Payline system for multiline slot play using an erasing/exposure feature

Abstract

A method of playing a virtual or virtual/mechanical multireel slot game. A grid of at least 3 rows×3 columns, but preferably 3 rows×5 columns, is presented on a screen, with a second, opaque blanketing layer of color or graphics over the grid, so as to hide symbols on the reels below. After the wager, reels on the bottom layer spin (or are virtually and randomly positioned in any manner), hidden from the player by the blanketing layer. An “erasing” indicium then glides from outside the grid (preferably across the top row of 5 reels, from left to right), over the blanketing layer, erasing the color layer to expose the symbols on the reels below. The indicium preferably (or always) moves in one direction only until it hits the end of a row, the top or bottom of a column, or a revealed symbol that alters movement of the indicium. When the indicium encounters this situation, it may hesitate for a moment, then randomly pick a direction in which to continue. It may continue in the same direction or turn 90° clockwise or 90° counterclockwise. It may even move diagonally. If the indicium turns and continues over the reels, more symbols are revealed until the indicium again reaches a turning point. Payouts are awarded according to a predetermined paytable for single special symbols and/or for sets such as multiple same symbols shown, whether the symbols are contiguous or not.

1 . A method of playing a video wagering game or bonus event on a video gaming apparatus comprising: 
 providing a display screen having an area of one or more original images within which symbols can be displayed;    providing an indicium that can virtually move across the area; and    wherein movement of the indicium across the area removes at least some of the one or more original images to display symbols, and    wherein a game using the symbols is resolved according to the rules of a wagering game or bonus event and wherein the original images are not used in the playing of the video wagering game or bonus event.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at a beginning of a game the area of one or more original images has at least some frame elements therein that have no game play symbols displayed therein.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at a beginning of a game the area of one or more original images has no game play symbols displayed thereon.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein events can occur in the movement of the indicium, in addition to exposure of the entire area, that will prevent further movement of the indicium according to rules of the game.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the indicium moves only from one frame including a game symbol exposed by movement of the indicium to an adjacent frame including a game symbol.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the indicium moves only from one frame including a game symbol exposed by movement of the indicium to an adjacent frame including a game symbol.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the indicium moves only from one frame including a game symbol exposed by movement of the indicium to an adjacent frame including a game symbol.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein events can occur in the movement of the indicium, in addition to exposure of the entire area, that will prevent further movement of the indicium according to rules of the game.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein events can occur in the movement of the indicium, in addition to exposure of the entire area, that will prevent further movement of the indicium according to rules of the game.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein events can occur in the movement of the indicium, in addition to exposure of the entire area, that will prevent further movement of the indicium according to rules of the game.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more images comprises a scene and the indicium moves over the scene to expose symbols underneath the scene.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the one or more images comprises a scene and the indicium moves over the scene to expose symbols underneath the scene.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the one or more images comprises a scene and the indicium moves over the scene to expose symbols underneath the scene.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the indicium comprises a virtual image of a device that in real operation cuts, plows, digs, clears, or removes material, and symbols are exposed upon virtual operation of the indicium on the screen.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the indicium comprises a virtual image of a device that in real operation cuts, plows, digs, clears, or removes material, and symbols are exposed upon virtual operation of the indicium on the screen.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the indicium comprises a virtual image of a device that in real operation cuts, plows, digs, clears, or removes material, and symbols are exposed upon virtual operation of the indicium on the screen.  
   
   
       17 . A video gaming device that contains a video display area and a processor, the processor being able to execute software that enables play of the video wagering game or bonus game of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       18 . A video gaming device that contains a video display area and a processor, the processor being able to execute software that enables play of the video wagering game or bonus game of  claim 3 .  
   
   
       19 . A video gaming device that contains a video display area and a processor, the processor being able to execute software that enables play of the video wagering game or bonus game of  claim 7 .  
   
   
       20 . A video gaming device that contains a video display area and a processor, the processor being able to execute software that enables play of the video wagering game or bonus game of  claim 16 .  
   
   
       21 . A method of playing a video wagering game or bonus event on a video gaming apparatus comprising: 
 providing a display screen having an area presented in perspective in which one or more original images within which symbols can be displayed;    providing an indicium that can virtually move across the area; and    wherein movement of the indicium across the area removes at least some of the one or more original images to display symbols that are changed from a perspective view to a full frontal view after removal of one or more original images, and    wherein a game using the symbols is resolved according to the rules of a wagering game or bonus event and wherein the original images are not used in the playing of the video wagering game or bonus event.    
   
   
       22 . A method of playing a video wagering game or bonus event on a video gaming apparatus comprising: 
 providing a display screen having an area of one or more original images within which a randomly selected distribution of symbols can be displayed;    providing an indicium that can virtually move across the area; and    wherein virtual movement of the indicium across the area removes at least some of the one or more original images to display symbols and the virtual movement is defined by a randomly selected template of movement, and    wherein a game using the symbols is resolved according to the rules of a wagering game or bonus event and wherein the original images are not used in the playing of the video wagering game or bonus event.