Slot machine with award-dependent animations

Abstract

A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine is disclosed. After a player makes a wager, a plurality of symbol-bearing reels are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in a symbol array. If the symbol array includes a symbol combination that yields an award, the symbol combination is identified with an animation that varies with a level of the award. The animation may, for example, include a type of pay line encompassing the symbols of the symbol combination. The type of pay line varies with the level of the award.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 receiving a wager to play the wagering game;    displaying an array of symbols; and    if the array includes a symbol combination that yields an award, identifying the symbol combination with an animation that varies with a level of the award.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing the award.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the symbols in the array are randomly selected.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying step includes rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol-bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in the array.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animation is a first animation when the award is at a first level, the animation is a second animation when the award is at a second level, and the animation is a third animation when the award is at a third level.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animation is a first animation when the award includes a bonus event and wherein the animation is a second animation when the award does not include the bonus event.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of the award relates to a credit amount won.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of the award relates to a bonus event being triggered.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animation includes a type of pay line encompassing the symbols of the symbol combination, the type of pay line varying with the level of the award.  
     
     
         10 . A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 receiving a wager to play the wagering game;    rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol-bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in a symbol array; and    if the symbol array includes a symbol combination that yields an award, identifying the symbol combination with an animation, the animation including a type of pay line encompassing the symbols of the symbol combination, the type of pay line varying with a level of the award.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the level of the award relates to a credit amount won.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the level of the award relates to a bonus event being triggered.  
     
     
         13 . A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 receiving a wager to play the wagering game;    displaying a symbol array; and    identifying a winning symbol combination in the symbol array with an animation that varies with a level of an award resulting from the winning symbol combination.    
     
     
         14 . A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 receiving a wager to play the wagering game;    displaying a symbol array; and    using different animations to animate winning symbol combinations in the symbol array that yield different levels of an award.    
     
     
         15 . A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 receiving a wager to play the wagering game;    displaying a symbol array;    identifying a first winning symbol combination in the symbol array with a first animation, the first winning symbol combination yielding an award at a first level;    identifying a second winning symbol combination in the symbol array with a second animation, the second winning symbol combination yielding an award at a second level; and    identifying a third winning symbol combination in the symbol array with a third animation, the first winning symbol combination yielding an award at a third level.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the awards at the first, second, and third levels include at least one of different credit amounts and a bonus event.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the awards at the first and second levels include different bonus events.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further including providing the award.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein symbols in the symbol array are randomly selected.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the displaying step includes rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol-bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in the symbol array.