Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller

Abstract

A method of gaming comprising conducting a series of game rounds in response to determining that the series should commence, at least one first game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a first number of special symbols at a corresponding first number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols, and at least one second game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a second number of special symbols greater than the first number at a corresponding second number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols.

1 . A method of gaming comprising conducting a series of game rounds in response to determining that the series should commence,
 at least one first game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a first number of special symbols at a corresponding first number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a first selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols, and   at least one second game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a second number of special symbols at a corresponding second number of display positions of a set of display positions where the second number is greater than the first number, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a second selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols.   
   
   
       2 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second game round commences after a designated number of first game rounds. 
   
   
       3 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each selection set of symbols represents symbols positioned on a plurality of spinnable reels, and the display positions represent visible reel positions after a spin of the reels. 
   
   
       4 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second special symbols are wild symbols. 
   
   
       5 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first number of first special symbols is one and the second number of second special symbols is two. 
   
   
       6 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first special symbols are positioned to correspond to one reel and shift between reels in subsequent game rounds in the series. 
   
   
       7 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the first special symbols shift in one direction by one reel position after each game round and the designated number of first game rounds is equal to the number of reels. 
   
   
       8 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising conducting at least one third game round by controlling a display to display a third number of special symbols at a corresponding third number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a third selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols. 
   
   
       9 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the third number is greater than the second number. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising initiating the series of game rounds as a series of free game rounds in response to a trigger event occurring in a base game round during which symbols are selected from the same selection symbol set but outcomes are determined in a different manner. 
   
   
       11 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:
 conduct a series of game rounds in response to determining that the series should commence,   at least one first game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a first number of special symbols at a corresponding first number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a first selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols, and   at least one second game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a second number of special symbols at a corresponding second number of display positions of a set of display positions where the second number is greater than the first number, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a second selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols.   
   
   
       12 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11 , comprising a symbol selector for selecting symbols for display in the display positions. 
   
   
       13 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11 , comprising a special symbol controller for controlling the number and display positions of the special symbols. 
   
   
       14 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the special symbol controller is arranged to determine the display position at least partially on a random basis. 
   
   
       15 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11  comprising an outcome determiner for determining each game round outcome. 
   
   
       16 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11  comprising a feature game initiator arranged to initiate the series of game rounds as a series of free game rounds in response to a trigger event occurring in a base game round. 
   
   
       17 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11 , implemented, at least in part, by a processor executing code stored in a memory. 
   
   
       18 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the game controller controls commencement of the at least one second game round to occur after a designated number of first game rounds. 
   
   
       19 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each selection set of symbols represents symbols positioned on a plurality of spinnable reels, and the display positions represent visible reel positions after a spin of the reels. 
   
   
       20 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second special symbols are wild symbols. 
   
   
       21 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first number of first special symbols is one and the second number of second special symbols is two. 
   
   
       22 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the first special symbols are positioned to correspond to one reel and shift between reels in subsequent game rounds in the series. 
   
   
       23 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the first special symbols shift in one direction by one reel position after each game round and the designated number of first game rounds is equal to the number of reels. 
   
   
       24 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 11  further arranged to conducting at least one third game round by controlling a display to display a third number of special symbols at a corresponding third number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a third selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols. 
   
   
       25 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the third number is greater than the second number. 
   
   
       26 . A gaming system comprising
 a display for symbols to be displayed at a set of display positions to a player; and   a game controller arranged to:   conduct a series of game rounds in response to determining that the series should commence,   at least one first game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling the display to display a first number of special symbols at a corresponding first number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a first selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols, and   at least one second game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling the display to display a second number of special symbols at a corresponding second number of display positions of a set of display positions where the second number is greater than the first number, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a second selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols.   
   
   
       27 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the display forms part of a player interface further comprising a game play mechanism operable by the player to play the game. 
   
   
       28 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the game controller comprises a symbol selector for selecting symbols for display in the display positions. 
   
   
       29 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the game controller comprises a special symbol controller for controlling the number and display positions of the special symbols. 
   
   
       30 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the special symbol controller is arranged to determine the display position at least partially on a random basis. 
   
   
       31 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the game controller comprises an outcome determiner for determining each game round outcome. 
   
   
       32 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the game controller comprises a feature game initiator arranged to initiate the series of game rounds as a series of free game rounds in response to a trigger event occurring in a base game round. 
   
   
       33 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the game controller is implemented, at least in part, by a processor executing code stored in a memory. 
   
   
       34 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the game controller controls commencement of the at least one second game round to occur after a designated number of first game rounds. 
   
   
       35 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein each selection set of symbols represents symbols positioned on a plurality of spinnable reels, and the display positions represent visible reel positions after a spin of the reels. 
   
   
       36 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the first and second special symbols are wild symbols. 
   
   
       37 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the first number of first special symbols is one and the second number of second special symbols is two. 
   
   
       38 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the first special symbols are positioned to correspond to one reel and shift between reels in subsequent game rounds in the series. 
   
   
       39 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 38  wherein the first special symbols shift in one direction by one reel position after each game round and the designated number of first game rounds is equal to the number of reels. 
   
   
       40 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the game controller is further arranged to conducting at least one third game round by controlling a display to display a third number of special symbols at a corresponding third number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a third selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols. 
   
   
       41 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the third number is greater than the second number. 
   
   
       42 . A gaming system comprising:
 means for conducting a series of game rounds in response to determining that the series should commence,   means for controlling a display to display a first number of special symbols at a corresponding first number of display positions of a set of display positions in at least one first game round of the series of game rounds, means for selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a first selection set of symbols, and means for determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols, and   means for controlling a display to display a second number of special symbols at a corresponding second number of display positions of a set of display positions where the second number is greater than the first number in at least one second game round of the series of game rounds, means for selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a second selection set of symbols, and means for determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols.   
   
   
       43 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a display mounted within a cabinet for symbols to be displayed at a set of display positions to a player,   an input device operable by a player to initiate a play of a game,   a game controller disposed in the cabinet in data communication with the display and the input device and comprising a processor and a memory storing game program code which when executed in response to the initiation of play, causes the game controller to conduct a series of game rounds in response to determining that the series should commence,   at least one first game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a first number of special symbols at a corresponding first number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a first selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols, and   at least one second game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a second number of special symbols at a corresponding second number of display positions of a set of display positions where the second number is greater than the first number, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a second selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols.   
   
   
       44 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium; and   executable program instructions embodied in the computer readable storage medium that when executed by a programmable system cause the system to perform functions that implement a method of gaming, the functions comprising:   conducting a series of game rounds in response to determining that the series should commence,   at least one first game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a first number of special symbols at a corresponding first number of display positions of a set of display positions, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a first selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols, and   at least one second game round of the series of game rounds being conducted by controlling a display to display a second number of special symbols at a corresponding second number of display positions of a set of display positions where the second number is greater than the first number, selecting symbols for the remaining display positions from a second selection set of symbols, and determining a game round outcome from the displayed symbols.