Gaming machines and methods of gaming with random number generation

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a gaming machine and gaming method. The gaming machine comprises: a memory component, a display screen, input components and at least one processor. The memory component stores: executable program code, virtual object data relating to a predetermined set of virtual objects, wherein each virtual object has at least one identifier, and a pay table defining a set of winning combinations of virtual objects. The at least one processor is configured to execute the program code to: receive start input from one of the input components to start play of a game of chance; in response to receiving the start input, generate a main subset of virtual objects by random selection from the predetermined set of virtual objects; generate and display a revealing animation of the at least one identifier for each of the virtual objects from the main subset in an array on the display screen; and determine whether one or more combinations of virtual objects from the main subset correspond to a winning combination based on the identifiers of the virtual objects. In response to determining that no combination from the main subset corresponds to a winning combination, the at least one processor executes the program code to: determine a near miss event when predetermined criteria are met, generate a bonus object by random selection from a subset of the predetermined set of virtual objects that excludes the main subset, and generate and display a bonus animation that reveals the identifier of the bonus object in the array; replace a virtual object in the main subset that contributed to the near miss event with the bonus object; and determine whether replacing the virtual object from the main subset with the bonus object results in one or more new combinations corresponding to a winning combination.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.