Wagering game, gaming machine, networked gaming system and method with a matching symbols bonus trigger

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with a first set of reels operable to randomly determine a primary game outcome and a pair of reels positioned about the first set of reels and operable to randomly determine an indicia pair outcome, the indicia pair outcome operable to modify the primary game outcome. In the event that the indicia pair outcome includes a matching pair of designated indicia, then a bonus (or feature) game may be triggered wherein the matching pair are locked in place while one or more free spins of the first set of reels occurs, and, awards are provided for each winning outcome.

1 . A wagering game including:
 (a) a processor;   (b) a set of primary reels operable to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a first set of possible primary game outcomes along one or more paylines;   (c) a pair of reels positioned on either side of the set of primary reels and operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a second set of possible outcomes comprising an indicia from each of the pair of reels;   (d) wherein a first game result includes an outcome from the first set and an outcome from the second set; and   (e) wherein designated outcomes from the second set having designated pairs of symbols are operable to (i) lock the pair of reels while (ii) re-spinning the set of primary reels a designated number of times and paying awards for winning patterns formed by the re-spinning process.   
     
     
         2 . The wagering game of  claim 1 , wherein the outcomes are collectively determinable by the processor using a random number generator. 
     
     
         3 . The wagering game of  claim 1 , wherein each of the outcomes are determinable by the processor using a random number generator. 
     
     
         4 . The wagering game of  claim 1 , wherein both outcomes are activated by a single wager. 
     
     
         5 . The wagering game of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more free spins can be saved for later use by the player. 
     
     
         6 . The wagering game of  claim 1 , wherein the set of primary reels include indicia of one or more secondary free spin symbols and the one or more secondary free spin symbols can increase the number of designated times that the primary reels are re-spun while the pair of reels are locked. 
     
     
         7 . A method for conducting a wagering game including:
 (a) providing a set of primary reels operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a first set of possible primary game outcomes along one or more paylines;   (b) providing a pair of reels positioned on either side of the set of primary reels and operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a second set of possible outcomes comprising an indicia from each of the pair of reels;   (c) providing a first game result including an outcome from the first set and an outcome from the second set; and   (d) wherein designated outcomes from the second set having designated pairs of symbols are operable to (i) lock the pair of reels while (ii) re-spinning the set of primary reels a designated number of times and paying awards for winning patterns formed by the re-spinning process.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the outcomes are collectively determinable by the processor using a random number generator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the outcomes are determinable by the processor using a random number generator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein both outcomes are activated by a single wager. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more free spins can be saved for later use by the player. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the set of primary reels include indicia of one or more secondary free spin symbols and the one or more secondary free spin symbols can increase the number of designated times that the primary reels are re-spun while the pair of reels are locked. 
     
     
         13 . A program product embodied in one or more tangible computer readable media, the program product including code executable by a gaming machine and at least one gaming server for:
 (a) providing a set of primary reels operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a first set of possible primary game outcomes along one or more paylines;   (b) providing a pair of reels positioned on either side of the set of primary reels and operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a second set of possible outcomes comprising an indicia from each of the pair of reels;   (c) providing a first game result including an outcome from the first set and an outcome from the second set; and   (d) wherein designated outcomes from the second set having designated pairs of symbols are operable to (i) lock the pair of reels while (ii) re-spinning the set of primary reels a designated number of times and paying awards for winning patterns formed by the re-spinning process.   
     
     
         14 . The program product of  claim 13 , wherein the outcomes are collectively determinable by a random number generator. 
     
     
         15 . The program product of  claim 13 , wherein each of the outcomes are determinable by a random number generator. 
     
     
         16 . The program product of  claim 13 , wherein both outcomes are activated by a single wager. 
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more free spins can be saved for later use by the player. 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 13 , wherein the set of primary reels include indicia of one or more secondary free spin symbols and the one or more secondary free spin symbols can increase the number of designated times that the primary reels are re-spun while the pair of reels are locked.