Methods and systems for overlaid pay modalities on selected symbols in gaming machines
A gaming machine may be configured for supporting games that include use of pay modalities, which are overlaid on selected symbols. The gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism configured for establishing a credit balance that is increasable and decreasable based on wagering activities, a display having a plurality of display positions, and a game controller to select a plurality of symbols, to cause the display to display the selected symbols, to determine if the selected symbols associated with at least one of one or more predetermined reels of the plurality of reels include a special symbol, and if so, to determine one or more special values associated with the special symbol, and to overlay a particular one of the one or more special values on each displayed instance of the special symbol. The game controller determines a payout based on assigned special values associated with the displayed special symbol.
1. A method of displaying a feature game on a gaming machine; wherein the gaming machine comprises a display, a credit input operable to establish a credit balance, and a game controller comprising a processor and a memory storing a set of symbols and instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to initiate the feature game, the method comprising:
generating one or more random numbers by a random number generator;
selecting, by the game controller, a plurality of symbols from the set of symbols based on the one or more random numbers;
assigning, by the game controller, the plurality of symbols selected to a plurality of reels;
displaying the plurality of reels, via the display, in response to determining that the plurality of symbols selected associated with a first reel of the plurality of reels include a special symbol;
determining, by the game controller, one or more special values associated with the special symbol;
displaying an overlaying of the one or more special values on the special symbol; and
determining, via the game controller, a payout based on a) the one or more special values associated with the special symbol, and b) the plurality of symbols on a second reel of the plurality of reels also include the special symbol.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising randomly assigning the one or more special values to the special symbol based on the one or more random numbers.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the one or more special values for the special symbol from a weighted list of possible values based on the one or more random numbers.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the weighted list of possible values comprises different values for the plurality of reels and symbols.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning a plurality of different special values to a particular special symbol for different ones of the plurality of reels.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the plurality of reels comprises:
displaying spinning the plurality of reels; and then
displaying stopping the spinning of the plurality of reels based on respective stopping criteria.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising randomly determining a plurality of stop positions for the plurality of reels based on the one or more random numbers.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to determining that the plurality of symbols selected associated with the plurality of reels except for the first reel include at least one wild symbol, adjusting display options for the plurality of reels except for the first reel.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the display options comprises increasing a number of symbols displayed for the plurality of reels except for the first reel.
10. A gaming machine for displaying a feature game, the gaming machine comprising:
a credit input operable to establish a credit balance;
a display having a plurality of display positions;
a game controller comprising a processor and a memory storing a set of symbols and instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to at least:
generate one or more random numbers by a random number generator;
select a plurality of symbols from the set of symbols based on the one or more random numbers;
assign the plurality of symbols selected to a plurality of reels;
control the display to display the plurality of reels;
in response to determining that the plurality of symbols selected associated with a first reel of the plurality of reels include a special symbol:
determine one or more special values associated with the special symbol; and
cause the display to overlay the one or more special values on the special symbol; and
determine a payout based on a) the one or more special values associated with the special symbol, and b) the plurality of symbols on a second reel of the plurality of reels also include the special symbol; and
a credit meter configured to monitor the credit balance, and to adjust the credit balance based on the determined payout.
11. The gaming machine of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to randomly assign the one or more special values to the special symbol based on the one or more random numbers.
12. The gaming machine of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to select the one or more special values for the special symbol from a weighted list of possible values based on the one or more random numbers.
13. The gaming machine of claim 12 , wherein the weighted list of possible values comprises different values for the plurality of reels and symbols.
14. The gaming machine of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to assign a plurality of different special values to a particular special symbol for different ones of the plurality of reels.
15. The gaming machine of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to cause the display to:
display spinning of the plurality of reels; and
display stopping the spinning of the plurality of reels based on respective stopping criteria.
16. The gaming machine of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to randomly determine a plurality of stop positions for the plurality of reels to stop spinning of the plurality of reels based on the one or more random numbers.
17. The gaming machine of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to, in response to determining that the plurality of symbols selected associated with the plurality of reels except for the first reel include at least one wild symbol, adjust display options for the plurality of reels except for the first reel.
18. The gaming machine of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to increase a number of symbols displayed for the plurality of reels except for the first reel.