Gaming machine having a selection feature to yield a randomly-applied multiplier
A gaming machine is provided for playing a wagering game. The gaming machine includes a wager-input device and at least one display for displaying the wagering game. The wagering game includes a plurality of player-selectable elements that mask corresponding ones of a plurality of awards, and the plurality of awards include a bonus-enhancement award. An input device receives player-inputs associated with the plurality of player-selectable elements that result in one or more of the plurality of awards becoming unmasked awards. In response to the bonus-enhancement award being unmasked, the bonus-enhancement award is randomly applied to another one of the unmasked awards.
1 . A gaming machine for playing a wagering game, comprising:
a wager-input device;
at least one display for displaying the wagering game including a plurality of player-selectable elements that mask corresponding ones of a plurality of awards, the plurality of awards including a bonus-enhancement award; and
an input device for receiving player-inputs associated with the plurality of player-selectable elements that result in one or more of the plurality of awards becoming unmasked awards, wherein in response to the bonus-enhancement award being unmasked, the bonus-enhancement award is randomly applied to another one of the unmasked awards.
2 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the bonus-enhancement award is a multiplier.
3 . The gaming machine of claim 2 , wherein the unmasked awards include credit awards that are displayed, and in response to the multiplier being unmasked, one of the credit awards is multiplied by the multiplier.
4 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the input device includes a touch screen.
5 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the player-selectable elements are displayed as an array and the player selects from the player-selectable elements to unmask the awards.
6 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the wagering game includes a bonus game that awards free spins, the free spins being utilized to accumulate selections of the player-selectable elements, the selections being accumulated when a selection-triggering symbol is displayed.
7 . The gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein the at least one display includes a first display and a second display, the first display displaying a plurality of moveable reels having symbols located thereon and the free spins being utilized to spin the moveable reels, and second display displaying the plurality of the player-selectable elements.
8 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the unmasked awards is unmasked directly after the corresponding player-selectable element is selected.
9 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising:
displaying a plurality of player-selectable elements, each of the plurality of player-selectable elements being associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of awards, the plurality of awards including a bonus-enhancement award;
receiving selections of the player-selectable elements; and
in response to the bonus-enhancement award being achieved, the bonus-enhancement award is randomly applied to less than all of the other awards that are achieved from the selected player-selectable elements.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the bonus-enhancement award is a multiplier.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein credit awards associated with the selected player-selectable elements are displayed, and in response to one of the player-selectable elements associated with the multiplier being selected, one of the credit awards is multiplied by the multiplier.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wagering game includes a bonus game that awards free spins, the free spins being utilized to accumulate selections of the player-selectable elements, the selections being awarded when a selection-triggering symbol is displayed.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the awards is displayed directly after the corresponding player-selectable element is selected.
14 . A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 9 .
15 . A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:
at least one display; and
a controller coupled to the display and programmed to
display a plurality of player-selectable elements, each of the plurality of player-selectable elements having a corresponding one of a plurality of awards, the plurality of awards including a bonus-enhancement award;
receive selections of the player-selectable elements; and
randomly apply the bonus-enhancement award is to less than all of the other awards that are achieved from the selected elements, in response to the bonus-enhancement award being achieved.
16 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the display and the controller are both located within a gaming terminal.
17 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the display is located within a gaming terminal and the controller is located outside of the gaming terminal.
18 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the bonus-enhancement award is a multiplier.
19 . The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein credit awards associated with the selected player-selectable elements are displayed, and in response to one of the player-selectable elements associated with the multiplier being selected, one of the credit awards is multiplied by the multiplier.
20 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the wagering game includes a bonus game that awards free spins, the free spins being utilized to accumulate selections of the player-selectable elements, the selections being awarded when a selection-triggering symbol is displayed.
21 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein each of the awards is displayed directly after the corresponding player-selectable element is selected.