Gaming machine pathways with unpredictable outcome

Abstract

A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. When a game 16 played results in a feature being awarded, to arrive at a determination of a result of the feature, the controller selects a pathway having a number of steps, each step relating to a special outcome, with the number of steps taken along the pathway varying randomly from one feature to the next.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which 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, wherein, when a game played results in a feature being awarded, to arrive at a determination of a result of the feature, the control means selects a pathway having a number of steps, each step relating to a special outcome, with the number of steps taken along the pathway varying randomly from one feature to the next.  
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the feature is a series of free games and the results of those free games are random and include the special outcomes.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the feature comprises a number of special outcome selections available to the player.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3  in which the player is prompted to make a selection from one of the special outcome selections whereafter, if the selection, as determined from the selected pathway, results in a positive outcome, the player is offered another opportunity to select a further special outcome until one of a fixed number of steps have been taken along the pathway and a negative outcome results.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which a set of pathways is associated with each bet.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  in which the pathways are weighted so that those associated with larger bets provide an improved probability of obtaining larger prizes than the pathways associated with smaller bets.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which each pathway has a maximum number of steps that can be taken down the pathway, following which the feature is regarded as concluded.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the pathways are of indefinite lengths where, if more than a predetermined number of steps down the pathway have been taken, thereafter each step along the pathway will provide a fixed, low credit prize.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which there are a minimum number of steps to be taken down a pathway which result in positive outcomes in order to provide encouragement to the player.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which certain of the special outcomes are collected towards a further event.