Gaming device with special symbol

Abstract

A gaming machine that provides a game in which an array of symbol positions are populated with game symbols from a set of game symbols, the set of game symbols including ordinary game symbols and at least one special symbol, the gaming machine being adapted to award an award if a winning combination of game symbols is displayed, the gaming machine including a user interface in communication with a game controller, wherein the game controller is adapted to enhance the characteristics of at least one of the ordinary game symbols to create at least one enhanced symbol based upon the relative location of the ordinary game symbol to a special symbol.

1 . A gaming machine that provides a game in which an array of symbol positions are populated with game symbols from a set of game symbols, the set of game symbols including ordinary game symbols and at least one special symbol, the gaming machine being adapted to award an award if a winning combination of game symbols is displayed, the gaming machine including a user interface in communication with a game controller,
 wherein the game controller is adapted to enhance the characteristics of at least one of the ordinary game symbols to create at least one enhanced symbol based upon the relative location of the ordinary game symbol to a special symbol.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced symbol is created by assigning a multiplier value to an ordinary game symbol, the multiplier value being applicable to an award associated with a winning combination which includes the enhanced symbol to which the multiplier has been assigned. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced symbol is created by making an ordinary game symbol substitutable for one or more ordinary game symbols for the purposes of determining a winning combination. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the game controller is adapted to enhance the characteristics of at least one of the ordinary game symbols only when the special symbol has been activated in response to an activation event. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the game controller is adapted to enhance the characteristics of the special symbol itself. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein on activation of the special symbol the game controller is adapted to enhance the characteristics of a plurality of ordinary game symbols to create a plurality of enhanced symbols. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the multiplier value assigned to the enhanced symbol is dependent on the proximity of the enhanced symbol to the special symbol. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the multiplier value decreases the further the enhanced symbol is away from the special symbol. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the number or type of ordinary game symbols the enhanced game symbol is substitutable for is related to the proximity of the enhanced symbol to the special symbol. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the closer the enhanced ordinary game symbol is to the special symbol the greater the number of ordinary symbols the enhanced symbol is substitutable for. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1  further including at least one indicator for indicating an activation of a special symbol and at least one of the existence and location of any enhanced symbols. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming machine according to  claim 4  wherein different activation events will result in different characteristics being assigned to at least one of the special symbol and the at least one enhanced symbol. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the special symbol may substitute as one or more ordinary symbols for the determination of a winning combination. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein a special symbol activated by the activation event will remain activated until the occurrence of a deactivation event. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the activation event is an ante-bet feature, in which a player is given the option of purchasing the activated special symbol. 
   
   
       16 . A method for use with a gaming machine that is adapted to select symbols, present the selected symbols on a display and award an award if a winning outcome occurs, wherein the set of game symbols includes ordinary game symbols and at least one special symbol,
 the method including enhancing the characteristics of at least one of the ordinary game symbols to create at least one enhanced symbol based upon the relative location of the ordinary game symbol to a special symbol.   
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the enhanced symbol is created by assigning a multiplier value to an ordinary game symbol, the multiplier value applicable to an award associated with a winning combination which includes the enhanced symbol to which the multiplier has been assigned. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the enhanced symbol is created by making an ordinary game symbol substitutable for one or more ordinary game symbols for the purposes of determining a winning combination. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the characteristics of at least one of the ordinary game symbols are enhanced only if the special symbol has been activated in response to an activation event. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 16 , further including enhancing the characteristics of the special symbol itself. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein on activation of the special symbol the characteristics of a plurality of ordinary game symbols are enhanced to create a plurality of enhanced symbols. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the multiplier value assigned to the enhanced symbol is dependent on the proximity of the enhanced symbol to the special symbol. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the value of the multiplier decreases the further the enhanced symbol is away from the special symbol. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the number or type of ordinary game symbols the enhanced game symbol is substitutable for is related to the proximity of the enhanced symbol to the special symbol. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the closer the enhanced ordinary game symbol is to the special symbol the greater the number of ordinary symbols the enhanced symbol is substitutable for. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 16 , further including indicating an activation of a special symbol and at least one of the existence and location of any enhanced symbols. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the special symbol may substitute as one or more ordinary symbols for the determination of a winning outcome. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein a special symbol activated by an activation event will remain activated until the occurrence of a deactivation event. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the activation event is an ante-bet feature, in which a player is given the option of purchasing the activated 
   
   
       30 . A gaming system including at least one gaming machine according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       31 . A storage medium readable by a game controller and storing instructions executable by a game controller to implement a method according to  claim 16 .