Abstract:
An electronic game and method are set forth wherein if a player obtains a bonus symbol on one reel of the gaming device and a landing symbol on an adjacent reel a bonus sequence is triggered. When the bonus sequence is triggered, a jumping symbol moves to the landing symbol. If the next reel includes a landing symbol, the feature symbol continues to move across the display. If any reel does not display a landing symbol, that reel is re-spun in an attempt to obtain a landing symbol. The player is awarded a bonus based upon the number of reels the feature symbol can progress through. If the symbol can progress through all the reels, a jackpot bonus is awarded.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electronic games commonly referred to as slot machines. More particularly it relates to slot machines of the type which have a bonus sequence. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Slot machines are well known gaming devices. In the past they have been embodied as first mechanical and later electromechanical devices having three or more reels. Each reel includes about its periphery a plurality of symbols (and blanks). When play is initiated as by inserting a wager and pulling a handle, the reels are spun eventually slowing to present symbols or blanks at a payline. If the combination of symbols is one of a predetermined schedule of winning outcomes, the player receives a reward. If the outcome is a losing outcome, the player loses their wager. 
     Recently it has been known to provide video displays controlled by a processor which simulates spinning reels and the presentation of winning or losing outcomes. Furthermore it has been known to provide these devices with bonus sequences which are triggered by the player obtaining certain outcomes during play of the primary game. One such game is a game wherein five reels are displayed. The player makes a wager to enable from one to five or more paylines. When play is prompted, the processor simulates the spinning of the reels and the eventual presentation of outcomes for each enabled payline. If the player has a winning outcome on any enabled payline they receive a reward. If the player receives a bonus enabling outcome, the display switches to a bonus display. In one machine the display is of a barnyard where the player is requested to select one of five displayed pigs. Upon making the selection, the display displays a farmer washing the mud off of the pig to reveal a bonus. In another game five fishermen are shown and the player is prompted to select one. The display shows the selected fisherman reeling in a fish to display the bonus. 
     These bonus game have gained popularity in casinos. 
     In another type of game, when the player obtains a predetermined outcome during play of the game, a sequence is initiated wherein a wild symbol marches through the display creating different combinations and different payouts. One such game is as described in Australian Patent AU-B43613/97 published Feb. 5, 1998 by Bennett and titled “Slot Machine With Roaming Wild Symbol”. 
     Bonus games are, as stated above, popular among players. However, one drawback is that, in one type of machine, the player only gets to select symbols as a means for randomly selecting a bonus. The player, by obtaining a bonus enabling outcome knows they are going to obtain a bonus, he just does not know how much. There is no means by which the player might expect to increase his bonus during play or presentation of the bonus sequence. With roaming wild symbols, the prize of the feature depends on combinations created by the roaming wild symbol while moving from position to position. 
     In Hooker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,683, a slot machine is set forth where the player can hold a reel for the next spin of the remaining reels in an effort to obtain a winning outcome on a payline. This game does not relate to bonuses in relation to the play of a primary game. 
     There is a need for a slot machine game and method which overcomes the drawbacks noted above, which provides for a bonus sequence and which provides the player during the bonus sequence with a chance to increase the bonus to be awarded. 
     SUMMARY 
     There is, therefore, set forth according to the present invention, an improved electronic gaming device of the type including a display, means for accepting a wager, a processor programmed to, when prompted, control the display to display at least three reels each in a spinning mode concluding at a stopped mode whereat a plurality of reel symbols are displayed on said reels selected from the data structure defining a winning or a losing outcome based upon the combination of symbols displayed on the reels and means for issuing a reward to the player when a winning outcome is obtained. One or more paylines are provided with the symbols or blanks aligned there along defining the outcome(s). The arrangement of symbols scattered anywhere on the display can also define additional winning outcomes. The processor is programmed, configured and adapted to sense the occurrence of a predetermined bonus triggering event. While the triggering event may be external to the device such as a signal from another processor, in the preferred embodiment the triggering event is the player obtaining at the display one or a combination of symbols. For example the triggering event may be the display of a feature symbol on one reel and the display of a landing symbol on another, adjacent reel. In response to sensing said triggering event the processor is adapted to initiate a bonus sequence and control the display to display a designated symbol moving from a first position to at least one or more landing positions on the display. Means are provided for issuing a bonus award based upon the number of landing positions moved to by the designated symbol. 
