Slot machine with a regenerating bonus array
View Patent ↗A slot machine type wagering game having a bonus feature that is activated by a start-bonus outcome in the basic game. For example, one start-bonus game outcome may be the occurrence of a winning pay line in the base game array. Certain symbols on the winning pay line are replaced to create a bonus array; all other symbols in the bonus array remain the same, and in the same position, as in the original base array. The replacement symbols are randomly determined. Once the symbols are replaced, the bonus array is checked for winning symbol combinations on active pay lines. If the bonus array forms winning symbol combinations (i.e., a winning pay line), a second start-bonus game outcome may be triggered and the process continues until an array is created that does not form any winning pay lines.
1. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
receiving a wager from a player to initiate play of the wagering game;
receiving a selection of at least one of a plurality of pre-defined player-selectable pay lines;
randomly selecting a plurality of symbols to form a first array;
displaying the first array;
identifying winning symbols in the first array that form any first winning combination along one or more pay lines of the plurality of pre-defined player-selectable pay lines;
awarding the player for the first winning combination in the first array if the first away contains the first winning combination along one or more pay lines of the plurality of pre-defined player-selectable pay lines;
replacing one or more of the winning symbols in the first away that form the first winning combination with a randomly determined replacement symbol to form a second array;
displaying the second array;
identifying winning symbols in the second array that form any second winning combination along one or more pay lines of the plurality of pre-defined player-selectable pay lines; and
awarding the player for the second winning combination in the second array.
2. The method of conducting a wagering game as described in claim 1 , wherein less than all of the winning symbols that form the first winning combination are replaced.
3. The method of conducting a wagering game as described in claim 1 , wherein a wild symbol is one of the winning symbols forming the first winning combination and is not replaced.
4. The method of conducting a wagering game as described in claim 1 , wherein the wagering game includes a basic wagering game and a bonus wagering game, the basic wagering game having a pay structure that is paid in accordance with a basic pay table, the bonus wagering game including the displaying of the first away and the displaying of the second array, at least one of the awarding for the first winning combination and the awarding for the second winning combination being based on a pay structure that is paid in accordance with its own bonus pay table, the bonus pay table being different than the basic pay table.
5. The method of conducting a wagering game as described in claim 4 , wherein the awarding for the first winning combination is based on a first bonus pay table and the awarding for the second winning combination is based on a second bonus pay table.
6. The method of conducting a wagering game as described in claim 1 , wherein the wager is for each of the at least one of the plurality of pre-defined player-selectable pay lines that is selected.
7. The method of conducting a wagering game as described in claim 1 , wherein the wagering game includes a basic wagering game and a bonus wagering game, the basic wagering game having a pay structure that is paid in accordance with a basic probability table, the bonus wagering game including the displaying of the first array and the displaying of the second array, at least one of the awarding for the first winning combination and the awarding for the second winning combination being based on a pay structure that is paid in accordance with its own bonus probability table, the bonus probability table being different than the basic probability table
8. The method of conducting a wagering game as described in claim 7 , wherein the awarding for the first winning combination is based on a first bonus probability table and the awarding for the second winning combination is based on a second bonus probability table.
9. The method of conducting a wagering game as described in claim 1 , wherein a wild symbol is one of the winning symbols on at least one of any first winning combination and any second winning combination along one or more pay lines of the plurality of pre-defined player-selectable pay lines and is not replaced.
10. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:
a value input device for receiving a wager from a player to initiate play of the wagering game;
a display for displaying a first away of symbols in visual association with a plurality of pre-defined player-selectable pay lines, the first array being formed by randomly selecting a plurality of symbols; and
a controller coupled to the display and operative to
receive player selections from the player of at least one of the plurality of pre-defined player-selectable pay lines to identify at least one player-selected pay line,
identify a first winning symbol in the first array that creates any first winning outcome along the at least one player-selected pay line;
award the player for the first winning outcome;
replace the first winning symbol with a randomly determined first replacement symbol to form a second array;
display the second array;
identify a second winning symbol in the second away that creates any second winning outcome along the at least one player-selected pay line; and
award the player for the second winning outcome.
11. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 10 , wherein the controller is further operative to:
replace the second winning symbol with a randomly determined second replacement symbol to form a third array;
display the third array;
identify a third winning symbol in the third array that forms any third winning outcome along the at least one player-selected pay line; and
award the player for the third winning outcome.
12. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 10 , wherein the wagering game includes a basic wagering game and a bonus wagering game, the basic wagering game having a pay structure that is paid in accordance with a basic pay table, the bonus wagering game including the displaying of the first array and the displaying of the second array, at least one of the award for the first winning outcome and the award for the second winning outcome being based on a pay structure that is paid in accordance with a bonus pay table, the bonus pay table being different than the basic pay table.
13. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 12 , wherein the awarding for the first winning outcome is based on a first bonus pay table and the awarding for the second winning outcome is based on a second bonus pay table.
14. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 10 , wherein the wager is for the at least one player-selected pay line.
15. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 10 , wherein the wagering game includes a basic wagering game and a bonus wagering game, the basic wagering game having a pay structure that is paid in accordance with a basic probability table, the bonus wagering game including the displaying of the first away and the displaying of the second array, at least one of the award for the first winning outcome and the award for the second winning outcome being based on a pay structure that is paid in accordance with a bonus probability table, the bonus probability table being different than the basic probability table.
16. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 15 , wherein the award for the first winning outcome is based on a first bonus probability table and the award for the second winning outcome is based on a second bonus probability table.
17. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 10 , wherein the controller is further operative to shift the first replacement symbol in the first array to fill a position of the first array that is occupied by the first winning symbol prior to the replacing of the first winning symbol.
18. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 10 , wherein the controller is further operative to
identify another first winning symbol in the first array; and
shift another first replacement symbol in the first array to fill a position of the first away that is occupied by the another first winning symbol prior to being replaced by the another first replacement symbol.
19. The gaming machine for conducting a wagering game as described in claim 10 , wherein the display includes displaying a first bonus pay table associated with a pay structure for the first winning outcome, a second bonus pay table associated with a pay structure for the second winning outcome, and a basic pay table associated with a pay structure for a basic wagering game.
20. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform the method of claim 1 .