Gaming system and method of gaming
View Patent ↗A gaming machine is provided that provides games in which a plurality of symbols are selected from a group of symbols and displayed on a display and, if a winning combination occurs, the gaming machine awards an award. The gaming machine comprises a user interface in communication with a game controller. The game controller is configured to provide a first game in which an event counter is maintained by the game controller and modified by the game controller each time a counter event occurs, and to provide a second game in which the game controller modifies the group of symbols to include a number of specific symbols. The number of specific symbols is dependent on the value of the event counter.
1. A gaming machine that provides games in which a plurality of symbols are selected from a group of symbols and displayed on a display and, if a winning combination occurs, the gaming machine awards an award, the gaming machine comprising a user interface in communication with a game controller, the game controller being configured to:
provide a first game, maintain an event counter, and modify said event counter each time a counter event occurs during the first game;
provide a second game, modify the group of symbols to include a number of specific symbols, the number of specific symbols being dependent on the value of the event counter; and
wherein the game controller is configured to maintain a second event counter and modify the second event counter each time a second counter event occurs during the first game; and
wherein the game controller is configured to modify the group of symbols to include a number of second specific symbols, the number of second specific symbols being dependent on the value of the second event counter.
2. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the counter event may be an increment event resulting in the game controller modifying the event counter by incrementing the event counter, or the counter event may be a decrement event resulting in the game controller modifying the event counter by decrementing the event counter.
3. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the group of symbols is modified by the game controller by adding the number of specific symbols to the group of symbols.
4. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the group of symbols is modified by the game controller by replacing existing symbols in the group of symbols with the number of specific symbols.
5. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the counter event is selected from a group including:
the display of a particular symbol on the display;
the display of a particular symbol in a particular position on the display;
the display of a plurality of particular symbols on the display; or
the display of a plurality of particular symbols in particular positions on the display.
6. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein different counter events result in the event counter being modified by a different value.
7. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein during the second game the game controller is configured to display each specific symbol on the display.
8. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein during the second game the game controller is configured to display each specific symbol on the display in a pre-determined position.
9. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first game is activated by a first game activation event.
10. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the second game is activated by a second game activation event.
11. A gaming machine according to claim 10 , wherein the game controller is further configured to execute instructions.
12. A gaming machine according to claim 11 , further comprising a storage medium readable by the game controller, the storage medium storing said instructions.
13. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first game is deactivated by a first game deactivation event.
14. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the second game is deactivated by a second game deactivation event.
15. A method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged to provide games in which symbols from a group of symbols are selected and displayed on a display, and to award an award if a winning outcome occurs, the method comprising:
providing a first game, maintaining an event counter, and modifying said event counter each time a counter event occurs;
providing a second game, and modifying the group of symbols to include a number of specific symbols, the number of specific symbols being dependent on the value of the event counter;
maintaining a second event counter;
modifying said second event counter each time a second counter event occurs during the first game;
modifying the group of symbols to include a number of second specific symbols, the number of second specific symbols being dependent on the value of the second event counter.
16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the counter event may be an increment event resulting in the event counter being modified by being incremented, or the counter event may be a decrement event resulting in the event counter being modified by being decremented.
17. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the group of symbols is modified by adding the number of specific symbols to the group of symbols.
18. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the group of symbols is modified by replacing existing symbols in the group of symbols with the number of specific symbols.
19. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the counter event is selected from a group including:
the display of a particular symbol on the display;
the display of a particular symbol in a particular position on the display;
the display of a plurality of particular symbols on the display; or
the display of a plurality of particular symbols in particular positions on the display.
20. A method according to claim 15 , wherein different counter events result in the event counter being modified by a different value.
21. A method according to claim 15 , wherein during the second game each specific symbol is displayed on the display.
22. A method according to claim 15 , wherein during the second game each specific symbol is displayed on the display in a pre-determined position.
23. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the first game is activated by a first game activation event.
24. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the second game is activated by a second game activation event.
25. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the first game is deactivated by a first game deactivation event.
26. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the second game is deactivated by a second game deactivation event.
27. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising transmitting a data signal carrying instructions and/or data executable to implement said method.