Patent ID: 11869299
Assignee: nan
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A method of operating a gaming apparatus for facilitating player participation in a gaming activity, the gaming apparatus including a display device configured to display a first game segment having a game grid showing portions of a plurality of reel strips and a second game segment having a plurality of jackpot meters each associated with a game symbol and a symbol collector, a user interface including at least one user input configured to enable a player to initiate and participate in the gaming activity, a wager input device structured to identify and validate player assets, and to permit the player to participate in the gaming activity when the player assets are provided, and a processor, the method comprising:
the processor communicating data that results in a display, by the display device, of extending the at least one of the plurality of reel strips from the first game segment to the second game segment;
utilizing the game grid in the first game segment to determine, by the processor and based on an output from a random number generator, a random outcome for the plurality of reel strips displayed in the first game segment;
determining, by the processor, one or more second game segment outcomes in the second game segment by evaluating whether a game symbol displayed by the extended at least one of the plurality of reel strips respectively positioned adjacent to a respective one of the jackpot meters matches the respective game symbol associated with that jackpot meter;
collecting, by the processor, any game symbol determined to match a respective one of the jackpot meters in the symbol collector associated with the respective jackpot meter; and
the processor communicating data that results in a display, by the display device, of awarding a jackpot prize associated with any jackpot meter where the symbol collector associated with that respective jackpot meter is filled.