Reel symbol resizing for reel based gaming machines
US8616953B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2007 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F17/34
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Gaming machines, systems and methods for sizing or resizing visible reel symbols are disclosed. Gaming machines include an exterior housing, master gaming controller, display device and mechanical or virtual reels. Reels include a plurality of reel stops, each containing a visible reel symbols or a blank or ghost region. Visible reel symbols are expanded into adjacent reel stops, which can be ghosts or blank reel stops, such that blank areas are reduced. A reel configurator sizes or resizes the visible reel symbols, which reel configurator can be located at a remote host or within the gaming machine itself. A remote host can provide downloadable virtual reel strips and visible reel symbols to gaming machines within a system including processor-based machines. Resizing of visible reel symbols can involve stretching the symbols in a direction that extends into one or both reel stops adjacent to the reel stop containing the stretched reel symbol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.