Gaming machine having an enhanced game play scheme

Abstract

A gaming machine having an enhanced game play scheme is provided where, in response to receipt of a second wager to select an option, a player is provided with enhanced game play. Enhanced game play may include (1) providing more frequent bonus game play, (2) providing a larger bonus game value payout, (3) providing more frequent bonus game play and providing a larger bonus game value payout, (4) providing a larger game value payout, (5) providing a guaranteed value payout for a non-winning outcome, (6) providing game features (7) providing a larger game value payout based on a partial game outcome, (8) providing an extra wild symbol capable of repositioning, and (9) providing a possibility of an additional reel movement to reposition an extra reel symbol or (10) providing a possibility of an extra pay line to include an extra reel symbol to increase a value payout.

1 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the method comprising: 
 providing an option for enhanced game play of the wagering game;    detecting a first wager from a player to play the wagering game;    detecting a second wager, the second wager indicating selection of the option by the player;    in response to detecting the second wager, enabling enhanced game play of the wagering game;    displaying an outcome associated with enhanced game play of the wagering game; and    awarding a first value payout if the outcome is one of a plurality of winning game outcomes of the wagering game.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes increasing a likelihood of an occurrence of a bonus game.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes awarding a bonus game to the player.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes increasing a value payout average of a second plurality of value payouts associated with bonus game play of the bonus game.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes: 
 increasing a likelihood of an occurrence of a bonus game; and    increasing a value payout average of a second plurality of value payouts associated with bonus game play of the bonus game.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes increasing a value of the plurality of winning game outcomes.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes awarding a predetermined number of credits to the player if the outcome of the wagering game is a non-winning outcome.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes activating a game feature.  
   
   
       10 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the method comprising: 
 detecting a first wager from a player to play the wagering game;    displaying a partial outcome of the wagering game;    providing an option to the player for increasing a value of a plurality of value payouts associated with a plurality of winning game outcomes of the wagering game;    detecting a second wager, the second wager indicating selection of the option by the player;    in response to detecting the second wager, displaying a full outcome of the wagering game; and    awarding an increased value payout if the full outcome is one of the plurality of winning game outcomes.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wagering game comprises a slot game, and wherein displaying the partial outcome includes displaying a partial reel symbol array provided by at least two of a plurality of reels.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein displaying the full outcome includes displaying a full symbol array provided by the plurality of reels, the full symbol array including the partial symbol array.  
   
   
       14 . A method of conducting a slot game on a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the method comprising: 
 designating one of a plurality of reel symbols on one of a plurality of reels of the gaming machine as a super wild symbol;    detecting a first wager from a player to play the slot game;    providing an option to activate the super wild symbol;    detecting a second wager indicating player selection of the option;    in response to detecting the second wager, activating the super wild symbol to enable enhanced slot game play;    rotating and stopping the plurality of reels to display a first reel symbol array; and    if the super wild symbol appears in the first reel symbol array, repositioning the super wild symbol to display a second reel symbol array, the second reel symbol array having a higher value payout than the first reel symbol array.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second credit amount is directly proportional to a number of credits bet per pay line.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , which includes providing a higher probability of an occurrence of a winning symbol combination in the second reel symbol array than in the first symbol array.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein repositioning the super wild symbol includes repositioned the super wild symbol to maximize the value payout to the player.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein providing the option includes providing the option when the first wager includes a player selection of a maximum number of pay lines available for the slot game.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the reel symbol array includes fifteen reel symbols, and wherein the maximum number of pay lines includes twenty pay lines.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein activating the super wild symbol includes changing a color of the super wild reel symbol.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the gaming machine comprises a video slot machine, and wherein displaying the first symbol array includes displaying a first symbol array of video reel symbols of the plurality of reels, and wherein displaying the second symbol array includes displaying a second symbol array of video reel symbols of the plurality of reels.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the gaming machine comprises an adaptable mechanical spinning reel slot machine including a plurality of electromechanical reels having a plurality of reels symbols displayed thereon, and wherein the super wild symbol comprises a video reel symbol provided by a flat panel transmissive display positioned in front of the electromechanical reels.  
   
