Gaming machine and method having feature game highlighting

摘要

A gaming machine and method for displaying and highlighting a scatter symbol among a matrix of symbols. The display includes a first layer for displaying a background and a second layer overlying the first layer. The layers are virtual layers or discrete physical layers. The second layer displays the matrix of symbols including any scatter symbol included in the matrix of symbols. The second layer enables a gaming machine player to simultaneously view the background, or at least portions of the background. According to one aspect of the invention, the second layer is at least partially transmissive to permit simultaneous viewing of the background and the matrix of symbols. The background is changeable to highlight at least one of the symbols of the matrix of symbols. Preferably, the background highlights the scatter symbol by adding depth, color, light and imagery, such as a still, changing, or moving image.

主权项

1. A gaming machine comprising:
a housing and a device for accepting currency; a control unit mounted in the housing capable of generating a background and a matrix of symbols aligned in rows and columns, the control unit being communication with the device for accepting currency; the device for accepting currency is selected from the group consisting of, a card reader, a coin acceptor, a bill acceptor, and combinations thereof; a display mounted on the housing and in communication with the control unit; the display including a first layer for displaying the background, a second layer overlying the first layer for displaying the matrix of symbols, and a third layer; the second layer being at least partially transmissive to permit simultaneous viewing of the background and the matrix of symbols;
the control unit being capable of generating at least one scatter symbol on at least one matrix position within the matrix of symbols and highlighting the at least one scatter symbol both on the at least one matrix position and by illuminating at least a portion of the background of any column where the at least one scatter symbol appears;the third layer being capable of highlighting the at least one scatter symbol, andwhereby when the at least one scatter symbol is generated, the control unit enables the display to highlight the at least one scatter symbol in at least two ways.