Abstract:
A gaming apparatus and method of playing a game with a secondary wild symbol matrix in which the symbols in the secondary matrix determine whether symbols in a primary matrix will be treated as wild symbols. In one embodiment, the secondary and primary matrix symbols must be identical and vertically aligned in order for the primary matrix symbol(s) to be treated as wild. In another embodiment, a particular combination of vertically aligned secondary and primary matrix symbols (not necessarily identical) will result in the primary matrix symbol(s) being treated as wild. In yet another embodiment, a certain number of symbols appearing in the secondary matrix will result in one or more primary matrix symbols being treated as wild.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) back to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/194,602 filed on Sep. 29, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of gaming, and more specifically, to a gaming apparatus and method of playing a game with a secondary matrix that provides an opportunity to convert one or more of the symbols from the primary matrix into a wild symbol. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Gaming machine manufacturers constantly strive to produce gaming machines that maximize enjoyment and excitement for players by incorporating new features in various ways in the games. One way of enhancing excitement is to include a triggering event that occurs during the play of the base game of the gaming device. The triggering event temporarily stalls or halts the base game play and enables the player to enter a second, different type of game, which is the bonus game. The player plays one type of game in the bonus game, may or may not receive an award in the bonus game, and then returns to the base game. The base game is fixed in its structure, and the bonus game is separate and distinct from the base game. 
         [0006]    It is well known that a plurality of reels can be employed in a bonus game as well as a base game. Reels in gaming devices are known to have a variety of different types of symbols, indicia or characters displayed on the reels. Awards are typically associated with one or more symbols and/or one or more combinations of symbols. 
         [0007]    As discussed below, there have been many attempts in the prior art to enhance the typical reel game by offering different variations on a bonus game and/or by allowing the player to earn different types of additional awards (such as free spins or multipliers of the base game award) based on what happens in the bonus game. Examples of prior art reel game variations are described below. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,510 (Schlegel et al, 2008) provides a gaming device and method of playing a game in which the bonus game includes a target set of symbols, at least one of which is a randomly designated target symbol. The player is allowed to pick symbols from the target set until the player either selects the target symbols or runs out of picks. The player receives an award for picking the target symbol. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,402,101 (Casey, 2008) covers a method of conducting a wagering game in which winning symbol combinations provide respective awards when arranged according to one or more predefined arrangements. If the symbol array includes an activation symbol in a predefined location within the array, then the player has an opportunity to win an additional award based on an alternate arrangement within the same array. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,377,850 (Shackelford et al, 2008) discloses a multiple bonus modifier game in which two or more base award modifiers operate independently or in conjunction with each other to modify a base game award. The outcome of the spinning reels in the base game defines the base game award. The outcome of the spinning reel in the first base award modifier defines a first modifier award, which adjusts the base game award. The outcome of the additional spinning reel in the second base award modifier defines a second modifier award, which adjusts the combined base game award and first modifier award. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,574, U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,575, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,273 (Cole et al, 2003) provide a game with a bonus feature in which the player first spins a plurality of reels in the main game. If certain symbols on the first pay line constitute a predetermined winning combination, then the player wins a bonus game that allows the player to participate in a bonus event. If the outcome of the bonus event is a winning outcome, then the player receives a bonus award. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,894 (Mayeroff, 2001) describes a reel slot machine in which there is a multi-reel main game and a multi-reel “secondary event game.” If the player achieves a certain combination of symbols on the main game, the player is awarded an opportunity to play the secondary event game. The number of spins the player is afforded on the secondary event game is dependent on the number of pay lines that the player has played on the main game, the number of credits wagered on each pay line, or the symbol combinations achieved by the player on the main game. 
         [0013]    U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20070178964 (Ghaly) involves a gaming device method and apparatus comprising a primary pay line and one or more secondary pay lines. If the player pays extra to activate the secondary pay lines, then symbols from the primary pay line are mapped to (placed into) the secondary pay lines, and the player is afforded a second spin for the purpose of filling in the remaining symbols in the secondary pay lines to determine whether he has a win. 
         [0014]    U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20070149277 (Ghaly) provides an interactive slot machine in which the player is allowed to define multiple winning combinations of symbols. The player can then bet on the occurrence of the defined winning combination of symbols either as part of the base game or as part of a bonus game. In one embodiment, the player receives free games or spins for achieving the winning combination. 
         [0015]    U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20070060292 (Peterson) discloses a gaming system in which a plurality of gaming devices share a common secondary display on which a bonus game is played. The player is allowed to play the bonus game if a triggering event occurs in the primary game on the individual gaming machine. If the player has placed a designated wager, then the bonus game offers higher expected payouts than the primary game. 
