Gaming machine and method with replay feature

Abstract

There is provided a gaming system, gaming machine, and method that utilize an electronic display device configured to display a set of symbol-bearing reels. In a reel spin, the set of reels are spun and stopped to randomly place symbols in an array. In response to one or more triggering conditions, game-logic circuitry performs a replay or rewind operation. In one type of replay operation, a subset of the reels are held while the remaining reels are respun to potentially improve the outcome of that spin. In another type of replay operation, the game-logic circuitry conducts a series of initial spins and then conducts an additional spin for each initial spin that yielded a losing outcome.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising the operations of:
 displaying, on an electronic display device, a plurality of symbol-bearing reels including reels  1  through N arranged from left to right;   using a random number generator, spinning and stopping the plurality of symbol-bearing reels to land symbols on the reels in an array along a payline, the payline extending across the array from the reel 1 to the reel N;   in response to a triggering event, one or more adjacent advantageous symbols along the payline starting from reel 1, and a set of one or more non-advantageous symbols adjacent to the advantageous symbols along the payline, performing a replay operation comprising:   holding any of the reels bearing the advantageous symbols; and   respinning and stopping any of the reels bearing the set of non-advantageous symbols to land symbols on the respun reels in the array along the payline; and   awarding, by game-logic circuitry, a payout for any winning symbol combinations along the payline.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event includes a triggering symbol on the reel N landing in the array. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the triggering symbol is a wild symbol that substitutes for other symbols on the symbol-bearing reels. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is a mystery event independent of any symbols landing in the array. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more advantageous symbols include two or more advantageous symbols with a matching characteristic, and wherein a leftmost one of the set of non-advantageous symbols lacks the matching characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of respinning and stopping any of the reels bearing the set of non-advantageous symbols includes respinning and stopping all the reels except the reels bearing the advantageous symbols. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;   initiating, by game-logic circuitry, a game cycle in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; and   receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.   
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising the operations of:
 detecting, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;   initiating, by game-logic circuitry, a game cycle in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance;   displaying, on an electronic display device, a plurality of symbol-bearing reels including reels 1 through N arranged from left to right;   using a random number generator, spinning and stopping the plurality of symbol-bearing reels to land symbols on the reels in an array along a payline, the payline extending across the array from the reel 1 to the reel N;   in response to a triggering event, one or more adjacent advantageous symbols along the payline starting from reel 1, and a set of one or more non-advantageous symbols adjacent to the advantageous symbols along the payline, performing a replay operation comprising:
 holding any of the reels bearing the advantageous symbols; and 
 respinning and stopping any of the reels bearing the set of non-advantageous symbols to land symbols on the respun reels in the array along the payline; 
   awarding, by game-logic circuitry, a payout to the credit balance for any winning symbol combinations along the payline; and   receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more advantageous symbols include two or more advantageous symbols with a matching characteristic, and wherein a leftmost one of the set of non-advantageous symbols lacks the matching characteristic. 
     
     
         10 . A gaming system comprising:
 a gaming machine including an electronic display device configured to display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels including reels  1  through N arranged from left to right; and   game-logic circuitry configured to perform the operations of:
 using a random number generator, spinning and stopping the plurality of symbol-bearing reels to land symbols on the reels in an array along a payline, the payline extending across the array from the reel 1 to the reel N; 
 in response to a triggering event, one or more adjacent advantageous symbols along the payline starting from reel  1 , and a set of one or more non-advantageous symbols adjacent to the advantageous symbols along the payline, performing a replay operation comprising:
 holding any of the reels bearing the advantageous symbols; and 
 respinning and stopping any of the reels bearing the set of non-advantageous symbols to land symbols on the respun reels in the array along the payline; and 
 
   awarding, by game-logic circuitry, a payout for any winning symbol combinations along the payline.   
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the triggering event includes a triggering symbol on the reel N landing in the array. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the triggering symbol is a wild symbol that substitutes for other symbols on the symbol-bearing reels. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the triggering event is a mystery event independent of any symbols landing in the array. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more advantageous symbols include two or more advantageous symbols with a matching characteristic, and wherein a leftmost one of the set of non-advantageous symbols lacks the matching characteristic. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the operation of respinning and stopping any of the reels bearing the set of non-advantageous symbols includes respinning and stopping all the reels except the reels bearing the set of advantageous symbols. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the game-logic circuitry is further configured to perform the operations of:
 detecting, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;   initiating a game cycle in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; and   receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.   
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the game-logic circuitry is housed within the gaming machine. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising the operations of:
 displaying, on an electronic display device, a plurality of symbol-bearing reels;   using a random number generator, conducting a series of initial spins of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels, each initial spin comprising spinning and stopping the plurality of symbol-bearing reels to land symbols on the reels in an array;   in response to a triggering event, conducting an additional spin of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels for each initial spin that yielded a losing outcome, each additional spin comprising spinning and stopping the plurality of symbol-bearing reels to land symbols on the reels in the array; and   awarding, by game-logic circuitry, a payout for any winning outcomes resulting from the initial and additional spins.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising, using the random number generator, conducting a base game spin of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels, and wherein the operation of conducting the series of initial spins is in response to a bonus triggering event during the base game spin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the losing outcome is associated with a payout below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the losing outcome is associated with no payout. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each additional spin is associated with an enhancement that was not associated with the set of initial spins. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the enhancement is at least one of a payout multiplier, upgraded reel strips, upgrading a landed symbol, changing a line-pay symbol to a scatter symbol, additional paylines, or awarding extra credits beyond the payout for any winning outcome. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising conducting another additional spin of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels for each additional spin that yielded a losing outcome. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 detecting, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;   initiating, by game-logic circuitry, a game cycle in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; and   receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.