Gaming machine utilizing distinctive paylines

Abstract

A slot style gaming machine displays on a video screen distinctive pay lines such as pay lines having alphabetical or numerical configurations, or closed loop configurations such as geometric shapes. The shape of the pay line is preferably thematically associated with the symbols making up the pay line. A given pay line typically includes two or more symbols in a single one of a plurality of reels on the video screen. A pay line may also include symbols only on some of the reels. Two or more pay lines may be displayed simultaneously and may share a common symbol, intersect one another or cross one another. Bonuses may be awarded when two or more pay lines are displayed, sometimes with a requirement that the pay lines overlap or are on the same reels.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a video display screen;   a game playable via display on the screen;   a wager mechanism for making a wager on the game;   a game play starter control for selectively initiating play of the game;   a plurality of reels displayable on the screen;   a plurality of display locations on each reel;   a plurality of rows each comprising one of the display locations in each reel;   a plurality of symbols respectively displayable at the display locations; and   a first pay line comprising a first one and a second one of the symbols displayed respectively at a first one and a second one of the display locations each on a first one of the reels.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first pay line comprises a third one of the symbols. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein the third symbol is on the first reel. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein the first pay line comprises a fourth one of the symbols; and the third and fourth symbols are on the second reel. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4  wherein the first pay line comprises a fifth one of the symbols on a third one of the reels. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  wherein the first pay line comprises a sixth one of the symbols on the third reel. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein the third symbol is on a second one of the reels; and the first pay line comprises a fourth one of the symbols on a third one of the reels. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein there are a first number of the reels; and the first pay line comprises symbols on a second number of the reels which is less than the first number. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first pay line comprises two lines which cross one another. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first pay line comprises an alphabetic or numeric configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first pay line comprises a closed loop. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a second pay line displayable on the screen with the first pay line and comprising a third one and a fourth one of the symbols respectively at a third one and a fourth one of the display locations each on one of the reels. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12  wherein the second pay line overlaps the first pay line. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 12  wherein the third and fourth symbols are on the first reel. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 14  further comprising a third pay line displayable on the screen with the first and second pay lines and comprising a fifth one and a sixth one of the symbols respectively at a fifth one and a sixth one of the display locations each on the first reel. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 12  further comprising a third pay line displayable on the screen with the first and second pay lines and comprising a fifth one and a sixth one of the symbols respectively at a fifth one and a sixth one of the display locations each on one of the reels. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the symbols of the first pay line is common to the second pay line. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 12  further comprising a bonus activator comprising display of the first and second pay lines; and a bonus value awarded in response to the display of the bonus activator. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  wherein the third and fourth symbols are on the first reel. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a pool of computer program symbol codes which are randomly selectable and have a number greater than that of the symbol locations; and wherein the symbols are displayed at the symbol locations in response to the random selection of the symbol codes.