         [0016]    U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20060121978 (Homik et al.) describes a reel game with a separate multiplier wheel on which a player can place a separate wager prior to the main game spin. The multiplier reel is horizontally aligned with the pay lines on the main game so that each pay line is associated with a symbol in the multiplier reel. 
         [0017]    U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20060105829 (Vancura) covers a gaming method in which if a randomly occurring bonus game symbol appears in the base game outcome, then the player plays a separate bonus game. A mechanical wheel (called the “bonus wheel”) is spun to determine the award for a successful bonus game outcome. 
         [0018]    U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20040132524 (Ramstad et al.) provides a method of playing cards on a gaming device in which the player is dealt a certain number of bonus cards in addition to his or her regular hand. The player may discard cards and receive new cards, as in a normal poker game, and the final hand is evaluated for any bonus winnings above and beyond the normal poker hand evaluation. Additional winnings are awarded based on the number of bonus cards that match the player&#39;s final hand. In an alternate embodiment, players compete against each other to match more bonus cards from a common set of bonus cards with the cards in their hands and/or to be the first to match all of the cards in a common set of bonus cards with the cards in their hands. 
         [0019]    Despite the innovations described above, none of the prior art references covers a reel game variation in which a secondary matrix determines whether or not certain symbols in the primary matrix (or base game) constitute wild symbols. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention is a gaming apparatus comprising a primary matrix comprising a plurality of symbols displayed in one or more columns and one or more rows and a secondary matrix comprising a single row of symbols, each symbol being vertically aligned with one of the columns of the primary matrix; wherein if a symbol of the secondary matrix matches a symbol in the column of the primary matrix with which the secondary matrix symbol is vertically aligned, then the primary matrix symbol that matches the secondary matrix symbol is treated as a wild symbol within the primary matrix. 
         [0021]    In an alternate embodiment, the present invention is a gaming apparatus comprising a primary matrix comprising a plurality of symbols displayed in one or more columns and one or more rows and a secondary matrix comprising a single row of symbols, each symbol being vertically aligned with one of the columns of the primary matrix; wherein if a symbol of the secondary matrix and a symbol in the column of the primary matrix with which the secondary matrix symbol is vertically aligned constitute a predetermined combination of symbols, then the primary matrix symbol that constitutes the combination with the secondary matrix symbol is treated as a wild symbol within the primary matrix. 
         [0022]    In yet another alternate embodiment, the present invention is a gaming apparatus comprising a primary matrix comprising a plurality of symbols displayed in one or more columns and one or more rows and a secondary matrix comprising a single row of symbols; wherein if a symbol appears a certain number of times in the secondary matrix, then the same symbol is treated as a wild symbol everywhere it appears in the primary matrix; and wherein a table is provided that indicates the number of times a particular symbol must appear in the secondary matrix in order for the same symbol to be treated as a wild symbol in the primary matrix. 
         [0023]    The present invention is also a method of playing a game comprising allowing a player to place a wager based on symbols in a primary matrix and a secondary matrix, wherein the primary matrix comprises a plurality of symbols displayed in one or more columns and one or more rows and the secondary matrix comprises a single row of symbols, each symbol being vertically aligned with one of the columns of the primary matrix; if a symbol of the secondary matrix matches a symbol in the column of the primary matrix with which the secondary matrix symbol is vertically aligned, treating the primary matrix symbol that matches the secondary matrix symbol as a wild symbol; and awarding the player an award based on the symbols in the primary matrix. 
         [0024]    In an alternate embodiment, the present invention is a method of playing a reel game comprising allowing a player to place a wager based on symbols in a primary matrix and a secondary matrix, wherein the primary matrix comprises a plurality of symbols displayed in one or more columns and one or more rows and the secondary matrix comprises a single row of symbols, each symbol being vertically aligned with one of the columns of the primary matrix; if a symbol of the secondary matrix and a symbol in the column of the primary matrix with which the secondary matrix symbol is vertically aligned constitute a predetermined combination of symbols, treating the primary matrix symbol that constitutes the combination with the secondary matrix symbol as a wild symbol within the primary matrix; and awarding the player an award based on the symbols in the primary matrix. 
