Gaming system and method for providing a multi-dimentsional symbol wagering game

Abstract

A gaming system and method providing a multi-dimensional symbol wagering game is provided. A player selects a payline, places a wager on the selected payline, and selects a plurality of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order. Symbols are generated and displayed at each of a plurality of symbol display positions. If at least a designated quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline displays any one of the selected symbols, the gaming system determines a display order of the generated and displayed symbols associated with the selected payline, and determines any awards associated with the selected payline based on a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline that display the player selected symbols and a comparison of the selection order with the display order. Any awards are provided to the player. Cascading and rotating symbol features are provided.

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 that stores 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, for a play of a game, to:   (a) receive, from a player, a selection of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order;   (b) for each of a plurality of symbol display positions, randomly generate and display one of the plurality of different symbols at said symbol display position;   (c) for each of at least one of a plurality of different paylines, each of the paylines associated with a different plurality of the symbol display positions:
 (i) determine a display order of the symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said payline; 
 (ii) determine a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline that display any one of the player selected symbols; and 
 (iii) if the determined quantity is at least a designated quantity, determine an award associated with said payline based on:
 (A) the determined quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline that display any one of the player selected symbols; and 
 (B) a comparison of the selection order with the display order of the symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said payline, wherein a first award determined when the selection order does not match the display order is different than a second award determined when the selection order matches the display order; and 
 
   (d) display any determined awards.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the symbols are digits. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the designated quantity is at least two. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the second award is greater than the first award. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a third award determined when the selection order partially matches the display order is different than the first award and the second award. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein, for each of the at least one of the plurality of different paylines, a third award determined when a first quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline each display one of the player selected symbols is less than a fourth award determined when a second, greater quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline each display one of the player selected symbols. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 for a play of a game:   (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 input device to receive, from a player, a selection of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order;   (b) for each of a plurality of symbol display positions, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate and operate with at least one display device to display one of the plurality of different symbols at said symbol display position;   (c) for each of at least one of a plurality of different paylines, each of the paylines associated with a different plurality of the symbol display positions, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:
 (i) determine a display order of the symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said payline; 
 (ii) determine a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline that display any one of the player selected symbols; and 
 (iii) if the determined quantity is at least a designated quantity, determine an award associated with said payline based on:
 (A) the determined quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline that display any one of the player selected symbols; and 
 (B) a comparison of the selection order with the display order of the symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said payline, wherein a first award determined when the selection order does not match the display order is different than a second award determined when the selection order matches the display order; and 
 
   (d) the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display any determined awards.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the symbols are digits. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the designated quantity is at least two. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second award is greater than the first award. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a third award determined when the selection order partially matches the display order is different than the first award and the second award. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein, for each of the at least one of the plurality of different paylines, a third award determined when a first quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline each display one of the player selected symbols is less than a fourth award determined when a second, greater quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline each display one of the player selected symbols. 
     
     
         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, for a play of a game, to:
 (a) operate with at least one input device to receive, from a player, a selection of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order;   (b) for each of a plurality of symbol display positions, randomly generate and cause at least one display device to display one of the plurality of different symbols at said symbol display position;   (c) for each of at least one of a plurality of different paylines, each of the paylines associated with a different plurality of the symbol display positions:
 (i) determine a display order of the symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said payline; 
 (ii) determine a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline that display any one of the player selected symbols; and 
 (iii) if the determined quantity is at least a designated quantity, determine an award associated with said payline based on:
 (A) the determined quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline that display any one of the player selected symbols; and 
 (B) a comparison of the selection order with the display order of the symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said payline, wherein a first award determined when the selection order does not match the display order is different than a second award determined when the selection order matches the display order; and 
 
   (d) cause the at least one display device to display any determined awards.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the symbols are digits. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the designated quantity is at least two. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the second award is greater than the first award. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein a third award determined when the selection order partially matches the display order is different than the first award and the second award. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein, for each of the at least one of the plurality of different paylines, a third award determined when a first quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline each display one of the player selected symbols is less than a fourth award determined when a second, greater quantity of the symbol display positions associated with said payline each display one of the player selected symbols.