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 gaming systems and methods 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 gaming system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 for a symbol accumulation sequence comprising a predefined quantity of plays of a game comprising a plurality of non-designated plays of the game that are determined to be non-designated plays of the game prior to any of the predefined quantity of plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 for each of the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 for each of a plurality of symbol display positions, communicate data that results in a display, by a display device, of a symbol at that symbol display position, and 
 for each of the plurality of symbol display positions, responsive to the displayed symbol being a designated symbol and no designated symbols being previously accumulated in association with that symbol display position, accumulate the displayed designated symbol in association with that symbol display position, wherein the accumulation of the designated symbol prevents any accumulation of another designated symbol in association with that symbol display position for a remainder of the symbol accumulation sequence, 
 
 responsive to a first quantity of designated symbols being accumulated in association with the plurality of the symbol display positions for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, associate 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 the symbol display positions for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence, associate a second, different additional award opportunity with the designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system 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. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein the first modification of the parameter of the designated play of the game comprises a first quantity of wild symbols displayed at a first quantity of the symbol display positions 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 at a second, different quantity of the symbol display positions for the designated play of the game. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system 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. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system 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. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first additional award opportunity and the second, different additional award opportunity comprise an event independent of the designated play of the game of the predefined quantity of plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory device stores a plurality of further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to disassociate any accumulated designated symbols from any symbol display positions after the designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system 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 gaming system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 for a symbol accumulation sequence comprising a predefined quantity of plays of a game comprising a plurality of non-designated plays of the game that are determined to be non-designated plays of the game prior to any of the predefined quantity of plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 for each of the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 for each of a plurality of symbol display positions, communicate data that results in a display, by a display device, of a symbol at that symbol display position, and 
 for each of the plurality of symbol display positions, responsive to the displayed symbol being a designated symbol and no designated symbols being previously accumulated in association with that symbol display position, accumulate the displayed designated symbol in association with that symbol display position, wherein the accumulation of the designated symbol prevents any accumulation of another designated symbol in association with that symbol display position for a remainder of the symbol accumulation sequence, 
 
 responsive to a first quantity of designated symbols being accumulated in association with the plurality of the symbol display positions for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 determine a first award, and 
 communicate data that results in 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 the symbol display positions for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 determine a second, different award, and 
 communicate data that results in a display, by the display device, of the determined second, different award. 
 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The gaming system 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 gaming system of  claim 9 , 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. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , 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. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein the memory device stores a plurality of further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to disassociate any accumulated designated symbols from any symbol display positions after a designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence and a designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence are each associated with a first wager amount. 
     
     
         15 . A gaming system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 for a symbol accumulation sequence comprising a predefined quantity of plays of a game comprising a plurality of non-designated plays of the game that are determined to be non-designated plays of the game prior to any of the predefined quantity of plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 for each of the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 for each of a plurality of symbol display positions, communicate data that results in a display, by a display device, of a symbol at that symbol display position, and 
 for each of the plurality of symbol display positions, responsive to the displayed symbol being a designated symbol and no designated symbols being previously accumulated in association with that symbol display position, accumulate the displayed designated symbol in association with that symbol display position, wherein the accumulation of the designated symbol prevents any accumulation of another designated symbol in association with that symbol display position for a remainder of the symbol accumulation sequence, and 
 
 for a designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence:
 for each of the plurality of symbol display positions, communicate data that results in a display, by the display device, of a symbol at that symbol display position, and 
 responsive to at least a first quantity of designated symbols being accumulated for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence: 
  modify at least one parameter of the designated play of the game, and 
  determine any award for the designated play of the game, the determination being based on the at least one modified parameter of the designated play of the game. 
 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the memory device stores a plurality of further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to modify the at least parameter of the designated play of the game by communicating data that results in a display, by the display device, of a wild symbol at each symbol display position associated with an accumulation of the designated symbol. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the memory device stores a plurality of further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to disassociate any accumulated designated symbols from any symbol display positions after a designated play of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , 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. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one modified parameter of the designated play of the game comprises a play of an additional award opportunity. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming system of  claim 19 , wherein the first quantity of designated symbols being accumulated for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence is associated with a first average expected payout of the additional award opportunity and a second, greater quantity of designated symbols being accumulated for the plurality of non-designated plays of the game of the symbol accumulation sequence is associated with a second, greater average expected payout of the additional award opportunity.