Electronic amusement device and method for operating a game offering continuous reels

Abstract

A gaming device and method for controlling operating same is disclosed. The gaming device initiates a paid play, and determines an outcome of the play. The outcome is visually displayed using at least two graphical displays. The graphical displays comprise a first and second visual continuum, without discrete reel stops. Thus, the number of potential outcomes appears to be infinite. The outcome is represented by the relative positions of the first and second visual continuums. The outcome may also be based on the relative position of the first and second continuums to a payline. A payout corresponding to the outcome is determined by the device, and is awarded to the player.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 means for starting a paid play;    means for identifying an outcome of said paid play;    means for visually outputting said outcome, said means for visually outputting said outcome including a first visual continuum and a second visual continuum arranged in an overlapping display, said outcome represented by relative positions of said first and second visual continuums within said overlapping display; and    means for identifying a payout based on said outcome.    
     
     
         2 . A method of operating a gaming device, comprising: 
 initiating a paid play;    determining an outcome of said paid play;    displaying said outcome on a display, said display including first and second visual continuums, said outcome represented by positions of said first and second visual continuums; and    determining a payout based on said outcome.    
     
     
         3 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 a processor configured to initiate a paid play, determine an outcome of said paid play, and determine a payout based on said outcome; and    a display connected to said processor for visually displaying said outcome, said display including an interlocking physical display having at least a first graphical display and a second graphical display, said first and second graphical displays comprising respective first and second visual continuums, said outcome represented by relative positions of said first and second visual continuums.    
     
     
         4 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 a plurality of reels, each of said plurality of reels containing a plurality of discrete animated displays; and    a processor configured to determine a game outcome and cause said game outcome to be displayed by positioning said plurality of reels to display select animated displays.    
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 4 , wherein each of said plurality of reels are selected from the group consisting of virtual reels, electronic reels and mechanical reels.  
     
     
         6 . A gaming device wherein a play results in one of multiple possible outcomes, each outcome including a plurality of reel positions, the gaming device comprising: 
 a memory device having payout information stored therein, said payout information correlated to said outcomes, wherein each of the multiple possible outcomes comprises a range of numerical values.    
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a processor coupled to said memory device and configured to determine a win or loss according to the range of numerical values of each outcome and said payout information.    
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 at least one reel strip having indicium representing a visual continuation of values.    
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 at least one reel strip displaying a visual continuation of color.    
     
     
         10 . A method for conducting a game of chance, comprising: 
 initiating a paid play;    determining an outcome of said paid play;    rotating a plurality of reels to visually display the outcome at a payline position, each reel having a plurality of discrete symbols, the outcome being a sum of values represented by symbols at the payline position; and    determining a payout based on the outcome.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the symbols are selected from the group consisting of: playing card values, dots, stick figures, geometric symbols and puzzle elements.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 comparing the sum of values to a house total.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of said discrete symbols is a geometric symbol and said sum of values represents a total number of sides of geometric symbols at said payline position.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of said discrete symbols is a dot and said sum of values represents a total number of dots at said payline position.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of said discrete symbols is a puzzle element and said sum of values represents an amount of interlocking of puzzle elements at said payline position.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of said discrete symbols is a playing card value and said sum of values represents a total outcome of playing card values at said payline position.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least two of said symbols are identical.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a majority of said symbols are identical.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein all of said symbols are identical.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least two of said plurality of reels are different.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein all of said plurality of reels are different.  
     
     
         22 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 a processor configured to initiate a paid play, determine an outcome of said paid play, and determine a payout based on said outcome; and    a display connected to said processor, said display capable of visually displaying said outcome and including a first graphical display and a second graphical display, said first and second graphical displays comprising intersecting rotatable disks, said outcome represented by positions and intersection of said rotatable disks.    
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 22 , wherein each of said rotatable disks comprises a visual continuum.  
     
     
         24 . A slot machine device, comprising: 
 a plurality of reels, each of said reels including only a single continuous image.    
     
     
         25 . The slot machine device of  claim 24 , wherein a continuous image of at one of said reels gradually changes its viewable appearance during game play of the gaming device.  
     
     
         25 . The slot machine device of  claim 24 , wherein continuous images of at least two of said plurality of reels are different.  
     
     
         26 . The slot machine device of  claim 24 , wherein each of said reels can represent an infinite number of outcomes.  
     
     
         27 . The slot machine device of  claim 24 , wherein at least two of said reels may overlap.  
     
     
         28 . The slot machine device of claim  29 , wherein said each of said continuous images of each of said at least two of said reels displays a continuum of color.  
     
     
         30 . A method for conducting a game of chance, comprising: 
 initiating a paid play;    determining an outcome of said paid play;    displaying a plurality of reels to visually display the outcome at a reel stop position, each reel having a plurality of discrete puzzle element symbols, said outcome being represented by a degree of interlocking of said puzzle element symbols at said reel stop position; and    determining a payout based on said outcome.    
     
     
         31 . A slot machine device, comprising: 
 an electronic display simulating a plurality of reels, each of said reels including a plurality of discrete puzzle elements.    
     
     
         32 . The slot machine device of  claim 31 , where said electronic display can simulate interlocking of at least two puzzle elements.  
     
     
         33 . A slot machine device, comprising: 
 a plurality of reels, each of said reels including a plurality of discrete puzzle elements.    
     
     
         34 . A method for conducting a game of chance, comprising: 
 initiating a paid play;    determining an outcome of said paid play;    displaying a plurality of reels to visually display the outcome at a reel stop position, each reel having a plurality of discrete stick figure symbols, said outcome being represented by relative positions of stick figure symbols at said reel stop position; and    determining a payout based on said outcome.