Electronic gaming machine and gaming method

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet having a console, a display and an internal electronic game controller,

said console having an input device in electronic communication with said electronic game controller, said input device for receiving inputs from a player to play a game on said electronic gaming machine, and having vending slots for receiving monetary bets,

said display in electronic communication with said electronic game controller for displaying game symbols for playing said game, where game symbols are arranged in an array of predetermined game positions and predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols displayed on said array in said game award prizes to a player, and

said electronic game controller being adapted to determine if a bet has been made using the vending slots to initiate play of said game and to control the display of game symbols on the display if a bet has been received,

wherein said electronic game controller determining the appearance of one or more special symbols in said game, said special symbols being associated with numerical values,

the appearance of at least one special symbol in a first predetermined game position of a predetermined winning combination displayed on said array in a first play of said game causes said electronic game controller to increase the value of a prize awarded for said predetermined winning combination, said increase being associated with the numerical value associated with said at least one special symbol,

said electronic game controller sequentially increases the numerical value associated with said at least one special symbol for one or more subsequent plays of said game; and

in each said subsequent play, said electronic game controller increases the value of a prize awarded for any predetermined winning combinations comprising said at least one special symbol displayed in said first predetermined game position, said increase being associated with the sequentially increased numerical value.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said at least one special symbol is displayed in said first predetermined game position in each subsequent play of said game.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said numerical value sequentially increases by one for each said subsequent play of said game.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said increase comprises multiplying the prize by said numerical value.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said increase of said prize for said subsequent plays comprises multiplying the prize by said sequentially increased numerical value.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said sequential increase of said numerical value occurs for a predetermined number of subsequent plays of said game.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said at least one special symbol appears in a predetermined portion of said array to trigger said sequential increase in said numerical value for said subsequent plays of said game.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 7 , wherein said array comprises rows and columns and said predetermined portion comprises a designated column, wherein said designated column comprises a plurality of predetermined game positions.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said special symbols comprise one or more multiplier symbols.

10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein where more than one special symbol appears in said first play or said subsequent plays, the numerical value associated with each said special symbol is applied simultaneously to each prize awarded on predetermined winning combinations appearing in said first play or said subsequent plays.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said game comprises an indicator symbol for indicating the appearance of said special symbols.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11 , wherein said indicator symbol appears in said first predetermined game position.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11 , wherein said indicator symbol appears in said first predetermined game position in a preceding play of said game preceding said first play.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said numerical value associated with said at least one special symbol is indicated on said display.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said sequential increase in said numerical value is indicated during said subsequent plays of said game.

16. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said special symbol also acts as at least one of a replacement symbol, a wild card symbol, a scatter symbol, bonus prizes, collector symbols, a win multiplier, wild multipliers, bonus wilds, random wild symbols, progressive symbols, bonus credits and jackpot symbols.

17. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said subsequent plays are successive plays of said game.

18. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said subsequent plays occur within a predetermined number of plays of said game.

19. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said sequential increase of said numerical value occurs for a predetermined number of subsequent plays of said game.

20. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said first play and said subsequent plays are consecutive.