PRIORART The electronic game industry has been expanding at a rapid rate due in particular to the rapid expansion of the internet and the ease of access that provides. This has spawned a growing demand for games for pure entertainment or for gaming as a result of which there has been a wide variety of games produced. The challenge in the electronic game industry is to create games which are novel, will satisfy the community thirst for entertainment and provide the requisite level of intellectual stimulation, bet returns and consumer interest. To attract consumers to play computer and slot games, game creators have incorporated rewards, bonuses and the like into the games. Bonuses and rewards may be awarded in a variety of ways such as but not limited to choosing symbols and betting on combinations.

INVENTION The present invention provides an alternative slot machine and computer game providing a player with a wide variety of options within the one game.

In one broad form the present invention comprises a game which can be played on a screen of a slot machine or computer, wherein the game comprises at least one row of symbols, numbers or the like which are displayed on said screen such that the row/s collectively form a predetermined geometric shape; wherein the rows include at least one row having at least two symbols, numbers or the like and at least one other row having at least one symbol or number; wherein each said rows are capable of spinning horizontally or vertically; wherein said rows initially spin simultaneously then stop spinning in succession.

Preferably, the rows spin in succession from a top row to a bottom row or from a bottom row to a top row such that the rows form spinning reels.

The player may achieve an array of symbols or numbers which are of a kind when said reels spin. Preferably, there are at least three rows forming at least three reels which spin horizontally wherein said reels formed by said rows collectively form a pyramid.

The numbers or symbols prior to spinning appear on one face of the pyramid. When said reels are not spinning, they are in two dimensions and when they start to spin they change from two to three dimensions. When the reels stop spinning they change from three dimensions back to two dimensions. The screen display further comprises balance, win and bet buttons.

In another broad form the present invention comprises: a game for display on a screen of a slot machine or computer; wherein the game includes a display including a plurality of rows which collectively form a generally pyramidal structure wherein said pyramidal structure includes at least a first row having at least one symbol or number, a second row adjacent said first row having a greater number of symbols or numbers than said first row and a third row having a greater number of symbols than said second row; wherein each said rows spin initially simultaneously at the commencement of said game and then progressively stop in succession row by row; wherein the player attempts to match symbols from one row to like symbols of another row. According to one embodiment a player seeks to achieve a symbol or number match of up to ten of a kind. Preferably, the pyramid has three or four faces each of which faces include said rows of symbols or numbers.

In another broad form the present invention comprises : a game for display on a screen of a slot machine or computer; the game including a generally pyramidal display collectively formed by a plurality of rows each including at least one symbol, number or the like; wherein each said rows are capable of spinning; wherein said rows initially spin simultaneously then stop spinning in succession ; wherein the player attempts to match symbols of the same kind from each row.

According to one embodiment the game pyramid has three or four faces each of which faces include said rows of symbols or numbers.

The game pyramid is arranged such that a player may elect to play one or more of the faces of the pyramid wherein each face represents an independent game and the pyramid may flip to the next face at the option of the player.

In another broad form according to a method aspect, the present invention comprises; a method of playing a game which can be played on a screen of a slot machine or computer, wherein the method comprises the steps of a) providing at least one row which is/are displayed on said screen such that the row/s form a predetermined cubic geometric shape, each said rows incorporating at least one said rows having at least two symbols, numbers or the like ; b) providing at least one other row having one symbol or number; c) allowing each said rows to spin horizontally ; d) allowing each said rows to initially spin simultaneously then stop spinning in succession from a top row to a bottom row or from a bottom row to a top row.

At least one of said symbols or numbers on said geometric shape represent an independent reel; wherein the player may achieve an array of symbols or numbers which are of a kind when said reels spin.

Preferably, there are at least three rows forming three reels wherein said reels formed by said rows form a pyramid.

According to another embodiment, there are provided four rows wherein one said rows includes n symbols and the remaining three rows have n-1, n-2, n-3 symbols.

In another broad form of the method aspect the present invention comprises: a method of playing a game which can be played on a screen of a slot machine or computer, wherein the method comprises the steps of, a) providing rows of symbols which are displayed on said screen such that they form a predetermined cubic geometric shape incorporating a plurality of horizontal rows including at least one row having at least two symbols, numbers or the like; b) providing at least one other row having at least one symbol or number; wherein each said rows are capable of spinning horizontally; c) allowing said rows to initially spin simultaneously then stop spinning in succession from a top row to a bottom row or from a bottom row to a top row. d) allowing a player to play said game to achieve an array of symbols or numbers which are of a kind when said rows spin.

