Method of using a wild feature

Abstract

A method, which may be embodied in a gaming machine, that is suitable for carrying out a wild feature in a game. The game in which said feature is carried out has a game structure comprising a plurality of substructures suitable for establishing individual results. Indicia are drawn and used to establish substructure results. Each drawn indicium is further evaluated as being either a regular indicium or one triggering the wild feature. The regular indicia are used while others are kept apart until the wild feature is activated. Upon the wild feature activation, an evaluation of an optimal use of the wild feature in at least one substructure is completed. Finally, the play outcome resulting from this optimal use of the wild feature is awarded.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a game to its outcome that involves activation of a wild feature, comprising: 
 providing a player with a game structure composed of a plurality of substructures, each of said substructures being suitable to establish an individual result involving a plurality of indicia;    drawing indicia;    evaluating each drawn indicium as at least one of a regular indicium and a special indicium; and    evaluating the activation of the wild feature shared by the substructures on the basis of said drawn special indicia to establish a featured outcome, which involves the evaluation of an optimal use of the wild feature in at least one of said substructures.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 associating comparison indicia with each said substructure;    comparing the drawn indicia with the substructure comparison indicia to establish matches between the indicia;    marking the matches in said substructures; and    evaluating the markings in said substructures according to a predetermined pattern to establish the outcomes.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying a characteristic of a drawn special indicium to establish a characteristic of said wild feature.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising tallying drawn special indicia up to a predetermined number to activate the wild feature.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said special indicia share a common characteristic.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 counting wild-feature activations over a plurality of plays of said game; and    generating a special feature when said counting reaches a threshold.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising awarding the player of said game with a prize according to said featured outcome.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wild feature involves the selection of an outcome evaluation mode.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said indicia are one of cards, numbers, balls, dice results, and symbols.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is one of poker, bingo, lotto, and line game.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  that is automatically performed on an electronic gaming machine.  
     
     
         12 . A gaming machine for playing a game to its outcome wherein the playing of said game involves activation of a wild feature, comprising: 
 a display providing a game representation in a game structure composed of a plurality of substructures that are suitable to establish individual results with each said substructure involving a plurality of indicia;    input means receiving commands from the player; and    game controller means signaling the display to provide a representation of the game according to the received commands and the playing of the game,    wherein said game controller is adapted:    (a) to draw indicia;    (b) to judge each drawn indicium as at least one of a regular indicium and a special indicium;    (c) to evaluate the activation of a wild feature shared by the substructures on the basis of drawn special indicia to establish a featured outcome, which involves the evaluation of an optimal use of the wild feature in at least one of said substructures.    
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , further comprising awarding means rewarding the player with said featured outcome in a suitable format.  
     
     
         14 . A computer program embodied in an electrical or an electromechanical carrier signal having codes adapted: 
 to provide a player with a game structure composed of a plurality of substructures, each of said substructures being suitable to establish an individual result involving a plurality of indicia;    to draw indicia;    to evaluate each drawn indicium as at least one of a regular indicium and a special indicium; and    to evaluate activation of the wild feature shared by the substructures on the basis of drawn special indicia to establish a featured outcome, which involves the evaluation of an optimal use of the wild feature in at least one of said substructures.    
     
     
         15 . A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium having codes adapted: 
 to provide a player with a game structure composed of a plurality of substructures, each of said substructures being suitable to establish an individual result involving a plurality of indicia;    to draw indicia;    to evaluate each drawn indicium as at least one of a regular indicium and a special indicium; and    to evaluate activation of the wild feature shared by the substructures on the basis of drawn special indicia to establish a featured outcome, which involves the evaluation of an optimal use of the wild feature in at least one of said substructures.