Gaming device having a rotating cylindrical symbol indicator display

Abstract

A gaming device having separately movable mechanical devices within a display device operable to display and indicate at least one component of a player's award. In one embodiment the display device is operated as a bonus game of a base game, for example a slot base game. In one embodiment, the mechanical display device is rotatable and the indicator is translatable along the same axis. In another embodiment award components are revealed by an outer display symbol indicator. In yet another embodiment, the award is based on portions of the display device selected by the player.

1 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a primary game display mounted to said cabinet;    a primary game adapted to be displayed by the primary game display and operable upon a wager by a player;    a secondary game display connected to said cabinet, said secondary game including a movable symbol display having at least one symbol display area, wherein said symbol display area is arranged on the symbol display such that said symbol display area appears to move in a first movement path upon movement of the symbol display in a second different movement path; and    at least one processor operable to control said primary game display and said secondary game display.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein said symbol display includes a plurality of symbol display areas.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the symbol display areas are of a substantially similar dimension.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the symbol display areas are arranged adjacent to one another.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the symbol display area displays a plurality of symbols.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming device of  claim 5 , wherein the symbols in the symbol display area include numbers, said numbers increasing along the symbol display area as the symbol display rotates.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming device of  claim 5 , which includes a symbol indicator operable to indicate at least one symbol on the symbol display.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the symbol indicator indicates at least one symbol on the symbol display by selectively revealing said symbol.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the duration of movement of said symbol display is random.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the direction of movement of said symbol display is random.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the symbol display area is positioned at an oblique angle to an axis of rotation of the symbol display.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the first movement path of the symbol display area appears to be transverse to an axis of rotation of said symbol display.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the second movement path of the symbol display includes a rotation about an axis of rotation of said symbol display.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , which is adapted to operate through a data network.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming device of  claim 14 , wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.  
   
   
       16 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a primary game display mounted to said cabinet;    a primary game adapted to be displayed by the primary game display and operable upon a wager by a player;    a secondary game display connected to said cabinet, said secondary game including a rotatable symbol display having a plurality of symbol display areas, said symbol display areas adjacently arranged at oblique angles to the symbol display such that said symbol display areas appear to move transverse to an axis of rotation of said symbol display upon rotation of the symbol display about said axis of rotation;    a plurality of symbols displayed on said symbol display areas; and    at least one processor operable to control said primary game display and secondary game display.    
   
   
       17 . The gaming device of  claim 16 , wherein an award is provided to the player based on at least one displayed symbol.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming device of  claim 16 , wherein the player is enabled to select a portion of the symbol display, wherein the award provided to the player is based on at least one symbol displayed in said selected portion of the symbol display.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming device of  claim 16 , wherein the player is enabled to select at least one symbol display area, wherein the award provided to the player is based on at least one symbol displayed in said selected symbol display area.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming device of  claim 16 , wherein the player is enabled to select at least one a plurality of sets of symbol display areas, wherein the award provided to the player is based on at least one symbol displayed in said selected set of symbol display areas.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming device of  claim 16 , wherein each symbol display area in each of said sets of symbol display areas appears different from each symbol display area in the other sets of symbol display areas.  
   
   
       22 . The gaming device of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of symbols displayed on the symbol display areas is changeable.  
   
   
       23 . The gaming device of  claim 16 , which includes a symbol indicator operable to indicate at least one symbol on at least one of the symbol display areas.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming device of  claim 23 , wherein the symbol indicator indicates at least one symbol on the symbol display areas by selectively revealing said symbol.  
   
   
       25 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a primary game display mounted to said cabinet;    a primary game adapted to be displayed by the primary game display and operable upon a wager by a player;    a secondary game display connected to said cabinet, said secondary game display including a rotatable symbol display having a plurality of symbol display areas, said symbol display areas adjacently arranged at oblique angles to the symbol display such that said symbol display areas appear to move transverse to an axis of rotation of said symbol display upon the rotation of the symbol display;    a symbol indicator operable to move in relation to said symbol display to indicate at least one symbol on one of said symbol display areas; and    at least one processor operable to control said primary game display, said secondary game display and said symbol indicator.    
   
   
       26 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein said rotatable symbol display is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       27 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein said symbol display areas are adjacently positioned to one another.  
   
   
       28 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of said symbol display areas includes credit symbols.  
   
