Gaming machine and gaming method thereof

Abstract

A gaming environment, in which an award is provided based on the symbol combination arranged in the symbol display area, is described. Especially a gaming environment, in which the display mode of the symbol display area is changed from a first display mode in which the symbols are displayed to a second display mode in which an award image is displayed, and a special award is provided based on the award image, when a symbol combination displayed on the display area is a predetermined symbol combination, is described.

1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a display having a plurality of display areas in each of which symbols are displayed;    a processor programmed to    (a) determine a symbol combination with the symbols displayed in each of the symbol display areas,    (b) provide a normal award based on the symbol combination determined,    (c) change a display mode of the symbol display areas in which a predetermined symbol combination is displayed from a first display mode in which the symbols are displayed to a second display mode in which an award image indicating a special award different from the normal award is displayed when the symbol combination displayed on the display is the predetermined symbol combination, and    (d) provide the special award based on the award image displayed in the second display mode.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor determines the award image indicating the special award different from the normal award.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor changes the display mode of the symbol display areas from the first display mode to the second display mode when the symbol combination displayed on the display becomes a symbol combination in which the same symbols with a predetermined number are aligned in a line.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor changes the display mode of the symbol display areas to the second display mode in which the award image is displayed by movably displaying a symbol image displayed in the symbol display areas when the display mode of the symbol display areas is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the processor displays a character image on the display and changes the display mode of the symbol display areas from the first display mode to the second display mode by displaying the character image so as to move the symbol images displayed in the symbol display areas in which the same symbols are displayed, when the symbol combination displayed on the display becomes a symbol combination in which the same symbols with a predetermined number are aligned in a line.  
   
   
       6 . A gaming method comprising steps of: 
 (a) determining a symbol combination with symbols displayed in each of symbol display areas on a display;    (b) providing a normal award based on the symbol combination determined,    (c) changing a display mode of the symbol display areas in which a predetermined symbol combination is displayed from a first display mode in which the symbols are displayed to a second display mode in which an award image indicating a special award different from the normal award is displayed when the symbol combination displayed on the display is the predetermined symbol combination, and    (d) providing the special award based on the award image displayed in the second display mode.    
   
   
       7 . The gaming method according to  claim 6 , further comprising a step of determining the award image indicating the special award different from the normal award.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming method according to  claim 6 , wherein the display mode of the symbol display areas is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode under a condition that the symbol combination displayed on the display becomes a symbol combination in which the same symbols with a predetermined number are aligned in a line.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming method according to  claim 6 , wherein the display mode of the symbol display areas is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode by movably displaying a symbol image displayed in the symbol display areas.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming method according to  claim 7 , wherein a character image is displayed on the display and the display mode of the symbol display areas is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode by displaying the character image so as to move the symbol images displayed in the symbol display areas in which the same symbols are displayed, when the symbol combination displayed on the display becomes a symbol combination in which the same symbols with a predetermined number are aligned in a line.