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 for playing first and second games, the gaming machine comprising:
a first event counter having a first value, and a second event counter having a second value;
a random number generator;
a non-transitory memory having data indicative of a plurality of symbols including a plurality of first specific symbols, and a plurality of second specific symbols;
a display having a plurality of display positions including a first predetermined display position and a second predetermined display position; and
a game controller configured to 1) play said first game including randomly selecting, via the random number generator, data of the nontransitory memory indicative of a plurality of the symbols for display at the display positions, and modify the first value of said first event counter each time a selected first symbol is displayed at said first predetermined display position during the first game, 2) modify the second value of the second event counter each time a selected second symbol is displayed at said second predetermined display position during the first game, and 3) modify the plurality of symbols to include a number of the first specific symbols and a number of the second specific symbols, the number of first specific symbols being dependent on the first value of the first event counter, and the number of second specific symbols being dependent on the second value of the second event counter, and 3) play said second game based on the modified plurality of symbols.
2. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to increment said first value of said first event counter when a selected symbol is displayed at the first predetermined display position, and the game controller is further configured to decrement the first value of said first event counter when a selected symbol is displayed at a display position different than the first predetermined display position.
3. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to add the number of specific symbols to the plurality of symbols.
4. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to replace existing symbols in the plurality of symbols with the number of first specific symbols and the number of second specific symbols.
5. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein different counter events result in modifying at least one of the first event counter and the second event counter by a different value.
6. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to display during the second game at least one of the first specific symbols and at least one of the second specific symbols on the display.
7. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to display during the second game at least one of the first specific symbols and at least one of the second specific symbols on the display in at least one pre-determined display position.
8. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first game is activated by a first game activation event.
9. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the second game is activated by a second game activation event.
10. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first game is deactivated by a first game deactivation event.
11. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the second game is deactivated by a second game deactivation event.
12. A method of playing first and second games on a gaming machine comprising a game controller, a first event counter having a first value, a second event counter having a second value, a random number generator, and a non-transitory memory having data indicative of a plurality of symbols including a plurality of first specific symbols, and a plurality of second specific symbols, and a display having a plurality of display positions including a first predetermined display position and a second predetermined display position, the method comprising:
conducting, via the game controller, said first game including randomly selecting, via the random number generator, data of the nontransitory memory indicative of a plurality of the symbols for display at the display positions,
modifying the first value of the first event counter each time a first selected symbol is displayed at said first predetermined display position during the first game;
modifying, via the game controller, the second value of said second event counter each time a second selected symbol is displayed at said second predetermined display position during the first game;
modifying, via the game controller, the plurality of symbols to include a number of the first specific symbols and a number of second specific symbols, the number of first specific symbols being dependent on the first value of the first event counter, and the number of second specific symbols being dependent on the value of the second event counter; and
conducting said second game based on the modified plurality of symbols.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the first value of said first counter event is an increment event resulting in incrementing the first value of said first event counter, or a decrement event resulting in decrementing the first value of said first event counter.
14. A method according to claim 12 , wherein modifying the plurality of symbols comprises adding the number of first specific symbols to the plurality of symbols.
15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein modifying the plurality of symbols comprises replacing the displayed symbols in the plurality of symbols with the number of first specific symbols.
16. A method according to claim 12 , wherein different counter events result in modifying at least one of the first event counter and the second event counter by a different value.
17. A method according to claim 12 , the method further comprising displaying on the display during the second game at least one of the first specific symbols and at least one of the second specific symbols.
18. A method according to claim 12 , the method further comprising displaying on the display during the second game at least one of the first specific symbols and at least one of the second specific symbols in at least one pre-determined position.