     The designated or landing symbol may be a game symbol which can be used to form a winning combination during play of the underlying game. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the processor controls the display to display a designated feature symbol, when selected, at only the left most reel in the display presentation and any selected landing symbols on the other reels. In the most preferred embodiment, the triggering event is when the symbols selected and displayed display the feature symbol at the left most reel and a landing symbol on the adjacent reel. The feature symbol would therefore be shown to move to a landing position associated with the landing symbol. If landing symbols are displayed for all reels the feature symbol moves sequentially from left to right from one landing symbol to the next. Based upon how many reels the feature symbol can progress through the player wins a bonus award. If there is no landing symbol on a reel, the processor senses this condition and in one embodiment controls the display to display a bonus terminating sequence such as the feature symbol frog falling or jumping from the display. According to another embodiment, if the triggering event has occurred and the processor senses that the next adjacent reel does not include a landing symbol, the processor reselects symbols for that reel and displays that reel re-spinning to display the newly selected symbols including a landing symbol, if any. If the re-selection includes a landing symbol, the feature symbol moves to that reel and the foregoing is repeated for the next reel. If not, the termination sequence is initiated. 
     In the preferred embodiment, if the feature symbol can progress across the display to all reels, the processor initiates a celebration sequence whereupon a celebration image is displayed to interact with the feature symbol as by showing a Princess kissing the frog feature symbol. 
     Still further the feature symbol and landing symbols can be incorporated into the theme of the game by providing jumping frogs, insects, fish, dogs, athletes or the like. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features and advantages will become appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the claims, description and drawings wherein: 
     FIGS. 1 through 12 show various displays during the play of the game, with only FIG. 1 showing the various paylines for the game; and 
     FIG. 13 is a logic diagram for the play of the game. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1-12 illustrate sample displays for a device according to the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a display  10  which is controlled by a processor (not shown) to show five reels  12   a-e , each of the reels  12   a-e  showing one or more symbols  14 . 
     To play the game according to the present invention, a player makes a wager which may be coins, tokens, cash script, credits or the like in a manner known in the art. The player then prompts the play of the device whereby the processor controls the display  10  to simulate each of the reels  12   a-e  in a spinning mode giving the appearance that the reels  12   a-e  are spinning, the reels  12   a-e  eventually stopping to provide one or more outcomes for the play of the primary game. As shown in FIG. 1, the reels  12   a-e  are shown in the stopped position where the outcome is defined. One or more paylines  13   a-e  may be provided as is well known in the art for the display  10 . Depending upon the combinations of symbols  14  or blanks (locations on the reels  12   a-e  which have no symbols  14 ) aligned along any enabled payline  13   a-e , or upon the combination of scattered symbols  15  any where on the display  10  (i.e. alignment of scattered symbols  15  along any payline  22   a-e  is not required), the player obtains winning or losing outcomes for the game. This feature is known in the art. 
     When the reels  12   a-e  have stopped to define the outcome(s) for the primary game, the processor senses the positions of the symbols  14  in relation to any established paylines  13   a-e  and compares the combinations of symbols  14  along those paylines  13   a-e  to a schedule of preestablished, winning combinations. If a player has obtained a winning combination along any payline  13   a-e , the player is issued an award. The processor also senses the position of the scattered symbols  15  and compares the combination of these symbols  15  on the display  10  to a schedule of pre-established scattered winning combinations. If the player does not have a winning combination along a payline  13   a-e , for that payline  13   a-e , the player receives no award. If the player does not have a winning combination for scattered symbols  15 , for scattered combinations, the player receives no award. Again, this concept is known in the art. 
     The primary or basic game according to the present invention is adapted to be played serially, with a player inserting a new wager and prompting the device to play another “hand.” 
     With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown provided on one or more of the reels  12   a-e  a designated bonus symbol  16  shown as a fanciful depiction of a frog sitting on a lily pad. According to the preferred method for playing the game of the present invention, this bonus symbol  16  only appears on the left-most reel  12   a  on the display  10 ; however, it should be understood that the bonus symbol  16  could be provided on other reels  12   b-e  as desired. Also preferably, the bonus symbol  16  includes a feature symbol  18  shown as the frog. With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown on reel  12   b , a landing symbol  20  depicted in FIG. 2 as a lily pad. In the preferred embodiment, each of the reels  12   b-e  is provided virtually with one or more landing symbols  20 . 
     The bonus symbol  16  and landing symbols  20  can be symbols for the game in that they can form in whole or in part a winning combination for the primary game. 
     The play of the game according to the present invention will now be described. 
     To play the game, the player makes a wager which can be from a minimum amount of one credit, coin or token to a maximum amount provided for the game. The number of paylines  13   a-e  provided may dictate the maximum amount which can be wagered. For the example shown on the FIG. 1 the game display  10  has five paylines  13   a-e  representing three horizontal lines cutting across all of the reels  12   a-e  as well as two reflecting diagonal lines. The player, enables the paylines  13   a-e  by increasing wagers. For example, if the player wagers five units or credits, all five paylines  13   a-e  would be enabled. If the player wagers a single credit or unit, only payline  13   a  would be enabled. As a further feature of the game, the player may be able to wager multiple credits or units for each of the paylines  13   a-e . The player prompts play as by depressing a button, touching a touch screen input device or the like. For purposes of the following description, it shall be assumed that the player makes a maximum wager permitted by the device, e.g. five units times five paylines or twenty-five units, for each hand of play. 
