Gaming System with Cascading Symbol Feature

Abstract

A gaming system comprising an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system also includes a display for displaying an array of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, at least one symbol that is not a part of the winning symbol combination is removed from the array and causes other symbols to move into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A casino gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, comprising:
 a housing for housing components associated with the casino wagering game;   an electronic display device coupled to the housing;   an electronic input device coupled to the housing, the electronic input device configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the casino wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal; and   one or more controllers disposed within the housing and including a random element generator, the random element generator configured to generate one or more random elements, the one or more controllers configured to:
 initiate the casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the electronic input device, 
 determine an outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements; 
 direct the electronic display device to display the outcome in the form of a symbol array; 
 in response to a predetermined criteria, remove at least one symbol in the symbol array causing other symbols to move into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol to create a new symbol array; 
 repeat the removal causing other symbols to move, creating another new symbol array if the predetermined criteria is satisfied by the new symbol array; 
 trigger a tangible bonus feature in response to a threshold number of removals being achieved; and 
 provide a tangible award for winning outcomes achieved during the casino wagering game. 
   
     
     
         38 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein the predetermined criteria is the at least one symbol is among symbols in a winning combination. 
     
     
         39 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein the predetermined criteria is the at least one symbol is among symbols in a non-winning combination. 
     
     
         40 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein bonus feature includes at least one of a multiplier of the tangible award, additional credits added to the tangible award, a free spin, a secondary game, or eligibility in a special community event with other players. 
     
     
         41 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein the tangible bonus is a first tangible bonus or a second tangible bonus, the second tangible bonus having an expected value greater than the first, and the threshold number is a first threshold number or a second threshold number, the second threshold number being greater than the first, and wherein the second tangible bonus is triggered in response to achieving the second threshold number and the first tangible bonus is triggered in response to achieving the first threshold number but not the second. 
     
     
         42 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein one of the one or more controllers selects the at least one symbol to be removed. 
     
     
         43 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein the symbol array is formed by a plurality of movable reels. 
     
     
         44 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein the other symbols cascade into the position of the symbol array vacated by the removed symbol. 
     
     
         45 . The gaming machine of  claim 44 , wherein the other symbols cascade vertically in the symbol array. 
     
     
         46 . The gaming machine of  claim 45 , wherein the other symbols cascade in a downward direction in the symbol array. 
     
     
         47 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein the other symbols that move into a position of the symbol array vacated by the at least one removed symbol are new symbols that were not previously in the symbol array. 
     
     
         48 . A gaming system primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, comprising:
 a housing for housing components associated with the at casino wagering game;   an electronic display device coupled to the housing;   an electronic input device coupled to the housing, the electronic input device configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the casino wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal;   a random element generator configured to generate one or more random elements; and   one or more controllers configured to:
 initiate the casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the electronic input device, 
 determine an outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements; 
 direct the electronic display device to display the outcome in the form of a symbol array; 
 in response to a predetermined criteria, remove at least one symbol in the symbol array causing other symbols to move into a position of the symbol array vacated by the at least one removed symbol to create a new symbol array; 
 repeat the removal causing other symbols to move, creating another new symbol array if the predetermined criteria is satisfied by the new symbol array; and 
 trigger a tangible bonus feature in response to a threshold number of removals being achieved; and 
 provide a tangible award for winning outcomes achieved during the casino wagering game. 
   
     
     
         49 . The gaming system of  claim 48 , wherein the random element generator and the game-logic circuitry reside within the housing. 
     
     
         50 . The gaming system of  claim 48 , further including a value input device disposed on the housing and configured to accept a tangible medium to fund the at least one casino wagering game. 
     
     
         51 . The gaming system of  claim 48 , wherein the predetermined criteria is the at least one symbol is among symbols in a winning combination. 
     
     
         52 . The gaming system of  claim 48 , wherein bonus feature includes at least one of a multiplier of the tangible award, additional credits added to the tangible award, a free spin, a secondary game, or eligibility in a special community event with other players. 
     
     
         53 . The gaming machine of  claim 48 , wherein the tangible bonus is a first tangible bonus or a second tangible bonus, the second tangible bonus having an expected value greater than the first, and the threshold number is a first threshold number or a second threshold number, the second threshold number being greater than the first, and wherein the second tangible bonus is triggered in response to achieving the second threshold number and the first tangible bonus is triggered in response to achieving the first threshold number but not the second. 
     
     
         54 . The gaming machine of  claim 48 , wherein one of the one or more controllers selects the at least one symbol to be removed. 
     
     
         55 . The gaming machine of  claim 48 , wherein the other symbols cascade into the position of the symbol array vacated by the removed symbol. 
     
     
         56 . The gaming machine of  claim 48 , wherein the other symbols that move into a position of the symbol array vacated by the at least one removed symbol are new symbols that were not previously in the symbol array. 
     
     
         57 . A method of operating a gaming system primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming system including a housing, a random element generator, one or more, an electronic display device, and an electronic input device, the electronic display device and the electronic input device being coupled to the housing, the method comprising:
 generating one or more random elements with the random element generator;   receiving, responsive to a physical input to the electronic input device, a wager input to initiate the casino wagering game;   determining, by the one or more controllers, an outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements;   displaying the outcome on the electronic display device in the form of a symbol array;   awarding, by the one or more controllers, a tangible award if the outcome is a winning outcome;   in response to a predetermined criteria, removing at least one symbol in the symbol array causing other symbols to move into a position of the symbol array vacated by the at least one removed symbol to create a new symbol array;   repeating the removing causing other symbols to move, to create another new symbol array if the predetermined criteria is satisfied by the new symbol array; and   triggering a tangible bonus feature in response to achieving a threshold number of removals.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the predetermined criteria is the at least one symbol is among symbols in a winning combination. 
     
     
         59 . The gaming machine of  claim 57 , wherein bonus feature includes at least one of a multiplier of the tangible award, additional credits added to the tangible award, a free spin, a secondary game, or eligibility in a special community event with other players. 
     
     
         60 . The gaming machine of  claim 57 , wherein the tangible bonus is a first tangible bonus or a second tangible bonus, the second tangible bonus having an expected value greater than the first, and the threshold number is a first threshold number or a second threshold number, the second threshold number being greater than the first, and wherein the second tangible bonus is triggered in response to achieving the second threshold number and the first tangible bonus is triggered in response to achieving the first threshold number but not the second.