Award features for a gaming machine and related methods

A method for providing an award feature on a gaming machine comprising at least one programmed processor and memory, the method including the following acts performed by the at least one processor:

• providing a sequential series of games to a player, the games stored in memory, each game of the sequential series producing a game outcome which can be a winning or losing outcome, wherein a winning outcome results in an award value;
• prior to commencing the sequential series of games, setting a current highest award value to zero;
• for each game in the sequential series in which a winning outcome occurs:
• determining the resulting instant award value;
• comparing the resulting instant award value with the current highest award value;
• if the resulting instant award value is larger than the current highest award value then:
• adding the current highest award value to the player's award total;
• and
• changing the current highest award value to be the same as the larger instant award value;
• if the resulting instant award value is not larger than the current highest award value, adding the instant award value to the player's award total;
• at the conclusion of the sequential series of games, applying a multiplier to the current highest award value to obtain a multiplied value;
• and
• adding the multiplied value to the player's award total.

An electronic gaming machine, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• memory;
• wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:
• provide a sequential series of games to a single player on the electronic gaming machine, the games stored in memory, each game producing a game outcome which can be a winning or losing outcome, wherein a winning outcome results in an award value;
• store each award value from play of games of the sequential series by the single player in memory;
• determine a highest single-award value from the series of games played on the electronic gaming machine by the single player;
• prior to adding the highest award value to a total of award values, not including the highest award value, of the single player, applying a multiplier to the highest award value and adding the multiplied highest award value to the total of award values, not including the highest award value, of the single player.

An electronic gaming machine, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• memory;
• wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:
• provide a sequential series of games to a player, the games stored in memory, each game of the sequential series producing a game outcome which can be a winning or losing outcome, wherein a winning outcome results in an award value;
• prior to commencing the sequential series of games, setting a current highest award value to zero;
• for each game in the sequential series in which a winning outcome occurs:
• determine the resulting instant award value;
• compare the resulting instant award value with the current highest award value;
• if the resulting instant award value is larger than the current highest award value then:
• add the current highest award value to the player's award total;
• and
• change the current highest award value to be the same as the larger instant award value;
• if the resulting instant award value is not larger than the current highest award value, add the instant award value to the player's award total;
• at the conclusion of the sequential series of games, apply a multiplier to the current highest award value to obtain a multiplied value;
• and
• add the multiplied value to the player's award total.