System and Method for Blind Selection of Plural Selectable Elements Prior to a Reveal in a Wagering Game

1 . A method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game device, the method comprising the acts of:

using one or more processors operatively associated with the wagering game, defining in a game feature a plurality of selectable elements, at least some of the plurality of selectable elements being associated with selectable element awards;

receiving player selections of the selectable elements, subject to a predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint, until the player has either selected a selectable element associated with a game-ending outcome or completed selections from among the plurality of selectable elements;

revealing the selectable element awards only after all player selections of the selectable elements have been received; and

awarding to the player any selectable element awards relating to any selected selectable elements.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint requires each successive selection of a selectable element to be adjacent a previously selected selectable element.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint further requires that each successive selection of a selectable element of the same rank or of a higher rank.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein a player starts selection of the selectable elements at a first rank and continues selection of selectable elements, subject to the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint, until the player has either selected a selectable element associated with a game-ending outcome or completed a selection from among the selectable elements in the last rank.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein at least one selectable element is associated with a selectable element award that adds an additional plurality of selectable elements for selection.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the additional plurality of selectable elements have a higher rank than any previously selected selectable element.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a wager via a wager input device;

using the one or more processors, randomly determining the wagering game outcome;

displaying the wagering game outcome on the display; and

activating the game feature if the wagering game outcome includes a game element comprising a game feature trigger.

8 . A method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game device, the method comprising the acts of:

using one or more processors operatively associated with the wagering game, defining in a game feature a plurality of selectable elements, at least some of the plurality of selectable elements being associated with selectable element awards;

using the one or more processors, defining in the game feature one or more predefined underlying patterns, the predefined underlying patterns being associated with predefined underlying pattern awards;

receiving player selections of the selectable elements, subject to a predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint, until the player has either selected a selectable element associated with a game-ending outcome or completed selections from among the plurality of selectable elements; and

awarding to the player an award relating to any award associated with any selected selectable elements and relating to any award associated with any selected predefined underlying pattern of selectable elements.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint requires each successive selection of a selectable element to be adjacent a previously selected selectable element.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint further requires that each successive selection of a selectable element of the same rank or of a higher rank.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a player starts selection of the selectable elements at a first rank and continues selection of selectable elements, subject to the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint, until the player has either selected a selectable element associated with a game-ending outcome or completed a selection from among the selectable elements in the last rank.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one selectable element is associated with a selectable element award that adds an additional plurality of selectable elements for selection, the additional plurality of selectable elements having a higher rank than any previously selected selectable element.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one selectable element is associated with a selectable element award that leads the player to another field of selectable elements.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more predefined underlying patterns comprise at least one pattern associated with a plurality of selectable elements.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors define in the game feature a plurality of predefined underlying patterns, each of the predefined underlying patterns being associated with a predefined underlying pattern award.

16 . The method of claim 8 , wherein at least two of the predefined underlying patterns are different and wherein said at least two of the predefined underlying patterns are each associated with a different predefined underlying pattern award.

17 . The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one predefined underlying pattern award adds an additional plurality of selectable elements for selection.

18 . The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one predefined underlying pattern award moves from an initial position to at least one other position during the game feature.

19 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a wager via a wager input device;

using the one or more processors, randomly determining the wagering game outcome;

displaying the wagering game outcome on the display; and

activating the game feature if the wagering game outcome includes a game element comprising a game feature trigger.

20 . A gaming system configured to play a wagering game and a game feature, comprising:

a display device;

at least one controller operatively associated with the wagering game, the game feature and the display device, the controller being operative to execute instructions borne by a physical storage medium, the instructions causing the controller to perform the acts of:

defining, in the game feature, which is activated by the wagering game, a plurality of selectable elements, at least some of the plurality of selectable elements being associated with selectable element awards;

defining in the game feature one or more predefined underlying patterns, the predefined underlying patterns being associated with predefined underlying pattern awards;

receiving player selections of the selectable elements, subject to a predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint, until the player has either selected a selectable element associated with a game-ending outcome or completed selections from among the plurality of selectable elements; and

awarding to the player an award relating to any award associated with any selected selectable elements and relating to any award associated with any selected predefined underlying pattern of selectable elements.

21 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint requires each successive selection of a selectable element to be adjacent a previously selected selectable element.

22 . The gaming system of claim 21 , wherein the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint further requires that each successive selection of a selectable element of the same rank or of a higher rank.

23 . The gaming system of claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured, via the instructions, to permit a player to start a selection of the selectable elements at a first rank and to continue selecting selectable elements, subject to the predefined geometric rule-based selection constraint, until the player has either selected a selectable element associated with a game-ending outcome or completed a selection from among the selectable elements in the last rank.

24 . The gaming system of claim 22 , wherein at least one selectable element is associated with a selectable element award that adds an additional plurality of selectable elements for selection.

25 . The gaming system of claim 24 , wherein the additional plurality of selectable elements have a higher rank than any previously selected selectable element.