US 12,136,318 B2
Gaming device with a changing arrangement of symbol display positions
Matthew Chan, Gordon (AU); Paul Lombardo, Newport (AU); Claire Mileto, Ropes Crossing (AU); and James Kroon, North Ryde (AU)
Assigned to Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited, North Ryde (AU)
Filed by Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited, North Ryde (AU)
Filed on Dec. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/061,971.
Application 18/061,971 is a continuation of application No. 16/773,530, filed on Jan. 27, 2020, granted, now 11,527,134.
Claims priority of application No. 2019201024 (AU), filed on Feb. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0107038 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G07F 17/32 (2006.01); G07F 17/34 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 17/3262 (2013.01) [G07F 17/3213 (2013.01); G07F 17/34 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gaming system comprising:
at least one processor;
a display device; and
a memory storing (a) a current symbol position state defining, for each of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, a number of symbol positions wherein each symbol position is configured to include a symbol; and (b) instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
cause to be displayed on the display device the plurality of columns of symbol positions corresponding to the current symbol position state, each of the symbol positions including an initial symbol;
determine, based on one or more returned values of a random number generator, whether to include at least one designated symbol at a first symbol position included within a first column of the plurality of columns of symbol positions, wherein the designated symbol represents a change in the symbol position state;
cause to be displayed on the display device, in response to a determination to include the designated symbol at the first symbol position, a replacing of the initial symbol at the first symbol position with the designated symbol;
in response to the designated symbol being displayed in the first symbol position, modify the current symbol position state for the first column to include at least one additional symbol position for a next symbol selection;
retrieve from the memory, the current symbol position state for each column; determine based on the retrieved current symbol position state for each column, whether the current symbol position state for the column is at a maximum symbol position state; and
for each column wherein the current symbol position state is determined to be at the maximum symbol position state, increment a column specific counter to monitor a number of games that will be conducted with the column at the maximum symbol position state.