Gaming machine with symbol upgrade feature

• US 20060068892A1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomas, Alfred, Gomez, Benjamin T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine. The method includes receiving a wager from a player and displaying a first winning combination of symbols in an array. The first winning combination is associated with a first award. In response to a predetermined event, the first winning combination is upgraded to a second winning combination of symbols, and the second winning combination is associated with a second award that is higher than the first award. The second winning combination of symbols is displayed and the player is provided with the second award.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying a first winning combination of symbols in an array, the first winning combination being associated with a first award;

in response to a predetermined event, upgrading the first winning combination to a second winning combination of symbols, the second winning combination being associated with a second award that is higher than the first award;

displaying the second winning combination of symbols; and

providing the player with the second award.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the array includes a first set of reels, and the first winning combination is indicated by the first set of reels.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event is indicated by at least one additional reel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wagering game is selected from a group consisting of a poker game, a blackjack game, a keno game, and a slots game.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a pay table, the pay table including a listing of a plurality of winning combinations, the plurality of winning combinations including the first winning combination and the second winning combination.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pay table includes a corresponding award for each of the plurality of winning combinations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined event is an upgrade symbol within the first winning combination.

8. A computer readable storage medium or media encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 1.

9. A gaming machine comprising:

an input device for receiving inputs from a player during the wagering game, the inputs including a wager amount; and

a display for displaying a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game, the randomly selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes, the plurality of outcomes including a upgrade-triggering outcome and a plurality of winning outcomes, each of the plurality of winning outcomes having an associated initial game payout;

wherein, in response to the randomly selected outcome including the upgrade-triggering outcome, upgrading an award amount awarded to a player when one of the plurality of winning combinations is achieved.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the upgrade-triggering outcome is one of the plurality of symbols in at least one of the plurality of winning outcomes.

11. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein, in response to the randomly selected outcome being one of the plurality of winning outcomes, awarding a player a first award associated with the one of the plurality of winning outcomes.

12. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the display includes a first set of mechanical reels for displaying the randomly selected outcome, the display further including an additional reel for displaying the upgrade-triggering outcome.

13. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the upgraded award amount is an amount corresponding to another one of the plurality of winning outcomes.

14. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the amount of the upgraded award is randomly selected.

15. The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein the display includes a first set of reels and a second set of reels, wherein the upgrade-triggering event is displayed on the second set of reels.

16. A method of conducting a wagering game comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying a plurality of symbols on a first set of reels, the plurality of symbols indicating a first randomly selected outcome, the first randomly selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes, the plurality of outcomes including a plurality of winning outcomes;

in response to the first randomly selected outcome including a bonus-triggering event, triggering at least a second reel to display a bonus symbol; and

in response to the bonus symbol being an upgrade symbol, providing the player with an upgrade award, the upgrade award being larger than a first award associated with the first randomly selected outcome.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second reel includes a plurality of bonus symbols selected from a group consisting of the upgrade symbol, at least one multiplier symbol, at least one free spin symbol, and at least one credit symbol.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the bonus triggering event is a symbol in the symbol combination that corresponds to at least one of the plurality of winning outcomes.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein, in response to the first randomly selected outcome being one of the plurality of winning outcomes, awarding the player a corresponding award.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein, in response to the bonus-symbol being the upgrade symbol the player determines when to apply the upgrade award.