbols in Fig 8A. An offer to 10 use the right to clone 2 reels in this game round has been generated by cloned symbol controller 620 as a result of the occurrence of particular symbol, namely a WILD symbol, on one of the reels, which automatically becomes the original subset. The player indicates via game play 15 mechanism 56 the desire to accept the offer. The original subset is the reel with the WILD symbol, reel 2. The player is then asked via the action of clone subset controller 622 to select a particular clone subset to clone, in this case only all display positions of two 20 other reels are on offer. The player selects reels 1 and 3 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller 621 now copies the symbols in the original subset, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown in Fig 8B. The prize 25 is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the player is paid for three Kings on the top line, four Kings on the centre line using the three WILD symbols, and three 9s on the bottom line. 30 The game rules specify that the player may keep the cloned reels for a following cloned symbol game round so that the reel positions for reels containing the clone subset and the original subset are fixed relative to each other. In this case, even the non-visible symbols on the original 35 reel are also copied to corresponding non-visible positions on the clone reels, so that the original and clone reels show the same symbols in each visible reel 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 19 position in the following cloned symbol game round. The reels spin resulting in the arrangement shown in Fig 8C, with all three reels identical. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the player is paid for three 5 9s on the top line, three 8s on the centre line, and four 7s on the bottom line. Example 3 10 Now referring to Figure 9, a player has won from the action of the game rules the right to three successive games each with a separate cloning action using reel 3 as the original subset. The player may clone 3 reels in each game. The starting arrangement of symbols is shown in Fig 15 9A. For the first game, the player is asked via the action of clone subset controller 622 to select a particular clone subset to clone, in this case up to three other entire reels. The player selects reels 1, 2 and 4 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller 621 now copies 20 the symbols in the original subset, reel 3, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown in Fig 9B. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the player is paid for four Jacks on the top line, four 10s on the 25 centre line, and four SCATTER (SCATTER is a symbol which can be combined across lines, irrespective of its position, for a win). The reels then spin in normal fashion and show the 30 arrangement shown in Fig 9C. For the second clone game, with the original subset fixed by the game rules at reel 3, the player selects again reels 1,2 and 4 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller 621 now copies the symbols in the original subset, reel 3, which is laterally 35 displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown in Fig 9D. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the player is paid 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 20 for four Aces on the top line, five 9s on the centre line, and five Kings on the bottom line. The reels then again spin in normal fashion and show the 5 arrangement shown in Fig 9E. For the third clone game, with the original subset again fixed by the game rules at reel 3, the player selects again reels 1, 2 and 4 as the clone subset. The cloned symbol controller 621 now copies the symbols in the original subset, reel 3, which is 10 laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown in Fig 9F. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the player is paid for four Queens on the top line, five Jacks on the centre line, and four SCATTERs. 15 In this example there are no following cloned symbol game rounds with the reels in fixed relationship. Example 4 20 Now referring to Figure 10, a player has won from the action of the game rules at random the right to clone a 2 by 2 rectangular region to another non-overlapping region. The starting arrangement of the symbols is shown in Fig 25 10A. The gaming system determines the original subset and highlights it as shown in Fig 10B. The player is then asked via the action of clone subset controller 622 to select another non-overlapping 2 by 2 region as the clone subset. The player selects the region on reels 3 and 4 30 shown in Fig 10C. The cloned symbol controller 621 now copies the symbols in the original subset, which is laterally displaced from the clone subset, to the clone subset resulting in the display shown in Fig 10D. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the 35 player is paid for four Aces on the top line using the WILD cards and three SCATTERs. 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 21 In this example there are no following cloned symbol game rounds with the reels in fixed relationship. Example 5 5 Now referring to Figure 11, a player has purchased by choice the right to clone a reel. The starting arrangement of the symbols is shown in Fig 11A. The player chooses the original subset as reel 1 and the gaming system highlights 10 it as also shown in Fig 11A. The player is then asked via the action of clone subset controller 622 to select this reel or another reel as the clone subset. The player selects reel 1, so that the original and clone subsets are identical. The cloned symbol controller 621 now copies 15 the symbols in the original subset to the clone subset at the same display position resulting in the "split reel" display shown in Fig 11B where two symbols are displayed within each symbol position. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the player is paid for four 20 Kings on the top line and four Jacks on the centre line. The pays being paid, in this example, irrespective of the position of symbols on the line - i.e. the symbols do not have to be contiguous. In other embodiments, pays may be left to right, right to left or either left to right or 25 right to left or in accordance with other evaluation techniques known in the art, such as those used in games where players select reels rather than pay lines. The game rules in this example specify that the player may 30 keep the cloned reels for a following cloned symbol game round so that the reel positions for reels containing the clone subset and the original subset are fixed relative to each other. Even the non-visible symbols on the original reel are also copied to corresponding non-visible 35 positions on the clone reels, so that the original and clone reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in the following cloned symbol game round - i.e. 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 22 the whole reel is cloned. The reels spin resulting in the arrangement shown in Fig 11C, with the split reels identical. The prize is now evaluated by outcome generator 630 and the player is paid for four Aces on the top line 5 and four 7s on the bottom line. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the method of the preferred embodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of 10 ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by downloading it from a server). 15 Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that many variations may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, features of the above embodiments and examples may be employed to make further embodiments, 20 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as 25 "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 30 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 35 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15