   
       29 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of said symbol display areas includes multiplier symbols.  
   
   
       30 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of said symbol display areas includes credit symbols and at least one different symbol display area includes multiplier symbols.  
   
   
       31 . The gaming device of  claim 30 , wherein said symbol indicator indicates at least one credit and at least one multiplier on the symbol display, said credit and multiplier being combined to determine an award provided to the player.  
   
   
       32 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein said symbol indicator moves in a linear plane.  
   
   
       33 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein said symbol indicator moves along the axis of rotation of the symbol display.  
   
   
       34 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein said symbol indicator includes a plurality of indicators.  
   
   
       35 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the symbol indicated by the symbol indicator is the last symbol sequentially indicated by the symbol indicator when the symbol display stops moving.  
   
   
       36 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the symbol indicator is operable to indicate at least two different symbols on the symbol display.  
   
   
       37 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the symbol indicator is operable to reveal at least one symbol on the symbol display.  
   
   
       38 . The gaming device of  claim 37 , wherein the symbol indicator includes an illumination source.  
   
   
       39 . The gaming device of  claim 37 , wherein the symbol indicator includes an outer portion of the symbol display adapted to selectively reveal at least one symbol on the symbol display.  
   
   
       40 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a primary game display mounted to said cabinet;    a primary game adapted to be displayed by the primary game display and operable upon a wager by a player;    a secondary game display connected to said cabinet, wherein said secondary game display includes a movable inner symbol display and a movable outer display symbol indicator having at least one symbol display area displayed on the inner symbol display, wherein said symbol display area is arranged on the outer symbol display such that said symbol display area appears to move in a first movement path upon movement of the outer symbol display in a second different movement path;    a plurality of symbols displayed on the inner symbol display, wherein said outer display symbol indicator selectively reveals at least one of said symbols; and    at least one processor operable to control said primary game display and said secondary game display.    
   
   
       41 . The gaming device of  claim 40 , which includes a plurality of symbol display areas adjacently arranged at oblique angles to the outer symbol indicator such that said symbol display areas appear to move transverse to an axis of rotation of said outer symbol indicator upon the movement of said outer symbol indicator.  
   
   
       42 . The gaming device of  claim 40 , which includes at least one symbol indicator independent of the outer display symbol indicator, wherein said symbol indicator indicates at least one of a plurality of symbols revealed by said outer display symbol indicator.  
   
   
       43 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a primary game display mounted to said cabinet;    a primary game adapted to be displayed by the primary game display and operable upon a wager by a player;    a secondary game display connected to said cabinet, wherein said secondary game display includes an outer display symbol indicator and a movable inner symbol display having at least one symbol display area displayed on the inner symbol display, wherein said symbol display area is arranged on the inner symbol display such that said symbol display area appears to move in a first movement path upon movement of the inner symbol display in a second different movement path;    a plurality of symbols displayed on said symbol display areas, wherein said outer display symbol indicator selectively reveals at least one symbol; and    at least one processor operable to control said primary game display and said secondary game display.    
   
   
       44 . The gaming device of  claim 43 , which includes a plurality of symbol display areas adjacently arranged at oblique angles to the inner symbol display such that said symbol display areas appear to move transverse to an axis of rotation of said inner symbol display upon the movement of said inner symbol display.  
   
   
       45 . The gaming device of  claim 43 , which includes at least one symbol indicator independent of the outer display symbol indicator, wherein said symbol indicator indicates at least one of a plurality of symbols revealed by the outer display symbol indicator.  
   
   
       46 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a symbol display having at least one independently movable inner portion and at least one independently movable outer portion, said inner portion having a plurality of symbol display areas displayed on said inner portion of the symbol, wherein said symbol display areas are adjacently arranged at oblique angles to the symbol display such that said symbol display areas appear to move transverse to an axis of rotation of said symbol display upon rotation of the symbol display about said axis of rotation;    a plurality of symbols displayed on said symbol display areas, wherein said outer portion selectively reveals at least one symbol of the symbol display; and    at least one processor operable to control the movement of said symbol display.    
   
   
       47 . The gaming device of  claim 46 , wherein the symbol display is included in a secondary game.  
   
   
       48 . The gaming device of  claim 46 , wherein the inner portion and outer portion of the symbol display are substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       49 . The gaming device of  claim 46 , wherein the inner portion and outer portion of the symbol display rotate about a substantially vertical axis.  
   
