method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system

Abstract

A method of gaming comprising: generating game outcomes for game rounds by selecting symbols for display at a plurality of display positions on a display, the display positions being divided into a plurality of subsets of display positions and the selection of symbols for each subset of display positions being made from different ones of a plurality of symbol sets; and making a modification to generation of the game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a condition is met, the modification comprising causing a designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions while continuing to select symbols for the other subsets.

1 . A method of gaming comprising:
 generating game outcomes for game rounds by selecting symbols for display at a plurality of display positions on a display, the display positions being divided into a plurality of subsets of display positions and the selection of symbols for each subset of display positions being made from different ones of a plurality of symbol sets; and   making a modification to generation of the game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a condition is met, the modification comprising causing a designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions while continuing to select symbols for the other subsets.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the modification is a first modification made in response to a first condition and the method comprises making a second modification to generation of a game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a second condition is met, the second modification comprising causing a second designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the subsets are columns of display positions that correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels such that modifying a game outcome corresponds to replacing a reel with a designated set of symbols. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein when symbols are selected for display, they are selected by selecting a stop position for each reel. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the designated set of symbols is displayed as a spinning reel consisting of the designated set of symbols. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the designated symbols is a special symbol having an increased play characteristic relative to other symbols. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the special symbol is a wild symbol. 
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising making a third modification of generation of a game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a third condition is met, the modification comprising causing a third designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising evaluating for each game round whether the generated game outcome includes one or more winning outcomes. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein evaluations are performed in a designated order of symbol sets, and modification occurs in the opposite order. 
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein winning outcomes are evaluated on a left to right basis and reels are replaced right to left. 
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there are five sets of display positions. 
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each set of display positions has three display positions. 
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein symbols are selected using a random number generator. 
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein any modification is also applied to the current game round. 
   
   
       16 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:
 generate game outcomes for game rounds by selecting symbols for display at a plurality of display positions on a display, the display positions being divided into a plurality of subsets of display positions and the selection of symbols for each subset of display positions being made from different ones of a plurality of symbol sets; and   modify generation of the game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a condition is met, the modification comprising causing a designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions while continuing to select symbols for the other subsets.   
   
   
       17 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16  comprising an outcome generator arranged to generate game outcomes. 
   
   
       18 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the outcome generator comprises a symbol selector for selecting symbols. 
   
   
       19 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the outcome generator comprises a modification implementer arranged to cause a designated set of symbols to be displayed. 
   
   
       20 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the modification is a first modification made in response to a first condition and the game controller is arranged to make a second modification to generation of a game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a second condition is met, the second modification comprising causing a second designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions. 
   
   
       21 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the subsets are columns of display positions that correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels such that modifying a game outcome corresponds to replacing a reel with a designated set of symbols. 
   
   
       22 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the when symbols are selected for display, the game controller selects a stop position for each reel. 
   
   
       23 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the designated set of symbols is displayed under control of the game controller as a spinning reel consisting of the designated set of symbols. 
   
   
       24 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each of the designated symbols is a special symbol having an increased play characteristic relative to other symbols. 
   
   
       25 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the special symbol is a wild symbol. 
   
   
       26 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , arranged to make a third modification of generation of a game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a third condition is met, the modification comprising causing a third designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions. 
   
   
       27 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising a prize evaluator arranged to evaluate for each game round whether the generated game outcome includes one or more winning outcomes. 
   
   
       28 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein evaluations are performed in a designated order of symbol sets, and modification occurs in the opposite order. 
   
   
       29 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein winning outcomes are evaluated on a left to right basis and reels are replaced right to left. 
   
   
       30 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein there are five sets of display positions. 
   
   
       31 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each set of display positions has three display positions. 
   
   
       32 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16  comprising a random number generator employed in selecting the symbols. 
   
   
       33 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein any modification is also applied to the current game round. 
   
   
       34 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 16 , implemented by a memory and processor arranged to generate the game outcomes based on program code stored in the memory. 
   
   
       35 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display; and   a game controller arranged to:   generate game outcomes for game rounds by selecting symbols for display at a plurality of display positions on the display, the display positions being divided into a plurality of subsets of display positions and the selection of symbols for each subset of display positions being made from different ones of a plurality of symbol sets; and   modify generation of the game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a condition is met, the modification comprising causing a designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions while continuing to select symbols for the other subsets.   
   
   
       36 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the game controller comprises an outcome generator arranged to generate game outcomes. 
   
   
       37 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the outcome generator comprises a symbol selector for selecting symbols. 
   
   
       38 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the outcome generator comprises a modification implementer arranged to cause a designated set of symbols to be displayed. 
   
   
       39 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the modification is a first modification made in response to a first condition and the game controller is arranged to make a second modification to generation of a game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a second condition is met, the second modification comprising causing a second designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions. 
   
   
       40 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the subsets are columns of display positions that correspond to respective ones of a plurality of reels such that modifying a game outcome corresponds to replacing a reel with a designated set of symbols. 
   
   
       41 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein when symbols are selected for display, the game controller selects a stop position for each reel. 
   
   
       42 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the designated set of symbols is displayed under control of the game controller as a spinning reel consisting of the designated set of symbols. 
   
   
       43 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein each of the designated symbols is a special symbol having an increased play characteristic relative to other symbols. 
   
   
       44 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the special symbol is a wild symbol. 
   
   
       45 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the game controller is arranged to make a third modification of generation of a game outcome for at least one subsequent game round in response to determining that a third condition is met, the modification comprising causing a third designated set of symbols to be displayed for one of the subsets of display positions. 
   
   
       46 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the game controller comprises a prize evaluator arranged to evaluate for each game round whether the generated game outcome includes one or more winning outcomes. 
   
   
       47 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein evaluations are performed in a designated order of symbol sets, and modification occurs in the opposite order. 
   
   
       48 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein winning outcomes are evaluated on a left to right basis and reels are replaced right to left. 
   
   
       49 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein there are five sets of display positions. 
   
   
       50 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein each set of display positions has three display positions. 
   
   
       51 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35  comprising a random number generator employed in selecting the symbols. 
   
   
       52 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein any modification is also applied to the current game round. 
   
   
       53 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35 , comprising a memory and processor arranged to execute program code stored in the memory to implement the game controller. 
   
   
       54 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 35  comprising a game play mechanism operable by a player at least to initiate a play of the game. 
   
   
       55 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  and further including a computer program code. 
   
   
       56 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  and further including a computer readable medium comprising a program code. 
   
   
       57 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  and further including a data signal comprising a program code. 
   
   
       58 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  and further including transmitting a program code.