Gaming machine and method having bonus feature highlighting

A method of highlighting a scatter symbol on a gaming machine comprising:

• providing a housing, a control unit having a memory, a processor and control circuitry mounted in the housing for generating a matrix of symbols, a display mounted on the housing in communication with the control unit, the display includes a first layer and a second layer;
• displaying a background with the first layer;
• and
• displaying the matrix of symbols on the second layer, to enable simultaneous viewing of at least a portion of the background and the matrix of symbols;
• generating a scatter symbol;
• communicating the scatter symbol to the display;
• presenting the scatter symbol as part of the matrix of symbols;
• and
• presenting a background image to highlight the scatter symbol;
• the matrix has rows and columns, the method includes displaying the scatter symbol in one of the columns on the second layer and changing the background of the column where the scatter symbol is displayed;
• displaying a background displays an image resembling a light beam in at least a portion of the column where the scatter symbol is displayed;
• and
• the matrix has a top row, displaying the background image includes displaying the background image on the background layer in an area extending from the scatter symbol.

A gaming machine display comprising:

• a first layer for displaying a background;
• a second layer overlying the first layer for displaying the matrix of symbols, including at least one scatter symbol, the second layer being at least partially transmissive to permit simultaneous viewing of the background and the matrix of symbols;
• and
• a third layer overlying the second layer and being at least partially transmissive to enable the matrix of symbols of the second layer to be viewable through the third layer, the third layer including an image displayed over the scatter symbol to highlight the scatter symbol,
• whereby the background and the third layer image cooperate to highlight the scatter symbol.

A gaming machine comprising:

• a housing;
• a control unit mounted in the housing for generating a matrix of symbols and a background image;
• a display mounted on the housing and in communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted for:
• determining a position information of a scatter symbol shown within the matrix of symbols, and
• generating a background image based on the position information, and
• generating a display image including the background image and the symbols;
• communicating the display image to the display;
• the display includes a first layer for displaying a background;
• a second layer overlying the first layer for displaying the matrix of symbols, including at least one scatter symbol, the second layer being at least partially transmissive to permit simultaneous viewing of the background and the matrix of symbols;
• a third layer overlying the second layer and being at least partially transmissive to enable the matrix of symbols of the second layer to be viewable through the third layer, the third layer including an image displayed over the scatter symbol to highlight the scatter symbol, and
• whereby the background and the third layer image cooperate to highlight the scatter symbol.