Gaming machine, system and method for playing a feature game

Abstract

A gaming machine, system and method includes a housing having a user interface, display means, preferably a lower display and an upper display, and a controller preferably mounted in the housing and in communication with the display means. The controller enables standard game play mode until the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as the appearance of preferably three scatter symbols. Upon occurrence of the predetermined event, the controller enables feature game play mode where display means presents a plurality of feature game symbols, and a symbol selection pointer, and optionally presents a landscape including at least some of the feature game symbols. At least one of the feature game symbols is a switchable symbol having a first state and a second state, and at least one is a switching symbol that changes the state of the switchable symbol. The controller causes the symbol selection pointer to randomly select one of the feature game symbols. There are two ways to change the state of the switchable symbol. Selecting the switchable symbol changes its state. Selecting the switching symbol causes the switchable symbol to also change its state.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a housing;   game display means, and   game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein a plurality of symbols are randomly selected from a predetermined set of symbols and displayed on the display means and initiate a feature game mode if a scatter symbol is displayed, the feature game mode being characterized in that the game control means is programmed to:   determine a set of feature game symbols, the set of feature games symbols containing at least one switchable symbol that may be switched between a first state and a second state and the list of feature games symbols containing at least one switching symbol, that switches the switchable symbol between the first state and the second state;   randomly select one symbol from the set of feature game symbols;   determine whether the randomly selected feature game symbol is the switchable symbol in which case if the switchable symbol is in the second state then the feature game mode is terminated otherwise if the switchable symbol is in the first state then the switchable symbol is switched to the second state; and   determine whether the randomly selected feature game symbol is the switching symbol, in which case the state of the switchable symbol is modified in that if the switchable symbol is in the second state then the switchable symbol is switched to the first state.   
     
     
         2 . A gaming machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the game display means includes a lower display and an upper display positioned above the lower display. 
     
     
         3 . A gaming machine according to one of the previous claims, wherein the lower display depicts a rotatable compass rose, the switchable symbol is a lighthouse and the switching symbol is the sun. 
     
     
         4 . A gaming machine as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the set of feature game symbols are arranged to circumscribe the compass rose to enable the pointer to point at one of the feature game symbols. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming machine as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the upper display depicts a landscape including water, and at least some of the set of feature game symbols are displayed on the upper display. 
     
     
         6 . A gaming machine as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the switchable symbol in the second state is highlighted by illumination. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming machine according to one of the previous claims, wherein when the switchable symbol is in the second state, the game provides an opportunity for an increased payout that persists irrespective of further state transitions of the switchable symbol. 
     
     
         8 . A system for gaming comprising:
 a gaming machine having housing with a user interface, a lower display and an upper display;   a computer mounted in the housing and in communication with the lower display and the upper display, the computer includes a controller, a main board, a program memory, a main processor and an input output controller connected in operative communication;   the controller enables standard game play mode until the occurrence of a predetermined event;   upon occurrence of the pre-determined event, the controller enables feature game play mode and causes the displays to present a feature game and to operate the gaming machine in feature game play mode to cause the lower display to present a plurality of feature game symbols, and a symbol selection pointer; and   at least one of the feature game symbols is a switchable symbol having a first state and a second state;   the controller causes the symbol selection pointer to select one of the plurality of feature game symbols, whereby when the switchable symbol is selected then the switchable symbol changes from the first state to the second state; and   the controller causes the symbol selection pointer to again select one of the plurality of feature game symbols, whereby when the switchable symbol is again selected then the switchable symbol changes from the second state to the first state and the feature game play mode is terminated.   
     
     
         9 . A system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the controller causes the upper display to display a plurality of symbols on the upper display, which correspond with at least some of the plurality of feature game symbols displayed on the lower display. 
     
     
         10 . A system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the controller causes the upper display to display a landscape and causes the lower display to display at least a portion of the upper display landscape. 
     
     
         11 . A system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the symbol selection pointer is displayed as part of a compass rose and the plurality of feature game symbols displayed on the lower display circumscribe the compass rose. 
     
     
         12 . A system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the controller causes the lower display to display a state-switching symbol and causes the upper display to display a switchable symbol, the switchable symbol displayed on the upper display corresponds with the switchable displayed on the lower display so that when the state of the switchable symbol of the lower display changes from the first state to the second state, the corresponding switchable symbol of the upper display is highlighted. 
     
     
         13 . A system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the switchable symbol of the upper display is highlighted by illumination. 
     
     
         14 . A gaming method having a standard and feature game play modes, comprising:
 displaying a matrix of symbols to facilitate standard game play mode;   determining whether one of the matrix of symbols is a scatter symbol;   initiating feature game play mode when a scatter symbol has been determined, feature game play mode further comprising:
 displaying a set of feature game symbols, the set of feature game symbols containing at least one switchable symbol that may be switched between a first state and a second state; 
 displaying a pointer for randomly selecting one of the feature game symbols; 
 randomly selecting one feature game symbol; 
 determining whether the randomly selected feature game symbol is a switchable symbol in the first state, in which case the switchable symbol is switched to the second state; and 
 determining whether the selected feature game symbol is a switchable symbol in the second state, in which case the feature game play mode is terminated. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the step of displaying a pointer includes displaying a compass rose. 
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the step of displaying a set of feature game symbols includes circumscribing the compass rose with the set of feature game symbols. 
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein when the switchable symbol is in the second state the game yields an increased payout. 
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein when the switchable symbol is in the second state the game yields an increased payout using a multiplier of ten. 
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the standard game play mode commences after the feature game play mode is terminated. 
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising determining whether the selected game feature symbol is a switching symbol, and changing the state of the switchable symbol when the selected game feature symbol is a switching symbol.