Software Application with Multiplier Trail

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:

• determining that a trigger event occurred in the software application;
• in response to determining that the trigger event occurred, determining a number of spins of the reels, wherein a multiplier associated with the software application is set to an initial value;
• until the determined number of spins have been performed, repeatedly carrying out iterations of operations comprising:
• selecting a set of symbols associated with respective positions of each of the reels in a respective spin of the reels, wherein a value of the multiplier is increased in response to any non-winning outcome on the set of symbols, and wherein the value of the multiplier is reset to the initial value in response to any winning outcome on the set of symbols, and
• causing the graphical display unit to display an animation that simulates (i) the respective spin of the reels resulting in the vertical symbol display segments displaying the set of symbols, and (ii) the multiplier increasing when a non-winning outcome appears on the set of symbols;
• and
• carrying out one or more additional spins of the reels until any further winning outcome occurs, wherein the value of the multiplier is increased in response to any further non-winning outcomes resulting from the one or more additional spins 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:
• determining that a trigger event occurred in the software application;
• in response to determining that the trigger event occurred, determining a number of spins of the reels, wherein a multiplier associated with the software application is set to an initial value;
• until the determined number of spins have been performed, repeatedly carrying out iterations of operations comprising:
• selecting a set of symbols associated with respective positions of each of the reels in a respective spin of the reels, wherein a value of the multiplier is increased in response to any non-winning outcome on the set of symbols, and wherein the value of the multiplier is reset to the initial value in response to any winning outcome on the set of symbols, and
• causing the graphical display unit to display an animation that simulates (i) the respective spin of the reels resulting in the vertical symbol display segments displaying the set of symbols, and (ii) the multiplier increasing when a non-winning outcome appears on the set of symbols;
• and
• carrying out one or more additional spins of the reels until any further winning outcome occurs, wherein the value of the multiplier is increased in response to any further non-winning outcomes resulting from the one or more additional spins of the reels.