     After the player has made the wager, the device is enabled whereupon the processor randomly selects from a data structure the symbols  14  and any bonus symbol(s)  16  or landing symbol(s)  20  which may be displayed at the display  10 . The processor retrieves the selected data and controls the display  10  to display the reels  12   a-e  in a first mode as spinning and thereafter to display the reels  12   a-e  in a stopped condition to display the selected outcomes for each of the paylines  13   a-e . Depending upon the symbols  14  obtained along the paylines  13   a-e , for paylines  13   a-e , the player either loses or obtains a reward. Depending upon the scattered symbols  15  obtained on the display  10 , for scattered symbols  15 , the player either loses or obtains a reward. For purposes of explanation only, the following is a schedule of winning outcomes for the game shown in the drawings. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 NUMBER OF SYMBOLS 
                   
               
               
                   
                 SYMBOL 
                 ALONG A PAYLINE 
                 PAYOUT 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Jester 
                 5 
                 5000 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
                 1000 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 King 
                 5 
                 500 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
                 150 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Queen 
                 5 
                 500 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
                 150 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Prince Crown 
                 5 
                 250 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Ace 
                 5 
                 200 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
                 40 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 K/Q 
                 5 
                 150 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Jack/10 
                 5 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 
                 5 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Number of symbols 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Anywhere on the display 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Scatter Suits 
                 5 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     It should be understood that any other schedule of symbols could be used for the play of the game. 
     Depending upon the combination of symbols along the paylines  13   a-e , or on the display  10 , the player loses or receives one or more rewards for the play of the primary game. If, the designated reel  12   a  containing the bonus symbol  16  is displayed with the adjacent reel  12   b  having a landing symbol  20 , e.g. they are on adjacent reels  12   a,b , a bonus sequence is triggered for the play of the game. As illustrated in the drawings, with reference to FIG. 2, this condition has been obtained with the bonus symbol  16  being on reel  12   a  and a landing symbol  20  being on reel  12   b . For play of the game according to the preferred embodiment, alignment of the bonus and landing symbols  16 ,  20  along any payline  22   a-e  is not required. All that is required is that they appear on adjacent reels  12   a-e  on the display  10 . When the bonus condition is sensed by the processor, the bonus sequence is triggered for the game. According to this sequence as shown in FIG. 2, the processor controls the display to show the feature symbol  18  jumping across the display to the landing symbol  20 . If the third reel  12   c  includes a landing symbol  20 , e.g. the lily pad, the feature symbol  18  would also progress to that landing symbol  20  on the reel  12   c . However as shown in FIG. 3, reel  12   c  does not include a landing symbol  20 . If this condition is sensed by the processor, the processor controls the display  10  to simulate re-spinning of the reels  12   c-e  to obtain a presentation of randomly selected symbols  14  therefor. If one of the symbols of the reel  12   c  after re-spinning is simulated is a landing symbol  20 , as shown in the drawings, the feature symbol  18  progresses from reel  12   b  to reel  12   c . If the fourth reel  12   d  included a landing symbol  20 , e.g. the lily pad, the feature symbol  18  would also progress to that landing symbol  20  on the reel  12   d , and then to any further landing symbol  20  that may be displayed on the fifth reel  12   e . On the other hand, if the re-spinning of reel  12   c  did not result in the display of a landing symbol  20 , e.g. the lily pad, the processor would sense that condition and control the display  10  to show a terminating sequence depicting the landing symbol  18  either not progressing further or jumping or falling from the display  10 . 
     The foregoing sequence continues with the remaining reels  12   d,e  as shown in FIGS. 5-10 until either the feature symbol  18  makes it across all of the reels  12   a-e  or the terminating sequence is initiated to show, for example, the feature symbol  18  falling off of the display  10  due to the lack of presentation of a landing symbol  20  on any right adjacent reels  12   d,e  after re-spinning. As shown in FIG. 9 where the final reel  12   e  does not display a landing symbol  20 , the feature symbol  18  is displayed diving from the display  10 . 
     It is to be noted that the re-spinning of the reels  12   c-e , if required, provides the player with the opportunity to obtain a landing symbol  20  where none existed before. This maintains the players attention in the game as well as increases the excitement as the player watches the progress of the feature symbol  18  across the display  10 . 
     Depending upon how many reels  12   a-e  the feature symbol  18  can progress, the player is provided with a bonus. For example, if the feature symbol  18  can only progress to reel  12   b , the player receives a bonus of five units. If the feature symbol  18  can progress to reel  12   c , the player receives a bonus of  10  units. If the feature symbol  18  can progress to reel  12   d , the player receives a bonus of 20 units and if the feature symbol  18  progresses across all of the reels  12   a-e , the player receives a bonus of 100 credits. 
