Granted Patent B2

US 7,993,196 · App. 12/087,948 · Granted Aug 9, 2011

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display that displays a wagering game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player, said plurality of symbols comprising a sequentially-connected first string of symbols having a payline extending along said first string;

at least one processor configured to

introduce, via said at least one display, at least one additional symbol into said first string of symbols;

evaluate said first string for a winning symbol combination including said at least one additional symbol;

in response to said winning symbol combination occurring in said first string, remove said winning symbol combination from said first string and reconnect any symbols that were previously connected to said removed combination to form a sequentially-connected second string of symbols; and

award said player an award based on said winning symbol combination.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one additional symbol is introduced into said first string via a visual symbol-input device displayed via said at least one display.

3. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein said at least one additional symbol is revealed to said player prior to introducing said at least one additional symbol.

4. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein said introducing of said at least one additional symbol via said symbol-input device is controlled by said player.

5. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein said introducing of said at least one additional symbol via said symbol-input device is controlled by a controller.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising, upon forming said second string of symbols, evaluating said second string for another winning symbol combination that includes at least one of said reconnected symbols.

7. The gaming system of claim 6 , wherein said another winning symbol combination of said second string of symbols is removed from said second string of symbols such that said remaining symbols move together to form a sequentially-connected third string of symbols.

8. A method of conducting a wagering game via a gaming system, the method comprising:

accepting a wager from a player via an input device;

initiating said wagering game via one or more processors;

displaying, via at least one display device, a plurality of symbols sequentially connected to form a sequentially-connected first string of symbols having a payline extending along said first string;

introducing at least one additional symbol into said displayed first string;

evaluating said first string, via said one or more processors, along said payline for a first winning combination that includes said at least one additional symbol;

in response to said first winning combination occurring in said first string, removing said first winning combination from said first string and reconnecting any symbols that were previously connected to said removed combination to form a sequentially-connected second string of symbols;

evaluating said second string of symbols for a second winning combination that includes at least one of said reconnected symbols; and

awarding said player an award based on at least said first winning combination.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising introducing, via said one or more processors, a second additional symbol into said second string of symbols and achieving a second winning combination associated with said second additional symbol being introduced into said second string of symbols.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising awarding an award based on said second winning combination.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein said at least one additional symbol is revealed to said player prior to introducing said at least one additional symbol.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said player selects said at least one additional symbol from a plurality of available symbols prior to introducing said at least one additional symbol into said first string.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising moving said first string of symbols while introducing said at least one additional symbol.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein said introducing said at least one additional symbol includes introducing further additional symbols until said winning combination is achieved.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein said winning combination includes a set of identical symbols, a set of related symbols or a set of symbols that fulfills a winning condition.

16. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, said system comprising:

at least one display that displays a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game, said plurality of symbols comprising a sequentially-connected first string of symbols having a payline extending along said first string; and

a controller coupled to said at least one display and operative to control said at least one display to

introduce at least one additional symbol into said first string,

evaluate said first string of symbols for a winning combination that includes said at least one additional symbol,

provide an award for said winning combination,

eliminate said winning combination of symbols to expose underlying symbols in said first string,

introduce a further additional symbol into said underlying symbols; and

evaluate said underlying symbols for a winning combination that includes said further additional symbol.

17. The gaming machine of claim 16 , further comprising an input device that receives input from a player related to introducing additional symbols, and wherein said controller is coupled to said input device.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17 , wherein the player controls introducing said further additional symbol into said underlying symbols.

19. The gaming machine of claim 18 , wherein said at least one additional symbol is revealed to said player prior to introducing said at least one additional symbol.

20. The gaming machine of claim 18 , wherein said player can select said at least one additional symbol prior to introducing said at least one additional symbol.

21. The gaming machine of claim 16 , wherein said controller is operative to terminate said wagering game in response to said further additional symbol producing no winning combination.

22. The gaming machine of claim 16 , wherein said at least one display displays said first string of symbols as one of a spiral, multiple rows, and multiple columns.

Assignments (8)