Gaming machine with interactive bonusing

Abstract

A gaming machine ( 10 ) has a display ( 14 ) and a game controller ( 30 ) arranged to control images ( 18 ) on the display ( 14 ). The game controller ( 30 ) is arranged to play a game ( 16 ) wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display ( 14 ) and, if a predefined winning event or combination of events results, the machine ( 10 ) awards a prize. A predetermined symbol from a set of symbols of the game is selected as a bonus symbol. The display ( 14 ) is an interactive display means such that, when at least one of the bonus symbols appears then, by a player touching a part of the display ( 14 ) overlying the, or each, occurrence of the bonus symbol, a bonus prize is revealed in respect of the, or each, bonus symbol.

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 one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event or combination of events results, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine being characterised in that a predetermined symbol from a set of symbols of the game is selected as a bonus symbol and in that the display means is an interactive display means such that, when at least one of the bonus symbols appears then, by a player touching a part of the display means overlying the, or each, occurrence of the bonus symbol, a bonus prize is revealed in respect of the, or each, bonus symbol.  
     
     
         2 . The gaining machine of  claim 1  in which the, or each, bonus symbol is revealed in an animated manner.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  or  claim 2  in which the interactive display means is applicable in respect of a base game.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of any one of the preceding claims in which the interactive display means is applicable in respect of a feature game which is triggered upon fulfillment of predetermined conditions in a preceding base game.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of any one of the preceding claims in which the feature allowing the player to touch the screen to reveal the, or each, bonus symbol is triggered by a predetermined event.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  in which, after the predetermined extent has occurred, the control means selects a symbol from a set of the symbols to be the bonus symbol.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of any one of  claims 1  to  4  inclusive in which the feature allowing the player to touch the screen to reveal the, or each, bonus symbol is applicable for all games played.  
     
     
         8 . The gaining machine of any one of  claims 1  to  5  inclusive or  claim 7  in which the, or each, bonus symbol is selected by the player.