Gaming system and method for providing awards based on accumulating symbols over a predefined quantity of games played

Abstract

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to method for providing one or more awards based on the accumulation of symbols over a predefined quantity of plays of a game

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:
 for each of a plurality of non-designated plays of a game of a symbol accumulation sequence comprising a predefined quantity of plays of a game:
 at each of a plurality of symbol display positions, displaying, by a display device, a symbol randomly selected from a plurality of different symbols, 
 for each of the plurality of symbol display positions, responsive to the displayed symbol being a designated symbol and less than a predefined quantity of designated symbols being previously accumulated in association with that symbol display position, accumulating, by a processor, the displayed designated symbol in association with that symbol display position, 
 for each of the plurality of symbol display positions, responsive to the displayed symbol being the designated symbol and the predefined quantity of designated symbols being previously accumulated in association with that symbol display position, not accumulating the displayed designated symbol in association with that symbol display position, 
 determining, by the processor, any award for that non-designated play of the game, and 
 displaying, by the display device, any determined award for that non-designated play of the game, wherein which of the plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence are non-designated plays of the game are predetermined prior to any of the predefined quantity of plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, 
   responsive to a first quantity of designated symbols being accumulated in association with the plurality of symbol display positions for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, associating, by the processor, a first additional award opportunity with a designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, and   responsive to a second, different quantity of designated symbols being accumulated in association with the plurality of symbol display positions for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, associating, by the processor, a second, different additional award opportunity with the designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined quantity of designated symbols comprises one designated symbol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first additional award opportunity comprises a first modification of a parameter of the designated play of the game and the second, different additional award opportunity comprises a second, different modification of the parameter of the designated play of the game. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first modification of the parameter of the designated play of the game comprises a first quantity of wild symbols displayed, by the display device, at a first quantity of the symbol display position for the designated play of the game and the second, different modification of the parameter of the designated play of the game comprises a second, different quantity of wild symbols displayed, by the display device, at a second, different quantity of the symbol display position for the designated play of the game. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first additional award opportunity comprises a modification of a first parameter of the designated play of the game and the second, different additional award opportunity comprises a modification of a second, different parameter of the designated play of the game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first additional award opportunity is associated with a first average expected payout and the second, different additional award opportunity is associated with a second, different average expected payout. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disassociating, by the processor, any accumulated designated symbols from any symbol display positions after the designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence and the designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence are each associated with a first wager amount. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:
 for a symbol accumulation sequence comprising a predefined quantity of plays of a game, for each of a plurality of non-designated plays of the game:
 at each of a plurality of symbol display positions, cause a display, by a display device, of a symbol randomly selected from a plurality of different symbols, 
 for each of the plurality of symbol display positions, responsive to the displayed symbol being a designated symbol and less than a predefined quantity of designated symbols being previously accumulated in association with that symbol display position, accumulate the displayed designated symbol in association with that symbol display position, 
 for each of the plurality of symbol display positions, responsive to the displayed symbol being the designated symbol and the predefined quantity of designated symbols being previously accumulated in association with that symbol display position, not accumulate the displayed designated symbol in association with that symbol display position, 
 determine any award for that non-designated play of the game, and 
 cause a display, by the display device, of any determined award for that non-designated play of the game, wherein which of the plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence are non-designated plays of the game are predetermined prior to any of the predefined quantity of plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, 
   responsive to a first quantity of designated symbols being accumulated in association with the plurality of symbol display positions for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 determine a first award, wherein the first award is in addition to any award determined in association with a designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, and 
 cause a display, by the display device, of the determined first award, and 
   responsive to a second, different quantity of designated symbols being accumulated in association with the plurality of symbol display positions for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 determine a second, different award, wherein the second, different award is in addition to any award determined in association with the designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, and 
 cause a display, by the display device, of the determined second, different award. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first award is associated with a first average expected value and the second, different award is associated with a second, different average expected value. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the predefined quantity of designated symbols comprises one designated symbol.