Gaming machine with puzzle feature

Abstract

A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller 42 arranged to control images displayed on the display 14. The game controller 42 is arranged to play a game 16 wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14 and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. When a trigger condition arises, at least certain displayed game symbols are replaced by other, puzzle symbols, each puzzle symbol being a representation of a part of a larger picture.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterized in that, when a trigger condition arises, at least certain displayed game symbols are replaced by other, puzzle symbols, each puzzle symbol being a representation of a part of a larger picture.  
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the game is a spinning reel game having representations of spinning reels, each reel representation displaying a plurality of game symbols on the display means.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  in which at least certain of the game symbols are also special symbols.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3  in which the trigger condition arises when a predetermined number of the special symbols are displayed.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4  in which the special symbols are predetermined puzzle pieces.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the trigger condition is independent of the larger picture.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the control means selects the number of puzzle symbols that will be displayed when the trigger condition arises by generating a random number.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7  in which the random number selected falls in the range from 1 to, at most, the total number of display positions.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 7  in which, once the random number has been selected, the control means reveals the equivalent number of puzzle symbols in place of the game symbols.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which, if the entire picture is revealed, a special bonus is awarded.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 10  in which, when the entire picture is revealed, said entire picture enlarges to fill the display means.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 11  in which the enlarging of the picture is accompanied by appropriate audio outputs and the special bonus is paid in discrete packets.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which a fixed prize is awarded for each puzzle symbol that is revealed.