In another broad form of the method aspect, the present invention comprises: a method of playing a slot machine or computer game which includes a pyramid structure comprising rows of symbols, the method comprising the steps of; a) selecting at least one face of a display pyramid having a plurality of rows of symbols wherein an upper row has more symbols than a lower row: b) making a wager on the outcome of selection of predetermined symbols occurring on a face of said pyramid.

According to one embodiment the method further comprises the step of electing to play 1 to n faces of the pyramid wherein n is the maximum number of faces of the pyramid selected by the player.

In another broad form the present invention comprises: a game for playing on an electronic device such as a slot machine, computer or the like: the game comprising rows of symbols or numbers disposed in a plurality of parallel and/or intersecting rows; wherein each symbol or number or row of symbols or numbers is capable during the course of playing the game of undergoing a temporary transformation or displacement from a start position along or within a predetermined plane: wherein each symbol and/or row represents an independent reel and wherein the object of the game requires a player to achieve on a second and any subsequent screen displays, like symbols or numbers in any row or in predetermined positions in said rows.

Preferably, the screen display comprises rows of numbers and/or symbols disposed in a triangular pyramid which initially appears in two dimensions, wherein when the game is in operation, each symbol and/or number in each row undergoes transformation or displacement whereupon an initial array of symbols or numbers are randomly altered from the initial display responsive to a play command from a player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention will now be described in more detail according to preferred but non limiting embodiment and with reference to the accompanying illustrations wherein: Figure 1 shows an elevation view of a game pyramid according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to figure 1 there is shown a pyramid face 1 which comprises four rows 2,3,4 and 5. On each row there are game symbols which appear randomly such that a player may achieve matched symbols in one or more rows. Any symbols or numbers may be used on each row. A player has the possibility of achieving 10 of a kind if all symbols on one face of the pyramid are matched. The pyramid may be two dimensional or comprise two, three or four faces. The player may elect to play each face in sequence flipping from one to four or more faces wherein each face represents an independent game.

The player may play one to n games in sequence wherein the pyramid rotation would continue until all n games have been played. Although figure 1 shows a pyramid having four rows, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a pyramid of potentially any number of rows and symbols could be used employed in the game. Preferably the pyramid would have between 4-20 rows with the object of the game to match as many symbols as there are symbols available on one face.

In addition to use on slot machines the game may be adapted to computers for play via the internet or for individual play.

The primary object of the game is to match symbols on the display following a play with a pay table. Following a play, the player receives on the display a random fall of numbers or symbols which pay according to the pay table. According to one embodiment, the initial screen which is displayed to the player comprises a two dimensional array of symbols and/or numbers arranged in rows which include horizontal and inclined rows. The payout table may be based on a result which allows predetermined symbols and/or numbers to be displayed in any position on the face of the pyramid and in any row. According to one embodiment when a play is executed the rows spin in unison about a vertical axis following which the rows stop spinning sequentially from a top row to a bottom row. In an alternative embodiment the transformation of the face of the pyramid may be a morphing transition from one state to another.

Traditionally, symbol displays in slot machines. have appeared in horizontal rows spinning in adjacent vertical planes. According to the invention, the display may initially appear in two dimensions following which a morphing transition reveals three dimensional components bearing the symbols and/or numbers. The rows may rotate in planes at an angle to the horizontal or in horizontal planes or the individual symbols or the symbols may pop out and return The number of symbols or numbers on the display will determine the statistical outcome of the game and the number of like symbols or numbers of the same kind will determine the payout. Preferably the outcome of a game is entirely random.

According to an alternative embodiment, the typical game may have an additional feature whereby a predetermined event during the initial play will trigger a second game state and possibly a number of subsequent game states in which the player can gain bonus rewards by clicking on an icon or performing a predetermined activity until a trigger event cancels the second and subsequent games states and returns the player to the forst game state. When a second game state is triggered, the screen display will change to a new image or form of presentation and generally undergoes a physical transformation.

The game may be adapted as a skills game for one or multiple players at the same or remotelocations.

It will be recognized by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention as broadly described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.