Automated symbol upgrade and symbol removal during link and respin feature

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing symbol upgrade features in games. An illustrative method includes receiving a first input from a player interacting with a gaming device initiating a first play of a game, where the game comprises an array of cells. The method further includes determining that a randomly-generated first distribution of symbols includes a common symbol in a first cell and a second cell. The method further includes upgrading a cell in the array of cells with an upgrade symbol, where the upgrade symbol represents that the common symbol in the first cell and the second cell have been combined into the upgrade symbol in response to determining that the first cell and the second cell include the common symbol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gaming device, comprising:
 a display;   a processor coupled to the display; and   a memory coupled with the processor and storing therein instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that a first distribution of symbols in an array of cells comprises a common symbol in at least two adjacent cells, wherein the first distribution is provided during a first play of a game; 
 identify a cell from the at least two adjacent cells to receive an upgrade symbol, wherein the upgrade symbol represents that the common symbol in the at least two adjacent cells have been combined into the upgrade symbol; 
 identify another cell from the at least two adjacent cells to have the common symbol removed therefrom; 
 initiate a second play of the game, wherein the second play of the game occurs after the first play of the game; and 
 render, by the display in response to initiating the second play of the game, a second distribution of symbols in the array of cells, wherein the cell from the at least two adjacent cells comprises the upgrade symbol in the second distribution of symbols and wherein the another cell in the array of cells comprises a new symbol in the second distribution of symbols. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 generate a game outcome based on the second distribution of symbols in the array of cells; and   update a credit meter based on the game outcome.   
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein generating the game outcome comprises:
 determining a location of a payline;   evaluating a combination of symbols in the second distribution of symbols that intersect the payline; and   updating the credit meter based on a value associated with the combination of symbols in the second distribution of symbols that intersect the payline.   
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 3 , wherein the combination of symbols includes the upgrade symbol, wherein a value associated with the upgrade symbol is determined by applying a multiplier to a value associated with the common symbol, and wherein the value associated with the combination of symbols comprises at least the value associated with the upgrade symbol. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 provide a respin availability based on the game outcome.   
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the new symbol is determined based on an output of a random number generator (RNG). 
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two adjacent cells comprises at least three adjacent cells, and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 assign a value to the upgrade symbol that represent at least three times a value of the common symbol.   
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two adjacent cells are diagonally adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two adjacent cells are vertically adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two adjacent cells are horizontally adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the first distribution of symbols is made in the first play and is initiated in response to receiving an input from a player and wherein the second play of the game is automatically initiated in response to upgrading the cell with the upgrade symbol. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the cell from the at least two adjacent cells that is identified to receive an upgrade symbol is identified based on being more likely to result in multiple upgrade processes as compared to the another cell. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory, coupled with the processor, comprising instructions that are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that:
 initiate a first play of a game, wherein the game presents an array of cells; 
 cause a first distribution of symbols to be displayed in the array of cells during the first play of the game, wherein each cell in the array of cells comprises a discrete symbol in the first distribution of symbols; 
 determine a plurality of adjacent cells in the array of cells comprise a common symbol in the first distribution of symbols; 
 identify a cell from among the plurality of adjacent cells that, if upgraded, presents a higher likelihood of multiple upgrades as compared to other cells from among the plurality of adjacent cells; 
 upgrade the identified cell with an upgrade symbol, wherein the upgrade symbol represents that the common symbol in the plurality of adjacent cells have been combined into the upgrade symbol; 
 initiate a second play of the game, wherein the second play occurs after the first play of the game; and 
 cause a second distribution of symbols to be displayed in the array of cells, wherein the identified cell comprises the upgrade symbol in the second distribution of symbols and wherein cells in the array of cells other than the identified cell comprise a new discrete symbol in the second distribution of symbols. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that:
 determine a location of a payline relative to the array of cells;   evaluate a combination of symbols in the second distribution of symbols that intersect the payline; and   update a credit meter based on a value associated with the combination of symbols in the second distribution of symbols that intersect the payline.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the combination of symbols includes the upgrade symbol and wherein a value associated with the upgrade symbol is determined by applying a multiplier to a value associated with the common symbol. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that:
 remove the common symbol from cells in the plurality of cells other than the identified cell until the second play of the game is initiated.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the cells in the plurality of cells other than the identified cell remain empty at least until after the second play of the game. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least two cells in the plurality of cells are diagonally adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least two cells in the plurality of cells are vertically adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor comprises multiple processors.