Slot machine game with alternating wild symbol
View Patent ↗A game is provided including an alternating wild symbol feature, known in a preferred embodiment as the “Flip'n Wild.” The feature preferably occurs during the reel spin of a base game play, the wild symbols are placed before the reels stop. The Flip'n Wild symbol moves right or left and up or down across the reels. As it moves, it alternates/flips from a “flip” side to a “wild” side. In every reel position that “wild” lands, a wild is left in place.
1. A method of providing a wagering game for a player, the game including a matrix of symbol locations including a plurality of symbol locations, the method comprising:
(a) displaying an arrangement of symbols in the matrix of symbol locations;
(b) receiving a wager input from the player;
(c) receiving a play input from the player;
(d) in response to receiving the play input from the player, randomly or pseudo-randomly determining a new arrangement of symbols to be displayed in the matrix of symbol locations;
(e) determining that an alternating wild feature is to be applied in the game;
(f) applying the alternating wild feature to transform at least two symbols along a first path of at least three adjacent symbol locations in the matrix of symbol locations into wild symbols, the transformation occurring by the process of (i) moving an alternating wild symbol along the first path with the effect of transforming every other symbol location in the path to wild, (ii) displaying an animation of the alternating wild symbol flipping over from a wild to a non-wild indicator as it moves to at least one intermediate symbol along the first path, and, associated with this animation, making no change in the function of the at least one intermediate symbol; and (iii) displaying an animation of the alternating wild symbol flipping over from a non-wild indicator to a wild indicator as it moves to at least two symbols on the path and, associated with this animation, changing the function of the at least two symbols to be wild;
(g) after applying the alternating wild feature, evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and
(h) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.
2. The method of claim 1 , in which the new arrangement of symbols is displayed before applying the alternating wild feature, and in which at least one alternating wild symbol is displayed as one of the symbols provided in the new arrangement of symbols.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting from a pool of alternating wild path data structures an appropriate data structure to control the movement of alternating wild symbols included in the animation sequence, the selection based at least in part on a randomly or pseudo-randomly selected prize amount to be awarded in response to the play input, and applying the data structure to control movement of the alternating wild symbols.
4. The method of claim 1 , in which the alternating wild feature includes at least a second alternating wild symbol, and wherein applying the alternating wild feature to transform at least two symbols in the matrix of symbol locations into wild symbols further occurs by the process of (i) moving the second alternating wild symbol along a second path of multiple adjacent symbol locations, (ii) causing at least one symbol along the second path to receive a wild status, and (iii) causing at least one intermediate symbol along the second path to not receive a wild status.
5. The method of claim 4 , in which the first and second paths of multiple adjacent symbols interact with each other according to a designated rule.
6. The method of claim 5 , in which the designated rule is that the first and second paths are created by random movement of the path's associated alternating wild symbol by one symbol location in a direction up, down, left, or right, except that such movement would result in the alternating wild symbol becoming wild in a symbol location already determined to have received a wild status, movement in that direction is not allowed.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alternating wild symbol follows a path that is terminated after a previously determined number of winning paylines have been created.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alternating wild symbol follows a path that is at least partially controlled by the player.
9. A system for providing a wagering game for a player, the system comprising an electronic gaming machine interacting with at least one server, the system programmed for:
(a) receiving a wager input from the player;
(b) receiving a play input from the player;
(c) displaying a matrix of symbol locations including a plurality of symbol locations;
(d) displaying a number of symbols at selected symbol locations in the matrix, the symbol type indicative of elements in the matrix that are made available to be used in forming patterns according to rules of the wagering game;
(e) displaying an alternating wild symbol among the symbol elements;
(f) applying the alternating wild symbol to transform at least two other symbols along a first path of at least three adjacent symbol locations in the matrix into wild symbols, the transformation occurring by the process of (i) moving an alternating wild symbol along the first path with the effect of transforming every other symbol location in the path to wild, (ii) displaying an animation of the alternating wild symbol flipping over from a wild to a non-wild indicator as it moves to at least one intermediate symbol along the first path, and, associated with this animation, making no change in the function of the at least one intermediate symbol; and (iii) displaying an animation of the alternating wild symbol flipping over from a non-wild indicator to a wild indicator as it moves to at least two symbols on the path and, associated with this animation, changing the function of the at least two symbols to be wild;
(g) after performing (f), evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and
(h) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein any bonus symbols located in a transformed symbol location retains its bonus value in addition to the wild status.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the alternating wild symbol follows a path that is determined by values at predetermined locations in the matrix.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the alternating wild symbol follows a path the length of which is determined by points accumulated by the player.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the alternating wild symbol follows a path that is terminated after a previously determined number of winning paylines have been created.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the alternating wild symbol follows a path that is at least partly controlled by the player.
15. A non-transitory tangible computer readable medium with a program product embodied thereon, the program product including code executable by a gaming machine and at least one gaming server for:
(a) receiving a wager input from a player;
(b) receiving a play input from the player;
(c) displaying a matrix of symbol locations including a plurality of symbol locations;
(d) displaying a number of symbols at selected symbol locations in the matrix, the symbol type indicative of elements in the matrix that are made available to be used in forming patterns according to rules of the wagering game;
(e) displaying an alternating wild symbol among the symbol elements;
(f) applying the alternating wild symbol to transform at least two other symbols along a first path of at least three adjacent symbol locations in the matrix into wild symbols, the transformation occurring by the process of (i) moving an alternating wild symbol along the first path with the effect of transforming every other symbol location in the path to wild, (ii) displaying an animation of the alternating wild symbol flipping over from a wild to a non-wild indicator as it moves to at least one intermediate symbol along the first path, and, associated with this animation, making no change in the function of the at least one intermediate symbol; and (iii) displaying an animation of the alternating wild symbol flipping over from a non-wild indicator to a wild indicator as it moves to at least two symbols on the path and, associated with this animation, changing the function of the at least two symbols to be wild;
(g) after performing (f), evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and
(h) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.
16. The program product embodied of claim 15 , wherein any bonus symbols located in a transformed symbol location retains its bonus value in addition to the wild status.
17. The program product embodied of claim 15 , wherein the alternating wild symbol follows a path that is determined by values at predetermined locations in the matrix.