Slot Machine Game With Additional Features

Abstract

A method and apparatus to implement special features on slot machine games. For example, a wild (or other symbols) symbol can be purchased by the player before the reels are spun, so that the player is guaranteed to receive a wild symbol. The wild symbol can be positioned by the player or alternatively can be positioned randomly by the game. The price for additional symbol(s) may vary depending on which symbols have already been purchased.

1 . A method to play a slot machine, the method comprising:
 positioning a symbol in a position on a slot grid;   placing a wager and spinning reels on the slot machine after the positioning; and   paying an award to the player based on the wager and a final combination of the reels,   wherein the symbol remains positioned in the position during the spinning.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the symbol is a wild symbol. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the position is determined by a player. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the position is determined by the slot machine or associated apparatus. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the position is determined randomly by the slot machine or associated apparatus. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising, before the positioning, performing:
 offering a player an option to purchase the symbol;   purchasing, by the player, the symbol.   
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a prior spin forms a result which is determined to form a predetermined combination which triggers the positioning as a bonus. 
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the positioning is performed as a bonus for limited number of successive spins. 
   
   
       9 . A method to play a slot machine, the method comprising:
 placing a wager;   spinning reels on a slot machine to form a result on a slot grid on the slot machine;   positioning a symbol in a position on the slot grid, after the spinning; and   paying an award to the player based on the wager and the result modified by the symbol being in the position.   
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the symbol is a wild symbol. 
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the position is determined by the player. 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the position is determined by the slot machine or associated apparatus. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the position is randomly determined by the slot machine or associated apparatus. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising, before the positioning, performing:
 offering a player an option to purchase the symbol;   purchasing, by the player, the symbol.   
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein a prior spin forms a result which is determined to form a predetermined combination which triggers the positioning as a bonus. 
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the positioning is performed as a bonus for limited number of successive spins. 
   
   
       17 . A method to play a slot machine, the method comprising:
 receiving a first wager;   setting a position of a first indicator and a second indicator on an output device;   spinning reels on the slot machine to a resulting reel combination and awarding a first payout based on the first wager and the resulting reel combination;   determining if a first symbol behind the first indicator and a second symbol behind the second indicator form a predetermined winning combination, and if so, then awarding a second payout based on the predetermined winning combination.   
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the player places a second wager in exchange for performing the setting and the determining, and the second payout is based on the second wager and the predetermined winning combination. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein no additional wager beyond the first wager is required to perform the setting and the determining and the second payout is funded from the first wager. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein a prior spin forms a result which is determined to form a predetermined combination which triggers the setting and the determining as a bonus. 
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the position of the first indicator and the second indicator is determined by the machine. 
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the position of the first indicator and the second indicator is determined randomly by the machine. 
   
   
       23 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the position of the first indicator and the second indicator is determined by a player. 
   
   
       24 . A method to play a slot game, the method comprising:
 selecting a first preferred payline out of at least two paylines;   receiving a wager;   spinning reels on the slot game to a resulting combination and awarding a payout based on the wager on the resulting combination for all of the at least two paylines; and   multiplying any award on the first preferred payline by a first multiplier.   
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the selecting is performed by the player. 
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the selecting is performed by the machine. 
   
   
       27 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the selecting is performed by the machine such that the first preferred payline is chosen randomly. 
   
   
       28 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising selecting a second preferred payline out of the at least two paylines, wherein any award on the second preferred payline is multiplied by a second multiplier. 
   
   
       29 . The method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the first multiplier is higher than the second multiplier. 
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein a prior spin forms a result which is determined to form a predetermined combination which triggers the selecting and the multiplying as a bonus. 
   
   
       31 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising offering to the player an option to deposit additional money in exchange for the selecting and the multiplying, and if the player chooses not to deposit the additional money, then the multiplying operation is not performed. 
   
   
       32 . A method to play a reeled slot game, the method comprising:
 receiving a first wager;   selecting a first set of two or more horizontally adjacent symbol positions, a number of the horizontally adjacent symbol positions in the first set being less than a number of reels on the slot game;   spinning reels on the slot game to a final reel combination;   awarding a first payout based on the final reel combination; and   awarding a second payout based on a horizontal combination of symbols inside the first set of two or more horizontally adjacent symbol positions.   
   
   
       33 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the selecting is performed by the player. 
   
   
       34 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the selecting is performed by the slot machine. 
   
   
       35 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the selecting is performed by the slot machine and the first set is determined randomly. 
   
   
       36 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising receiving a second wager before the spinning, and the awarding awards the second payout based on the second wager. 
   
   
       37 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising, indicating a second set of two or more horizontally adjacent symbol positions, a number of the horizontally adjacent symbols positions in the second set being less than the number of reels on the slot game;
 receiving a third wager before the spinning; and   awarding a third payout based on the horizontal combination of symbols inside the second set of two or more horizontally adjacent symbol positions and the third wager.   
   
   
       38 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the adjacent symbol positions are on any active payline. 
   
   
       39 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , wherein a prior spin forms a result which is determined to form a predetermined combination which triggers both the selecting and the awarding a second payout as a bonus. 
   
   
       40 . The method as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the selecting and the awarding a second payout bonus are performed for a limited number of spins. 
   
   
       41 . A method to play a reeled slot game, the method comprising:
 allowing a player to select a custom symbol image to be displayed which represents a particular symbol;   spinning reels on the slot game to a final reel combination; and   displaying the custom symbol image on the reels whenever the custom symbol image appears.