Electronic or mechanical game with configurable columns

Abstract

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a game and method for interactive play are provided. In one embodiment, the game and method can comprise a game of chance and a bet is received. A random generation event is initiated. In one embodiment, the random generation event is the random generation of one of a plurality of symbols. In the absence of the receipt of an additional bet, an additional random generation event is initiated. In one embodiment, the additional random generation event is the random generation of another of the plurality of symbols. At the conclusion of a number of random generation events, the outcomes of the number of random generation events are utilized to determine the outcome of the game. In one embodiment, at the conclusion of the number of random generated symbols, the symbols are compared to a predetermined pay table to determine the outcome of the game.

1 . An electronic game for interactive play comprising:
 a display screen having at least one column, at least one of the columns adapted to display a symbol responsive to a symbol generation command; and   at the conclusion of the symbol generation a player obtains a random symbol, the displayed symbol is compared to at least one predetermined symbol to determine the payout of the game on a column specific basis, and a pay table is developed for each variation of the game.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic game according to  claim 1  further wherein the number of columns and number of spins are variable for each game. 
   
   
       3 . The electronic game according to  claim 2  further wherein the number of columns and number of spins are variable, and the number of spins for each column is variable. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic game according to  claim 2  further wherein a game participant may select a column or columns to change, may select a row or rows to change, and may select column or columns and a row or rows to change, in order to match a symbol presented by new symbol generation in the columns. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic game according to  claim 4  further wherein a game participant may select to have in each row or column change in unison with another row, column, rows or columns; may select to have in each row or column change individually from other columns; or may select to have in each row or column change in staggered fashion. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic game according to  claim 5  further wherein during change of the rows or columns at least one symbol will present an appearance as if the symbol is outstanding from a plane of the initial two dimensional display. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic game according to  claim 6  further wherein a player may elect to retain a single row bearing the result of the change and change the remaining rows. 
   
   
       8 . The electronic game according to  claim 1  further comprising a player selected symbol. 
   
   
       9 . A mechanical machine game comprising:
 a display panel having a plurality of columns, at least one of the columns displaying a symbol responsive to a symbol generation; and   at the conclusion of the symbol generation a player obtains a random symbol, the displayed symbol is compared to at least one predetermined symbol to determine the payout of the game on a column specific basis, and a pay table is developed for each variation of the game.   
   
   
       10 . The mechanical machine game according to  claim 9  further wherein the number of columns and number of spins are variable for each game. 
   
   
       11 . The mechanical machine game according to  claim 9  further wherein the number of columns and number of spins are variable, and the number of spins for each column is variable. 
   
   
       12 . The mechanical machine game according to  claim 11  further wherein a game participant may select a column or columns to change and/or a row or rows to change in order to match symbol presented by new symbol generation in the columns. 
   
   
       13 . The mechanical machine game according to  claim 12  further wherein a game participant may select to have each row or column change in unison with another row, column, rows or columns; may select to have each row or column change individually from other columns; or may select to have in each row or column change in staggered fashion. 
   
   
       14 . The mechanical machine game according to  claim 13  further wherein during change of the rows or columns at least one the symbol, will present an appearance as if the symbol are outstanding from a plane of the initial two dimensional display. 
   
   
       15 . The mechanical machine game according to  claim 10  further wherein a player may elect to retain a single row bearing the result of the change and change the remaining rows. 
   
   
       16 . A game according to  claim 9  further comprising a player selected symbol. 
   
   
       17 . A game for interactive play comprising:
 a display having at least one column;   a symbol generation command that randomly generates one of a plurality of symbols, the randomly generated symbol being displayed in the at least one column;   the randomly generated symbol being compared to a previously accumulated symbol and, if the randomly generated symbol is the same as the previously accumulated symbol the randomly generated symbol is accumulated in the at least one column; and   at the conclusion of a number of symbol generation commands the accumulated symbols are compared to a predetermined pay table to determine the outcome of the game.   
   
   
       18 . The game for interactive play according to  claim 17  further wherein a plurality of columns is provided and a separate game is played on each column. 
   
   
       19 . The game for interactive play according to  claim 17  further wherein the number of symbol generation commands is five per game. 
   
   
       20 . The game for interactive play according to  claim 17  further wherein the game is mechanical. 
   
   
       21 . The game for interactive play according to  claim 17  further wherein the game is electronic. 
   
   
       22 . The game for interactive play according to  claim 17  further comprising a user selected symbol. 
   
   
       23 . A method of interactive game play comprising:
 randomly generating one of a plurality of symbols;   accumulating the randomly generated symbol in a column;   randomly generating another one of a plurality of symbols;   comparing the randomly generated another one of a plurality of symbols to the previously randomly generated symbol;   if the randomly generated another one of a plurality of symbols is the same as the previously randomly generated symbol, accumulating the randomly generated another one of a plurality of symbols in the column; and   at the conclusion of a number of randomly generating another one of a plurality of symbols, comparing the accumulated symbols to a predetermined pay table to determine the outcome of the game.   
   
   
       24 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 23  further including providing a plurality of columns and playing a separate game on each column. 
   
   
       25 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 23  further including randomly generating five symbols per game. 
   
   
       26 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 23  further including providing a mechanical game. 
   
   
       27 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 23  further including providing an electronic game. 
   
   
       28 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 23  further comprising a user selecting a symbol. 
   
   
       29 . A method of interactive game play comprising:
 receiving a bet;   initiating a random generation event;   in the absence of the receipt of an additional bet, initiating an additional random generation event;   in the absence of the receipt of an additional bet, initiating an additional random generation event;   at the conclusion of a number of random generation events, utilizing outcomes of the number of random generation events determine the outcome of the game.   
   
   
       30 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 29  further including randomly generating one of a plurality of symbols and accumulating the randomly generated symbol. 
   
   
       31 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 30  further including randomly generating another one of a plurality of symbols and comparing the randomly generated another one of a plurality of symbols to the previously randomly generated symbol. 
   
   
       32 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 31  further wherein if the randomly generated another one of a plurality of symbols is the same as the previously randomly generated symbol, accumulating the randomly generated another one of a plurality of symbols. 
   
   
       33 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 32  further wherein at the conclusion of a number of randomly generating another one of a plurality of symbols, comparing the accumulated symbols to a predetermined pay table to determine the outcome of the game. 
   
   
       34 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 29  further including providing a plurality of columns and playing a separate game on each column. 
   
   
       35 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 29  further including providing a mechanical game. 
   
   
       36 . A method of interactive game play according to  claim 29  further including providing an electronic game.