Software-Based Simulation of Symbol Locking

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that define a software application, wherein the software application is executed by a server machine on behalf of a client machine with a graphical display unit, wherein the software application involves graphically displaying, on vertical symbol display segments of the graphical display unit, animations that simulate spinning a plurality of reels, wherein a memory of the server machine stores, for each reel of the plurality of reels, a respective plurality of symbols, subsets of which are displayable in a respective vertical symbol display segment corresponding to the reel, and wherein, upon execution by the server machine, the program instructions cause the server machine to perform operations comprising:

• causing, by a processor of the server machine executing the software application, the graphical display unit to display an initial animation that simulates spinning the reels, wherein spinning the reels results in the vertical symbol display segments displaying an initial set of symbols;
• based on content and arrangement of the initial set of symbols, determining, by the processor, that a trigger event has occurred;
• in response to determining that trigger event has occurred, providing, by the processor, a number of further spins of the reels, wherein symbols on the reels used in the further spins of the reels include at least one of a predetermined locking symbol;
• and
• until the provided number of further spins of the reels have been performed, the processor repeatedly carrying out operations comprising:
• selecting a set of symbols associated with respective positions of each of the reels in a respective spin of the further spins of the reels, wherein the set of symbols defines respective positions of each of the reels such that the set of symbols is displayed on the vertical symbol display segments, wherein the set of symbols includes an instance of the predetermined locking symbol when (i) the instance of the predetermined locking symbol was locked in place from a previous spin of the reels and has been used in fewer than 3 winning combinations of symbols during the further spins of the reels, or (ii) the instance of the predetermined locking symbol was initially selected during the respective spin of the reels, and
• causing the graphical display unit to display an animation that simulates the respective spin of the reels, wherein the respective spin of the reels results in the vertical symbol display segments displaying the set of symbols, and wherein the instance of the predetermined locking symbol remains in place during the respective spin of the reels.

A system configured for executing a software application, wherein the software application involves graphically displaying, on vertical symbol display segments, animations that simulate spinning a plurality of reels, and wherein the system stores, for each reel of the plurality of reels, a respective plurality of symbols, subsets of which are displayable in a respective vertical symbol display segment corresponding to the reel, the system comprising:

• a client machine including a client machine processor, a client machine memory, a graphical display unit, and a plurality of input devices, wherein the plurality of input devices include:
• (i) an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, (ii) a validator configured to identify the physical item, and (iii) a cash-out button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with a credit account;
• and
• program instructions executable to perform operations comprising:
• causing the graphical display unit to display an initial animation that simulates spinning the reels, wherein spinning the reels results in the vertical symbol display segments displaying an initial set of symbols;
• based on content and arrangement of the initial set of symbols, determining that a trigger event has occurred;
• in response to determining that trigger event has occurred, providing a number of further spins of the reels, wherein symbols on the reels used in the further spins of the reels include at least one of a predetermined locking symbol;
• and
• until the provided number of further spins of the reels have been performed, repeatedly carrying out operations comprising:
• selecting a set of symbols associated with respective positions of each of the reels in a respective spin of the further spins of the reels, wherein the set of symbols defines respective positions of each of the reels such that the set of symbols is displayed on the vertical symbol display segments, wherein the set of symbols includes an instance of the predetermined locking symbol when (i) the instance of the predetermined locking symbol was locked in place from a previous spin of the reels and has been used in fewer than 3 winning combinations of symbols during the further spins of the reels, or (ii) the instance of the predetermined locking symbol was initially selected during the respective spin of the reels, and
• causing the graphical display unit to display an animation that simulates the respective spin of the reels, wherein the respective spin of the reels results in the vertical symbol display segments displaying the set of symbols, and wherein the instance of the predetermined locking symbol remains in place during the respective spin of the reels.