# US 2025/0095448 A1 · Gaming machine and method with hold and spin symbol propagation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0095448 A1 - Document ID: US20250095448A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/971,437 - Filed: 2024-12-06 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-27 - Assignees: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited - Applicants: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited - Inventors: Sahil Malik; Shivangi Handa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250095448A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3267: {Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games} - G07F 17/3209: {Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen} - G07F 17/3213: {Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members} - G07F 17/3225: {Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users} - G07F 17/3258: {Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots} - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A gaming machine, method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium are disclosed, which permit a player to play a base game and a feature game that may be triggered or initiated through play of the base game. During play of the feature game, the gaming machine holds each instance of a feature trigger symbol in its respective feature game display position and, if a feature game has remaining spins, spins/respins reels to obtain replacement symbols for each feature game display position without the feature trigger symbol. If a newly-presented feature trigger symbol includes one or more directional components, the gaming machine propagates the new-presented feature trigger symbol in a direction or directions indicated by the one or more directional components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming machine, comprising: a display device; a memory device; a processor that executes instructions stored in the memory device, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to at least: present first symbols at one or more display positions of the display device; in response to determining that a first symbol of the first symbols at a first display position includes a first directional component, replacing the first symbol with a second symbol that spans multiple display positions, wherein a second prize value of the second symbol is greater than a prize value of the first symbol; and present, via the display device, an award based, at least in part, on the second prize value associated with the second symbol and prize values associated other ones of the symbols presented at the display positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to determine the second prize value based on prize values associated with the multiple display positions spanned by the second symbol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to determine the second prize value based on incrementing a prize value associated with the multiple display positions spanned by the second symbol. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to replace the first symbol by expanding the first symbol into the multiple display positions to form the second symbol that spans the multiple display positions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first directional component comprises an arrow that triggers a replacement of the first symbol with the second symbol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to increment a prize value associated with a display position that is left of the first symbol. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to: spin reels to present initial symbols at the display positions; hold one or more of the initial symbols at their respective display positions; and spin one or more of the reels to present the first symbols at the one or more display positions without a held initial symbol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gaming machine of claim 1, comprising a credit input mechanism and a payout mechanism, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to: establish a credit balance in response to the credit input mechanism receiving a physical item representing a credit value; adjust the credit balance based, at least, on the award; and provide, via the payout mechanism, a payout from the credit balance. ### Claim 9 A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising: spinning reels to present first symbols at display positions of the gaming machine; holding one or more of the first symbols at their respective display positions; spinning one or more of the reels to present second symbols at one or more of the display positions without a held symbol; replacing a second symbol of the second symbols with a third symbol that spans multiple display positions, wherein a third prize value of the third symbol is greater than a prize value of the second symbol; and present, via a display device, an award based, at least in part, on first prize values associated with the one or more first symbols and the third prize value associated with the third symbol. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising replacing the second symbol with the third symbol in response to the second symbol including a directional component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising replacing the second symbols with the third symbol in response to the second symbol including an arrow component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein replacing the second symbol with the third symbol by expanding the second symbol into adjacent display positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising determining the third prize value based on prize values associated with the multiple display positions spanned by the third symbol. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising determining the third prize value based on incrementing a prize value associated with the multiple display positions spanned by the third symbol. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising incrementing a prize value associated with a display position that is left of the third symbol. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising: establish a credit balance in response to a credit input mechanism of the gaming machine receiving a physical item representing a credit value; adjusting the credit balance based, at least, on the award; and providing, via a payout mechanism of the gaming machine, a payout from the credit balance. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising instructions that, in response to being executed, cause a gaming machine to at least: spin reels of the gaming machine to present first symbols at display positions of the gaming machine; spin one or more of the reels to present second symbols at display positions while holding one or more of the first symbols at their respective display positions; replacing a second symbol of the second symbols with a third symbol that spans multiple display positions, wherein a third prize value of the third symbol is based on prize values associated with the multiple display positions spanned by the third symbol; and presenting, via the gaming machine, an award based, at least in part, on one or more first prize values associated with the first symbols, one or more second prize values associated with the second symbols, and the third prize value associated with the third symbol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions, in response to being executed, cause the gaming machine to at least replace in response to the second symbol including an arrow component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions, in response to being executed, cause the gaming machine to at least replace the second symbol with the third symbol by expanding the second symbol into adjacent display positions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions, in response to being executed, cause the gaming machine to at least increment a prize value associated with a display position that is left of the third symbol.