Gaming machine with enhanced feature indicator

Abstract

A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. The gaming machine 10 comprises a bonus feature that is triggered when a trigger condition occurs in a base game and an indicator incorporated in the bonus feature indicates to the player that the chance of winning during the bonus feature is higher than in the base game that triggered the bonus feature.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a credit input mechanism configured to enable player interaction so as to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity;   an electronic display device configured to display a play of a first game and a play of a second game, in accord with the credit balance established via the credit input mechanism receiving the physical item; and   a game controller configured to:   (1) cause the electronic display device to display a first visible arrangement of a plurality of first game outcome symbols for the play of the first game, the first visible arrangement of the plurality of game outcome symbols comprising:
 a first set of the game outcome symbols that forms at least one column of the plurality of first game outcome symbols; and 
 a second set of the game outcome symbols that forms at least one row of the plurality of first game outcome symbols; and 
   (2) initiate the play of the second game as a consequence of the play of the first game, including to cause the electronic display device to change from displaying the first visible arrangement to displaying a second visible arrangement of a plurality of second game outcome symbols, the first game being based on a plurality of separate first game reel strips each of which comprises a plurality of the first game symbols, at least one of the first game reel strips comprising a special symbol, the second game being based on a plurality of separate second game reel strips each of which comprises a plurality of the second game symbols, at least one of the second game reel strips comprising at least two separate instances of the special symbol such that the at least two separate instances of the special symbol are simultaneously displayable in said one column of the second game outcome symbols on the electronic display device, each one of the instances of the special symbol being adjacent another one of the instances of the special symbol such that there is no non-special symbol interposed between any two adjacent instances of the special symbol, the at least two instances of the special symbol being such that they contribute to the second game having an improved probability of awarding a prize relative to the first game, and   wherein the second game is arranged to award a predefined prize based on a winning arrangement of the second game symbols relative to any one of a plurality of predefined paylines, wherein each of the paylines is arranged to be associated with one symbol from each said at least one column of game outcome symbols.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the play of the second game comprises a series of rounds of the game and for each of the rounds an additional one of the special symbols is added to thereby increase a total number of the instances of the special symbol. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein for each of the series of rounds the additional one of the special symbols is added to the same one of the second game reel strips. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein in response to the additional one of the special symbols being added a total number of symbols associated with at least one of the second game reels strips is increased. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein in response to the additional one of the special symbols being added a total number of symbols associated with all of the second game reel strips remains unchanged. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first game reel strips comprises only one of the special symbol. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second game reel strips are based on the first game reel strips. 
     
     
         8 . A method for use with a gaming machine comprising a credit input mechanism configured to enable player interaction so as to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity, a display configured to display a play of a first game and a play of a second game, and a game controller configured to control images of symbols displayed on the display, the method comprising:
 establishing a credit balance via said credit input mechanism receiving the physical item;   in accord with the credit balance established via the credit input mechanism receiving the physical item, causing the display to display a facilitation of a play of a first game and a play of a second game; and   causing on the display to display a first visible arrangement of a plurality of first game outcome symbols for the play of the first game, the first visible arrangement of the plurality of game outcome symbols comprising:
 a first set of the game outcome symbols that forms at least one column of the plurality of first game outcome symbols; and 
 a second set of the game outcome symbols that forms at least one row of the plurality of first game outcome symbols; and 
   initiating the play of the second game as a consequence of the play of the first game, including to cause the electronic display device to change from displaying the first visible arrangement to displaying a second visible arrangement of a plurality of second game outcome symbols, the first game being based on a plurality of separate first game reel strips each of which comprises a plurality of the first game symbols, at least one of the first game reel strips comprising a special symbol, the second game being based on a plurality of separate second game reel strips each of which comprises a plurality of the second game symbols, at least one of the second game reel strips comprising at least two separate instances of the special symbol such that the at least two separate instances of the special symbol are simultaneously displayable in said one column of the second game outcome symbols on the electronic display device, each one of the instances of the special symbol being adjacent another one of the instances of the special symbol such that there is no non-special symbol interposed between any two adjacent instances of the special symbol, the at least two instances of the special symbol being such that they contribute to the second game having an improved probability of awarding a prize relative to the first game, and   awarding a predefined prize based on a winning arrangement of the second game symbols relative to any one of a plurality of predefined paylines, wherein each of the paylines is arranged to be associated with one symbol from each said at least one column of game outcome symbols.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the play of the second game comprises a series of rounds of the game and for each of the rounds an additional one of the special symbols is added to thereby increase a total number of the instances of the special symbol. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein for each of the series of rounds the additional one of the special symbols is added to the same one of the second game reel strips. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein in response to the additional one of the special symbols being added a total number of symbols associated with at least one of the second game reels strips is increased. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein in response to the additional one of the special symbols being added a total number of symbols associated with all of the second game reel strips remains unchanged. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each of the first game reel strips comprises only one of the special symbol. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the second game reel strips are based on the first game reel strips.