         [0025]    In yet another alternate embodiment, the present invention is a method of playing a reel game comprising allowing a player to place a wager based on symbols in a primary matrix and a secondary matrix, wherein the primary matrix comprises a plurality of symbols displayed in one or more columns and one or more rows and the secondary matrix comprises a plurality of symbols displayed in one or more rows and/or one or more columns; if a symbol appears a certain number of times in the secondary matrix, treating the same symbol as a wild symbol everywhere it appears within the primary matrix; providing a table that indicates the number of times a particular symbol must appear in the secondary matrix in order for the same symbol to be treated as a wild symbol within the primary matrix; and awarding the player an award based on the symbols in the primary matrix. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the primary and secondary matrix in which a match between a symbol in the secondary matrix and a symbol in the same column of the primary matrix converts the symbol in the primary matrix to a wild symbol. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the primary and secondary matrix in which a particular combination of a symbol in the secondary matrix and a symbol in the same column of the primary matrix converts the symbol in the primary matrix to a wild symbol. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the primary and secondary matrix in which more than one of the same symbol in the secondary matrix converts the same symbol in the primary matrix to a wild symbol. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0029]      1  Primary matrix 
         [0030]      2  Secondary matrix 
         [0031]      3  Symbol 
         [0032]      4  Symbol table 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0033]    The present invention is a method of playing a reel game in which a secondary matrix is positioned directly above the primary matrix. The secondary matrix is preferably a single row of five symbols, and the primary matrix typically consists of three rows of five symbols (or five columns of three symbols). In the context of the present invention, the symbols may be cards, as in video poker, or they may be any other symbol. The secondary matrix may be located on the same screen as the primary matrix, on a second screen located above the screen that displays the primary matrix, or on a special hardware display located directly above the screen that displays the primary matrix. The present invention is not limited to any particular manner of displaying the secondary matrix as long as the symbols of the secondary matrix line up vertically with the columns in the primary matrix. 
         [0034]    In a preferred embodiment, all reels spin upon start of the game. In this context, each column in the primary and secondary matrices constitutes a reel; therefore, in a typical embodiment, there would be five reels in the secondary matrix and five reels in the primary matrix (three positions are displayed per reel in the primary matrix, and one position is displayed per reel in the secondary matrix). In a preferred embodiment, the secondary matrix indexes first, which means that the five reels constituting the secondary matrix stop spinning, and the symbols are displayed. Next, the primary matrix indexes, displaying to the player the symbols associated with the three rows and five columns of the primary matrix. The reels of the secondary matrix are preferably indexed first so as to create anticipation on the part of the player as to whether he will have a match (or the needed combination of symbols) in the primary matrix. 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, the secondary matrix would only be activated if the player has paid a wager sufficient to activate the secondary matrix; otherwise, only the primary matrix would be activated, only the reels of the primary matrix would be spun, and the game outcome would be determined solely based on the combinations of symbols obtained in the primary matrix. In an alternate embodiment, the secondary matrix is available for each and every wager, without requiring the player to pay an additional wager amount to activate the secondary matrix. 
         [0036]    In the present invention, the game outcome is determined based on the interaction between the secondary and primary matrices. In one embodiment, if there is a vertical match between one of the symbols in the secondary matrix and one of the symbols in the same column of the primary matrix, then the matched symbol in the primary matrix is treated as if it were a wild symbol, and the game outcome is determined according to the rules of the base game. This embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1 . As used herein, the term “wild symbol” means a symbol that replaces a specific symbol in the primary matrix and is treated as any symbol that generates a win according to the rules of the game. 
         [0037]    In an alternate embodiment, a particular combination of a symbol in the secondary matrix and a symbol in the same column of the primary matrix (for example, a delta sign in the first position in the secondary matrix and a king in the first column of the primary matrix) would result in the symbol in the primary matrix (in this case, the king) being treated as a wild symbol. A separate table would indicate which symbol(s) in the secondary matrix render which symbol(s) in the primary matrix wild symbols. This embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0038]    In yet another alternate embodiment, more than one of the same symbol in the secondary matrix results in that symbol being treated as a wild symbol wherever it appears in the primary matrix. In this embodiment the symbol that shows up more than one time in the secondary matrix need not be vertically aligned with the same symbol(s) in the primary matrix in order for the primary matrix symbol(s) to be treated as wild symbols. This embodiment is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]    In a preferred embodiment, if a match between a symbol or symbols in the secondary matrix and a symbol in the primary matrix or a particular combination of symbols in the same column of the secondary and primary matrices results in a symbol in the primary matrix being treated as a wild symbol, the symbol in the primary matrix is signified as “wild” (for example, by causing the word “WILD” to appear across the symbol) as soon as it indexes. In a preferred embodiment, if the conversion of that symbol to a wild symbol results in a winning combination in the primary matrix, then the pay line associated with that winning combination is highlighted, and the perimeter of each symbol position that makes up the winning combination is also highlighted. 
