Slot Machine Game with User Selectable Themes

Abstract

A slot machine method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to present a player with multiple themes simultaneously. A main window can display one screen of a slot machine game, while other windows can display derivative displays of the main window but with a transformation. The transformation can be merely visual or can also affect payouts.

1 . A method to play a slot machine game, the method comprising:
 receiving a wager from a player;   spinning a first set of reels in a first window resulting in a first outcome and displaying a first award based on the first outcome;   spinning a second set of reels in a second window alongside the first window resulting in a second outcome and displaying a second award based on the second outcome; and   allowing the player to change the first set of reels to a third set of reels in the first window, and subsequently beginning a new game by receiving a second wager, spinning the third set of reels in the first window resulting in a third outcome and displaying a third award based on the third outcome.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the allowing further comprises spinning the second set of reels in the second window simultaneously with spinning the third set of reels resulting in a fourth outcome and displaying a fourth award based on the fourth outcome. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the allowing further comprising spinning a fourth set of reels in the second window simultaneously with spinning the third set of reels resulting in a fourth outcome and displaying a fourth award based on the fourth outcome, the fourth set of reels being different than the second set of reels. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first award is determined based on a first paytable and the second award is determined based on a second paytable different from the first paytable. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the third award is determined based on a third paytable and the fourth award is based on the second paytable. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the second paytable is different from the third paytable. 
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein all symbols in the second outcome are a respective counterpart symbol from the first outcome. 
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein all symbols in the second outcome are a respective counterpart symbol from the first outcome. 
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first award is determined based on a first paytable and the second award is determined based on the first paytable. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein all symbols in the second outcome are a respective counterpart symbol from the first outcome. 
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first set of reels comprises a first reel which comprises a first particular number of occurrences of a particular symbol, and the second set of reels comprises a second reel which comprises a second particular number of occurrences of the particular symbol, the first particular number being different than the second particular number. 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first reel contains at least one of all of symbols present on the second reel. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first set of reels is different than the second set of reels. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first set of reels is different than the second set of reels. 
   
   
       15 . A method to play a slot machine game, the method comprising:
 receiving and resolving wagers for a first slot game using a first set of reels in a first window;   receiving and resolving wagers for a second slot game using a second set of reels in a second window; and   allowing the player to change the first set of reels in the first window to a third set of reels in the first window, the third set of reels being different than the first set of reels.   
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein wagers are resolved in the first slot game using a first paytable and wagers are resolved in the second slot game using the first paytable. 
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein wagers are resolved in the first slot game using a first paytable and wagers are resolved in the second slot game using a second paytable, the second paytable being different than the first paytable. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the second set of reels is different than the first set of reels. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the second set of reels is different than the first set of reels. 
   
   
       20 . A method to play a slot machine game, the method comprising:
 receiving a wager from a player;   spinning a first set of reels in a first window resulting in a first outcome and displaying a first award based on the first outcome; and   spinning a second set of reels in a second window alongside the first window resulting in a second outcome and displaying a second award based on the second outcome,   wherein the first award is determined based on a first paytable and the second award is determined based on a second paytable different from the first paytable,   wherein all symbols in the second outcome are a respective counterpart symbol from the first outcome.   
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the second paytable is the first paytable with all payouts multiplied by a multiplier. 
   
   
       22 . A method to play a slot machine game, the method comprising:
 receiving a wager from a player;   spinning a first set of reels in a first window resulting in a first outcome and displaying a first award based on the first outcome; and   spinning a second set of reels in a second window alongside the first window resulting in a second outcome and displaying a second award based on the second outcome,   wherein the first award is determined based on a first paytable and the second award is determined based on the first paytable,   wherein all symbols in the second outcome are a respective counterpart symbol from the first outcome.   
   
   
       23 . A method to play a slot machine game, the method comprising:
 receiving a wager from a player;   spinning a first set of reels in a first window resulting in a first outcome and displaying a first award based on the first outcome; and   spinning a second set of reels in a second window alongside the first window resulting in a second outcome and displaying a second award based on the second outcome,   wherein the first award is determined based on a first paytable and the second award is determined based on a second paytable different from the first paytable,   wherein the second outcome is determined independently of the first outcome.   
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the second paytable is the first paytable with all payouts multiplied by a multiplier. 
   
   
       25 . A method to play a slot machine game, the method comprising:
 receiving a wager from a player;   spinning a first set of reels in a first window resulting in a first outcome and displaying a first award based on the first outcome; and   spinning a second set of reels in a second window alongside the first window resulting in a second outcome and displaying a second award based on the second outcome,   wherein the first award is determined based on a first paytable and the second award is determined based on the first paytable,   wherein the second outcome is determined independently of the first outcome.