Playing a spinning reel game

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for playing a spinning reel game on a gaming device. A selection is received from a player of one or more paylines among several paylines that the player thinks will contain a winning reel symbol combination at the end of the game. The gaming device selects one or more paylines among the paylines that will have a winning reel symbol combination at the end of the game. At the end of the game it is determined whether at least one payline selected by the player matches at least one payline selected by the gaming device.

1 . A computer-implemented method for playing a spinning reel game on a gaming device, the method comprising:
 receiving a selection from a player of one or more paylines among a plurality of paylines that the player thinks will contain a winning reel symbol combination at the end of the game;   selecting, by the gaming device, one or more paylines among the plurality of paylines that will have a winning reel symbol combination at the end of the game; and   determining at the end of the game whether at least one payline selected by the player matches at least one payline selected by the gaming device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 paying a monetary award to the player in response to determining that at least one payline selected by the player matches at least one payline selected by the gaming device.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monetary award is paid in accordance with a paytable that defines monetary awards for winning reel symbol combinations. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gaming device is a slot machine and the spinning reel game is implemented as a video game on the slot machine; and   the selection by the player is made in response to the player touching a payline on a video touch screen on the slot machine, or in response to the player pressing buttons on a panel on the slot machine.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gaming device is a slot machine and the spinning reel game is a mechanical spinning reel game on the slot machine; and   the selection by the player is made in response to the player selecting a payline using buttons on a panel on the slot machine.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each payline in the plurality of paylines has a theme and the selection by the player is based on one or more themes that are to the player's liking. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 repeating the receiving, selecting, and determining steps; and   paying a bonus to the player based on a number of consecutive won or lost games.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bonus is paid to the player as credits that are exchangeable for cash money. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bonus is a fixed jackpot or a progressive jackpot. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein paying the bonus includes:
 awarding the player several free games; and   paying the player bonus credits depending on the outcome of the free games.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 displaying a game history providing information about how often each category or theme or payline has won in past games on the gaming device.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the game history displays one or more of: how often each payline in the plurality of paylines has won, how often each theme has won, and what percentage of games each payline has won during a previous number of games. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reels in the spinning reel game are replaced with wheels with symbols shown in pie slices of the reels. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a set of reels under each payline is an independent reel set. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving a selection from a player includes receiving a quick pick selection from the player, wherein the quick pick selection causes the gaming device to select one or more paylines or themes for the player; and   paying a monetary award to the player in response to determining that at least one payline selected by in the quick pick matches at least one payline selected by the gaming device.   
   
   
       16 . A computer-implemented method for playing a spinning reel game on a gaming device, the method comprising:
 receiving a selection from a player of one or more scatter symbols among a plurality of scatter symbols that the player thinks will be winning symbols at the end of the game;   selecting, by the gaming device, one or more scatter symbols among the plurality of scatter symbols that will be winning symbols at the end of the game;   displaying the winning symbols selected by the gaming device to the player on a video screen on the gaming device; and   determining at the end of the game whether a predetermined number of the winning symbols selected by the gaming device match the player selection.   
   
   
       17 . A gaming device, comprising:
 a housing;   a display unit operable to display a spinning reel game including one or more reels and a plurality of paylines;   an input control panel operable to receive input from a player of the spinning reel game; and   a control unit operable to:
 receive a selection from the input control panel of one or more paylines among the plurality of paylines, the selection indicating paylines that the player thinks will contain a winning reel combination at the end of the game; 
 select one or more paylines among the plurality of paylines that will have a winning reel combination at the end of the game; and 
 determine at the end of the game whether at least one payline selected by the player matches at least one payline selected by the gaming device. 
   
   
   
       18 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit is further operable to:
 pay a monetary award to the player in response to determining that at least one payline selected by the player matches at least one payline selected by the control unit; and   wherein the monetary award is paid in accordance with a paytable that defines monetary awards for winning reel combinations.   
   
   
       19 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the gaming device is a slot machine and the input control panel is one of: a touch sensitive area on the display unit, and one or more physical buttons on a panel of the slot machine. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit is further operable to:
 repeat the receiving, selecting, and determining steps; and   pay a bonus to the player based on a number of consecutive won or lost games, wherein the bonus is paid to the player as credits that are exchangeable for cash money.