Electronic gaming machine and method for adding one or more rows of symbol positions to an array of symbol positions in an electronic wagering game

Abstract

An electronic gaming machine includes a display device, a processor, and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the display device to display an initial array of symbol positions, where the initial array of symbol positions include a plurality of rows of symbol positions. The instructions also cause the processor to populate each symbol position with a first plurality of symbols, and evaluate the first plurality of symbols to determine whether to provide a first game award. The instructions also cause the processor to add a new row of symbol positions to the initial array of symbol positions, and populate each symbol position of the new row of symbol positions with a second plurality of symbols.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic gaming device comprising:
 a display device;   a processor; and   a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to at least:
 control the display device to display an initial array of symbol positions comprising first symbol positions populated with a first plurality of symbols; and 
 add, in response to determining that a first designated symbol is populated at a symbol position of the first symbol positions, a second plurality of symbol positions populated with a second plurality of symbols to create an updated array of symbol positions, including the first designated symbol at a symbol position of the second plurality of symbol positions adjacent to the first designated symbol at the symbol position of the first symbol positions to the initial array of symbol positions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to repopulate, other than symbol positions where the first designated symbol is populated, each symbol position of the first symbol positions and the second plurality of symbol positions with symbols, such that the first designated symbol is persistently overlaid upon the symbol position of the first symbol positions and the symbol position of the second plurality of symbol positions. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to evaluate the first plurality of symbols displayed in the initial array of symbol positions and the second plurality of symbols displayed in the second plurality of symbol positions to determine a second outcome. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 repopulate, except for the symbol position that includes the first designated symbol, each symbol position in the initial array of symbol positions with a third plurality of symbols; and   evaluate the third plurality of symbols displayed in the initial array of symbol positions, including the first designated symbol, and the second plurality of symbols displayed in the second plurality of symbol positions, to determine a second outcome.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to add the second plurality of symbol positions as at least one i) a new top row above a topmost row of the initial array of symbol positions, ii) a new bottom row below a bottommost row of the initial array of symbol positions, and iii) a new row between a topmost row and a bottommost row of the initial array of symbol positions. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to randomly determine a position of the second plurality of symbol positions in the updated array of symbol positions. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a position of the second plurality of symbol positions that includes more designated symbols added to the second plurality than a number of designated symbols that would have been added to the second plurality of symbols positions if the second plurality of symbol positions was at a position different from the determined position. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 evaluate each potential location of a plurality of potential locations to add the second plurality of symbol positions to the initial array;   determine a location of the plurality of potential locations that, upon adding the second plurality of symbol positions, results in the highest chance of a winning outcome; and   add the second plurality of symbol positions to the initial array at the determined location.   
     
     
         9 . A method of electronic gaming implemented on an electronic gaming device, the method comprising:
 controlling a display device to display an initial array of symbol positions comprising first symbol positions populated with a first plurality of symbols; and   adding, in response to determining that a first designated symbol is populated at a symbol position of the first symbol positions, a second plurality of symbol positions populated with a second plurality of symbols to create an updated array of symbol positions, including the first designated symbol at a symbol position of the second plurality of symbol positions adjacent to the first designated symbol at the symbol position of the first symbol positions to the initial array of symbol positions.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising repopulating, other than symbol positions where the first designated symbol is populated, each symbol position of the first symbol positions and the second plurality of symbol positions with symbols, such that the first designated symbol is persistently overlaid upon the symbol position of the first symbol positions and the symbol position of the second plurality of symbol positions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising evaluating the first plurality of symbols displayed in the initial array of symbol positions and the second plurality of symbols displayed in the second plurality of symbol positions to determine a second outcome. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adding the second plurality of symbol positions as at least one i) a new top row above a topmost row of the initial array of symbol positions, ii) a new bottom row below a bottommost row of the initial array of symbol positions, and iii) a new row between a topmost row and a bottommost row of the initial array of symbol positions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining a position of the second plurality of symbol positions that includes more designated symbols added to the second plurality than a number of designated symbols that would have been added to the second plurality of symbols positions if the second plurality of symbol positions was at a position different from the determined position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 evaluating each potential location of a plurality of potential locations to add the second plurality of symbol positions to the initial array;   determining a location of the plurality of potential locations that, upon adding the second plurality of symbol positions, results in the highest chance of a winning outcome; and   adding the second plurality of symbol positions to the initial array at the determined location.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to:
 control a display device to display an initial array of symbol positions comprising first symbol positions populated with a first plurality of symbols; and   add, in response to determining that a first designated symbol is populated at a symbol position of the first symbol positions, a second plurality of symbol positions populated with a second plurality of symbols to create an updated array of symbol positions, including the first designated symbol at a symbol position of the second plurality of symbol positions adjacent to the first designated symbol at the symbol position of the first symbol positions to the initial array of symbol positions.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to repopulate, other than symbol positions where the first designated symbol is populated, each symbol position of the first symbol positions and the second plurality of symbol positions with symbols, such that the first designated symbol is persistently overlaid upon the symbol position of the first symbol positions and the symbol position of the second plurality of symbol positions. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to evaluate the first plurality of symbols displayed in the initial array of symbol positions and the second plurality of symbols displayed in the second plurality of symbol positions to determine a second outcome. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to add the second plurality of symbol positions as at least one i) a new top row above a topmost row of the initial array of symbol positions, ii) a new bottom row below a bottommost row of the initial array of symbol positions, and iii) a new row between a topmost row and a bottommost row of the initial array of symbol positions. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a position of the second plurality of symbol positions that includes more designated symbols added to the second plurality than a number of designated symbols that would have been added to the second plurality of symbols positions if the second plurality of symbol positions was at a position different from the determined position. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 evaluate each potential location of a plurality of potential locations to add the second plurality of symbol positions to the initial array;   determine a location of the plurality of potential locations that, upon adding the second plurality of symbol positions, results in the highest chance of a winning outcome; and   add the second plurality of symbol positions to the initial array at the determined location.