Gaming machine and game having multiple levels

Abstract

A game has the potential for multiple levels. The game initiates with a base or first level of one or more symbols. If an advancing outcome is received, the game advances to a second level. In one embodiment, the game builds as successive levels are played, such as by adding one or more symbols at each level of the game. The game may comprise a video-slot type game in which a base set of one or more rows of symbols are displayed and evaluated and where an additional row of symbols is added at each successive level. Advancing outcomes of symbols may comprise designated combinations of symbols along a pay line and including certain symbol positions, such as at least one symbol in a top row of the symbol set.

1 . A method of presenting a game at a gaming machine comprising the machine implemented steps of:
 (a) accepting a wager from a player;   (b) presenting a first level of said game comprising displaying a set of active symbols comprising at least one symbol;   (c) as to said set of active symbols of said first level determining if an advancing outcome has been received;   (d) if an advancing outcome of one or more symbols has not been received relative to said set of active symbols, ending said game at said first level; and   (e) if an advancing outcome of one or more symbols has been received relative to said active symbols, continuing said game to at least one successive level by:   (f) displaying at least one additional symbol to set of active symbols to create a new set of active symbols;   (g) if an advancing outcome has not been received relative to said new set of active symbols, ending said game; and   (h) if an advancing outcome has been received relative to said new set of active symbols and any successive levels of said game remain, repeating steps (f)-(h).   
   
   
       2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said set of active symbols in said first level of said game comprises a least a single row of symbols. 
   
   
       3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said set of active symbols in said first level of said game comprises at least two rows of symbols, each row containing at least one symbol. 
   
   
       4 . The method in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said advancing outcome relative to said set of active symbols in said first level of said game comprises a winning outcome including at least one symbol in a top row of said set of symbols. 
   
   
       5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said step of displaying at least one additional symbol in at least one successive level comprises displaying at least one additional row containing at least one additional symbol. 
   
   
       6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising the step of awarding an award if at least one advancing outcome is received. 
   
   
       7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said advancing outcome comprises at least one winning outcome of one or more symbols along at least one designated pay line. 
   
   
       8 . A method of presenting a slot-type game at a gaming machine comprising the machine implemented steps of:
 (a) accepting a wager from a player;   (b) presenting a first level of said game comprising displaying a set of active symbols comprising at least two rows of symbols, each row of symbols comprising at least one symbol;   (c) as to said set of active symbols of said first level determining if an advancing outcome has been received, said advancing outcome comprising at least one predetermined winning combination of symbols along at least one designated pay line;   (d) if an advancing outcome of one or more symbols has not been received relative to said set of active symbols, ending said game at said first level; and   (e) if an advancing outcome of one or more symbols has been received relative to said active symbols, awarding an award and continuing said game to at least one successive level by:   (f) displaying at least one additional rows of at least one symbol to set of active symbols to create a new set of active symbols;   (g) if an advancing outcome has not been received relative to said new set of active symbols, ending said game; and   (h) if an advancing outcome has been received relative to said new set of active symbols, awarding an award;   if any successive levels of said game remain, repeating steps (f)-(h).   
   
   
       9 . The method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said set of symbols in said first level comprises at least one row of symbols. 
   
   
       10 . The method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said set of symbols includes a top row and said advancing outcome in each level comprises at least one symbol in the top row of the set of active symbols. 
   
   
       11 . The method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein there are at least two possible successive levels. 
   
   
       12 . The method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said advancing outcome comprises at least one special symbol. 
   
   
       13 . The method in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising the step of determining if a winning outcome has been received relative to said set of active symbols in said first level even if an advancing outcomes was not received and, if so, awarding an award for said winning outcome. 
   
   
       14 . The method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein if no successive levels of said game remain, determining if a final set of active symbols defines a winning outcome and, if so, awarding an award for said outcome. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a housing;   at least one user input;   at least one electronic display configured to display game information to a player;   at least one information storage device;   a controller configured to receive information from said at least one user input of inputs thereto and to display game information via said at least one display to said player; and   instructions stored on the storage device and executable by the controller to present a game, the one or more instructions comprising:
 (a) instructions for accepting a wager from a player; 
 (b) instructions for displaying a base set of active symbols comprising at least one symbol in a first level of said game; 
 (c) instruction for determining if an advancing outcome has been received relative to said active symbols in said first level of said game; 
 (d) instructions for ending said game at said first level if an advancing outcome of one or more symbols has not been received relative to said active symbols; and 
 (e) instructions for, if an advancing outcome of one or more symbols has been received relative to said active symbols, continuing said game to at least one successive level by: 
 (f) displaying at least one additional active symbol to create a new set of active symbols; 
 (g) if an advancing outcome has not been received relative to said active symbols, ending said game; and 
 (h) if an advancing outcome has been received relative to said active symbols and any successive levels of said game remain, repeating steps (f)-(h). 
   
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising a wager-accepting device for accepting said wager from said player. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising instructions for determining if a winning combination of symbols has been received relative to said active symbols in said first level of said game even if an advancing outcome has not been received and, if so, awarding an award to said player. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said base set of active symbols comprises a row of at least one symbol. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said instructions for determining if an advancing outcome has been received relative to said active symbols in said first level comprises instructions for determining if at least one designated combination of symbols has been received relative to one or more designated pay lines. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said one or more designated pay lines include at least one designated symbol position of said active symbols. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming machine in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said instructions for determining if an advancing outcome has been received relative to at least one successive level comprises determining if a predetermined minimum number of winning outcomes has been received relative to said level.