GAMING DEVICE WITH DURATIONAL GAME ELEMENTS

1 . A method of operating a gaming device of the type having a plurality of symbols from which a subset is selected during the course of the game, the method comprising:

establishing at least one predefined criterion related to at least one gaming-device parameter tracked during play of the gaming device;

tracking the gaming-device parameter during play of the gaming device; and

changing at least one of the symbols for a predefined duration when the tracked gaming-device parameter satisfies the predefined criterion.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of credits wagered, consecutive plays by a single player, time spent playing the gaming device, credits won, and number of games played without a win.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein changing at least one of the symbols comprises at least one of changing the symbol to a different symbol, animating the symbol, and changing lighting of the symbol.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

offering a player of the gaming device the option to change the at least one symbol when the tracked gaming-device parameter satisfies the predefined criterion; and

changing the at least one symbol upon acceptance of the offer.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying information about symbols that can be changed to a player of the gaming device.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a player of the gaming device; and

changing at least one of the symbols based at least in part on information related to the identity of the player.

7 . A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of default symbols from which a subset is selected to generate a game outcome;

at least one alternative symbol; and

an actuator operable by a player of the gaming device to substitute for a predefined duration the at least one alternative symbol for at least one of the default symbols.

8 . The gaming device of claim 7 wherein the alternative symbol comprises at least one of a different symbol, an animated symbol, and a lit symbol in which the lighting changes.

9 . The gaming device of claim 7 further comprising an interface through which an offer to substitute the at least one alternative symbol is made, wherein actuation of the actuator comprises acceptance of the offer.

10 . The gaming device of claim 7 further comprising a display on which information about the symbols that can be substituted is presented.

11 . A method of operating a gaming device having a plurality of audio-visual features comprising:

establishing at least one predefined criterion related to at least one gaming-device parameter tracked during play of the gaming device;

tracking the at least one gaming-device parameter during play of the gaming device;

offering a player of the gaming device the option to change at least one of the audio-visual features when the tracked gaming-device parameter satisfies the predefined criterion; and

changing at least one of the audio-visual features for a predefined duration upon acceptance of the offer.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of credits wagered, consecutive plays by a single player, time spent playing the gaming device, credits won, and number of games played without a win.

13 . The method of claim 11 wherein changing at least one of the audio-visual features comprises changing a first symbol to a second symbol, animating the first symbol, and changing lighting of the first symbol.

14 . The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying information about features that can be changed to a player of the gaming device.

15 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

identifying a player of the gaming device; and

changing at least one of the features based at least in part on information related to the identify of the player.

16 . A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices that include a plurality of audio-visual features;

a network interconnecting the gaming devices;

a plurality of player records stored on the network, the player records containing information related to play of the gaming devices by players associated with corresponding records;

at least one predefined criterion related to data stored on the player records;

a first process constructed and arranged to determine whether a player record associated with a player of one of the gaming devices meets the predefined criterion; and

a second process constructed and arranged to change at least one of the audio-visual features of the one gaming device for a predefined duration when the player record meets the predefined criterion.

17 . The gaming device of claim 16 wherein at least one of the audio-visual features comprises a plurality of symbols from which a subset is selected during the course of the game.

18 . The gaming device of claim 16 further comprising an interface through which an offer to change at least one of the audio-visual features is made.

19 . The gaming device of claim 16 further comprising a display on which information about the audio-visual features that can be changed is presented.