Gaming machine and method with persistent catalyst feature

A method of operating a gaming machine,

• the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet, a presentation assembly, and game-logic circuitry secured within a locked box inside the gaming cabinet, the game-logic circuitry including a processor and memory storing programming for a continuously cycling random number generator (RNG) and a game, the method comprising:
• prior to executing the game, executing an authentication program on the gaming machine to authenticate the programming and establish an authenticated environment for executing the game;
• presenting, by the presentation assembly, a plurality of reels and a symbol array comprising a plurality of symbol positions;
• initializing stored state information in the memory by storing a first position identifier corresponding to a first position of the symbol array for a catalyst symbol;
• initiating a game cycle response to a game initiation input received via a player input device;
• determining, using the RNG, an outcome of the e cycle, the outcome comprising the catalyst symbol;
• displaying the catalyst symbol at the first position based on the first position identifier stored in the stored state information, wherein displaying the catalyst symbol comprises displaying the catalyst symbol as an overlay superimposed over the plurality of reels such that the reels appear to spin behind the catalyst symbol, and wherein the catalyst symbol blocks at least one symbol position of the plurality of reels;
• maintaining the catalyst symbol on the symbol array for one or more additional game cycles by maintaining the first position identifier in the stored state information across the one or more additional game cycles;
• detecting a trigger event during the one or more additional game cycles;
• and
• shifting the catalyst symbol from the first position to a second position adjacent to the first position on the symbol array in response to the trigger event by updating the stored state information to store a second position identifier corresponding to the second position.

A method of operating a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet and game-logic circuitry secured within a locked box inside the gaming cabinet, the game logic circuitry including memory storing programming for a continuously cycling random number generator (RNG) and a game, the method comprising the operations of:

• prior to executing the game, executing a m on the gaming machine to authenticate the programming;
• displaying, on an electronic display device, a plurality of reels and an array, the plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols including a catalyst symbol and value-bearing symbols;
• conducting, by the game logic circuitry operating in an authenticated state, a series of spins of the plurality of reels, each spin including using the RNG to randomly determine an outcome of the spin and further including:
• transforming, by the game-logic circuitry, the randomly-determined outcome into a first defined set of animation control signals configured for the electronic display device;
• transmitting the first defined set of animation control signals to the electronic display device to cause the electronic display device to animate spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to land symbols from the reels in the array in accordance with the randomly-determined outcome;
• and
• in response to the catalyst symbol being among the landed symbols in a spin in the series and while operating in the authenticated state;
• storing, in the memory, stored state information that includes a first position identifier corresponding to a first position of the array for the catalyst symbol;
• presenting, on the electronic display device, a first composite value based on one or more of any of the value-bearing symbols among the landed symbols;
• for a next spin in the series, determining, by the game-logic circuitry based on the stored state information, an adjacent position for the catalyst symbol;
• updating the stored state information to store a second position identifier corresponding to the adjacent position;
• transforming, by the game-logic circuitry, the adjacent position into a second defined set of animation control signals configured for the electronic display device;
• and
• transmitting the second defined set of animation control signals to the electronic display device to cause the electronic display device to animate shifting the catalyst symbol to the adjacent position in the array;
• resenting, on the electronic display device, a second composite value based on one or more of any of the value-bearing symbols among the landed symbols in the next spin in the series;
• and
• repeating the shifting and presenting operations until the catalyst symbol shifts off the array,
• wherein in response to the array including a plurality of the catalyst symbol, at least one of the first composite value and the second composite value is enhanced.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming machine, the gaming machine comprising:
• a display device configured to display a plurality of reels and a symbol array comprising a plurality of symbol positions, each reel comprising a plurality of the symbol positions;
• a player input device;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor, wherein the memory and the processor are configured to:
• execute an authentication program to verify integrity of the game programming and establish an authenticated environment for executing the game;
• initiate a game cycle in response to a game initiation input received via the player input device;
• determine an outcome for the game cycle, the outcome comprising a catalyst symbol;
• initialize stored state information in the memory by storing a first position identifier corresponding to a first position of the symbol array for the catalyst symbol;
• display the catalyst symbol at the first position based on the first position identifier stored in the stored state information, wherein displaying the catalyst symbol comprises displaying the catalyst symbol as an overlay superimposed over the plurality of reels such that the reels appear to spin behind the catalyst symbol, and wherein the catalyst symbol blocks at least one symbol position of the plurality of reels;
• maintain the catalyst symbol on the symbol array for one or more additional game cycles by maintaining the first position identifier in the stored state information across the one or more additional game cycles;
• detect a trigger event during the one or more additional game cycles;
• and
• shift the catalyst symbol from the first position to a second position on the symbol array in response to the trigger event by updating the stored state information to store a second position identifier corresponding to the second position.