Gaming machine with a fixed wild symbol
View Patent ↗A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a spinning reel game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. When at least one special symbol appears on the display, the special symbol is held in a superimposed representation in that position for at least one further game while at least that reel carrying the special symbol is re-spun for the at least one further game.
1. A method of controlling play of a spinning reel game in a gaming machine having a controller, a display for displaying images of said spinning reel game and having a plurality of display locations, and an interface for receiving a first user command and a second user command, said spinning reel game having a plurality of spinning reels, each of said spinning reels having a plurality of symbols and at least one of said spinning reels includes at least one predefined symbol, the method comprising:
receiving at said interface said first user command for playing a first spinning reel game;
simulating via said display a spinning of a plurality of reels responsive to receiving said first user command, each of said reels displaying a series of said symbols upon completion of said spinning;
randomly selecting via said controller at least one of said display locations;
displaying on said game display said at least one predefined symbol on at least one of said reels;
holding via said controller said at least one predefined symbol in a superimposed representation at said randomly selected display location; and
simulating via said display a re-spinning of said reels in response to said at least one predefined symbol being displayed as said held at least one predefined symbol overlaying said symbols at said randomly selected display location upon completion of the re-spin.
2. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising altering an outcome of said second spinning reel game based on at least one predefined symbol held at said randomly selected display location.
3. The method of claim 2 , and wherein said altering said outcome of said second spinning reel game includes awarding a prize wherein no prize would be awarded absent said at least one predefined symbol at said randomly selected display location.
4. The method of claim 2 , and wherein said altering said outcome of said second spinning reel game includes awarding a prize wherein a different prize would be awarded absent said at least one predefined symbol at said randomly selected display location.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising triggering one or more free spins in response to said at least one predefined symbol being displayed, and holding said superimposed said at least one predefined symbol at said randomly selected display location during each of said one or more free spins.
6. A gaming machine for playing a spinning reel game, said spinning reel game having a plurality of spinning reels, each of said spinning reels having a plurality of symbols, and at least one of said spinning reels includes at least one predefined symbol, the gaming machine comprising:
a game display having a plurality of display locations, and configured to display images of said spinning reel game;
an interface configured to receive a first user command and a second user command; and
a game controller configured 1) in a first of the spinning reel game, to simulate a spinning of said reels responsive to said first user command, each of said reels displaying a series of said symbols upon completion of said spinning, 2) to randomly select at least one of said display locations, 3) to cause said game display to display said at least one predefined symbol on at least one of said reels, 4) to hold said at least one predefined symbol in a superimposed representation at said randomly selected display location, and 5) to re-spin said reels in response to said at least one predefined symbol being displayed as said held at least one predefined symbol overlaying said symbols at said randomly selected display location upon completion of the re-spin.
7. The gaming machine of claim 6 , and wherein said game controller is further configured to alter an outcome of said second spinning reel game with said at least one predefined symbol held at said randomly selected display location.
8. The gaming machine of claim 7 , and wherein said game controller is further configured to alter said outcome of said second spinning reel game by awarding a prize wherein no prize would be awarded absent said at least one predefined symbol at said randomly selected display location.
9. The gaming machine of claim 7 , and wherein said game controller is further configured to alter said outcome of said second spinning reel game by awarding a prize wherein a different prize would be awarded absent said at least one predefined symbol at said randomly selected display location.
10. The gaming machine of claim 6 , and wherein said game controller is further configured to trigger one or more free spins in response to said at least one predefined symbol being displayed, and hold said superimposed said at least one predefined symbol at said randomly selected display location during each of said one or more free spins.