Gaming device and method for playing a game

Abstract

In a gaming apparatus, a player places a wager and plays a game. A game controller determines an outcome for the game and controls a display to represent the game outcome. If the game outcome is a winning game outcome, the game controller controls the display to display a plurality of symbols in a plurality of spaces on a game board. Primary winning combinations are indicated and corresponding prizes are awarded before clearing those symbols from the game board. The remaining symbols are then redistributed and prizes for any secondary winning combinations may be indicated and awarded. The process of clearing the symbols, redistributing and determining winning combinations may continue for a predetermined number of redistributions, until all the symbols have been cleared, or until no more winning combinations are formed.

1 . A method for playing a game of a gaming device comprising:
 (A) allowing a player to place a wager and play a game;   (B) randomly determining a game outcome in a game controller;   (C) controlling a display with the game controller to indicate the game outcome;   (D) awarding a prize to the player that correlates to the game outcome; and   (E) wherein, if the game outcome is a winning game outcome, controlling the display to indicate the game outcome comprises:
 (a) allocating one or more symbols to a plurality of spaces on a game board; 
 (b) indicating one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; 
 (c) allocating an award for the one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; 
 (d) clearing the one or more primary winning combination of symbols from the game board; 
 (e) redistributing the remaining symbols on the game board; 
 (f) indicating any secondary winning combinations of symbols; and 
 (g) allocating an award for the secondary winning combinations of symbols. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising repeating the steps of clearing a winning combination of symbols and redistributing the remaining symbols until all the symbols have been cleared or no winning combinations are formed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising performing a predetermined number of redistributions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a winning combination of symbols comprises adjacent matching symbols. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  comprising individually highlighting each winning combination of symbols. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein redistributing the symbols is performed according to predetermined rules. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein redistributing the symbols is performed by cascading the remaining symbols downwards into any available spaces. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an award for a primary winning combination may be different to an award for a secondary winning combination. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game comprises a bonus game, wherein a plurality of turns of the bonus game are awarded to the player, and wherein the game board is cleared of symbols between each turn. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game comprises a bonus game, wherein a plurality of turns of the bonus game are awarded to the player, and wherein the game board is not cleared of symbols between each turn. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 (A) a gaming device configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game of chance;   (B) a game display; and   (C) a game controller in communication with the gaming device and the game display, the game controller programmed to:
 (a) randomly determine a game outcome; 
 (b) control the game display to display an arrangement of symbols on the game display that represents the game outcome; and 
 (c) if the game outcome is a winning outcome, control the game display to:
 (i) allocate one or more symbols to a plurality of spaces on a game board; 
 (ii) indicate one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; 
 (iii) allocate an award for the one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; 
 (iv) clear the one or more primary winning combination of symbols from the game board; 
 (v) redistribute the remaining symbols on the game board; 
 (vi) indicate any secondary winning combinations of symbols; and 
 (vii) allocate an award for the any secondary winning combinations of symbols. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the game controller is programmed to repeat the steps of clearing the winning combination of symbols and redistributing the remaining symbols until all the symbols have been cleared or no winning combinations are formed. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein a winning combination of symbols comprises adjacent matching symbols. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the game controller is programmed to individually highlight each winning combination of symbols. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the game controller is programmed to redistribute the symbols according to predetermined rules. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the game controller is programmed to redistribute the symbols by cascading the remaining symbols downwards into any available spaces. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein an award for a primary winning combination may be different to an award for a secondary winning combination. 
     
     
         18 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 (A) means for allowing a player to place a wager and play a game;   (B) means for randomly determining a game outcome;   (C) display means for:
 (a) displaying a plurality of symbols in a plurality of spaces on a game board; 
 (b) indicating one or more primary winning combinations of symbols; 
 (c) clearing the one or more primary winning combination of symbols from the game board; 
 (d) redistributing the remaining symbols on the game board; and 
 (e) indicating any secondary winning combinations of symbols; and 
   (D) means for awarding a prize to the player that correlates to the one or more primary winning combinations of symbols and any secondary winning combinations of symbols.   
     
     
         19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18  comprising game controller means for controlling the display means. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the game controller means controls the display means to redistribute the symbols according to predetermined rules. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the game controller means controls the display repeat the clearing of winning combinations of symbols and redistribute the remaining symbols until all the symbols have been cleared or no winning combinations are formed.