Gaming System and a Method of Gaming

Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display in a plurality of first symbol groups, a display arranged to display the first symbol groups, and a symbol group modifier arranged to remove at least one first symbol group from the display and to add a corresponding at least one second symbol group different to the first symbol groups to the display. The system also comprises an outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after addition of the at least one second symbol group. The gaming system is arranged to provide a visible indication that the at least one first symbol group is being removed from the display and the at least one second symbol group is being added to the display. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display in a plurality of first symbol groups;   a display arranged to display the first symbol groups;   a symbol group modifier arranged to remove at least one first symbol group from the display and to add a corresponding at least one second symbol group different to the first symbol groups to the display; and   an outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after addition of the at least one second symbol group;   wherein the gaming system is arranged to provide a visible indication that the at least one first symbol group is being removed from the display and the at least one second symbol group is being added to the display.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the symbol selector is arranged to hold at least one first symbol group such that the symbols displayed in the at least one first symbol group do not change, and to simultaneously randomly select at least one symbol for display in the at least one second symbol group. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a second symbol group is added to the same location as the removed first symbol group. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a second symbol group is added to a different location as the removed first symbol group. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the symbol group modifier is arranged to remove at least one endmost displayed first symbol group by shifting the at least one endmost displayed first symbol group outwardly of a display area defined by the symbol groups. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein all first symbol groups are shifted to the left or to the right so as to remove an endmost displayed symbol group. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the symbol group modifier is arranged to randomly select at least one first symbol group for removal from display. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of first symbol groups are removed and a corresponding plurality of second symbol groups are added by the symbol group modifier. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the symbol group modifier is arranged to remove a plurality of first symbol groups by shifting at least one first symbol group to the left and by shifting at least one first symbol group to the right. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the symbol group modifier is arranged to remove at least one first symbol group from display in response to selection of a first symbol group by a player. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second symbol groups are derived from primary and secondary reels respectively. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the symbol group modifier is arranged to remove at least one primary reel and to add a corresponding at least one secondary reel, the gaming system being arranged to spin the secondary reel prior to selection of at least one symbol for display on the secondary reel. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the symbols include at least one function symbol having an associated function. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to operate in normal game mode and special game mode, and the symbol group modifier is arranged to remove at least one first symbol group and add a corresponding at least one second symbol group only when the gaming system operates in special game mode. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to commence special game mode when a predetermined game outcome occurs. 
   
   
       16 . A method of gaming comprising:
 selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols;   displaying the selected symbols in a plurality of first symbol groups in a display area;   removing at least one first symbol group from display and adding a corresponding at least one second symbol group to the display area;   providing a visible indication that the at least one first symbol group is being removed from the display and the at least one second symbol group is being added to the display; and   determining a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after addition of a corresponding at least one second symbol group to the display area.   
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising holding at least one first symbol group such that the symbols displayed in the at least one first symbol group do not change, and simultaneously randomly selecting at least one symbol for display in the at least one second symbol group. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising adding a second symbol group to the same location as the removed first symbol group. 
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising adding a second symbol group to a different location as the removed first symbol group. 
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising removing at least one endmost displayed first symbol group by shifting the at least one endmost displayed first symbol group outwardly of a display area defined by the symbol groups. 
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , comprising shifting all first symbol groups to the left or to the right so as to remove an endmost displayed symbol group. 
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising randomly selecting at least one first symbol group for removal from display. 
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising removing a plurality of first symbol groups and adding a corresponding plurality of second symbol groups. 
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , comprising removing a plurality of first symbol groups by shifting at least one first symbol group to the left and by shifting at least one first symbol group to the right. 
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising removing at least one first symbol group from display in response to selection of a first symbol group by a player. 
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second symbol groups are derived from primary and secondary reels respectively. 
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising removing at least one primary reel, adding a corresponding at least one secondary reel, and spinning the secondary reel prior to selection of at least one symbol for display on the secondary reel. 
   
   
       28 . A computer program arranged when loaded into a computer to instruct the computer to operate in accordance with a gaming system comprising:
 a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display in a plurality of first symbol groups;   a display arranged to display the first symbol groups;   a symbol group modifier arranged to remove at least one first symbol group from the display and to add a corresponding at least one second symbol group different to the first symbol groups to the display; and   an outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after addition of the at least one second symbol group;   wherein the gaming system is arranged to provide a visible indication that the at least one first symbol group is being removed from the display and the at least one second symbol group is being added to the display.   
   
   
       29 . A computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to operate in accordance with a gaming system comprising:
 a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display in a plurality of first symbol groups;   a display arranged to display the first symbol groups;   a symbol group modifier arranged to remove at least one first symbol group from the display and to add a corresponding at least one second symbol group different to the first symbol groups to the display; and   an outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after addition of the at least one second symbol group;   wherein the gaming system is arranged to provide a visible indication that the at least one first symbol group is being removed from the display and the at least one second symbol group is being added to the display.   
   
   
       30 . A data signal having computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to operate in accordance with a gaming system comprising:
 a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display in a plurality of first symbol groups;   a display arranged to display the first symbol groups;   a symbol group modifier arranged to remove at least one first symbol group from the display and to add a corresponding at least one second symbol group different to the first symbol groups to the display; and   an outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after addition of the at least one second symbol group;   wherein the gaming system is arranged to provide a visible indication that the at least one first symbol group is being removed from the display and the at least one second symbol group is being added to the display.