Slot machine and slot machine gaming method therefor

Abstract

A slot machine includes a display unit, an input unit allowing user input, and a game-processing unit connected to the display and input units, and configured to perform consecutive steps of a slot machine gaming method. The slot machine gaming method includes: displaying on the display unit a matrix of cells of (m) columns and (m) rows, where (m) is an even number; providing a plurality of pay lines selectively activated by the user through the input unit, each of the cells being traversed an equal total number of times by the pay lines; consecutively displaying in each of the cells a plurality of indicia for a predetermined time interval, and maintaining display of the indicia last appearing in the cells after elapse of the predetermined time interval; and determining if the indicia last appearing in the cells comply with predetermined winning criteria.

1 . A slot machine gaming method to be implemented using a slot machine having a display unit, said slot machine gaming method comprising: 
 a) displaying on the display unit of the slot machine a matrix of cells of (m) columns and (m) rows, where (m) is an even number;    b) providing a plurality of pay lines selectively activated by a user, each of the cells of the matrix being traversed an equal total number of times by the pay lines;    c) consecutively displaying in each of the cells a plurality of indicia for a predetermined time interval, and maintaining display of the indicia last appearing in the cells after elapse of the predetermined time interval; and    d) determining if the indicia last appearing in the cells comply with predetermined winning criteria based on a relation between the pay lines activated by the user in step b) and the indicia last appearing in the cells in step c).    
   
   
       2 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein, in step a), (m) is equal to four.  
   
   
       3 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 2 , wherein, in step b), a total number of the pay lines is a multiple of four.  
   
   
       4 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 3 , wherein the pay lines are divided into groups of four of the pay lines, each of the cells of the matrix being traversed once by one of the four pay lines in the same group.  
   
   
       5 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein, in step b), a total number of the pay lines is twenty-four.  
   
   
       6 . The slot machine gaming method of  claim 5 , wherein, in step b), each of the cells of the matrix is traversed a total of six times by the pay lines.  
   
   
       7 . A slot machine, comprising: 
 a display unit;    a game-processing unit connected to said display unit and configured to perform consecutive steps of a slot machine gaming method; and    an input unit connected to said game-processing unit and allowing input by a user;    wherein said slot machine gaming method includes:    a) displaying on said display unit a matrix of cells of (m) columns and (m) rows, where (m) is an even number;    b) providing a plurality of pay lines selectively activated by the user through said input unit, each of the cells of the matrix being traversed an equal total number of times by the pay lines;    c) consecutively displaying in each of the cells a plurality of indicia for a predetermined time interval, and maintaining display of the indicia last appearing in the cells after elapse of the predetermined time interval; and    d) determining if the indicia last appearing in the cells comply with predetermined winning criteria based on a relation between the pay lines activated by the user in step b) and the indicia last appearing in the cells in step c).    
   
   
       8 . The slot machine of  claim 7 , wherein, in step a) of said slot machine gaming method, (m) is equal to four.  
   
   
       9 . The slot machine of  claim 8 , wherein, in step b) of said slot machine gaming method, a total number of the pay lines is a multiple of four.  
   
   
       10 . The slot machine of  claim 9 , wherein the pay lines are divided into groups of four of the pay lines, each of the cells of the matrix being traversed once by one of the four pay lines in the same group.  
   
   
       11 . The slot machine of  claim 7 , wherein, in step b) of said slot machine gaming method, a total number of the pay lines is twenty-four.  
   
   
       12 . The slot machine of  claim 11 , wherein, in step b) of said slot machine gaming method, each of the cells of the matrix is traversed a total of six times by the pay lines.