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 from a set of symbols for display in a display area at a plurality of display positions, and an instruction selector arranged to select an instruction from a plurality of instructions, at least some of the instructions being different and each instruction being indicative of a modification action applicable to the displayed symbols. The system also comprises a display modifier arranged to modify the displayed symbols according to the selected instruction, and an outcome evaluator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after modification by the selected instruction. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a display area at a plurality of display positions;   an instruction selector arranged to select an instruction from a plurality of instructions, at least some of the instructions being different and each instruction being indicative of a modification action applicable to the displayed symbols;   a display modifier arranged to modify the displayed symbols according to the selected instruction; and   an outcome evaluator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after modification by the selected instruction.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are associated with an instruction reel, the instruction reel being rotated and subsequently stopped to display a selected instruction. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are associated with a multi faceted shape, each face of the shape being associated with an instruction and the shape being rotated and subsequently stopped so as to display a face associated with a selected instruction. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the multi faceted shape comprises indicia indicative of the instructions on faces of the shape. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the indicia comprises numbers. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the shape is a die with each number on the die corresponding to an instruction. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein all of the instructions are different. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least two instructions are the same. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system is operable in normal game mode wherein an instruction is not selected from the plurality of instructions and the displayed symbols are not modified, and special game mode wherein an instruction is selected from the plurality of instructions and the displayed symbols are modified according to the selected instruction. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the symbol selector is arranged to select symbols during a base game implemented during normal game mode and the display modifier is arranged to modify the selected symbols according to the selected instruction during special game mode. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the symbol selector is arranged to select symbols and the display modifier is arranged to modify the selected symbols during special game mode. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to commence special game mode when a trigger condition exists. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the trigger condition is display of a particular combination of trigger symbols such as scattered predefined symbols or a particular combination of adjacently disposed symbols along a win line. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions include an instruction arranged to cause one or more symbols to swap positions or duplicate, to cause one or more rows or columns to swap or duplicate, or to cause one or more symbols to be replaced with a WILD symbol. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the set of symbols include at least one function symbol having an associated function which may be a wild function, a scatter function, a multiplier function, a repeat win function or a jackpot function. 
   
   
       16 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system is implemented as a stand alone gaming machine or across a network. 
   
   
       17 . A method of gaming comprising:
 selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a display area at a plurality of display positions;   selecting an instruction from a plurality of instructions, at least some of the instructions being different and each instruction being indicative of a modification action applicable to the displayed symbols;   modifying the displayed symbols according to the selected instruction; and   determining a game outcome based on the displayed symbols after modification by the selected instruction.   
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising associating the instructions with an instruction reel, rotating the instruction reel, and subsequently stopping the reel to display a selected instruction. 
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising associating the instructions with a multi faceted shape, each face of the shape being associated with an instruction, and rotating and subsequently stopping the shape so as to display a face associated with a selected instruction. 
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising disposing indicia indicative of the instructions on faces of the multi faceted shape. 
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the indicia comprises numbers. 
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the shape is a die with each number on the die corresponding to an instruction. 
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein all of the instructions are different. 
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein at least two instructions are the same. 
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising enabling operation in normal game mode wherein an instruction is not selected from the plurality of instructions and the displayed symbols are not modified, and special game mode wherein an instruction is selected from the plurality of instructions and the displayed symbols are modified according to the selected instruction. 
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , comprising selecting symbols during a base game implemented during normal game mode and modifying the selected symbols according to the selected instruction during special game mode. 
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising selecting symbols and modifying the selected symbols during special game mode. 
   
   
       28 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , comprising commencing special game mode when a trigger condition exists. 
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the trigger condition is display of a particular combination of trigger symbols such as scattered predefined symbols or a particular combination of adjacently disposed symbols along a win line. 
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of instructions include an instruction arranged to cause one or more symbols to swap positions or duplicate, to cause one or more rows or columns to swap or duplicate, or to cause one or more symbols to be replaced with a WILD symbol. 
   
   
       31 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the set of symbols include at least one function symbol having an associated function which may be a wild function, a scatter function, a multiplier function, a repeat win function or a jackpot function. 
   
   
       32 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1  and further comprising a computer program arranged when loaded into a computer to instruct the computer to operate in accordance with said gaming system. 
   
   
       33 . A gaming system according to  claim 1  and further comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to operate in accordance with said gaming system. 
   
   
       34 . A gaming system according to  claim 1  and further comprising a data signal having computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to operate in accordance with said gaming system.