   
       24 . A method of conducting a slot game on a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a plurality of reels and a controller, the plurality of reels having a plurality of reels symbols displayed thereon, the controller having a processor and a memory, the method comprising: 
 displaying a first extra reel symbol above a first reel symbol array of the plurality of reel symbols, the first extra reel symbol associated with a first reel of the plurality of reels;    detecting a first wager from a player to play the slot game;    providing an option to activate a possibility of an additional movement of the first reel;    detecting a second wager indicating player selection of the option;    in response to detecting the second wager, enabling enhanced slot game play including the possibility of the additional movement to reposition the first extra symbol;    rotating and stopping the plurality of reels to display a second reel symbol array; and    causing the additional movement of the first reel to display a third reel symbol array if the third symbol array yields a higher value payout than the second symbol array.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second credit amount is directly proportional to a number of credits bet per pay line.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein providing the option includes providing the option when the first wager includes a player selection of a maximum number of pay lines available for the slot game.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , further including: 
 displaying a second extra reel symbol below the first reel symbol array, the second extra reel symbol associated with the first reel of the plurality of reels; and    causing the addition movement of the first reel to reposition the second extra symbol to display a third reel symbol array if the third symbol array yields a higher value payout than the second symbol array.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein rotating and stopping the plurality of reels includes rotating and stopping the first extra reel symbol and rotating and stopping the second extra reel symbol.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the gaming machine comprises a video slot machine, and wherein displaying the first extra reel symbol includes displaying a first extra video reel symbol and wherein displaying the second extra reel symbol includes displaying a second extra video reel symbol.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the gaming machine comprises an adaptable mechanical spinning reel slot machine including a plurality of electromechanical reels having a plurality of reels symbols displayed thereon, and wherein displaying the first extra reel symbol includes displaying a first extra video reel symbol and wherein displaying the second extra reel symbol includes displaying a second extra video reel symbol, the first extra video reel symbol and the second extra video reel symbol provided by a flat panel transmissive display positioned in front of the electro-mechanical reels.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein enabling enhanced slot game play including the possibility of the additional movement includes changing a color of the first extra reel symbol and the second extra reel symbol.  
   
   
       33 . A method of conducting a slot game on a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a plurality of reels and a controller, the plurality of reels having a plurality of reels symbols displayed thereon, the controller having a processor and a memory, the method comprising: 
 displaying an extra reel symbol above a first reel symbol array of the plurality of reel symbols;    detecting a first wager from a player to play the slot game;    providing an option to activate a possibility of generating an extra pay line that includes the extra reel symbol;    detecting a second wager indicating player selection of the option;    in response to detecting the second wager, enabling enhanced slot game play including the possibility of generating the extra pay line;    rotating and stopping the plurality of reels to display a second reel symbol array; and    if the extra reel symbol completes a winning symbol combination, generating the extra pay line, the extra pay line including the extra reel symbol.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the second credit amount is directly proportional to a number of credits bet per pay line.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein providing the option includes providing the option when the first wager includes a player selection of a maximum number of pay lines available for the slot game.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein rotating and stopping the plurality of reels includes rotating and stopping the extra reel symbol.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein enabling enhanced slot game play includes changing a color of the extra reel symbol.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the gaming machine comprises a video slot machine, and wherein displaying the extra reel symbol includes displaying an extra video reel symbol.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the gaming machine comprises an adaptable mechanical spinning reel slot machine including a plurality of electromechanical reels having a plurality of reels symbols displayed thereon, and wherein displaying the extra reel symbol includes displaying an extra video reel symbol provided by a flat panel transmissive display positioned in front of the electromechanical reels.  
   
   
       41 . In a server-based gaming network having a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of servers, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the method comprising: 
 providing an option for enhanced game play of the wagering game;    detecting a first wager from a player to play the wagering game;    detecting a second wager, the second wager indicating selection of the option by the player;    in response to detecting the second wager, enabling enhanced game play of the wagering game;    displaying an outcome associated with enhanced game play of the wagering game; and    awarding a first value payout if the outcome is one of a plurality of winning game outcomes of the wagering game.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes increasing a likelihood of an occurrence of a bonus game.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , which includes awarding a bonus game to the player.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes increasing a value payout average of a second plurality of value payouts associated with bonus game play of the bonus game.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes: 
 increasing a likelihood of an occurrence of a bonus game; and    increasing a value payout average of a second plurality of value payouts associated with bonus game play of the bonus game.    
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes increasing a value of the plurality of winning game outcomes.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes awarding a predetermined number of credits to the player if the outcome of the wagering game is a non-winning outcome.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein enabling enhanced game play includes enabling game features.