Electronic Gaming Machine and Gaming Method
AssigneeAinsworth Game Technology Limited
InventorJason Meyer
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Abstract
An electronic gaming machine has an electronic game controller and a display where game symbols are arranged in an array of predetermined game positions. The appearance of a first special symbol causes a group of predetermined game positions to be selected where each game symbol occupying a predetermined game position in said group is changed into a second special symbol either during a play of a game or at the completion of said play, said change into said second special symbol being visible to said player. A gaming method is also provided.
Claims35
An electronic gaming machine comprising:
- a display for displaying a game, wherein said game comprises game symbols arranged into an array of predetermined game positions arranged in rows and columns and where predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols in said game award prizes to a player;
- an electronic game controller for controlling the display of game symbols on the display;
- an input means for receiving commands from said player to operate said electronic gaming machine and initiate play said game on said display, said input means being in electronic communication with said electronic game controller,
- wherein said electronic game controller in response to a command from said player via said input means commences play of said game by randomly selecting game symbols and transmitting a signal to said display to display said randomly selected game symbols in said predetermined positions on said array,
- wherein the random selection of a first special symbol to appear in a play of said game shown on said display causes said electronic game controller to select a group of predetermined game positions, said group comprising at least one predetermined game position from at least two of said columns,
- wherein said electronic game controller transmits a signal to said display to change each game symbol occupying a predetermined game position in said group into a second special symbol either during said play or at the completion of said play, said change into said second special symbol being visually shown on said display so as to be visible to said player, and
- wherein said first special symbol appears in a predetermined game position of a first column and said group comprises the predetermined game positions of a second column different to said first column.
A gaming method for playing an electronic gaming machine comprising a housing having a display for displaying a game, wherein said game comprises game symbols arranged into an array of predetermined game positions arranged in rows and columns and where predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols in said game award prizes to a player;
- an electronic game controller inside said housing for controlling the display of game symbols on said display;
- and an input means for receiving commands from said player to operate said electronic gaming machine and initiate play said game on said display, said input means being in electronic communication with said electronic game controller, the method comprising the steps of:
- said electronic game controller receiving a command from said player via said input means;
- said electronic game controller commencing a play of said game by randomly selecting game symbols and transmitting a signal to said display to display said randomly selected game symbols in said predetermined positions on said array,
- said electronic game controller selecting a group of predetermined game positions in response to the random selection of a first special symbol to appear in a play of said game shown on said display, said group comprising at least one predetermined game position from at least two of said columns;
- said electronic game controller transmitting a signal to said display to change each game symbol occupying a predetermined game position in said group into a second special symbol either during said play or at the completion of said play, and
- visually showing said change into said second special symbol on said display so as to be visible to said player
- wherein said first symbol appears in a predetermined game position of a first column and said group selecting step comprises selecting the predetermined game positions of a second column different to said first column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.