Games and gaming machines having game symbol replacement feature
View Patent ↗A slot-type game and a gaming machine configured to present a slot-type game include a symbol replacement feature. A first set of game symbols is displayed. If a replacement symbol triggering event occurs, such as the appearance of at least one replacement symbol, the symbol replacement is triggered. At least two symbols of the first set of symbols, such as two symbols adjacent to the replacement symbol, are evaluated to determine a highest ranking and a lowest ranking symbol. A second set of symbols is then displayed, the second set of symbols comprising the first set of symbols with occurrences of the lowest ranking symbol replaced with the highest ranking symbol.
1. A method for conducting a raffle comprising:
reading an item identifier from an identification tag affixed to an item using a processor or processors at an equipment management system, prior to an event related to the item;
transmitting raffle notification data to a plurality of devices using the processor or processors if it is determined that the event has occurred, where the raffle notification data includes item identification data for the item;
receiving a plurality of raffle ticket requests from the plurality of devices at the processor or processors in response to the raffle notification data;
processing a plurality of raffle ticket sales for the plurality of ticket requests using the processor or processors;
delivering a plurality of raffle tickets to the plurality of devices using the processor or processors;
selecting one of the plurality of raffle tickets and transmitting winning notification data to the associated device using the processor or processors;
reading the item identifier from the identification tag affixed to the item after the event using the equipment management system and the processor or processors;
providing authentication data to one of the plurality of devices to verify that the item was in use during the event using the processor or processors.
2. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising machine-readable code executable by said controller to cause said controller to determine an outcome of said game relative to second set of game symbols.
3. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjacent positions touch a position of said at least one triggering symbol.
4. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first set of symbols is arranged as a matrix of symbols in m rows and n columns and said at least two other symbols comprise the symbols to the left and right of the at least one triggering symbol.
5. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one triggering symbol is treated as a wild symbol in said second set of symbols.
6. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said symbols are ranked in accordance with a pay table.
7. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first set of symbols is display as part of a base game.
8. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 7 further comprising machine-readable code executable by said controller to cause said at least one electronic video display to display a first set of game symbols in response to a wager placed by a player of said gaming machine.
9. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first set of symbols is displayed as part of presentation of at least one bonus game.
10. A method of presenting a game at an electronically operated gaming machine having at least one electronic video display, a monetary funds accepting mechanism and at least one player input device, comprising the steps of:
accepting monetary funds provided by a player to said monetary funds accepting mechanism;
generating a player credit balance based upon said monetary funds;
receiving at least one input from said player via said at least one player input device to place a wager and initiate said game;
displaying a first set of game symbols in symbol positions via said at least one electronic video display;
determining if at least one triggering symbol appears in said first set of game symbols, if so, comparing the ranks of at least two other symbols which are in adjacent positions to said at least one triggering symbol in said first set of game symbols to determine which of said at least two symbols has a highest rank and which of said at least two symbols has a lowest rank;
displaying a second set of game symbols via said at least one electronic video display, said second set of game symbols comprising said first set of game symbols with each occurrence of said symbol having said determined lowest rank replaced with said symbol having said highest determined rank; and
increasing said player credit balance when said second set of game symbols defines at least one winning game outcome.
11. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said replacement symbol triggering event comprises the appearance of at least one replacement symbol in said first set of symbols.
12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said at least two symbols are in adjacent positions which touch said at least one triggering symbol.
13. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said symbols of said first set of symbols are displayed in a grid and said at least two symbols are to the left and right of said replacement symbol.
14. A method for conducting a raffle comprising:
reading an item identifier from an identification tag affixed to an item at an equipment management system using a processor or processors, prior to an event related to the item;
transmitting raffle notification data to a display using the processor or processors;
receiving a plurality of raffle ticket requests from the plurality of devices at the processor or processors in response to the raffle notification data;
processing a plurality of raffle ticket sales for the plurality of ticket requests using the processor or processors;
delivering a plurality of raffle tickets to the plurality of devices using the processor or processors;
selecting one of the plurality of raffle tickets and transmitting winning notification data to the associated device using the processor or processors;
reading the item identifier from the identification tag affixed to the item after the event using the equipment management system using the processor or processors;
providing authentication data to one of the plurality of devices to verify that the item was in use during the event using the processor or processors.
15. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein if no replacement symbol triggering event has occurred, evaluating said first set of symbols for a winning outcome.
16. The method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising the step of evaluating said second set of symbols for a winning outcome.
17. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said replacement symbol triggering event comprises the appearance of at least one replacement symbol and said replacement symbol is treated as a wild symbol for purposes of said step of evaluating said second set of symbols for a winning outcome.
18. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first set of symbols is displayed in a grid of m rows by n columns, wherein each column is associated with a virtual slot reel having a plurality of symbol positions.
19. The method in accordance with claim 18 wherein said plurality of symbol positions are populated by game symbols selected from a set of two or more game symbols and at least one replacement symbol.