     As shown in FIGS. 10-12, a further feature of the game is that if the feature symbol  18  can progress across all of the reels  12   a-e  in the manner described above, the processor senses this condition and controls the display  10  to provide a bonus celebration display which may display, for example, a Princess  22  progressing across the display  10  to kiss the feature symbol  18  which is a frog. 
     After all winning combinations along the paylines  22   a-e  and the winning combinations for the scattered symbol  15  have been resolved and any bonuses have been rewarded, play is concluded. To play another game, the player must deposit another wager. 
     With reference to FIG. 13, a logic diagram for play of the game is shown. At  30  the player inputs their wager to play the game and at  32  prompts play. The computer processor, when prompted, at  34  selects from a first data structure  36  the symbols  14 ,  16 ,  20  to be displayed at the display  10  defining the outcome(s) along the paylines  22   a-e . The first data structure  36  may contain the universe of symbols weighted in such a manner as to simulate their distribution around the periphery of the virtual reels  12   a-e  or may contain listings of symbol combinations representing a segment a virtual reels  12   a-e . After the symbols have been selected at  34 , the processor at  38  initiates a first display sequence where the reels  12   a-e  are shown as simulating rotation and in a second condition where they slow and stop to define the outcome(s) for the game. The processor at  40  compares the symbols  14 ,  16 ,  20  and their location at the display  10  in reference to the paylines  22   a-e  to a predetermined schedule outcomes contained for example in a second data structure  42 . The second data structure  42  may contain the combinations referenced above in Table 1. If a correspondence exists, the processor issues reward(s) for any such combinations along any paylines  22   a-e  and for the scattered symbols  15 . The processor at  44  compares the outcome displayed at the display  10  to determine whether or not a bonus initiating and bonus and landing symbols  16 , 20  are in positions so as to initiate a bonus sequence. If they are not in position to trigger a bonus sequence, the game is over and any rewards from the primary game are issued to the player at  45 . If, a bonus sequence is initiated by having, for example, the bonus symbol  16  on reel  12   a  and the landing symbol  20  in reel  12   b , the processor controls the display at  46  to show the feature symbol  18  moving from reel  12   a  to the landing symbol  20  on reel  12   b . At  48 , the processor also senses whether or not a landing symbol  20  appears on the third reel,  12   c . If not, at  50 , the processor controls the display  10  to simulate rotation of the third reel  12   c , the fourth reel  12   d  and the fifth reel  12   e , and also selects, in the manner described above, symbols  14 . The third, fourth and fifth reels  12   c-e  are shown to slow and stop to redisplay any selectable combinations of symbols at  52 . At this position, the processor compares the symbols for the third reel  12   c  to determine whether or not a landing symbol  20  appears thereon. If not, the processor controls the display  10  to simulate an terminating sequence  56  displaying the feature symbol  18  falling from the display  10 . If, however, a landing symbol  20  is displayed, the processor senses this condition and controls the display  10  to depict the feature symbol  18  moving from the second reel  12   b  to the third reel  12   c . At  52 , the processor also senses whether or not a landing symbol  20  appears on the fourth reel  12   d . This sequence continues until either a reel  12   d,e  does not either initially or when respun, display a landing symbol  20  at which time the feature symbol  18  is depicted to move off of the display  10  or the feature symbol  18  progresses entirely across the display from reel to reel  12   a-e.    
     The processor senses the progress of the feature symbol  18  and determines its last position before either being removed from the display  10  or making it entirely across all of the reels  12   a-e . Based upon the position obtained by the feature symbol  18 , the processor controls the device  10  to issue the appropriate reward at  60 . 
     In the instance where the feature symbol  18  can progress entirely across the display  10  jumping on all of the reels  12   a-e , a bonus ending sequence is initiated by the processor whereupon a Princess  22  is shown progressing across the display  10  to kiss the feature symbol frog. 
     While I have shown and described the game and method where a bonus results in a fixed payout it should be understood that the bonus could also be presented as a multiplier for any award(s) received for outcome(s) from the primary game. Further any suitable triggering event may be used to trigger the bonus sequence. For example, a separate signal may be sent to the game from a separate processor such as a player tracking computer or machines link controller computer, may be sent to trigger the bonus sequence. Also any suitable terminating event may be used to terminate the bonus sequence. For example, a time limit within other or additional conditions may need to be met before the feature symbol can progress along the reels. Additionally a combination of other game symbols could be used to trigger the bonus sequence and a combination of other game symbols could be used to terminate the bonus sequence. 
     While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that it is subject to many changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, as stated above, the jumping symbol could be any other symbol consistent with the theme and overall presentation of the game.