Gaming machine with symbol-specific multipliers

Abstract

A method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged to select symbols, present the symbols on a display and award an award if a winning outcome occurs. The method includes initialising a plurality of award adjustors, each award adjustor being associated with a corresponding symbol in a specified set of symbols, changing a value of each said award adjustor in response to a game event that involves the presentation of the corresponding symbol on the display; and if the winning outcome comprises a symbol from the specified set, adjusting the award dependent on the award adjustor associated with the symbol in the winning outcome.

1 . A method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged to select symbols, present the symbols on a display and award an award if a winning outcome occurs, the method comprising:
 initialising a plurality of award adjustors, each award adjustor being associated with a corresponding symbol in a specified set of symbols;   changing a value of each said award adjustor in response to a game event that involves the presentation of the corresponding symbol on the display; and   if the winning outcome comprises a symbol from the specified set, adjusting the award dependent on the award adjustor associated with the symbol in the winning outcome.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the award adjustors are multipliers and adjusting the award comprises multiplying the award by the value of one or more of the multipliers. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein changing the value of the award adjustor comprises incrementing the award adjustor for each occurrence of the corresponding symbol. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the value of the award adjustor is incremented by an amount greater than one for each occurrence of the corresponding symbol. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising decrementing at least one award adjustor if a predetermined symbol is displayed on the display. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising resetting at least one award adjustor to a default value if the at least one award adjustor is used to adjust an award. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the value each said award adjustor is changed by a value related to the number of times the corresponding symbol is displayed. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the value each said award adjustor is changed is also dependent on the occurrence of a further symbol, different from the corresponding symbol. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein when the further symbol is displayed on the display together with the corresponding symbol, the award adjustor is increased by an amount more than if the corresponding symbol was displayed alone. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display and if a winning combination occurs the game controller awards an award, the gaming machine being arranged to:
 initialise a plurality of award adjustors, each award adjustor being associated with a corresponding symbol in a specified set of symbols;   change a value of each said award adjustor in response to a game event that involves the presentation of the corresponding symbol on the display; and   if the winning outcome comprises a symbol from the specified set, adjust the award dependent on the award adjustor associated with the symbol in the winning outcome.   
   
   
       11 . A gaming machine according to  claim 10  wherein the award adjustors are multipliers and adjusting the award comprises multiplying the award by the value of one or more of the multipliers. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming machine according to  claim 10  wherein changing the value of the award adjustor comprises incrementing the award adjustor for each occurrence of the corresponding symbol. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming machine according to  claim 12  wherein the value of the award adjustor is incremented by an amount greater than one for each occurrence of the corresponding symbol. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming machine according to  claim 10  further arranged to decrement at least one award adjustor if a predetermined symbol is displayed on the display. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming machine according to  claim 10  further arranged to reset at least one award adjustor to a default value if the at least one award adjustor is used to adjust an award. 
   
   
       16 . A gaming machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the value each said award adjustor is changed by a value related to the number of times the corresponding symbol is displayed. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the value each said award adjustor is changed is also dependent on the occurrence of a further symbol, different from the corresponding symbol. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming machine according to  claim 17 , wherein when the further symbol is displayed on the display together with the corresponding symbol, the award adjustor is increased by an amount more than if the corresponding symbol was displayed alone. 
   
   
       19 . A computer program product comprising machine-readable program code recorded on a machine-readable recording medium, for controlling the operation of a data processing apparatus on which the program code executes to perform a method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged to select symbols, present the symbols on a display and award an award if a winning outcome occurs, the method comprising:
 initialising a plurality of award adjustors, each award adjustor being associated with a corresponding symbol in a specified set of symbols;   changing a value of each said award adjustor in response to a game event that involves the presentation of the corresponding symbol on the display; and   if the winning outcome comprises a symbol from the specified set, adjusting the award dependent on the award adjustor associated with the symbol in the winning outcome.   
   
   
       20 . A computer program comprising machine-readable program code for controlling the operation of a data processing apparatus on which the program code executes to perform a method for use with a gaming machine that is arranged to select symbols, present the symbols on a display and award an award if a winning outcome occurs, the method comprising:
 initialising a plurality of award adjustors, each award adjustor being associated with a corresponding symbol in a specified set of symbols;   changing a value of each said award adjustor in response to a game event that involves the presentation of the corresponding symbol on the display; and   if the winning outcome comprises a symbol from the specified set, adjusting the award dependent on the award adjustor associated with the symbol in the winning outcome.