Gaming machine having multiplying symbol ability

A method of implementing a game, comprising the steps of:

• starting the game in response to input by a user initiating a single spin of the game;
• rotating a reel, the reel having a plurality of symbols, wherein at least a portion of the reel is visible on a display;
• wherein during the single spin of the game, a controller:
• (i) detects a triggering condition as the reel is spinning and responsively holds one of the symbols on the display while the reel continues spinning;
• (ii) accumulates a number of times a predetermined one of the plurality of symbols on the spinning reel passes the held symbol while the reel continues spinning;
• and,
• (iii) stops rotating the reel,
• (iv) detects a winning condition and responsively provides a prize to the player, the prize being a function of the winning condition and the accumulated number.

A non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program embodied therein, the program causing a computer to function as:

• a reel having a plurality of indicia and being rotatable along an axis;
• a display configured to display a portion of the reel;
• a user input device configured to generate a signal indicative of input by a player initiating a single spin of a game;
• and,
• a controller coupled to the display device and the user input device and being configured to begin the game and start rotating the reel in response to receiving the signal from the user input device;
• wherein during the single spin of the game, the controller:
• (i) detects a triggering condition as the reel is spinning and responsively holds one of the indicia on the display while the reel continues spinning,
• (ii) accumulates a number of times a predetermined one of the plurality of indicia on the spinning reel passes the held indicia while the reel continues spinning,
• (iii) stops rotating the reel, and
• (iv) detects a winning condition and responsively provides a prize to the player, the prize being a function of the winning condition and the accumulated number.

A gaming machine to allow a player to play a game, comprising:

• a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of indicia and being rotatable along an axis;
• a display configured to display a portion of each reel;
• a user input device configured to generate a signal indicative of input by a player;
• and,
• a controller coupled to the display device and the user input device and being configured to start rotating the reel in response to receiving the signal from the user input device, to detect a triggering condition and responsively hold one of the indicia on the display while the reels continue spinning, to accumulate a number of times a predetermined one of the plurality of indicia on one of the spinning reels passes the held indicia while the one of the spinning reels is spinning, and to stop the rotation of the reels, detect a winning condition in an outcome of the game and responsively provide a prize to the player, wherein the outcome of the game is modified to include a number of wild indicia, the number of wild indicia being a function of the accumulated number.

A method of implementing a game, including the steps of:

• initiating the game in response to input by a user;
• rotating a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of indicia and being rotatable along an axis;
• displaying a portion of each reel on a display;
• detecting a triggering condition and responsively holding one of the indicia on the display while the reels continues spinning;
• accumulating a number of times a predetermined one of the plurality of indicia on one of the spinning reels passes the held indicia while the one of the spinning reels is spinning;
• and,
• stopping the rotation of the reels, detecting a winning condition in an outcome of the game and responsively providing a prize to the player, wherein the outcome of the game is modified to include a number of wild indicia, the number of wild indicia being a function of the accumulated number.

A non-transitory computer readable medium recording a program, the program causing a computer to function as:

• a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of indicia and being rotatable along an axis;
• a display configured to display a portion of each reel;
• a user input device configured to generate a signal indicative of input by a player;
• and, a controller coupled to the display device and the user input device and being configured to start rotating the reel in response to receiving the signal from the user input device, to detect a triggering condition and responsively hold one of the indicia on the display while the reels continue spinning, to accumulate a number of times a predetermined one of the plurality of indicia on one of the spinning reels passes the held indicia while the one of the spinning reels is spinning, and to stop the rotation of the reels, detect a winning condition in an outcome of the game and responsively provide a prize to the player, wherein the outcome of the game is modified to include a number of wild indicia, the number of wild indicia being a function of the accumulated number.