         [0040]    The primary and secondary matrices of the present invention may be displayed on any type of monitor, including, without limitation, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a display based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), or any other suitable electronic device or display mechanism. In an alternate embodiment, the primary and secondary matrices are in mechanical form; that is, each matrix comprises one or more rotatable wheels or reels configured to display a plurality of symbols in the manner described above. In the latter embodiment, a winning combination in the primary matrix could be indicated on a secondary screen and/or by activating an LED light or an LCD to either side of the pay line in which the winning combination appears. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the primary and secondary matrix in which a match between a symbol in the secondary matrix and a symbol in the same column of the primary matrix converts the symbol in the primary matrix to a wild symbol. In this figure, the primary matrix  1  is situated directly underneath the secondary matrix  2 . There are six pay lines shown in  FIG. 1 ; a pay line may extend straight across a row of symbols, or else it may comprise a combination of symbols in more than one row, as indicated by pay line  5   p  in  FIG. 1 . Note that the secondary matrix  2  displays five symbols  3 , and those symbols are aligned vertically with the symbols  3  in the primary matrix  1 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the secondary matrix  2  indexes and displays the following symbols  3 : a sun on the first reel; an ace on the second reel; a heart on the third reel; a sun on the fourth reel; and a jack on the fifth reel. (In this context, “reel” means “column.”) The primary matrix  1  then indexes, and any vertical matches between a primary matrix symbol and a secondary matrix symbol result in the primary matrix symbol being signified as “wild” in the primary matrix  1  as the primary matrix symbol indexes. If the wild symbol results in a winning combination in the pay line of the primary matrix in which the wild symbol appears, then that pay line is preferably highlighted, and the symbols that create the winning combination are preferably animated. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , both pay lines  5  and  6  have winning combinations, and the player wins an award according to the rules of the game. 
         [0043]    In this example, the sun in the first column of the primary matrix  1  is converted to a wild symbol, the two aces in the second column of the primary matrix  1  are converted to wild symbols, the heart in the third column of the primary matrix  1  is converted to a wild symbol, the sun in the fourth column of the secondary matrix  2  does not result in any wild symbols because there are no matches in the fourth column of the primary matrix  1 , and the jack in the fifth column of the primary matrix  1  is converted to a wild symbol. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the primary and secondary matrix in which a particular combination (not necessarily a direct match) of a symbol in the secondary matrix and a symbol in the same column of the primary matrix converts the symbol in the primary matrix to a wild symbol. As in  FIG. 1 , the primary matrix  1  is situated directly underneath the secondary matrix  2 , and there are multiple pay lines in the primary matrix  1 . The secondary matrix  2  displays five symbols, and those symbols are aligned vertically with the symbols in the primary matrix  1 . Unlike the example discussed in connection with  FIG. 1 , however, it is not a match between a symbol in the secondary matrix and a symbol in the same column of the primary matrix that results in a wild symbol but a particular combination of vertically aligned symbols in the secondary and primary matrices. 
         [0045]    In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , a table  4  shown above the secondary matrix  2  tells the player which secondary matrix symbols correspond to which primary matrix symbols. In this example, the symbol combinations result in five symbols in the primary matrix  1  being treated as wild symbols, as shown in the figure. Pay lines  5  and  6  result in winning combinations, and the player wins an award according to the rules of the game. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the primary and secondary matrix in which more than one of the same symbol in the secondary matrix converts the same symbol in the primary matrix to a wild symbol. In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , two heart symbols in the secondary matrix  2  cause each heart symbol in the primary matrix  1  to be treated as a wild symbol. Pay lines  5  and  6  result in winning combinations, and the player wins an award according to the rules of the game. Although the secondary matrix  2  shown in  FIG. 3  is comprised of a single row of symbols, in this embodiment, the secondary matrix  2  could comprise any number or rows and/or columns of symbols. 
         [0047]    Although multiple pay lines are shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the game could be played without any pay lines; that is, a “win” could simply mean a particular combination or pattern of symbols within the primary matrix. The present invention is not dependent on whether a winning combination is dependent upon a specific pay line; rather, the present invention applies regardless of whether a win is determined based on a pay line or a particular combination or pattern of symbols within the primary matrix (not associated with any pay line). The present invention relates solely to converting one or more primary matrix symbols into wild symbols as a result of the symbols that appear in the secondary matrix. 
         [0048]    Although several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.