Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller

Abstract

A method of gaming in a gaming system. The method comprises a) generating a game outcome comprising a set plurality of symbols, b) displaying the game outcome, c) identifying the number of instances of one or more specified symbols occurring in the set of symbols, d) incrementing a cumulative count value in memory of the gaming system for each specified symbol based on instances of the specified symbols in the set of symbols, and repeating steps a to d until an evaluation condition is met and thereafter evaluating the cumulative count value for each of the one or more specified symbols to determine any award payable.

1 . A method of gaming in a gaming system comprising the steps of:
 a) generating a game outcome comprising a set plurality of symbols;   b) displaying the game outcome;   c) identifying the number of instances of one or more specified symbols occurring in the set of symbols;   d) incrementing a cumulative count value in memory of the gaming system for each specified symbol based on instances of the specified symbols in the set of symbols;   repeating steps a to d until an evaluation condition is met and thereafter evaluating the cumulative count value for each of the one or more specified symbols to determine any award payable.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the specified symbols are a set of n specified symbols. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein n is 5. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the evaluation condition is one or more instance of each of the n specified symbols having occurred. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more specified symbols are defined based on game rules. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more specified symbols are selected by a player of the game. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation condition is based on a combination of symbols occurring in a game outcome. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a cumulative count value for a specified symbol is only incremented where an instance of the specified symbol occurs in a purchased pay line of the game outcome. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of making any award to a player of the game. 
     
     
         10 . A game controller comprising:
 a symbol selector adapted to select a set of a plurality of symbols for a game outcome;   a specified symbol controller adapted to identify instances of the specified symbols occurring in the set of symbols and increment cumulative count value for each specified symbol based on instances of the specified symbols in the set of symbols;   an evaluation condition monitor adapted to determine whether an evaluation condition is met; and   an award controller adapted to, in response to the evaluation condition being met, determine any award payable based on the cumulative count value for each of the one or more specified symbols.   
     
     
         11 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising a display controller adapted to control display of game outcomes and cumulative count values of specified symbols on a display for viewing by a player of the game. 
     
     
         12 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the specified symbols are a set of n specified symbols. 
     
     
         13 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12  wherein n is 5. 
     
     
         14 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the evaluation condition is one or more instance of each of the n specified symbols having occurred. 
     
     
         15 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the one or more specified symbols are defined based on game rules. 
     
     
         16 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the one or more specified symbols are selected by a player of the game. 
     
     
         17 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the evaluation condition is based on a combination of symbols occurring in a game outcome. 
     
     
         18 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a cumulative count value for a specified symbol is only incremented where an instance of the specified symbol occurs in a purchased pay line of the game outcome. 
     
     
         19 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the award controller is further adapted to make an award to a player of the game. 
     
     
         20 . A gaming system comprising:
 a game play mechanism adapted to enable a player to input game play instructions;   a symbol selector adapted to select a set of a plurality of symbols for a game outcome in response to game play instructions of a player;   a specified symbol controller adapted to identify instances of the specified symbols occurring in the set of symbols and increment cumulative count value for each specified symbol based on instances of the specified symbols in the set of symbols;   an evaluation condition monitor adapted to determine whether an evaluation condition is met; and   an award controller adapted to, in response to the evaluation condition being met, determine any award payable based on the cumulative count value for each of the one or more specified symbols;   one or more displays for display of game outcomes; and   a display controller adapted to display the cumulative count value for the specified symbols on a display for viewing by a player of the game.   
     
     
         21 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the specified symbols are a set of n specified symbols. 
     
     
         22 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein n is 5. 
     
     
         23 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the evaluation condition is one or more instance of each of the n specified symbols having occurred. 
     
     
         24 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the one or more specified symbols are defined based on game rules. 
     
     
         25 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the one or more specified symbols are selected by a player of the game. 
     
     
         26 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the evaluation condition is based on a combination of symbols occurring in a game outcome. 
     
     
         27 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a cumulative count value for a specified symbol is only incremented where an instance of the specified symbol occurs in a purchased pay line of the game outcome. 
     
     
         28 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the award controller is further adapted to make an award to a player of the game. 
     
     
         29 . Computer program code for execution on a gaming system, the computer program code comprising:
 a) a routine for generating a game outcome comprising a set plurality of symbols;   b) a routine for displaying the game outcome;   c) a routine for identifying the number of instances of one or more specified symbols occurring in the set of symbols;   d) a routine for incrementing a cumulative count value in memory of the gaming system for each specified symbol based on instances of the specified symbols in the set of symbols;   repeated executing routines a to d until an evaluation condition is met and thereafter evaluating the cumulative count value for each of the one or more specified symbols to determine any award payable.   
     
     
         30 . A tangible computer readable medium comprising computer program code for execution on a gaming system, the computer program code comprising;
 a) a routine for generating a game outcome comprising a set plurality of symbols;   b) a routine for displaying the game outcome;   c) a routine for identifying the number of instances of one or more specified symbols occurring in the set of symbols;   d) a routine for incrementing a cumulative count value in memory of the gaming system for each specified symbol based on instances of the specified symbols in the set of symbols;   repeated executing routines a to d until an evaluation condition is met and thereafter evaluating the cumulative count value for each of the one or more specified symbols to determine any award payable.