   
       50 . The gaming device of  claim 46 , wherein each of the symbol display areas are of the same dimension.  
   
   
       51 . The gaming device of  claim 46 , wherein the outer portion of the symbol display includes a plurality of windows, wherein each window is proportioned and positioned to reveal one symbol in each of said plurality of windows after the movement of the symbol display.  
   
   
       52 . The gaming device of  claim 46 , wherein the outer portion of the symbol display is translucent.  
   
   
       53 . The gaming device of  claim 46 , wherein each of the plurality of symbols displayed on the inner portion of the symbol display is changeable.  
   
   
       54 . The gaming device of  claim 46 , which includes at least one award provided to the player, wherein said award is based on at least one symbol revealed by the outer portion of the symbol display.  
   
   
       55 . The gaming device of  claim 54 , wherein the award provided to the player is based on a plurality of symbols revealed by the outer portion of the symbol display.  
   
   
       56 . The gaming device of  claim 54 , which includes at least one symbol indicator wherein the award provided to the player is based on at least one of the symbols revealed by the outer portion of the symbol display and indicated by said symbol indicator.  
   
   
       57 . A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a movable symbol display mounted to said cabinet;    at least one symbol display area on said symbol display;    a plurality of symbols displayed on said symbol display area; and    at least one drive mechanism operatively coupled to said symbol display and at least one symbol indicator such that the symbol indicator is moved in relation to the symbol display to indicate at least one symbol on said symbol display.    
   
   
       58 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , wherein said symbol display is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       59 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , wherein said movable symbol display includes at least two symbol display areas.  
   
   
       60 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , wherein said symbol display area is arranged on the symbol display such that said symbol display area appears to move transverse to a rotational axis of the symbol display upon a rotational movement of said symbol display.  
   
   
       61 . The gaming device of  claim 60 , wherein the symbol indicator moves along the axis of rotation of the rotatable symbol display.  
   
   
       62 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , wherein said symbol indicator indicates at least one symbol, wherein an award is provided to the player based on said indicated symbol.  
   
   
       63 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of said drive mechanisms includes a drive belt.  
   
   
       64 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , wherein each of said drive mechanisms includes a drive shaft.  
   
   
       65 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of said drive mechanisms includes at least one gear.  
   
   
       66 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a belt with the symbol indicator affixed thereto.  
   
   
       67 . The gaming device of  claim 57 , which includes a memory device wherein movement of the symbol display and the symbol indicator occurs according to a plurality of movement sequences stored in said memory device.  
   
   
       68 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a game operable upon a wager by a player;    a cabinet;    a display on said cabinet operable to display said game;    a movable symbol display associated with said display;    at least two symbol display areas, wherein said symbol display areas are adjacently arranged at oblique angles to the symbol display such that said symbol display areas appear to move transverse to an axis of rotation of said symbol display upon movement of the symbol display;    a plurality of symbols, each of said symbols positioned within at least one of said symbol display areas;    a symbol indicator;    at least one drive mechanism operatively coupled to the symbol display and the symbol indicator, said drive mechanism operable to rotate said symbol display on a rotational axis and to move said symbol indicator in a linear path along said rotational axis of said symbol display;    a processor in communication with the drive mechanism operable to move said symbol indicator in relation to said symbol display to indicate at least one symbol on said symbol display; and    at least one award provided to the player based on at least one symbol indicated by the symbol indicator.    
   
   
       69 . A method of indicating symbols in a gaming device, said method comprising: 
 a) displaying at least one symbol display area on a symbol display, wherein said symbol display area is arranged on said symbol display such that said symbol display area appears to move in a first movement path upon movement of the symbol display in a second different movement path;    b) displaying a plurality of symbols within said symbol display area;    c) associating an outcome with at least one of said plurality of symbols;    d) moving said symbol display;    e) moving at least one symbol indicator;    f) stopping the movement of the symbol display and the movement of the symbol indicator to indicate at least one of said symbols on said symbol display; and    g) providing the player any outcome associated with said indicated symbols.    
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the outcome associated with at least one of said plurality of symbols includes at least one award.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein moving said symbol display and symbol indicator occurs simultaneously.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein moving the symbol display and the symbol indicator includes moving said symbol display and symbol indicator in a plurality of directions.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein moving said symbol display and said symbol indicator occurs according to a plurality of movement sequences stored in a memory device.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 69 , which includes enabling a player to select a portion of the symbol display and wherein any outcome associated with at least one symbol displayed in said selected portion of the symbol display is provided to the player.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 69 , which includes enabling a player to select at least one symbol display area and wherein any outcome associated with at least one symbol displayed in said selected symbol display area is provided to the player.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 69 , which includes enabling a player to select at least one of a plurality of sets of symbol display areas, wherein each symbol display area in each of said sets appears different than each symbol display area in the other sets of symbol display areas, and wherein any outcome associated with at least one symbol displayed in said selected set of symbol display areas is provided to the player.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 69 , which includes changing the display of at least one of the plurality of symbols.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 69 , which includes operating said gaming device through a data network.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.  
   
