WAGERING GAME WITH LEFT-TO-RIGHT VARIABLE PRIZE ARRANGEMENT
A wagering game, gaming machine, gaming network, and associated methods are disclosed including scatter symbols, and more specifically a left-to-right scatter feature having variable increasing payouts associated with each symbol. The symbols in the left-to-right scatter may interact visually in a sequential manner according to a theme.
1 . A method of providing a wagering game, the method comprising:
(a) receiving a game play request with an associated wager, at a gaming machine;
(b) displaying a matrix of symbol locations on a display device at the gaming machine;
(c) rearranging the symbol locations;
(d) after rearranging the symbol locations, determining the presence of a left-to-right scatter pattern comprising multiple occurrences of a designated symbol or symbols;
(e) in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a first symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a first prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;
(f) after (e), selecting a variable prize out of the first prize range and awarding it to a player;
(g) in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a second symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a second prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;
(h) after (g), selecting a variable prize out of the second prize range and awarding it to the player.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further including repeating steps (g)-(h) for a third symbol of the scatter pattern.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein (f) and (h) both include randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a prize from a paytable associated with the respective prize range.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein (f) and (h) both include selecting a prize from the paytable associated with a respective prize range at least in part based on a target prize value associated with a prize amount previously selected for the game play request.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, for each symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern, displaying an animated visual sequence associated with selecting and awarding the respective variable prize to the player.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the animated visual sequence for at least one of the symbols in the left-to-right scatter pattern includes displaying an interaction with a previous symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the animated visual sequence for at least one of the symbols in the left-to-right scatter pattern includes displaying an interaction with a subsequent symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each time a prize range is determined, it is determined according to an ordinal level of the respective symbol in the scatter pattern.
9 . A system for providing a wagering game, the system comprising:
(a) a player interface adapted for receiving a game play request with an associated wager at a gaming machine;
(b) a video display device adapted for, at some point after the game play request and in response to the game play request, displaying a matrix of symbol locations comprised of multiple reels each including one or more symbol locations;
(c) a game controller adapted for determining game play results in a random or pseudo-random manner and displaying the game results by updating the symbol locations;
(d) the game controller further adapted for, after rearranging the symbol locations, determining the presence of a left-to-right scatter pattern comprising multiple occurrences of a designated symbol or symbols;
(e) the game controller further adapted for, in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a first symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a first prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;
(f) after (e), selecting a variable prize out of the first prize range and awarding it to a player;
(g) the game controller further adapted for, in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a second symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a second prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;
(h) the game controller further adapted for, after (g), selecting a variable prize out of the second prize range and awarding it to the player.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the game controller is further adapted for repeating steps (g)-(h) for a third symbol of the scatter pattern.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein (f) and (h) both include randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a prize from a paytable associated with the respective prize range.
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein (f) and (h) both include selecting a prize from the paytable associated with a respective prize range at least in part based on a target prize value associated with a prize amount previously selected for the game play request.
13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the game controller is further adapted to, for each symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern, display an animated visual sequence associated with selecting and awarding the respective variable prize to the player.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the animated visual sequence for at least one of the symbols in the left-to-right scatter pattern includes displaying an interaction with another symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern.
15 . A program product stored on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium, the program product including:
(a) player interface program code adapted for receiving a game play request with an associated wager at a gaming machine;
(b) video display program code adapted for, at some point after the game play request and in response to the game play request, displaying a matrix of symbol locations comprised of multiple reels each including one or more symbol locations;
(c) a game controller program code adapted for determining game play results in a random or pseudo-random manner and displaying the game results by updating the symbol locations;
(d) the game controller program code further adapted for, after rearranging the symbol locations, determining the presence of a left-to-right scatter pattern comprising multiple occurrences of a designated symbol or symbols;
(e) the game controller program code further adapted for, in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a first symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a first prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;
(f) after (e), selecting a variable prize out of the first prize range and awarding it to a player;
(g) the game controller program code further adapted for, in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a second symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a second prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;
(h) the game controller program code further adapted for, after (g), selecting a variable prize out of the second prize range and awarding it to the player.
16 . The program product of claim 15 , wherein the game controller program code is further adapted for repeating steps (g)-(h) for a third symbol of the scatter pattern.
17 . The program product of claim 15 , wherein (f) and (h) both include randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a prize from a paytable associated with the respective prize range.
18 . The program product of claim 15 , wherein (f) and (h) both include selecting a prize from the paytable associated with a respective prize range at least in part based on a target prize value associated with a prize amount previously selected for the game play request.
19 . The program product of claim 15 , wherein the game controller program code is further adapted to, for each symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern, display an animated visual sequence associated with selecting and awarding the respective variable prize to the player.
20 . The program product of claim 19 , wherein the animated visual sequence for at least one of the symbols in the left-to-right scatter pattern includes displaying an interaction with another symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern.