Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller

Abstract

A method of gaming comprising: distributing a plurality of image parts of an image across a set of display positions for display to a player; activating a bonus award if the image parts are arranged across the display positions so as to form the image; selecting a set of symbols for display to the player in the display positions; and determining a game round outcome based on the selected symbols and the bonus award.

1 . A method of gaming comprising:
 distributing a plurality of image parts of an image across a set of display positions for display to a player;   activating a bonus award if the image parts are arranged across the display positions so as to form the image;   selecting a set of symbols for display to the player in the display positions; and   determining a game round outcome based on the selected symbols and the bonus award.   
   
   
       2 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the display positions are for displaying cards in a game round of poker and the symbols comprise playing card symbols. 
   
   
       3 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the image parts are displayed on the same face as the symbols. 
   
   
       4 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the image parts are displayed on a back face of the cards. 
   
   
       5 . A method of gaming a claimed in  claim 1  wherein the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels set side by side and the symbols are symbols of the reels. 
   
   
       6 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of image parts comprise a left image part, a centre image part and a right image part. 
   
   
       7 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus award is a prize, a free game round or a modification of normal operation of a game round. 
   
   
       8 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the image is a design, pattern or picture. 
   
   
       9 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the image is an animated image. 
   
   
       10 . A method of gaming as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of activating the bonus award occurs only if the image parts occupy particular ones of the display positions. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display for symbols to be displayed in a set of display positions to a player;   an image part distributor for distributing a plurality of image parts of an image across the set of display positions;   a bonus award controller for activating a bonus award if the image parts are arranged across the display positions so as to form the image;   a symbol selector for selecting a set of symbols for display to the player in the display positions; and   an outcome generator for determining a game round outcome based on the selected symbols and the bonus award.   
   
   
       12 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the display positions are for displaying cards in a game round of poker and the symbols comprise playing card symbols. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the image parts are displayed on the same face as the symbols. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the image part distributor distributes the image parts on a back face of the cards prior to the playing card symbols being revealed. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming system a claimed in  claim 11  wherein the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels set side by side. 
   
   
       16 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the plurality of image parts comprise a left image part, a centre image part and a right image part. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the bonus award is a prize, a free game round or a modification of normal operation of a game round. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the image is a design, pattern or picture. 
   
   
       19 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the image is an animated image. 
   
   
       20 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the bonus award controller is arranged to activate the bonus award only if the image parts occupy particular ones of the display positions. 
   
   
       21 . A gaming system as claimed in  claims 11  comprising a game play mechanism operable by the player to place a wager. 
   
   
       22 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the image part distributor, the bonus award controller, the symbol selector, and the outcome generator are provided by a game controller constituted, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. 
   
   
       23 . A game controller comprising:
 an image part distributor for distributing a plurality of image parts of an image on a display across a set of display positions;   a bonus award controller for activating a bonus award if the image parts are arranged across the display positions so as to form the image;   a symbol selector for selecting a set of symbols for display to the player in the display positions; and   an outcome generator for determining a game round outcome based on the selected symbols and the bonus award.   
   
   
       24 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the display positions are for displaying cards in a game round of poker and the symbols comprise playing card symbols. 
   
   
       25 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the image parts are displayed on the same face as the symbols. 
   
   
       26 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the image part distributor distributes the image parts on a back face of the cards. 
   
   
       27 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the display positions correspond to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels set side by side. 
   
   
       28 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the plurality of image parts comprise a left image part, a centre image part and a right image part. 
   
   
       29 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the bonus award is a prize, a free game round or a modification of normal operation of a game round. 
   
   
       30 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the image is a design, pattern or picture. 
   
   
       31 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the image is an animated image. 
   
   
       32 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the bonus award controller is arranged to activate the bonus award only if the image parts occupy particular ones of the display positions. 
   
   
       33 . A method of gaming comprising:
 selecting a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions arranged in an array on a display, the symbols being selected from a set of symbols each of which has a primary image element and at least some of which have a secondary image element, each secondary image element being a sub-component of a respective one of one or more larger images;   performing a first award evaluation of the selected symbols based on a prize table defining winning combinations of primary image elements; and   performing a second award evaluation of the selected symbols based on whether the selected symbols include a plurality of secondary image elements which complete one or more of the one or more larger images.   
   
   
       34 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:
 select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions arranged in an array on a display, the symbols being selected from a set of symbols each of which has a primary image element and at least some of which have a secondary image element, each secondary image element being a sub-component of a respective one of one or more larger images;   perform a first award evaluation of the selected symbols based on a prize table defining winning combinations of primary image elements; and   perform a second award evaluation of the selected symbols based on whether the selected symbols include a plurality of secondary image elements which complete one or more of the one or more larger images.   
   
   
       35 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display for displaying symbols at a plurality of display positions arranged in an array;   a memory storing a set of symbols each of which has a primary image element and at least some of which have a secondary image element, each secondary image element being a sub-component of a respective one of one or more larger images; and   a game controller arranged to:   select a plurality of symbols from the symbol set for display at respective ones of the plurality of display positions;   perform a first award evaluation of the selected symbols based on a prize table defining winning combinations of primary image elements; and   perform a second award evaluation of the selected symbols based on whether the selected symbols include a plurality of secondary image elements which complete one or more of the one or more larger images.   
   
   
       36 . Computer program code which when executed by a computer causes the computer to implement computer causes the computer to implement the method of gaming of any one of  claims 1 . 
   
   
       37 . A computer readable medium comprising the program code of  claim 36 . 
   
   
       38 . A data signal comprising the computer program code of  claim 36 . 
   
   
       39 . Transmitting the computer program code of  claim 36 .