   
       80 . A method of displaying symbols on a gaming device, said method comprising: 
 (a) displaying a plurality of symbol display areas on a movable symbol display, wherein, upon the movement of said symbol display, said symbol display areas appear to move in a different direction than the movement of the symbol display;    (b) moving the symbol display; and    (c) indicating at least one symbol within a symbol display area.    
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the symbol display is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein arranging the plurality of symbol display areas on the symbol display includes adjacently arranging the symbol display areas at oblique angles to an axis of rotation of the symbol display.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the moving the symbol display includes rotating said symbol display about an axis of rotation.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein said symbol display areas appear to move transverse to an axis of rotation of the symbol display.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 80 , which includes operating said gaming device through a data network.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.  
   
   
       87 . A method of displaying and indicating symbols in a gaming device, said method comprising: 
 a) displaying a plurality of symbol display areas, wherein said symbol display areas are adjacently arranged at an oblique angle to a movable symbol display such that said symbol display areas appear to move transverse to an axis of rotation of said symbol display upon movement of the symbol display;    b) displaying a plurality of symbols on an inner portion of the symbol display;    c) moving an outer portion of the symbol display in relation to the inner portion of the symbol display, wherein said outer portion is adapted to reveal at least one of said symbols displayed on said inner portion of the symbol display;    d) stopping the outer portion to reveal at least one of said symbols on said inner portion of the symbol display; and    e) providing the player an award based on said revealed symbol.    
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes symbol display areas on the inner portion of the symbol display, wherein the plurality of symbols are displayed on said symbol display areas.  
   
   
       89 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes moving the inner portion of said symbol display in relation to the outer portion of said symbol display.  
   
   
       90 . The method of  claim 89 , which includes rotating the inner portion and the outer portion of said symbol display about a substantially vertical axis.  
   
   
       91 . The method of  claim 89 , which includes moving the inner portion and the outer portion of said symbol display simultaneously.  
   
   
       92 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the inner portion and the outer portion of said symbol display are substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       93 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes rotating the outer portion of said symbol display about a substantially vertical axis.  
   
   
       94 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes revealing one symbol in each of a plurality of windows of the outer portion of the symbol display after the movement of said symbol display.  
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes providing the player an award based on a plurality of symbols revealed by the outer portion of the symbol display.  
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 95 , which includes indicating at least one of the revealed symbols wherein the award provided to the player is based on the indicated symbol.  
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 95 , which includes enabling a player to select a portion of the symbol display and wherein the award provided to the player is based on at least one symbol revealed in said selected portion of the symbol display.  
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 95 , which includes enabling a player to select at least one symbol display area and wherein the award provided to the player is based on at least one symbol revealed in said selected symbol display area.  
   
   
       99 . The method of  claim 95 , which includes enabling a player to select at least one of a plurality of sets of symbol display areas, wherein each symbol display area in each of said sets appears different from each of the symbol display areas in the other sets of symbol display areas and wherein the award provided to the player is based on at least one symbol revealed in said selected set of symbol display areas.  
   
   
       100 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes changing each of the plurality of symbols displayed on the inner portion of the symbol display before the movement of the outer portion of the symbol display.  
   
   
       101 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes changing each of the plurality of symbols displayed on the inner portion of the symbol display during the movement of the outer portion of the symbol display.  
   
   
       102 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes changing each of the plurality of symbols displayed on the inner portion of the symbol display after the movement of the outer portion of the symbol display.  
   
   
       103 . The method of  claim 87 , which includes operating said gaming device through a data network.  
   
   
       104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.