Gaming machine with seemingly complex displayed outcomes

Abstract

A system for displaying an outcome on a gaming machine includes a display for displaying images of a game played on the gaming machine. A controller controls the display of the images on the display. The system further includes a simulation engine comprising a first part for imparting a simulation of at least one force acting on elements of the images so that the elements move as if in response to the at least one force and a second part which, on a selected element of the image, imparts a simulation of a different force so that the selected element behaves in a different manner to the remaining elements, the selected element having been selected by the controller as a part of the outcome.

1 . A system for displaying an outcome on a gaming machine, the system including: 
 a display for displaying images of a game played on the gaming machine;    a controller for controlling the display of the images on the display; and    a simulation engine comprising 
 a first part for imparting a simulation of at least one force acting on elements of the images so that the elements move as if in response to the at least one force; and  
 a second part which, on a selected element of the image, imparts a simulation of a different force so that the selected element behaves in a different manner to the remaining elements, the selected element having been selected by the controller as a part of the outcome.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  in which the different force imparted to the selected element operates in such a way that, to a viewer, it is not apparent that a different force is acting on the selected element.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  in which the outcome is represented by a selection of at least some of the plurality of the elements, the elements initially being displayed in a representation of a container in such a way that the elements are visible to a player of the gaming machine.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  in which, initially, all the elements in the container are subjected to the at least one force in the form of a first set of forces.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  in which the first set of forces encompasses forces associated with a fluid stream so that the elements appear to be floating in the container and moving with a random motion, colliding randomly with each other and against walls of the container.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  in which the fluid stream simulation is effected through a representation of a conduit having a first end which opens out into a floor of the container.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  in which the first part of the simulation engine simulates the fluid stream which enters the container through the conduit into the interior of the container so that the elements are subjected to fluid flow and float about within the interior of the container with the random motion.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  in which, when an outcome has been determined by the controller, a simulation run by the simulation engine selects a first one of the elements, a symbol on the element constituting a first part of the outcome.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  in which, when that element bas been selected, the different force is imparted to the selected element so that the selected element does not respond to the effects of the first set of forces, the remaining elements continuing to be subjected to the first set of forces.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  in which the process is repeated until all the elements constituting the outcome have been selected.  
     
     
         11 . A method of displaying an outcome on a gaming machine, the method including 
 displaying an image comprising a plurality of elements on a display of the gaming machine;    applying a physics-based simulation to the elements so that the elements move as though being affected by at least one force;    selecting one of the elements to be a part of the outcome; and    applying a different force to the selected element so that it behaves differently from the remaining elements of the image.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  which includes imparting the different force to the selected element in such a way that, to a viewer, it is not apparent that a different force is acting on the selected element.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  which includes representing a game outcome by a selection of at least some of the plurality of the elements and initially displaying the elements in a representation of a container in such a way that the elements are visible to a player of the gaming machine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  which includes, initially, subjecting all the symbol carriers in the container to the at least one force in the form of a first set of forces.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  which includes simulating the first set of forces to represent forces associated with a fluid stream so that the elements appear to be floating in the container and moving with a random motion, colliding randomly with each other and against walls of the container.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  which includes effecting the fluid stream simulation through a representation of a conduit having a first end which opens out into a floor of the container.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  which includes simulating the fluid stream entering the container through the conduit into the interior of the container so that the elements are subjected to fluid flow and float about within the interior of the container with the random motion.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  which includes, when an outcome has been determined by the controller selecting a first one of the elements, a symbol on the element constituting a first part of the outcome.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  which includes, when that element has been selected, imparting the different force to the selected element so that the selected element does not respond to the effects of the first set of forces, the remaining elements continuing to be subjected to the first set of forces.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  which includes repeating the process until all the elements constituting the outcome have been selected.  
     
     
         21 . A simulation engine for simulating a system to which the laws of physics are applied for displaying a game outcome on a gaming machine, the simulation engine including 
 a first part for simulating the imparting of at least one physical force to symbol carriers, at least some of which are used in displaying the game outcome; and    a second part for simulating the imparting of at least one further, different force to each of those symbol carriers selected to represent the game outcome.    
     
     
         22 . The simulation engine of  claim 21  which is implemented in a controller associated with the gaming machine.  
     
     
         23 . A gaming machine including a system as claimed in  claim 1