Claims (5)

1. A gaming system comprising: a display for symbols to be displayed in a set of 5 display positions to a player; and a game controller comprising: a symbol selector for selecting in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the 10 display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on spinning reels, a cloned symbol controller arranged to implement 15 a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel 20 also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, and wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, the game controller being arranged to restrict the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and 25 the other reel are fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round, and an outcome generator arranged to determine an outcome based on the selected symbols and a player 30 selection of win lines in each cloned symbol game round.
2. A gaming system comprising: a display for symbols to be displayed in a set of display positions to a player; and 35 a game controller comprising: a symbol selector for selecting in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 24 the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on 5 spinning reels, a cloned symbol controller arranged to implement a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all symbols at visible positions of a clone reel 10 are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, and wherein the symbols of the cloned 15 reel replace symbols previously occupying corresponding display positions, the game controller being arranged to restrict the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and the other reel are fixed relative to each other so that 20 the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round, and an outcome generator arranged to determine an outcome based on the selected symbols in each cloned symbol game round. 25
3. A gaming system comprising: a display for symbols to be displayed in a set of display positions to a player; and a game controller comprising: 30 a symbol selector for selecting in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels set side by side, each subset 35 comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on spinning reels, a cloned symbol controller arranged to implement 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 25 a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of 5 another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, and wherein the clone reel only occurs during a series of free spins, the game controller being 10 arranged to restrict the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and the other reel are fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round, and 15 an outcome generator arranged to determine an outcome based on the selected symbols in each cloned symbol game round.
4. A method of gaming for use with a gaming machine 20 having a display, and a controller, the method comprising: selecting via the controller in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of 25 reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on spinning reels; implementing via the controller a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all 30 symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, and 35 wherein the symbols of the cloned reel replace symbols previously occupying corresponding display positions; restricting via the controller the symbol 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15 - 26 selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and the other reel are fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned 5 symbol game round; and determining via the controller an outcome based on the selected symbols in each cloned symbol game round.
5. A method of gaming for use with a gaming machine 10 having a display, and a controller, the method comprising: selecting via the controller in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to the player in the set of display positions , wherein subsets of the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of 15 reels set side by side, each subset comprising a plurality of visible reel positions on spinning reels; implementing via the controller a clone reel during a plurality of cloned symbol game rounds which follow the occurrence of a trigger event, wherein all 20 symbols at visible positions of a clone reel are the same as all the symbols at visible positions of another reel, and non-visible symbols of the clone reel also correspond to non-visible positions on the other reel, wherein the clone reel is laterally displaced from the other reel, and 25 wherein the symbols of the cloned reel replace symbols previously occupying corresponding display positions; restricting via the controller the symbol selection in the cloned symbol game rounds so that the reel positions of the clone reel and the other reel are 30 fixed relative to each other so that the reels show the same symbols in each visible reel position in each cloned symbol game round; and determining via the controller an outcome based on the selected symbols and a player selection of win 35 lines in each cloned symbol game round. 6264471 1 (GHMatters) P74139.AU.4 NICK 5/03/15
AU2015100261A 2007-12-21 2015-03-05 A method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller Expired AU2015100261B4 (en)

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