Gaming machine with playing-board bonus game affected by free spins of the reels

Abstract

A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a game board and a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of symbols for representing an outcome of the wagering game. The player is given a predefined number of free spins of the reels upon occurrence of a predetermined event in the wagering game, such as a start-bonus outcome. A number symbol appearing on the reels after one of the free spins determines how many game spaces to move the player around the game board. Various prizes are awarded to the player when he or she lands on certain ones of the game spaces.

1 . A gaming machine, comprising: 
 a value input device for receiving a wager from a player at the gaming machine, a wagering game being initiated upon receipt of the wager; and    at least one display for displaying a plurality of reels of the wagering game, each reel having a plurality of symbols for representing an outcome of the wagering game, the outcome being randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes;    the at least one display also for displaying a game board of the wagering game, the game board having a game path composed of a plurality of game spaces;    wherein upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the player is given one or more free spins of the reels and movement of a space identifier of the player around the game path is determined by at least one advancement symbol or symbol combination appearing on the reels after one of the one or more free spins.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outcomes includes a start-bonus outcome and the predetermined event includes the start-bonus outcome being selected as the randomly selected outcome.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one display includes a first display for displaying the reels and a second display for displaying the game board.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the advancement symbol or symbol combination includes a dice symbol.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the dice symbol simulates a random rolling motion before settling on a randomly selected number.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the advancement symbol or symbol combination may appear anywhere on the reels.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the advancement symbol or symbol combination must appear in a specific location on the reels.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine allows the player to store a current state of the wagering game and to subsequently restore the current state of the wagering game.  
   
   
       9 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising: 
 initiating a wagering game upon receipt of a wager from a player at the gaming machine, the wagering game having an outcome that is randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes;    displaying a game board and a plurality of reels of the wagering game, the game board having a game path composed of a plurality of game spaces and each reel having a plurality of symbols;    giving the player one or more free spins of the reels upon occurrence of a predetermined event; and    moving a space identifier of the player around the game path based on an advancement symbol or symbol combination appearing on the reels after one of the one or more free spins.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the game board includes at least one game space having a predetermined credit value associated therewith, further comprising increasing the credit value associated with the game space when the space identifier lands on the game space.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the game board includes at least one group of game spaces, each game space in the group of game spaces having a predetermined credit value associated therewith, further comprising increasing the credit value associated with every game space in the group of game spaces when the space identifier lands on any game space in the group of game spaces.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the game board includes a plurality of game spaces that each have a credit value associated therewith, further comprising increasing the credit values associated with randomly selected ones of the plurality of game spaces when the space identifier lands on a predetermined game space.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising giving the player a game termination symbol when the space identifier lands on a predetermined game space or when the game termination symbol appears on the plurality of reels after one of the one or more free spins.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising terminating the wagering game upon the player receiving a predetermined number of game termination symbols.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising giving the player a game prolongation symbol when the space identifier lands on a predetermined game space or when the game prolongation symbol appears on the plurality of reels after one of the one or more free spins.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein each game prolongation symbol cancels one game termination symbol.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising giving the player a predetermined number of complementary game prolongation symbols.  
   
   
       18 . A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming machine to perform the method according to  claim 9 .  
   
   
       19 . A gaming machine, comprising: 
 a value input device for receiving a wager from a player at the gaming machine, the wagering game being initiated upon receipt of the wager;    a plurality of reels of the wagering game, each reel having a plurality of symbols for representing an outcome of the wagering game, the outcome being randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes; and    a display for displaying a game board having a game path, the plurality of reels including symbols that cause advancement of a space identifier of the player along the game path during free spins of the reels.    
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the game board includes at least one game space having a predetermined credit value associated therewith, further comprising increasing the credit value associated with the game space when the space identifier lands on the game space.