Activating Blocks of Symbol Positions in a Gaming Machine To Determine Winning Combinations of Symbols

Abstract

Instead of individual paylines being applied across an A×B matrix of symbols to determine winning combinations of symbols, a unique group (or block) of adjacent symbol positions is activated for each possible bet amount. The possible bet amounts are limited. After the player bets, only the associated group of adjacent symbol positions is highlighted on the display screen so the player can focus on only the relevant symbol positions. After the reels are spun and randomly stopped, symbols at the highlighted symbol positions, limited to one symbol per reel per combination, are combined to create symbol combinations to determine the award to be paid. The technique of highlighting blocks of adjacent symbol positions, and not using individual paylines, enables the player to comprehend, in real time, developing winning combinations of symbols as the reels stop from left to right.

1 . A method performed by a gaming device comprising:
 identifying a plurality of betting amount options to a player, each betting amount option being uniquely associated with a different group of adjacent symbol positions in an A×B matrix of symbol positions, different betting amount options being non-linearly related to a number of possible combinations of symbol positions used for creating winning combinations of symbols;   detecting a bet by the player in accordance with one of the betting amount options;   highlighting the symbol positions in the A×B matrix associated with the bet detected to draw the player's attention to the relevant symbol positions associated with the bet detected prior to symbols at the highlighted symbol positions being randomly selected;   spinning and randomly stopping virtual reels to display symbols at the A×B matrix of symbol positions;   identifying to the player those symbols involved in each winning combination across the highlighted symbol positions, where symbols at combinations of the highlighted symbol positions, limited to one symbol per reel per combination, are combined to create symbol combinations; and   granting an award to the player for any winning symbol combinations, awards for winning symbol combinations being different based on an amount bet.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein betting a minimum betting amount option causes at least all symbol positions in a first end row of the A×B matrix to be highlighted, and wherein higher bet amounts highlight symbol positions progressing towards an opposite end row of the matrix. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein there are at least four betting amount options, wherein a first betting amount option highlights symbol positions in at least a first row of the A×B matrix, wherein a second betting amount option additionally highlights symbol positions in at least a second row of the matrix adjacent the first row, wherein a third betting amount option additionally highlights symbol positions in at least a third row of the matrix adjacent the second row, and wherein a fourth betting amount option additionally highlights symbol positions in at least a fourth row of the matrix adjacent the third row. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising a fifth betting amount option highlighting only a portion of a row. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fourth betting amount option causes all symbol positions to be highlighted. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each betting amount option is a number of credits, and wherein increasing a bet amount increases a number of possible opportunities to obtain a winning combination of symbols by a proportion greater than an increase in the proportion of the number of credits bet. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the A×B matrix is a five column by four row matrix. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the A×B matrix is a five column by three row matrix. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein awards for winning symbol combinations vary non-linearly for different betting amount options. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least some winning combinations of symbols require identical symbols only on adjacent reels. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each successive betting amount option requires an entire row to be highlighted at a lower betting amount option prior to any portion of an adjacent row to be highlighted. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein highlighting the symbol positions comprises highlighting an area of each symbol position associated with the bet detected. 
   
   
       13 . A method performed by a gaming device comprising:
 identifying a plurality of betting amount options to a player, each betting amount option being uniquely associated with a different group of adjacent symbol positions in an A×B matrix of symbol positions, different betting amount options being non-linearly related to a number of possible combinations of symbol positions used for creating winning combinations of symbols;   detecting a bet by the player in accordance with one of the betting amount options;   identifying the symbol positions in the A×B matrix associated with the bet detected to identify to the player the relevant symbol positions associated with the bet detected prior to symbols at the identified symbol positions being randomly selected;   randomly selecting and displaying symbols at the A×B matrix of symbol positions;   identifying to the player those symbols involved in each winning combination across the identified symbol positions, where symbols at combinations of the identified symbol positions, limited to one symbol per reel per combination, are combined to create symbol combinations; and   granting an award to the player for any winning symbol combinations.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein awards for winning symbol combinations are different based on an amount bet. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein betting a minimum betting amount option causes at least all symbol positions in a first end row of the A×B matrix to be identified, and wherein higher bets highlight symbol positions progressing towards an opposite end of the matrix. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein there are at least four betting amount options, wherein a first betting amount option identifies symbol positions in at least a first row of the A×B matrix, wherein a second betting amount option additionally identifies symbol positions in at least a second row of the matrix adjacent the first row, wherein a third betting amount option additionally identifies symbol positions in at least a third row of the matrix adjacent the second row, and wherein a fourth betting amount option additionally identifies symbol positions in at least a fourth row of the matrix adjacent the third row. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising a fifth betting amount option identifying only a portion of a row. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the fourth betting amount option causes all symbol positions to be identified. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein identifying the symbol positions comprises identifying the symbol positions at the locations of the symbol positions. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein identifying the symbol positions comprises highlighting the symbol positions at the locations of the symbol positions. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein each betting amount option is a number of credits, and wherein increasing a bet amount increases a number of possible opportunities to obtain a winning combination of symbols by a proportion greater than an increase in the proportion of the number of credits bet. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the A×B matrix is a five column by four row matrix. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the A×B matrix is a five column by three row matrix. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 13  wherein awards for winning symbol combinations vary non-linearly for different betting amount options. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 13  wherein at least some winning combinations of symbols require identical symbols only on adjacent virtual reels displaying symbols at the A×B matrix of symbol positions. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 13  wherein each successive betting amount option requires an entire row to be identified at a lower betting amount option prior to any portion of an adjacent row to be identified. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 13  wherein identifying the symbol positions comprises highlighting an area of each symbol position associated with the bet detected. 
   
   
       28 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a display device for displaying a game; and   at least one programmed processor for carrying out a game program and controlling the display, the processor carrying out the method comprising:
 detecting a bet by a player in accordance with one of a plurality of betting amount options, each betting amount option being uniquely associated with a different group of adjacent symbol positions in an A×B matrix of symbol positions displayed by the display device, different betting amount options being non-linearly related to a number of possible combinations of symbol positions used for creating winning combinations of symbols; 
 highlighting the symbol positions in the A×B matrix on the display device associated with the bet detected to draw the player's attention to the relevant symbol positions associated with the bet detected prior to symbols at the highlighted symbol positions being randomly selected; 
 spinning and randomly stopping virtual reels to display symbols at the A×B matrix of symbol positions; 
 identifying to the player those symbols involved in each winning combination across the highlighted symbol positions, where symbols at combinations of the highlighted symbol positions, limited to one symbol per reel per combination, are combined to create symbol combinations; and 
 granting an award to the player for any winning symbol combinations, awards for winning symbol combinations being different based on an amount bet, and awards for winning symbol combinations varying non-linearly for different betting amount options.