Method of gaming, a game controller, and a gaming system

1. A method of gaming using a game controller comprising:

selecting a plurality of symbols and displaying the selected symbols at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a grid having a plurality of display positions arranged between a plurality of pairs of opposing sides, each symbol being selected from a symbol set having at least two different designated symbols, each of the at least two different designated symbols being able to form a line and block the formation of a line by the other of the at least two different designated symbols;

determining whether a line of contiguous symbols is formed across the grid by one or more designated symbols to connect a pair of opposing sides of the grid; and

making an award in response to a positive determination;

wherein the at least two different designated symbols can each only form a line between a different one of the pairs of opposing sides.

2. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the symbol set includes a wild symbol adapted to substitute for each of the at least two other symbols.

3. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 2 , comprising controlling the selection of wild symbols such that the number of selected wild symbols is proportional to an amount bet.

4. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the number of selected wild symbols is proportional to an amount bet per line played in a base game.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two different designated symbols can each form a line between both of the pairs of opposing sides.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein there are only two designated symbols.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein there are more display positions along a major axis of the grid than along a minor axis of the grid, and forming a line along the major axis results in a larger award than forming a line along the minor axis.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for a positive determination, a line must be parallel to an axis of the grid.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a base game is displayed in a first display area and the grid is displayed concurrently in a second display area.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein selecting symbols for the grid determines whether a play of the base game is to result in the awarding of a jackpot prize.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein selecting symbols for the grid determines whether a play of the base game can result in the awarding of a jackpot prize.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8 , comprising selecting symbols for the grid for each play of the base game.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the selection of each symbol other than wild symbols is performed independently for each display position.

14. A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:

select a plurality of symbols and cause a display to display the selected symbols at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a grid having a plurality of display positions arranged between a plurality of pairs of opposing sides, each symbol being selected from a symbol set comprising at least two different designated symbols, each of the at least two different designated symbols being able to form a line and block the formation of a line by the other of the at least two different designated symbols;

determine whether a line of contiguous symbols is formed across the grid by one or more designated symbols to connect a pair of opposing sides of the grid; and

make an award to a player in response to a positive determination; wherein the at least two different designated symbols can each only form a line between a different one of the pairs of opposing sides.

15. A game controller as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the symbol set includes a wild symbol and the game controller comprises a symbol selector arranged such that selection of each symbol other than any wild symbols is performed independently for each display position.

16. A game controller as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the symbol selector is arranged to control the selection of wild symbols such that the number of selected wild symbols is proportional to an amount bet.

17. A game controller as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the number of selected wild symbols is proportional to an amount bet per line played in a base game.

18. A game controller as claimed in claim 15 wherein the at least two different designated symbols can each form a line between both of the pairs of opposing sides.

19. A game controller as claimed in claim 15 , wherein there are only two designated symbols.

20. A game controller as claimed in claim 14 , wherein there are more display positions along a major axis of the grid than along a minor axis of the grid, and forming a line along the major axis results in a larger award than forming a line along the minor axis.

21. A game controller as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the game controller is configured to require a positive determination be a line that is parallel to an axis of the grid.

22. A game controller as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the game controller is further arranged to implement a base game and the base game is displayed in a first display area and the grid is displayed concurrently in a second display area.

23. A game controller as claimed in claim 22 , wherein selecting symbols for the grid determines whether a play of the base game is to result in the awarding of a jackpot prize.

24. A game controller as claimed in claim 22 , wherein selecting symbols for the grid determines whether a play of the base game can result in the awarding of a jackpot prize.

25. A game controller as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the game controller is arranged to select symbols for the grid for each play of the base game.

26. A game controller as claimed in claim 14 , further arranged such that selection of each symbol other than wild symbols is performed independently for each display position.

27. A game controller as claimed in claim 14 , comprising a line evaluator arranged to determine whether a line of contiguous symbols is formed.

28. A gaming system comprising:

one or more displays; and a game controller arranged to:

select a plurality of symbols and display the selected symbols on at least one display at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a grid having a plurality of display positions arranged between a plurality of pairs of opposing sides, each symbol being selected from a symbol set comprising at least two different designated symbols, each of the at least two different designated symbols being able to form a line and block the formation of a line by the other of the at least two different designated symbols;

determine whether a line of contiguous symbols is formed across the grid by one or more designated symbols to connect a pair of opposing sides of the grid; and

make an award to a player in response to a positive determination; wherein the at least two different designated symbols can each only form a line between a different one of the pairs of opposing sides.

29. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the symbol set includes a wild symbol and the game controller comprises a symbol selector arranged such that selection of each symbol other than any wild symbols is performed independently for each display position.

30. A gaming system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the symbol selector is arranged to control the selection of wild symbols such that the number of selected wild symbols is proportional to an amount bet.

31. A gaming system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the number of selected wild symbols is proportional to an amount bet per line played in a base game.

32. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the at least two different designated symbols can each form a line between both of the pairs of opposing sides.

33. A gaming system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein there are only two designated symbols.

34. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein there are more display positions along a major axis of the grid than along a minor axis of the grid, and forming a line along the major axis results in a larger award than forming a line along the minor axis.

35. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the game controller is configured to require a positive determination be a line that is parallel to an axis of the grid.

36. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the game controller is further arranged to implement a base game and the base game is displayed in a first display area and the grid is displayed concurrently in a second display area.

37. A gaming system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein selecting symbols for the grid determines whether a play of the base game is to result in the awarding of a jackpot prize.

38. A gaming system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein selecting symbols for the grid determines whether a play of the base game can result in the awarding of a jackpot prize.

39. A gaming system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the game controller is arranged to select symbols for the grid for each play of the base game.

40. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28 , further arranged such that selection of each symbol other than wild symbols is performed independently for each display position.

41. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the game controller comprises a line evaluator arranged to determine whether a line of contiguous symbols is formed.

42. A gaming system as claimed in claim 36 , comprising a first display displaying the base game and a second display displaying the grid.