Gaming device and method featuring an award occuring on non-winning outcomes

Abstract

A gaming device having a primary game and paying awards under certain conditions if the outcome of the primary game is not on a winning outcome.

1 . An improved gaming device of the type having a display, means for a player to input a wager and a computer processor configured to select and display a plurality of indicia defining outcomes, said improvement comprising:
 a data structure storing data corresponding to game indicia and at least one feature indicia;   defining combinations of game indicia which are winning outcomes and an award related to the selection and display of a feature indicia;   the player inputting a wager and prompting play of the game;   in response to the prompting of play of the game said processor configured to select and control the display to display game indicia to define a game winning or a losing outcome;   if said game outcome is a winning outcome and includes none, one or a plurality of feature indicia, issuing an award to the player for the winning outcome and no award for the display for any feature indicia; and   if said game outcome is a losing outcome and includes at least one feature indicia, issuing an award based upon the selection and display of the feature indicia.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising if said game outcome is a losing outcome and includes at least one feature indicia located at a predetermined location in the display, issuing an award based upon the selection and display of the feature indicia. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  comprising said processor selecting and controlling the display to display game indicia in a matrix and if said game outcome is a losing outcome and includes at least one feature indicia located at a predetermined location in the matrix, issuing an award based upon the selection and display of the feature indicia. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  comprising said processor selecting and controlling the display to display game indicia in a matrix defining a plurality of reels and if said game outcome is a losing outcome and includes at least one feature indicia located on a predetermined reel, issuing an award based upon the selection and display of the feature indicia.