Culturally enriched slot machine

Abstract

The invention provides a gaming device comprising a plurality of reels comprising at least one pictographic or ideographic symbol and a plurality of awards associated with a combination of winning symbols that have an independent association or identity associated with a selected cultural tradition.

1 . A gaming device comprising:
 a plurality of reels comprising at least one ideographic symbol; and   a plurality of awards associated with a combination of winning symbols, said award associated with the arrangement of symbols,   wherein a winning arrangement of symbols comprises at least two dissimilar symbols that together constitute an ideographic expression.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein said ideographic symbols are symbols utilized in a writing system. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said winning combinations is an expression written in said ideographic writing system. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming device of  claim 3 , wherein said expression is an expression of best wishes common to the culture utilizing said writing system. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming device of  claim 4 , wherein said expression is a three symbol expression of best wishes. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming device of  claim 4 , wherein said expression is a four symbol expression of best wishes. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming device of  claim 3 , wherein said expression is thematically related to a story common to the culture utilizing said writing system. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein said story is a story from mythology. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein said story is a story from history. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein said story is a story from literature. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein a winning combination of symbols reflects a pattern of ideographic symbols recognizable as a depiction of an event from said story. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein said at least two dissimilar ideographic symbols form said ideographic expression on a representation of a poster. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming device of  claim 12 , wherein said poster is a good wishes poster. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming device of  claim 13 , wherein multiple posters conveying the same ideographic expression form a winning combination. 
   
   
       15 - 48 . (canceled)