Gaming device having concentric reels and a displayable nudge symbol

Abstract

A gaming device including a plurality of reel sets where at least one of the reel sets includes an inner reel and an outer reel. The other reel sets include a plurality of symbols. Upon the activation of the reel sets, the inner reel displays a plurality of nudge symbols, which each identify a direction of movement of the outer reel. The outer reel includes a plurality of symbols and defines a viewable area. A processor causes the outer reel to indicate one of the symbols or the viewable area. If the viewable area is indicated, the processor moves the outer reel to indicate one of the symbols on the outer reel based on the direction of movement associated with the nudge symbol viewable through the viewable area. The processor provides an outcome to a player based on the symbols indicated on the reel sets.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device having concentric reels having at least one nudge symbol. [0002] Contemporary gaming devices such as slot machines often include a primary game and one or more bonus rounds or bonus games. The primary games typically include the generation of one or more symbols using one or more symbol generators. The traditional symbol generators are a set of reels, where each reel has a plurality of symbols. If the player achieves a predetermined combination of symbols on the reels, the player wins a value. In addition, if the player achieves a bonus triggering event, the gaming device advances the player to a bonus game where the player can accumulate additional values. The traditional bonus triggering event occurs when the player achieves a predetermined symbol on one of the reels or a predetermined combination of symbols on a plurality of reels. If the combin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] As described above, the present invention increases a player's excitement and enjoyment of a game because the player has a better opportunity to obtain an outcome in the game and particularly, the opportunity to obtain a winning symbol combination in a game where the player did not initially receive a winning symbol combination in the game.

[0016] In another embodiment, the inner reel includes a plurality of symbol positions where two nudge symbols are displayed at one of the symbol positions. In this embodiment, the gaming device includes a selector which enables a player to pick one of the nudge symbols when the two nudge symbols are viewable through the viewable area or window of the outer reel. The player can therefore pick the direction of movement of the outer reel to determine the movement direction of the outer reel which determines the outcome provided to the player. In a further embodiment, two or more nudge symbols are displayed at a plurality of the symbol positions. In an alternative embodiment, the gaming device picks the nudge symbol of the plurality of nudge symbols viewable through the viewable area which results in the best symbol combination for the player such as a winning symbol combination.

Problems solved by technology

If the combination of symbols indicated on the reels is not a predetermined symbol or symbol combination, the gaming device does not provide an award to the player.

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