Gaming system with multiple award wheels

Abstract

In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, the gaming system is configured to provide a game having certain symbols that, when aligned in predetermined relationships, cooperate to trigger a combination of the certain symbols. The gaming system may use the combination of the certain symbols to generate new awards, additional game phases, or some combination of both.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display device, an acceptor, a dispenser, a random number generator, a memory device, and a processor, wherein the memory device stores program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:   initiate, based on a value received from the acceptor, a play of a game;   determine, using the random number generator, a plurality of first symbols for a plurality of first symbol display areas of a first game display area, the plurality of first symbols including a plurality of full symbols and a plurality of partial symbols;   display, using the display device, the plurality of first symbols in the plurality of first symbol display areas of the first game display area;   determine that two or more partial symbols of the plurality of partial symbols are complimentary partial symbols aligned in adjoining symbol display areas of the plurality of first symbol display areas, wherein the complementary partial symbols have at least one combinable side and at least one non-combinable side;   display, using the display device, a combination of the complimentary partial symbols, the combination of the complimentary partial symbols providing a second game display area, the second game display area comprising a plurality of second symbol display areas;   determine, using the random number generator, one or more second symbols of the plurality of second symbol display areas of the second game display area;   determine an award based on the one or more second symbols; and   issue, using the dispenser, a value based on the award.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the combination of the complimentary partial symbols comprises:
 displaying the second game display area over the plurality of first symbol display areas of the first game display area.   
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein determining the award based on the one or more second symbols comprises:
 determining the one or more second symbols includes a trigger;   displaying, based on the trigger, a third game display area comprising a plurality of third symbol display areas;   determine, using the random number generator, one or more third symbols of the plurality of third symbol display areas of the third game display area; and   determine another award based on the one or more third symbols.   
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the second game display area and the third game display area comprise award wheels. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more complementary shapes comprise semi-circular symbols; and   the at least one combinable side comprises a flat side of the semi-circular symbols.   
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more complementary shapes comprise keyed rectangular shapes; and   the at least one combinable side comprises a keyed side of the rectangular shapes.   
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein determining that two or more partial symbols of the plurality of partial symbols are complimentary partial symbols aligned comprises:
 determining that the at least one combinable side of the complementary partial symbols is aligned in a combinable orientation.   
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a gaming system comprising:
 initiating, by a processor, based on a value received from an acceptor, a play of a game;   determining, by the processor using a random number generator, a plurality of first symbols for a plurality of first symbol display areas of a first game display area, the plurality of first symbols including a plurality of full symbols and a plurality of partial symbols;   displaying, by the processor using a display device, the plurality of first symbols in the plurality of first symbol display areas of the first game display area;   determining, by the processor, that two or more partial symbols of the plurality of partial symbols are complimentary partial symbols aligned in adjoining symbol display areas of the plurality of first symbol display areas, wherein the complimentary partial symbols have at least one combinable side and at least one non-combinable side;   displaying, by the processor using the display device, a combination of the complimentary partial symbols, the combination of the complementary partial symbols providing a second game display area, the second game display area comprising a plurality of second symbol display areas;   determining, by the processor using the random number generator, one or more second symbols of the plurality of second symbol display areas of the second game display area;   determining, by the processor, an award based on the one or more second symbols; and   issuing, by the processor using a dispenser, a value based on the award.   
     
     
         9 . The method of operating the gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein displaying the combination of the complimentary partial symbols comprises:
 displaying the second game display area over the plurality of first symbol display areas of the first game display area.   
     
     
         10 . The method of operating the gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein determining the award based on the one or more second symbols comprises:
 determining that the one or more second symbols includes a trigger;   displaying, based on the trigger, a third game display area comprising a plurality of third symbol display areas;   determining, using the random number generator, one or more third symbols of the plurality of third symbol display areas of the third game display area; and   determining another award based on the one or more third symbols.   
     
     
         11 . The method of operating the gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the second game display area and the third game display area comprise award wheels. 
     
     
         12 . The method of operating the gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the one or more complementary shapes comprise semi-circular symbols; and   the at least one combinable side comprises a flat side of the semi-circular symbols.   
     
     
         13 . The method of operating the gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the one or more complementary shapes comprise keyed rectangular shapes; and   the at least one combinable side comprises a keyed side of the rectangular shapes.   
     
     
         14 . The method of operating the gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein determining that two or more partial symbols of the plurality of partial symbols are aligned complimentary partial symbols comprises:
 determining that the at least one combinable side of the complementary partial symbols is aligned in a combinable orientation.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage device having program instructions stored therein, the program instructions being executable by a processor to cause a gaming system to:
 initiate, based on a value received from an acceptor, a play of a game;   determine, using a random number generator, a plurality of first symbols for a plurality of first symbol display areas of a first game display area, the plurality of first symbols including a plurality of full symbols and a plurality of partial symbols;   display, using a display device, the plurality of first symbols in the plurality of first symbol display areas of the first game display area;   determine that two or more partial symbols of the plurality of partial symbols are complimentary partial symbols aligned in adjoining symbol display areas of the plurality of first symbol display areas, wherein the complementary partial symbols have at least one combinable side and at least one non-combinable side;   display, using the display device, a combination of the complimentary partial symbols, the combination of the complimentary partial symbols providing a second game display area, the second game display area comprising a plurality of second symbol display areas;   determine, using the random number generator, one or more second symbols of the plurality of second symbol display areas of the second game display area;   determine an award based on the one or more second symbols; and   issue, using a dispenser, a value based on the award.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein displaying the combination of the complimentary partial symbols comprises:
 displaying the second game display area over the plurality of first symbol display areas of the first game display area.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein determining the award based on the one or more second symbols comprises:
 determining the one or more second symbols includes a trigger;   displaying, based on the trigger, a third game display area comprising a plurality of third symbol display areas;   determining, using the random number generator, one or more third symbols of the plurality of third symbol display areas of the third game display area; and   determining another award based on the one or more third symbols.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the second game display area and the third game display area comprise award wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the one or more complementary shapes comprise semi-circular symbols; and   the at least one combinable side comprises a flat side of the semi-circular symbols.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein determining that two or more partial symbols of the plurality of partial symbols are aligned complimentary partial symbols comprises:
 determining that the at least one combinable side of the complementary partial symbols is aligned in a combinable orientation.