Gaming device including movable symbol indicator plates

Abstract

A gaming device including a first and second indicator plate which are adjacent to each other and on the same axis where the second plate overlaps at least a portion of the first plate and the first and second plates are in different planes. In one embodiment, the first plate includes at least one symbol where one or more awards are associated with the symbol. The second plate is composed at least in part of a substantially transparent material, which enables a player to see through at least a portion of the second plate to view one or more symbols on the first plate. The second plate also includes a plurality of sections, which indicate one or more symbols on the first plate. In one embodiment, the second plate includes at least one transparent section and at least one non-transparent section.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising:
 at least one display device;   at least one input device;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:   (a) display a first wheel including a plurality of symbols;   (b) display a second wheel overlapping at least a portion of the first wheel, the second wheel including a plurality of substantially transparent sections and at least one non-transparent section and being positionable to:
 (i) cause a first one of the transparent sections to indicate a first quantity of one or more of the symbols on the first wheel, and 
 (ii) simultaneously cause a second different one of the transparent sections to indicate a second different quantity of the symbols on the first wheel; 
   (c) display at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel spinning;   (d) select one of the transparent sections as a designated transparent section;   (e) stop displaying the at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel spinning;   (f) if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, determine a total award based on each of the plurality of indicated symbols; and   (g) display the determined total award.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, determine the total award by summing the indicated symbols. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, determine the total award by multiplying the indicated symbols. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the symbols on the first wheel is scrambled and at least one of the transparent sections of the second wheel is configured to unscramble said at least one scrambled symbol. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to randomly select the designated transparent section. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to receive a selection of one of the transparent sections from a player and select the player-selected transparent section as the designated transparent section. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 (a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display a first wheel including a plurality of symbols;   (b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a second wheel overlapping at least a portion of the first wheel, the second wheel including a plurality of substantially transparent sections and at least one non-transparent section and being positionable to:
 (i) cause a first one of the transparent sections to indicate a first quantity of one or more of the symbols on the first wheel, and 
 (ii) simultaneously cause a second different one of the transparent sections to indicate a second different quantity of the symbols on the first wheel; 
   (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel spinning;   (d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select one of the transparent sections as a designated transparent section;   (e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to stop displaying the at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel spinning;   (f) if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a total award based on each of the plurality of indicated symbols; and   (g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display the determined total award.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, determine the total award by summing the indicated symbols. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, determine the total award by multiplying the indicated symbols. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein one of the symbols on the first wheel is scrambled and at least one of the transparent sections of the second wheel is configured to unscramble said at least one scrambled symbol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly select the designated transparent section. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a selection of one of the transparent sections from a player and select the player-selected transparent section as the designated transparent section. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , which is provided through a data network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data network is an internet. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 (a) cause at least one display device to display a first wheel including a plurality of symbols;   (b) cause the at least one display device to display a second wheel overlapping at least a portion of the first wheel, the second wheel including a plurality of substantially transparent sections and at least one non-transparent section and being positionable to:
 (i) cause a first one of the transparent sections to indicate a first quantity of one or more of the symbols on the first wheel, and 
 (ii) simultaneously cause a second different one of the transparent sections to indicate a second different quantity of the symbols on the first wheel; 
   (c) cause the at least one display device to display at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel spinning;   (d) select one of the transparent sections as a designated transparent section;   (e) cause the at least one display device to stop displaying he at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel spinning;   (f) if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, determine a total award based on each of the plurality of indicated symbols; and   (g) cause the at least one display device to display the determined total award.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, determine the total award by summing the indicated symbols. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if the designated transparent section indicates a plurality of the symbols on the first wheel, determine the total award by multiplying the indicated symbols. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein one of the symbols on the first wheel is scrambled and at least one of the transparent sections of the second wheel is configured to unscramble said at least one scrambled symbol. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to randomly select the designated transparent section. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with at least one input device to receive a selection of one of the transparent sections from a player and select the player-selected transparent section as the designated transparent section.