Gaming system and a method of gaming

Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed that includes a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions, at least some of the symbols including indicia indicative of respective prizes available to a player, and a prize selector arranged to facilitate selection of at least one of the displayed symbols by a player and thereby selection of a prize sought by the player. The system is arranged to hold the or each player selected symbol at the or each respective display position for at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector. The system also includes an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists after at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector, and a prize allocator arranged to allocate the selected prize to the player when a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions, at least some of the symbols including indicia indicative of respective prizes available to a player;   a prize selector arranged to facilitate selection of at least one of the displayed symbols by a player and thereby selection of a prize sought by the player, the gaming system being arranged to hold the or each player selected symbol at the or each respective display position for at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector;   an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists after at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector; and   a prize allocator arranged to allocate the selected prize to the player when a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists.   
     
     
         2 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the prize is associated with a progressive bonus. 
     
     
         3 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the progressive bonus is such that multiple gaming machines contribute towards a bonus prize pool, and a player of any of the gaming machines is able to win at least part of the bonus pool if the outcome evaluator determines that a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists. 
     
     
         4 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the progressive bonus is managed remotely from the gaming machines. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the progressive bonus is such that one gaming machine contributes towards a bonus prize pool, and a player of the gaming machine is able to win at least part of the bonus pool if the outcome evaluator determines that a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists. 
     
     
         6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the progressive bonus is managed locally by the gaming machine. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein multiple progressive prize types are available. 
     
     
         8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the multiple progressive prize types correspond to different prize amounts and corresponding different likelihoods of winning the prize. 
     
     
         9 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a prize is in the form of a defined number of free spins or a defined number of credits. 
     
     
         10 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the prize selector is arranged to facilitate further selection of at least one of the displayed symbols by a player, and the display controller is arranged to hold the or each further player selected symbol at the or each respective display position for at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the prize selector is arranged to facilitate 2 further selections of at least one of the displayed symbols by a player. 
     
     
         12 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein during further selection of at least one of the displayed symbols by a player, the prize selector is arranged to facilitate selection of additional displayed symbols corresponding to previously selected symbols and thereby continued selection of the prize sought by the player, or deselection of previously selected symbols and selection of different symbols corresponding to a different prize sought by the player. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a touch screen and/or buttons in operative communication with the prize selector and used by the prize selector to facilitate selection of at least one of the displayed symbols by a player. 
     
     
         14 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to operate in normal game mode wherein at least one base game is implemented using a set of base symbols, and special game mode wherein at least one feature game is implemented using feature symbols, wherein during a feature game:
 the symbol selector is arranged to select a plurality of feature symbols for display at a plurality of display positions, at least some of the feature symbols including indicia indicative of respective prizes available to player;   the prize selector is arranged to facilitate selection of at least one of the displayed feature symbols by a player and thereby selection of a prize sought by the player;   the display controller is arranged to hold the or each player selected feature symbol at the or each respective display position for at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector;   the outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether a winning combination including the at least one player selected feature symbol exists; and   the prize allocator is arranged to allocate the selected prize to the player when a winning combination including the at least one player selected feature symbol exists.   
     
     
         15 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to commence special game mode when a specific game outcome occurs. 
     
     
         16 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to commence special game mode on the basis of a game event occurring during a base game such as display of a particular base symbol or a particular combination of base symbols, in response to player input, based on the amount or type of bet placed, or when a feature game is purchased by a player. 
     
     
         17 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the gaming system is implemented as a stand alone gaming machine or across a network. 
     
     
         18 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the symbol selector, prize selector, prize allocator and the outcome evaluator is constituted, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. 
     
     
         19 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the gaming system comprises a game play mechanism operable to place a wager and the outcome evaluator evaluates the outcome based on the wager. 
     
     
         20 . A method of gaming comprising:
 selecting a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions, at least some of the symbols including indicia indicative of respective prizes available to player;   facilitating selection of at least one of the displayed symbols by a player and thereby selection of a prize sought by the player;   holding the or each player selected symbol at the or each respective display position for at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector;   determining whether a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists; and   allocating the selected prize to the player when a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists.   
     
     
         21 . A computer readable medium having computer readable program code including instructions which, when executed, instruct the computer to implement a gaming system, the gaming system comprising:
 a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions, at least some of the symbols including indicia indicative of respective prizes available to a player;   a prize selector arranged to facilitate selection of at least one of the displayed symbols by a player and thereby selection of a prize sought by the player, the gaming system being arranged to hold the or each player selected symbol at the or each respective display position for at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector;   an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists after at least one subsequent selection of symbols by the symbol selector; and   a prize allocator arranged to allocate the selected prize to the player when a winning combination including the at least one player selected symbol exists.