Gaming machine and method for displaying symbols

Abstract

A gaming machine comprises a display unit that displays video reels using computer graphics. Symbols are moved and stopped on each video reel. A game controller unit selects a type of symbols and an arrangement of symbols at random, and provides a player with an award if a winning combination appears on a payline in the arrangement of symbols and the player has placed a bet on the payline. A display controller unit causes the display unit to move symbols on each video reel, and then stop symbols in the arrangement. The display controller unit further causes the display unit to change a symbol of the selected type to a special symbol while moving symbols. Special symbols appear in a prominent form, e.g., in a background color complementary to a background color of other symbols, or in a metallic color, or in a blinking, flashing, or sparkling pattern.

1 . A gaming machine comprising
 a display unit configured to display symbols using computer graphics, the symbols arranged in a plurality of columns, and moved and stopped on a column-by-column basis;   a console unit configured to accept monetary data and an instruction from a player to place a bet;   a game controller unit configured to execute a game program, and thereby control game functions of
 using the monetary data as a bet in response to the instruction, 
 selecting zero or more types of symbols at random, 
 determining an arrangement of symbols at random, 
 retrieving a winning combination from the arrangement of symbols, and 
 providing the player with an award depending on the bet and the winning combination retrieved from the arrangement of symbols; and 
   a display controller unit configured to cause the display unit to move symbols on a column-by-column basis, change a symbol of the type selected by the game controller unit to a special symbol while moving symbols, and then stop symbols in the arrangement selected by the game controller unit.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming machine according to the  claim 1 , wherein the game controller unit is configured to interpret the special symbol as a wildcard symbol. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming machine according to the  claim 1 , wherein the display controller unit is configured to cause the display unit to change a background color of the special symbol to a color complementary to a background color of other symbols while moving symbols. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming machine according to the  claim 1 , wherein the display controller unit is configured to cause the display unit to display the special symbol in a blinking, flashing, or sparkling pattern while moving symbols. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming machine according to the  claim 1 , wherein the display controller unit is configured to provide a higher probability of displaying candidates for a type of symbols to be changed to a special symbol at adjacent positions while the display unit moves symbols, than other types of symbols. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming machine according to the  claim 1 , wherein
 the display unit includes a region in which candidates for a type of symbols to be changed to a special symbol are displayed in a static graphic form, and   the display controller unit is configured to cause the display unit to change the candidate of a type has been selected by the game controller unit to a special symbol in the region while the display unit moves symbols.   
   
   
       7 . A gaming machine according to the  claim 1 , wherein
 when the game controller unit selects two or more types of symbols at random, the display controller unit causes the display unit to change symbols of the types selected by the game controller unit to special symbols in turn while moving symbols.   
   
   
       8 . A method comprising
 accepting monetary data and an instruction from a player to place a bet;   using the monetary data as a bet in response to the instruction;   selecting zero or more types of symbols at random;   determining an arrangement of symbols at random;   retrieving a winning combination from the arrangement of symbols;   displaying symbols by using computer graphics, the symbols arranged in a plurality of columns, and moved on a column-by-column basis;   changing symbols of the selected type to a special symbol while symbols are moved;   stopping symbols in the selected arrangement; and   providing the player with an award depending on the bet and the winning combination retrieved from the selected arrangement of symbols.